It’s been a long time coming, but Apple has finally added the smoother 120Hz ‘ProMotion’ display technology to its base handset with the iPhone 17.
Previously limited to the pricier Pro models, the higher refresh rate is now available on the iPhone that costs $1,399, instead of a nearly $2,000 device. It’s long been a point of contention in the tech community, considering many Android phones below $1,000 have had smoother-looking screens for years.
Giving way to the slim iPhone Air, there’s no bigger ‘Plus’ model this year. Instead, the iPhone 17 comes in a single 6.3-inch variant, simplifying the choice for those looking at a standard-level iPhone.
Other than the higher refresh rate, the main change coming to the iPhone 17 is a revamped camera system. New to the standard model is an upgraded 48MP ‘Fusion Ultra Wide’ camera, which is capable of capturing more details in wide shots and up-close macro photos.
Like the iPhone 17 Pro, the standard 17 also has the upgraded 18MP ‘Centre Stage’ selfie camera. Described by Apple as using the “first square front camera sensor on iPhone”, it fits more into the frame and at a higher resolution. It reportedly makes it easier to fit more people into one shot, while also supporting the use of the front and rear cameras simultaneously.
On the inside is Apple’s base-level A19 chip, which isn’t as beefy as the A19 Pro, but steps up the power and efficiency from last year’s phone.
iPhone 17 price and release date
Apple is bringing the iPhone 17 to Australia on 19 September, with pre-orders beginning this week on 12 September. It comes in two storage configurations, priced as follows:
- 256GB: $1,399
- 512GB: $1,799
For those who aren’t high-end mobile gamers or don’t need to shoot in highly flexible video recording formats for editing, the iPhone 17 is probably all most Apple-keen people need.
