For years, Apple's non-Pro iPhones have played second fiddle to their pricier siblings as the safer, simpler choice for the average user. That act seems to have finally ended with the iPhone 17. This device depicts the reclamation of the relevance of Apple's base model.

The iPhone 17 is one of the most impressive base variants in the iPhone line-up since the time when the Pros stole the spotlight. From the moment you turn on the display, it's clear this is no ordinary base model.

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Apple has brought its top-tier screen down the lineup for the first time. The iPhone 17's display now peaks at 3,000 nits of brightness, easily one of the brightest panels on any iPhone, and introduces a full 120Hz variable refresh rate that can drop to 1Hz for power efficiency.

The bezels have been shaved to near invisibility, giving it an immersive look that feels nearly as good as a Pro. The Always-On Display is finally here, marking a quiet but symbolic end to one of the features that divides the Apple iPhone lineup artificially. Personally, I found this feature to be distracting and making me pick my phone regularly, not to mention the battery drain this brings along. So, even in the Pro device that I use, I turn this feature off.

Beyond the display, the iPhone 17 gets a far better camera system compared to last year's iPhone 16. The selfie camera, an area Apple had quietly neglected for a few generations, comes with a new 24MP square sensor. It's smarter and sharper. Portrait shots are almost professional-grade. When clicking group selfie pictures, the sensor automatically adjusts between group and solo framing, depending on who's in the shot, without having to rotate the phone.

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Video stabilization and image clarity are improved compared to last year's base variant. While selfie videos, with image stabilization and in cinematic mode, are definitely better, those clips tend to be a tad over-saturated when shooting during peak daylight. So, you may want to tweak camera settings to get the right output if you are shooting selfie videos when there's a lot of light.

Also, when shooting videos, I noticed the phone to be getting warmer. That's because, under the hood, the iPhone 17 flexes the kind of specs usually reserved for the pros. The A19 chip delivers class-leading performance, and Apple has paired it with a larger battery that finally gives the phone the endurance users have been asking for. And given that this phone doesn't get a vapour chamber to cool the device, you may want to tone down your expectations of the length of the shoot.

But, combine the A19 chip with the more efficient display, and you're looking at meaningful gains in both screen-on time and overall battery life. Apple has also bumped up base storage for its entire iPhone lineup. That makes space for 256GB in an iPhone 17, making the entry model feel less like a compromise and more like a complete package.

The overall value proposition is impressive with the brighter screen, stronger battery life, more power, and superior camera performance. For the first time in a long time, this seems to be the base iPhone that represents Apple's best value.

Unless you're a power user who happens to shoot ProRes video, plays games a lot, or wants a telephoto lens, the iPhone 17 is the real deal this year. Of course, it's not perfect.

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The lack of a telephoto camera still stings, and USB transfer speeds remain slower than those on the Pro models. And design-wise, this phone doesn't reinvent itself. The silhouette is nearly identical to the iPhone 16, though the refreshed colour palette and the continued presence of the Camera Control button do give it a more refined feel.

But what's remarkable is that this subtle continuity now works in the iPhone 17's favour: Apple didn't need a radical redesign to make it desirable. Ultimately, the iPhone 17 feels like the rise of an underdog, a moment when the base model doesn't just feel "good enough," but genuinely exceptional.

In short, this is the iPhone that delivers the Apple experience without compromise or pretence at a competitive price point. I think, this year, the underdog has finally stolen the spotlight.

iPhone 17 Review: The rise of the underdog