Apple’s iPhone 17 Shows Device’s Staying Power — At Least for Now
By Mark Gurman
September 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM EDT
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Twelve months later, the script has flipped. Apple has delivered a genuine standout with the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max — devices that close in on deserving mention alongside milestone models like the iPhone 4, 5, 6, X, and 12.
The difference? Even without a single blockbuster feature, Apple refocused on engineering, pushed meaningful design changes — historically the biggest upgrade triggers — and delivered on what consumers actually care about: battery life, durability, camera power and colors. This time, there’s no vaporware. The marketing is grounded in real features, not empty promises about AI.
Conveniently, that is because Apple is sidestepping AI altogether. But that’s out of necessity, not choice — its features remain far behind those made by Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Samsung Electronics Co. and Chinese rivals. With no meaningful upgrades coming until March, when a revamped Siri and AI-powered web search arrive, Apple is effectively sitting out the AI race.
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