iPhone 17/Air/Pro Unboxing - What Apple didn't tell you!

Summary

In this detailed review, the iPhone 17, Air, and Pro models are put to the test, revealing both surprises and disappointments. The iPhone 17 impresses with its faster charging, better screen coating, and enhanced selfie camera. However, the iPhone Air underperforms, with disappointing stress test results and battery life. The Pro models show incremental improvements, including a more comfortable design and better signal strength. The new AirPods Pro 3 offer superior sound and noise cancellation, but their fit may not be for everyone. The review highlights Apple's design choices and accessories, offering insights into the latest devices.

Takeaways

• 📱 iPhone 17 charges slightly faster than iPhone 16, noticeable after just 10 minutes.
• 🖥️ The new anti-reflective coating on iPhone 17 reduces about one-third of screen reflections, but Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra still performs better.
• 🤳 iPhone 17 front camera uses a square sensor allowing wide portrait and landscape selfies without rotating the phone, enhancing video call Center Stage functionality.
• ⚡ iPhone 17's A19 chip offers ~30% higher peak performance than iPhone 16 and maintains stability during high-intensity tasks.
• 💨 iPhone 17 Air struggles with thermal management due to thin titanium design, leading to lower sustained performance despite having the A19 Pro chip.
• 🔊 The iPhone Air has a single front-facing speaker, which is weaker than dual speakers on other iPhones and flagship phones.
• 🎧 AirPods Pro 3 provide significant audio and noise-cancellation improvements over Pro 2, but the tighter fit can reduce comfort for long periods.
• 🟠 iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max offer improved ergonomics, better 5G reception, and thermal design enhancements for sustained performance.
• 📸 The 48MP telephoto lens on the 17 Pro Max offers modest zoom improvements, while portrait mode benefits more from software processing than hardware changes.
• 🛠️ Accessories vary in quality: Apple’s Air cases are fragile, bumper cases feel premium, and some items like crossbody straps or MagSafe batteries may not be practical for everyday use.
• 📈 Overall, the iPhone 17 series shows incremental improvements across performance, camera, and ergonomics, with AirPods Pro 3 enhancing audio experiences significantly.

Q & A

What is the main difference between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 regarding charging speed?

The iPhone 17 charges slightly faster than the iPhone 16. After 10 minutes on the same charger, the iPhone 17 reached 26% compared to the iPhone 16's 21%, indicating a small but noticeable difference in charging speed.

How does the anti-reflective coating on the iPhone 17 compare to other phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The iPhone 17's anti-reflective coating reduces reflections by about a third, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cuts out an additional third of reflections, making it perform better in direct light.

What notable improvement has been made to the iPhone 17's selfie camera?

The iPhone 17's selfie camera now offers a wider shot, which captures more of the scene, and provides more detail, though not necessarily better quality. This wider field of view is especially useful for portrait and landscape selfies.

How does the iPhone 17's new square camera sensor impact its performance in different orientations?

The square sensor in the iPhone 17 allows for more versatile shot composition, as it captures both portrait and landscape shots without rotating the phone, offering better stabilization and more accurate depth sensing.

What were the results of the performance stress tests for the iPhone 17?

In the 3D Mark Extreme Stress Test, the iPhone 17 scored 4,869, which is almost 30% higher than the iPhone 16, showing notable performance improvements and higher stability.

What were the performance issues with the iPhone 17 Air's A19 Pro chip?

The iPhone 17 Air's A19 Pro chip performed poorly, scoring only 3,863 in the initial test, and even after cooling the device, the performance briefly improved but quickly dropped back down. It was outperformed by the regular iPhone 17, which has the standard A19 chip.

How does the sound quality of the iPhone 17 Air's speaker compare to the iPhone 17?

The iPhone 17 Air has a single front speaker that doesn't perform as well as the iPhone 17, which has dual speakers. The Air struggles to produce deep bass, while the iPhone 17 offers fuller, louder sound.

What are the key differences in portrait mode between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air?

The iPhone 17 has better depth sensing due to its dual-camera setup, while the iPhone 17 Air struggles with depth understanding in portrait mode due to its single camera, leading to less accurate depth perception in challenging situations.

What are the issues with the iPhone 17 Air's design, specifically its SIM card port?

The iPhone 17 Air uses a custom 3D-printed titanium housing for its USB-C port due to the thin design, which is not centered on the phone. This design flaw is subtle but noticeable upon close inspection.

What improvements have been made to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in terms of signal strength?

The iPhone 17 Pro Max has significantly improved signal strength, managing to get 5G in areas where the iPhone 16 Pro Max only received 4G. In remote locations, the 17 Pro Max even maintained a signal while the older phone had none.