iPhone 17/Pro/Air Impressions: Spot the Red Flags!

Summary

In this hands-on first look at Apple's 2025 September event, MKBHD provides a breakdown of the newly unveiled iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air. The iPhone 17 now includes ProMotion display, a brighter screen, and a new selfie camera with Center Stage. The iPhone 17 Pro brings a redesigned aluminum body, improved cooling, better battery life, and a 48 MP zoom camera. The ultra-thin iPhone Air, despite its stunning design, raises concerns about battery life and performance. MKBHD also highlights new AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, setting the stage for future reviews.

Takeaways

• 📱 iPhone 17 base model gets ProMotion 120Hz display, brighter screen (up to 3,000 nits), A19 chip with ~20% faster CPU, and 256GB base storage.
• 🤳 iPhone 17 introduces a larger 24MP square selfie camera capable of automatic vertical or horizontal cropping for better selfies and videos.
• 🔋 iPhone 17 Pro features aluminum unibody, a new vapor chamber for cooling, and up to 39 hours of video playback, improving battery and sustained performance.
• 📸 iPhone 17 Pro adds a 48MP 4x telephoto camera with larger sensor, upgraded main camera, and new selfie camera for higher quality zoom and photography.
• 🎨 iPhone 17 Pro comes in three colors (cosmic orange, deep blue, silver) and has a ‘plateau’ camera bar design to accommodate more internal components.
• 🪶 iPhone Air is ultra-thin (5.6mm), titanium body, 6.5" ProMotion display, A19 Pro chip minus one GPU core, single 48MP rear camera, and new N1 networking chip.
• ⚠️ iPhone Air red flags include likely limited battery life, potential thermal throttling, ultra-thin durability concerns, eSIM-only, no mmWave 5G, and $999 price.
• 🎧 AirPods Pro 3 now feature twice as effective ANC, IP57 water resistance, heart rate tracking, at the same $250 price point.
• ⌚ Apple Watch Series 11 introduces 5G support, possible hypertension detection, while Watch Ultra 3 gets thinner bezels, LTPO3 display, and slightly longer battery life.
• 🔌 Ridge MagSafe Power Bank supports five charging methods including MagSafe, doubles as Apple Watch charger, comes in three colors, and has a lifetime warranty.

Q & A

What are the key upgrades in the iPhone 17 base model?

The iPhone 17 base model now includes a ProMotion display (adaptive 120 Hz), a brighter screen up to 3,000 nits, a new A19 chip with ~20% faster CPU, improved battery life, 256 GB base storage, and a larger 24 MP selfie camera with automatic horizontal/vertical cropping.

How does the iPhone 17 Pro differ in design from the base iPhone 17?

The iPhone 17 Pro features a new camera plateau design, aluminum unibody with a vapor chamber for cooling, three colors (Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, Silver), and rearranged internals to allow for a larger battery and improved thermal efficiency.

What are the main camera improvements in the iPhone 17 Pro?

The iPhone 17 Pro adds a 48 MP 4x telephoto zoom camera with a 56% larger sensor, improved resolution, and better ability to crop photos and zoom further, along with the upgraded 24 MP selfie camera.

What are the major features of the new iPhone Air?

The iPhone Air is an ultra-thin 5.6 mm titanium phone with a 6.5” ProMotion display, A19 Pro chip (minus one GPU core), single 48 MP Fusion rear camera, the new selfie camera, N1 networking chip, and supports MagSafe accessories.

What potential issues does MKBHD highlight about the iPhone Air?

Concerns include limited battery capacity, potential overheating due to lack of vapor chamber, eSIM-only configuration, no mmWave 5G, and durability risks because of its ultra-thin design.

What makes the new base iPhone 17's selfie camera innovative?

It features a 24 MP square sensor that can automatically crop photos and videos in portrait or landscape without rotating the phone, making selfies more versatile and natural-looking.

How does Apple improve sustained performance on the iPhone 17 Pro?

By using an aluminum unibody, adding a vapor chamber for thermal management, and rearranging internal components, the iPhone 17 Pro achieves up to 40% better sustained performance during heavy workloads.

What other Apple products were announced alongside the iPhones?

Apple announced AirPods Pro 3 (improved ANC, heart rate tracking, IP57), Apple Watch Series 11 (5G, potential hypertension detection), and Watch Ultra 3 (thinner bezels, LTPO3, slightly longer battery life).

Why might the iPhone Air be considered a risky purchase?

Despite its ultra-thin design and impressive appearance, the Air offers less battery life, may overheat under heavy use, lacks mmWave 5G, and is more expensive than the base iPhone 17 with fewer features.

What is the significance of ProMotion technology appearing on the base iPhone 17?

This is the first time Apple has brought a previously Pro-exclusive feature to the base model, offering an adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate that improves screen smoothness and overall usability for all users.

How is Apple addressing battery concerns for the iPhone Air?

Apple introduced a dedicated MagSafe battery accessory for the iPhone Air, adding 3,149 mAh to help achieve battery life comparable to the iPhone 17 Pro under coded video playback.

What is the expected impact of the iPhone Air on Apple's smartphone lineup?

It may serve as a 'visionary' product to explore ultra-thin design trends, similar to the original MacBook Air, but initially may appeal more for its aesthetic than for practical performance or battery life.