Who is the Apple - iPhone 17 for?
Budget-tier smartphone. The 61.7 score sits in C-tier (58–67) — the formula flags meaningful weaknesses against premium peers.
Reasonable if cost is the deciding factor and the spec weaknesses don’t matter for your use. Check the spec table carefully before buying.
Mars Score is computed from 23 measured specs against the transparent formula for the smartphones category. No editorial picks, no paid placement.
Apple - iPhone 17: advantages & disadvantages
Measured against every smartphones we track, here is where the Apple - iPhone 17 pulls ahead — and where it gives ground.
- ▲Includes Optical image stabilization — a feature not every smartphones offers.
- ▲Includes 5G support — a feature not every smartphones offers.
- ▼Battery capacity: 3692 mAh — below the typical smartphones.
- ▼RAM: 8 GB — below the typical smartphones.
- ▼Refresh rate: 120 Hz — below the typical smartphones.
Pros are specs scoring ≥75% of the category normalization range. Cons are ≤35%. Derived from the Mars Score formula — no hand-curated lists.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 6.3"
- RAM
- 8GB
- Pixel density
- 460ppi
- Battery capacity
- 3692mAh
All specifications
Design
- Weight
- 194 g
- Thickness
- 8.1 mm
- Form factor
- bar
Display
- Screen size?
- 6.3 "
- Pixel density?
- 460 ppi
- Refresh rate?
- 120 Hz
- Peak brightness?
- 2200 nits
Cameras
- Main camera?
- 48 MP
- Front camera
- 12 MP
Battery
- Battery capacity
- 3692 mAh
- Wired charging?
- 27 W
Connectivity
- 5G support?
- true
- Headphone jack
- false
- microSD slot
- false
Operating System
- OS
- iOS
- Promised OS updates
- 6 years
Hands-on coverage
Editorial pieces from the vsMars team that cover the Apple - iPhone 17.
Pixel 10 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max — Night-Mode Shootout
Forty-eight side-by-side exposures from 0.5 lux to 50 lux. The Pixel still wins on detail; the iPhone wins on color truth.
Best Budget Smartphones Under $500 with Great Cameras (2026)
Five phones that punch above their price tier on photo quality — and which compromises each one makes elsewhere.
OnePlus 15 vs iPhone 17 — Sustained CPU Under 20-Minute Load
Both phones can sprint. Only one of them still runs fast at minute 20. Geekbench loop and thermal-camera footage.
Why Mars Score Rewards Battery Heavier Than Spec Sheets Do
Battery weight in the smartphone Mars Score formula is 18% — the highest single weight. Here's why that's not arbitrary.
iPhone 17 Cold-Weather Battery Drain — From +20 °C to -10 °C
Lithium-ion chemistry hates the cold. We chambered an iPhone 17 at six temperatures and ran the same workload at each. Drain rates and shutdown thresholds, measured.
Best Smartphones in 2026 — Buyer's Guide
After hands-on time with every major 2026 flagship, here are our top picks across iOS, Android, foldables, and budget. Updated monthly.
Latest from the lab
All lab reports →Popular comparisons featuring the Apple - iPhone 17
The 8 closest matchups in the Smartphones category, sorted by Mars Score proximity — the fights most worth your time.
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Frequently asked
What is the Mars Score for Apple - iPhone 17?+
Apple - iPhone 17 scores 61.7 on the transparent Mars Score formula for smartphones, computed from its published specs against the category's weighted normalization.
What category does Apple - iPhone 17 belong to?+
Apple - iPhone 17 is a Apple smartphone catalogued in the Smartphones category.
When was Apple - iPhone 17 released?+
Apple - iPhone 17 was released on 2025-09-19.
What is the screen size of Apple - iPhone 17?+
Apple - iPhone 17 has a screen size of 6.3 ".
What is the ram of Apple - iPhone 17?+
Apple - iPhone 17 has a ram of 8 GB.
What is the pixel density of Apple - iPhone 17?+
Apple - iPhone 17 has a pixel density of 460 ppi.
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