Apple, the Cupertino-based giant, has launched the iPhone 17 series in the recent event called “Awe Dropping”. But while Apple had been deservedly criticized for the minimal spec bump year after year, the new iPhone 17 is a little different. Mostly because the 120Hz refresh rate is finally a thing on the base iPhone. So let’s dive into this article, where I will discuss everything about the latest iPhone 17, including its expected price in Nepal, specifications, and availability.
iPhone 17 Overview
Display
Apple finally did something that honestly should’ve happened years ago. The iPhone 17 gets ProMotion with a 120Hz refresh rate, something that’s been standard on budget Android phones for what feels like forever. It’s rather funny that this has been news—”Apple finally introduces 120Hz!” Because at this point, 120Hz is so basic on most budget devices, these aren’t even subjects of addressing anymore.
But credit where it’s due, the iPhone 17 now also packs a bigger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen that’s brighter than ever at 3,000 nits peak brightness.
A meaningful jump from the iPhone 16‘s 2,000 nits. The bump can be perhaps explained as a representation of Apple’s attempt to find the sweet spot between the compact iPhone and the Plus-sized models they’ve been struggling to position. This LTPO OLED panel can also adaptively scale from 1Hz all the way up to 120Hz, depending on the content.
Ceramic Shield 2 is the new protective layer for the display, and Apple claims it’s 3x better at scratch resistance than the previous generation. The anti-reflective coating is another good touch in the device, although not entirely a novel entry. Always-On display finally makes its way to the standard iPhone as well, showing time, widgets, and Live Activities when the screen dims down to 1Hz.
Design
The design language is not that different from last year. Compared to whatever they’re doing with the iPhone 17 Pro’s polarizing new look, the standard iPhone 17, for me, plays it safe with a clean look. The aerospace-grade aluminum frame also gets a polished finish, and it looks pretty sweet.
The new color options—Black, Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, and White—ditch the more vibrant palette of the iPhone 16 series. Apple’s going for what they call “Magichromatic” effects with a subtle shimmer in the glass back. And of course, it’s got the “Camera Control” and the “Action” button as well.
Performance
In terms of performance, the iPhone 17 is powered by Apple’s new A19 chip. It’s built on a third-generation 3nm process, packing a 6-core CPU (2 performance, 4 efficiency cores) and a 5-core GPU. Apple claims it’s 1.5x faster than the A15 Bionic from iPhone 13.
The 16-core Neural Engine handles Apple Intelligence tasks, and the jump to 8GB of RAM (from 6GB in the iPhone 16) ensures everything runs smoothly with iOS 26’s new Apple Intelligence features. Apple’s also embedded Neural Accelerators directly into each GPU core.
But to be real about performance in 2025. The usual thing is, performance upgrades are pretty much irrelevant at this point. There’s practically no use for such high-performing CPUs that we had a couple of years back, unless we’re turning a smartphone into a portable workstation like a Mac Mini.
Camera system
Anyway, among the headlining features of the iPhone 17 is the move to dual 48MP “Fusion” cameras. The main camera keeps the f/1.6 aperture with optical-quality 2x telephoto cropping, while the ultrawide camera jumps from 12MP to 48MP with an f/2.2 aperture.
The ultrawide upgrade on the iPhone 17 has also sparked mixed reactions online. Some are celebrating the quadrupling of resolution, while others argue that for casual users, the jump feels incremental. And wish that Apple would finally give a true telephoto lens on its non-Pro iPhones.
Anyway, the iPhone 17’s selfie shooter also upgrades to an 18MP “Center Stage” camera with a unique square sensor design. Its auto-framing feature keeps you centered during FaceTime with family, while you can now take landscape selfies even when you’re holding the phone vertically.
Battery life and charging
The A19 chip + a slightly larger 3,692 mAh battery on the iPhone 17 enables up to 30 hours of video playback. Which is 8 hours more than the iPhone 16. Combined with iOS 26‘s new “Adaptive Power Mode” that learns your usage patterns, the battery life story is genuinely improved.
And although it’s still restricted to 25W wireless charging, you can get 50% juice after plugging it in for 20 minutes using Apple’s new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter. Other than this, the iPhone 17 has a new custom “N1” wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity.
- Also, read
- Apple’s “impossibly thin” iPhone Air is now official
- iPhone 17 Pro launched with a new “plateau” design, A19 Pro chip
- iPhone 17 Pro Max goes official with a 48MP triple camera setup
iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence
The entire iPhone 17 series arrives with iOS 26, which brings what Apple calls “Liquid Glass” design language. Whereas Apple Intelligence gets meaningful upgrades, including Live Translation for real-time text and audio translation across Messages, FaceTime, and Phone calls.
The visual intelligence features let you capture screenshots and search or take action on anything you’re viewing. The on-device foundation model works offline, which is genuinely useful for privacy-conscious users. New screening tools for calls and messages help filter distractions, and there’s a new Apple Games app that consolidates all your gaming in one place. CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet all get updates, too.
iPhone 17 Specifications:
- Design, build: 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm, 177 gm, IP68 rating
- Display: 6.3-inch OLED screen, FHD+, 120Hz refresh rate (LTPO)
- Chipset: Apple A19 (3nm mobile platform)
- Memory: 8GB RAM, 256/512GB storage (non-expandable)
- Software & UI: iOS 26
- Rear Camera: Dual (48MP primary, 48MP ultrawide)
- Front Camera: 18MP “Center Stage” camera (Dynamic Island)
- Security: Face ID (via the front camera)
- Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 7 (dual-band), Bluetooth 6, GPS / Glonass / Galileo / BeiDou / QZSS / NavIC, USB-C, 4G LTE, 5G
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Dual ambient light, Gyroscope, Proximity
- Battery: 3,692 mAh with 25W wireless charging (no power adapter in the box)
iPhone 17 Price in Nepal and Availability
The iPhone 17 starts at USD 799 for the 256GB model in the US market. When it makes its way to Nepal, we expect the price of the iPhone 17 to start at no less than NPR 147,000 for the base 256GB model. With the 512GB variant likely hitting around NPR 165,000
| iPhone 17 variant | Price in the US (Official) | Price in Nepal (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | USD 799 | NPR 147,000 |
| 512GB | USD 999 | NPR 183,000 |
- Meanwhile, check out our unboxing and review of iPhone 16
