The last small flagship phone was the Asus Zenfone 9. Although it caught the attention of the masses, it didn’t have enough sales. Sales show that most people don’t want small phones, but some of us do, especially people who have small hands.
Phones have gotten bigger over the years. Most of them are almost the size of what we considered a tablet back in 2015. To be honest, they look cool, but they are totally not handy.
So, I still believe there is a need for small phones that do not compromise on the other fundamentals. iPhone 17 Pro is that small smartphone that checks all the boxes. Before you go out and spend your hard-earned money on the new phone, let me share the things I love about the new iPhone 17 Pro, and things I wish were better.
The Performance
Personally, this is the most lovable thing about the new iPhone 17 Pro. Why is it? Because it is actually so powerful thanks to the new Apple A19 Pro chipset.
Leaving what is inside aside for a while, let me share my experience with it.
I am a serious mobile phone user. My average daily screen-on time is around 11 hours (half of that is for gaming). So, I need power in my phone. I was previously using the base iPhone 15. It isn’t a bad phone by any means, but it is just that the iPhone 17 Pro is a lot more powerful.
I have never enjoyed gaming more on a phone than this. Part of the reason is my new fiber-powered internet from Cox.
iPhone 17 Pro holds up its frame rate fine, while the Cox Internet holds up its latency. If you, too, are an avid mobile user who plays games on your phone, I recommend getting fiber-powered internet by reaching out to its customer support. If you need support in Spanish, you can reach out to Cox Servicio al Cliente en Español.
Apart from gaming, the iPhone 17 Pro is great for multitasking. I can jump on a quick call while I scroll through my emails, or I can watch my favorite Netflix shows while I auto-update my apps in the background. Nothing on this phone feels underpowered, which is great for a power user like me.
Having said that, if performance is one of your main factors in making a purchase decision, this is it. iPhone 17 Pro is good.
The Cameras
Back in the day, the Google Pixel was known for its point-and-shoot capabilities. Well, it still is, but Apple’s cameras have become well-rounded over the years.
From slow-motion videos to portraits, they have nailed everything. Let me explain.
iPhone 17 Pro has a triple camera setup at the back with three 48MP sensors: ultrawide, telephoto, and the main lens, which you will be using the most.
I like how they have improved the megapixel count on the iPhones, but does it help?
Sure, it does. The first reason is that the 48MP sensor captures more details in the photo. On top of that, since it is 48MP, it is a bigger sensor, and a big sensor will let in more light when compared to the smaller one. That is exactly why you will see that the overall night capability has been improved in iPhones since the introduction of newer, bigger sensors.
As for the videography, the iPhone was and still is the best one. That is why you will see new creators relying on the iPhone’s video capability to create vlogs, reels, and shorts.
All in all, if cameras were your concern, they are great.
The Battery
This is the point where you will start to observe the struggle in the small smartphones.
iPhone 17 Pro is almost the same as its bigger brother, iPhone 17 Pro Max. I said almost, there is one department where the big brother is superior – the battery.
And it makes sense.
The 17 Pro is a small phone. It has less space inside, which is why the battery inside is smaller. For a new phone, that doesn’t matter much, but after 2-3 years, you might feel that the battery has deteriorated. In simple words, you will be getting less screen time with the same battery.
So, keep that in mind. If you are not an avid mobile phone user, then the iPhone 17 Pro might just be fine for you. But if not, get the bigger brother with a bigger battery.
The AI Experience
Last but not least, the AI experience.
Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but there isn’t any experience. The AI, or should I say Apple Intelligence, has been in development for quite a while, so there is pretty much nothing for now besides a few half-baked features.
If you want all the bells & whistles that Apple has been advertising, it might be frustrating.
So, yeah, keep that in mind. Now, to conclude, I would say that if you are fine with a smaller battery, the iPhone 17 Pro is one of the best small phones in the current market.
