I’ve looked at the entire new iPhone range and there’s one clear winner – the iPhone 17

The dust has settled on Apple’s “Awe Dropping” September event, and we now wait a week for the latest devices to go on sale. But while you’ve seen the reports, watched the keynote, or read the articles, I’ve had the chance to pick them up, use them, and get a really good look at what you will experience when you see these in the Telco and retail stores.

Here’s what I think of each:

iPhone 17

Photos don’t do the colours justice, but the green (Sage) is not what you would expect at all. It’s got a bit of depth to it, rather than vibrance. The Mist Blue and Lavender are excellent colours if you want something other than the classic black and white.

These phones have a matte finish, washing out the colour on the back a bit, but keeping it still very premium.

Design-wise if it weren’t for the colour changes, you’d struggle to notice it’s a new phone compared to the iPhone 16.

However, when you turn it on, the screen is bright and stunning. The refresh rate boost to 120Hz is long, long overdue, and that paired with the ability to snap down to 1Hz, should be a battery life winner.

Centre Stage for the front-facing Selfie Camera is the star of the show, offering a wide range of shooting options for the selfie lover.

This is the sleeper of the 20205 lineup.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

Man oh man does that Orange colour pop!

This thing will sell like hotcakes.

But leave aside the stunning looks and overall design – including the move away from Titanium to a new, more durable unibody aluminium. This device is all about the cameras.

While a triple-lens camera has been the Pro way for a while, and zoom has been its standout feature. This year those cameras get serious.

I tested this at Apple Park – at every zoom level, outstanding images: 0.5, 1, 4 and 8x zoom.

And it’s not just stills. Video quality at zoom levels is radically improved in just one year from the iPhone 16.

Apple has basically made this a cinema camera; some of the capabilities are far, far beyond the average user.

The huge camera island – sorry, “Plateau” isn’t really a deal breaker, it’s smart – pack some chipsets up there and make the battery bigger. Simple.

Apple’s design team should be super proud of this Unibody design and the infusion of colour.

Likewise, the camera team can take a bow, long overdue performance at every level.

iPhone Air

Huzzah! – See, Apple still has it. They can still come up with something fresh and new.

And the dummy models didn’t do it any justice.

iPhone Air – note it’s not an iPhone 17 Air – is a stunner.

All the colours are subtle, and all of them elegant.

A shiny chrome-style outer frame in titanium and a really soft-feeling glass back – it feels great in the hand.

That’s what will sell people on this.

And will it bend? Well, I witnessed a machine push a 60kg load into the centre of an iPhone Air, it bent, but then take it out and lay it on the table – flat.

So I’m calling it, Jerry Rig won’t be able to bust it.

I’m in love with the iPhone Air.

Which is the best value iPhone in 2025?

You might think I’m going to say get the iPhone Air! $1,799 it’s great value, with the Pro chip, and stunning design.

But actually – I think the iPhone 17 – base model, is outstanding value.

$1,399 – same price as iPhone 16 was. But you now get dual 48MP “Fusion” camera, a 6.3-inch screen, and a new A19 processor.

This thing competes with the iPhone 16 Pro head-to-head on spec, not just value.

People with an iPhone X, Xs, 12, 13, 14 will find this to be the perfect upgrade. And for those on a two-year cycle, iPhone 15 base model users will finally get Apple Intelligence and a dramatically better device.

iPhone Air is a must-see, so check it out next week, but don’t look too quickly past the base iPhone 17.