Following Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 17 series, excitement among UK consumers has been matched by one persistent question: which model offers the best balance of performance, price and practicality?
With the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max now available nationwide, early reviews suggest that while all three devices share a core of powerful innovation, they cater to distinctly different users.
Design and Display
All three models feature Apple’s refined Super Retina XDR OLED display with 120 Hz ProMotion technology, offering fluid scrolling and vivid colour depth. The bezels are slimmer, the body lighter, and durability has been improved with Ceramic Shield 2 glass.
The range runs on Apple’s new A19 chip, though the Pro versions gain additional power via the A19 Pro processor and a new vapour-chamber cooling system for improved thermal efficiency during intensive use.
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In line with EU and UK regulations, Apple has finally replaced the Lightning connector with USB-C, providing faster data transfer and a universal charging standard — a move warmly welcomed by many long-time users.
Camera
The standard iPhone 17 employs a dual 48-megapixel camera system (main and ultra-wide) that delivers strong detail and colour accuracy, alongside a 2× lossless zoom.
However, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max raise the bar dramatically. Both feature a triple-lens 48 MP setup with a new tetraprism telephoto lens offering a genuine 4× optical zoom and up to 8× sensor-crop magnification.
Features such as ProRAW, ProRes video recording, and LiDAR scanning cater directly to photographers and filmmakers seeking DSLR-like flexibility from a phone.
Early UK reviewers from TechRadar and The Guardian have praised the Pro models for their enhanced low-light performance and cinematic video results, describing them as “Apple’s most capable camera systems to date.”
Battery and Performance
Battery endurance remains a key advantage. Independent tests suggest the Pro Max lasts up to 18 hours of continuous 5G use, making it the most durable of the trio. The Pro follows closely, while the standard iPhone 17 comfortably lasts a full day under mixed use.
All versions support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Apple’s N1 network chip. Analysts note that Apple has limited Wi-Fi bandwidth to 160 MHz, half the full specification , in what appears to be a measure to preserve stability and battery life.
Pricing and Verdict
In the UK, pricing begins at £799 for the iPhone 17, £1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro, and £1,599 for the Pro Max. Each shares Apple’s signature design and performance pedigree, but the premium models justify their higher cost with superior photography, improved cooling, and longer battery endurance.
For everyday users, the iPhone 17 offers exceptional value and all the essentials of a flagship.
For content creators and professionals, the iPhone 17 Pro stands out as the ideal balance of performance and portability.
For power users seeking maximum screen size, camera depth and stamina, the iPhone 17 Pro Max remains the ultimate choice.
