Apple held its “awe dopping” event on September 9. Honestly, nothing shocking came out, but yes, the iPhone 17 series managed to create some excitement. For the last few years, new iPhones were a bit boring, but this time Apple seems to have woken up.

So, let’s break it down — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and the brand-new iPhone 17 Air.

iPhone 17 – Finally, the Base Model Isn’t the “Chota Bhai”

Earlier, Apple always treated the base iPhone like a poor cousin. No high-refresh screen, outdated cameras, and fewer features. Basically, “Pro” users got the real deal, and the rest were like, chalo jo milta hai le lo.

But now — tables have turned. The iPhone 17 comes with:

• 6.3-inch 120Hz ProMotion display (same as Pro model)
• 256GB starting storage (no more struggling with 128GB)
• 18MP Center Stage selfie camera
• 48MP Fusion ultrawide camera

And the best part? Price hasn’t gone up compared to last year. For once, the base model feels like paisa vasool.

iPhone 17 Pro – Looks, Power, and Cool Factor

The Pro models this year scream premium. From the flashy Cosmic Orange colour to the sleek design, they actually look and feel new (not like the same old iPhone 12 to 16 copy-paste job).

Big highlights:

• Vapor chamber cooling (finally, no more “iPhone is heating” memes)
• 4x zoom 100mm camera with a bigger 48MP sensor
• Anti-reflective Ceramic Shield 2 glass — harder to break, clearer to see
• Same buttery smooth 120Hz screen as the base iPhone 17

For heavy users, the Pro is still the “boss phone.”

iPhone 17 Air – The “Fashion Wala iPhone”

This is the wild card. Just like MacBook Air was about thinness, the iPhone 17 Air is about style. It’s slimmer, lighter, and comes at a lower price than the Pro.

But make no mistake — this isn’t meant for geeks. The Air is for people who just want an iPhone to look stylish and don’t care about tech specs. Think of it like, “show-off iPhone.”

Will it click in India? Hard to say. Maybe it’ll flop like iPhone mini.

iOS 26 – Fresh Look and Smarter Tricks

The new iOS 26 also got a big redesign. Apple is calling it “Liquid Glass,” and it feels shiny and modern. Some new features include:

• Smarter Apple Intelligence
• New Camera app (simpler and faster)
• Adaptive Power mode for better battery
• Small improvements that make daily use smoother

Looks fancy, but we’ll have to see if people actually like the changes.

But Where is the iPhone Fold?

Here’s the disappointment: No foldable iPhone. Rumours were flying that Apple might tease it this year, but nothing happened.

Samsung launched its first Fold back in 2019. It’s 2025 now, and Apple is still sleeping on it. Come on Apple, jaldi karo, people are waiting!

Final Take

Apple’s iPhone 17 series feels like a proper comeback. The base model finally makes sense, the Pro models look and perform like true flagships, and the Air is… well, an experiment.

India buyers will especially like the fact that the base iPhone 17 now offers Pro-level display and cameras without burning a deeper hole in the pocket.

So, if you’ve been skipping iPhones for the last few years, this might be the one worth upgrading to.