10 Must‑Know iPhone 17 Features You’ll Love
Key Takeaways
- The iPhone 17 packs pro-level features, like a 120Hz ProMotion display, advanced cameras, and all-day battery life at a more accessible price.
- Apple’s A19 chip and iOS 26 upgrades make the device faster, smoother, and noticeably smarter in everyday use.
- With USB-C charging, a brighter Super Retina XDR display, and improved audio, the iPhone 17 delivers a major upgrade for both creators and everyday users.
If you’ve been waiting for an upgrade that feels exciting and financially sane, the iPhone 17 is that sweet spot. It delivers the kind of high-end iPhone 17 features you’d expect from a “best 2025 iPhone” contender, without forcing you into wild pricing or a carrier contract you’ll regret later.
From where we sit at RedPocket, the iPhone 17 is basically built for value-driven people. You get seriously impressive iPhone 17 specs, smarter battery life, pro-level cameras, and a display that makes everything look sharper, smoother, and brighter, all at a price that feels more approachable than past flagship launches.
Here’s a quick rundown of the 10 must-know iPhone 17 features we’ll walk through in this guide:
- ProMotion display with smooth scrolling and always-on convenience
- Advanced dual-camera system with Dual Capture for creators
- Extended all-day battery life for real heavy use
- A19 chip for fast, efficient performance
- USB-C charging for faster power and easier accessories
- Super Retina XDR display with next-level brightness and clarity
- New Liquid Glass interface in iOS 26
- Improved audio for calls, music, and video
- Competitive pricing that makes it a top value pick
- iOS 26 upgrades that keep it feeling smart and future-ready
And because we’re RedPocket, we’ll also show you how to unlock all of this with affordable, no-contract plans that let your iPhone 17 run wild without your bill doing the same.
ProMotion Display for Smooth Viewing and Always-On Convenience
The iPhone 17’s ProMotion Display is one of those features you don’t realize you need until you see it. It’s Apple’s high-refresh-rate screen tech that can shift anywhere from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on what you’re doing, saving battery when the screen is static and cranking up the smoothness when things move fast.
What that means in real life:
- Scrolling feels buttery (yes, actually buttery).
- Gaming looks cleaner with less blur.
- Animations and transitions feel more responsive.
- Your phone doesn’t waste power refreshing pixels it doesn’t need to.
The always-on display is the other quiet hero here. Instead of waking your whole screen, you can glance at the time, widgets, notifications, and Live Activities without lifting a finger. It’s subtle, smart, and way more energy-efficient than older iPhone displays or older LCD panels that couldn’t drop refresh rates this low.
Advanced Camera System With Dual Capture and High-Resolution Sensors
If you love creating content, or you just want effortless, great photos, the iPhone 17’s upgraded camera system is a huge glow-up. You get:
- 48MP main camera
- 48MP ultrawide camera
- 18MP front camera (a real upgrade for selfies, FaceTime, and creators)
One of the standout new iPhone 17 features is Dual Capture, which lets you record with the front and rear cameras at the same time. It’s perfect for reactions, vlogs, interviews, travel clips, or those “front camera vs. back camera” TikToks.
Plus, the overall camera package is loaded:
- 4K Dolby Vision video
- Macro and spatial video capture
- Next-gen portrait modes with adjustable depth
- 2x optical zoom in + out
- 10x digital zoom
Where it shines:
- Filming travel or event content
- Recording reaction-style videos
- Capturing crisp low-light shots
- Leveling up everyday photos with higher resolution
The iPhone 17 camera system is better, more fun, flexible, and creator-ready.
Extended Battery Life That Supports Heavy Usage All Day
For the iPhone 17, Apple finally delivered real all-day battery life that holds up even when you’re using your phone hard. With the A19 chip and system-level power tuning, the battery lasts from morning to night for most people, even if your day includes streaming, maps, photos, and multitasking.
Reviewers note that the iPhone 17 can handle things like:
- A full workday of mixed use without hitting the red zone
- Long sessions of video playback, like a 2-hour HDR movie
- Continuous heavy use (think social, video, camera) while still lasting longer than older models
In simple terms: all-day battery means you don’t need to ration your apps after 5 p.m.
Who this benefits most:
- Travelers
- Commuters
- Power streamers
- Work-from-your-phone people
- Anyone upgrading from an older iPhone that needed midday charging
The iPhone 17 battery finally keeps up with real life, not just lab tests.
Powerful A19 Chip for Seamless Performance and Efficiency
The A19 chip is the brain behind the iPhone 17’s speed jump. Built on 3nm technology, it delivers faster graphics, smoother multitasking, and better battery efficiency. It’s a trifecta you can feel instantly.
What you’ll notice with the A19:
- Apps launch faster and switch seamlessly
- Gaming looks cleaner with more stable frame rates
- AI-powered features in iOS 26 run smoothly
- Less heat when doing heavy tasks
- Better battery life without changing how you use your phone
If you care about longevity, the A19 also future-proofs your device, meaning your iPhone 17 will stay fast as apps get more advanced.
USB-C Charging for Faster Power Ups and Better Compatibility
After years of the Lightning port, the iPhone 17 finally makes the full switch to USB-C, and honestly, it changes everything about day-to-day charging. USB-C is the universal industry standard, which means:
- You can use the same cable for your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Nintendo Switch, earbuds, all of it.
- Borrowing a charger is suddenly way easier.
- Accessories, docks, and battery packs are more widely compatible.
The iPhone 17 supports fast charging up to 25W, and if you pair it with Apple’s 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, you’ll get even quicker top-ups. It’s faster, more convenient, and finally aligned with the tech the rest of the world already uses.
Super Retina XDR Display with Vibrant Brightness and Clarity
The iPhone 17’s Super Retina XDR Display is one of the brightest, sharpest screens Apple has ever shipped, and you notice it immediately, especially outdoors. This is Apple’s high-resolution OLED technology, built for crisp contrast, bold color, and deep blacks.
Specs that matter:
- 6.3-inch display
- 2622 × 1206 resolution at 460 ppi
- Peak brightness: 3,000 nits (insane sunlight performance)
- 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
- P3 wide-color support
- Anti-reflective coating
In real life, this means:
- You can actually read your screen in direct sun.
- HDR content looks richer and more cinematic.
- Text stays razor sharp.
- Colors pop without looking oversaturated.
If you’re upgrading from an older LCD iPhone, it’s a night-and-day difference.
Liquid Glass Interface for a Visually Stunning iOS Experience
iOS 26 introduces the new Liquid Glass Interface, and the iPhone 17 is the first device built specifically to showcase it. Think fluid animations, soft transparency, and UI elements that feel almost tactile, like the interface is gliding under your fingertips.
What Liquid Glass brings to the table:
- Smoother transitions when switching apps
- A more cohesive, modern look throughout iOS
- Depth and transparency that feel more “alive”
- Gestures and multitasking that respond faster
Because the iPhone 17’s A19 chip and display tech are tuned for this design language, everything feels more polished compared to older devices running the same OS. It’s a visual upgrade and a usability upgrade, all in one.
Improved Audio Quality for Clearer Calls and Better Media Playback
Apple quietly gave the iPhone 17’s speakers a serious boost, and you hear it right away. Calls sound clearer, music has more depth, and video playback gets louder without becoming harsh.
What’s improved:
- Better clarity for phone and FaceTime calls
- More balanced sound when playing music or watching videos
- Higher maximum volume with less distortion
- Cleaner audio for podcasts and dialogue-heavy content
Apple still recommends not blasting max volume for best clarity, but even mid-range loudness sounds fuller on the iPhone 17.
Face ID also plays a subtle role here: the TrueDepth camera lives inside the Dynamic Island and makes unlocking during calls smoother and more seamless. No awkward “hold your phone up to your face mid-conversation” moments.
Overall, the iPhone 17 levels up both communication and entertainment, making it perfect for commuters, creators, and anyone who lives on calls all day.
Competitive Pricing That Makes Pro-Level Features Accessible
One of the best surprises about the iPhone 17? Apple priced it like an everyday phone, not a luxury upgrade. Starting at $799 unlocked, it delivers nearly all the power of last year’s Pro models without the thousand-dollar price tag. For anyone upgrading from an older device or escaping a pricey carrier contract, it’s easily one of 2025’s best-value flagships.
What makes the pricing feel so different this year:
- You’re getting a Pro-level camera system, ProMotion display, the A19 chip, and all-day battery life.
- The base storage and specs are strong enough that most users won’t feel pushed toward a higher tier.
- Apple positioned the iPhone 17 to compete directly with premium Android phones at a noticeably better price.
A quick comparison to past models:
- iPhone 14 Pro at launch: $999
- iPhone 15 Pro at launch: $999
- iPhone 16 baseline: $799
- iPhone 17 baseline: $799 (with far more “Pro-class” features)
And with RedPocket, the savings go even further. Between no-contract plans, flexible monthly billing, and financing options that don’t lock you into years-long commitments, the iPhone 17 becomes dramatically more affordable month to month. And they don’t require a trade in to get the $150 discount on an unlocked iPhone 17!
Pair that with CoverageGenius for multi-network access, and you’re getting full flagship power without the flagship bill.
iOS 26 Enhancements Boosting Usability and Smart Features
The hardware is impressive, but iOS 26 is what makes the iPhone 17 feel brand new every time you pick it up. Apple added smarter tools, smoother controls, and deeper intelligence across everyday apps, and the iPhone 17’s A19 chip is what unlocks their full potential.
Standout upgrades you’ll actually use:
- Live Translation: Real-time, on-device language translation that works without cellular or Wi-Fi. Perfect for international travel, bilingual families, or quick work calls across time zones.
- Smarter Call Screening: iOS 26 screens unknown numbers with near-human accuracy, flagging suspected spam and summarizing voicemail transcripts instantly.
- AI photo enhancements: Smarter object detection, cleaner low-light shots, and new editing suggestions that feel subtle instead of “AI-generated.”
- Deeper accessibility tools: Improved voice control, personalized haptic responses, and better screen reading for low-vision users.
- Security updates: On-device encryption improvements and safer app permissions to keep your personal data locked down.
iOS 26 is designed to feel fluid with the iPhone 17’s Liquid Glass interface, camera tools, animations, and real-time intelligence, syncing with the A19 chip to create a phone that genuinely feels future-proof. It’s noticeably smarter, smoother, and more intuitive in day-to-day use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What performance improvements does the A19 chip bring to the iPhone 17?
The A19 chip boosts overall speed, graphics power, and energy efficiency, making gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps run smoother while helping the battery last longer.
How does the iPhone 17’s new display technology enhance the user experience?
The iPhone 17’s ProMotion and Super Retina XDR display deliver ultra-smooth scrolling, rich color, and excellent outdoor visibility with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
What are the key camera upgrades, and how do they benefit users?
The iPhone 17 features dual 48MP rear cameras, an upgraded front camera, Dual Capture recording, 4K Dolby Vision, and next-gen portrait tools for sharper, more creative content.
How has battery life been improved for day-to-day use?
The iPhone 17 provides reliable all-day battery life, even under heavy usage, thanks to the efficient A19 chip and smarter power management in iOS 26.
What new software features in iOS 26 should iPhone 17 users know about?
iOS 26 adds Live Translation, advanced Call Screening, enhanced AI photo tools, and the new Liquid Glass interface for a smoother, more intuitive experience.
Sources:
Apple iPhone 17 - Review 2025 | PCMag Australia
Best iPhone in 2025: Here's Which Apple Phone You Should Buy | CNET
