Random Access Memory, or RAM, is found in almost every device we use — be it a smartphone, tablet, laptop, smart television or beyond. RAM is also a technology that AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are using in vast quantities to power servers in their gigantic data centres. There has, quite obviously, been a considerable surge in demand for the component, which is manufactured by the likes of Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. It also means AI companies are purchasing so much of this component that the rest of us are being forced to pay more for our phones and laptops.
There is no solution on the horizon, and all the companies we have spoken to are pointing to the end of 2027 or even 2028 for the situation to ease even slightly. That makes things rather awkward for anyone currently in the market for a new smartphone. But here is the thing: if you are looking at a flagship phone, the iPhone 17 has proved to be the finest premium device in many years. Apple is known to make efficient use of RAM — far better than even the best Android phone manages. It is, in fact, one of those rare devices that need no fine print attached to it.
We have been using the phone for six months now. There is none of the Pro or Pro Max business here, yet this is one smooth operator.
On the outside, it looks identical to the previous generation. What is exciting about this phone is what lies beneath the bonnet — particularly the value it offers for everyday use cases. And some of that value was apparent straight out of the box.
The display that changes everything
By far the most talked-about feature of this phone is the ProMotion 120Hz display, protected by Ceramic Shield 2. For context, Apple has essentially taken the display from its Pro phones and added several enhancements. Even without ProMotion, working on the base iPhone has always been fluid. It has gone to the next level, particularly when paired with the iOS 26 liquid glass aesthetic.
Where we take issue with the majority of public opinion is the claim that you cannot go back to 60Hz once you have used a 120Hz display. That simply is not true. You most certainly can.
The new, brighter display can reach up to 3,000 nits. And again, to illustrate the quite extraordinary value of this phone — if you compare its display to the higher-end models, other than the size, it is virtually the same.
We have been using the phone without a case, and it has taken a few tumbles rather well, though most people would prefer to slip one on.
The feature many will look forward to most is the Dynamic Island — one of the finest additions to the iPhone in recent years. This is the space where you receive information about an incoming Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, and so forth.
Apple has also been quite generous with storage. There are 256GB and 512GB options available. Given the size of updates these days, there is little sense in buying a phone with 128GB of storage. iPhones last at least eight to nine years, meaning more and more photographs will need to be stored over time. Things are simply easier with at least 256GB, though we would plump for the 512GB option.
The speakers on these phones are rather brilliant. There is considerably more bass than one might expect, which is a treat for those who enjoy watching films on their smartphones.
Battery fife that goes the distance
The most noticeable difference for most people coming from older iPhones, or indeed from the Android ecosystem, is battery life.
With the iPhone 17, you can go a day and a half without reaching for the charger — and it still does not drop below the 20 per cent mark with any ease. We are talking about six to seven hours of screen-on time. Having used the phone for six months, battery performance has remained remarkably steady.
The iPhone 17 finally has an always-on display. Picture: Mathures Paul
What of the camera? The main 48MP Dual Fusion camera is the best in the business, at least for those who prefer point-and-shoot simplicity. There is plenty of photographic capability on offer, though the crowd buying this phone is unlikely to be fussed about Pro features. The ultra-wide 48MP snapper is equally top-notch, with barely any colour shift from the main camera. You can also record 4K Dolby Vision video at 24fps, 25fps, 30fps, or 60fps.
And here is a rather clever feature: the square-format Centre Stage selfie sensor. With its 1:1 aspect ratio, selfies taken at arm’s length look far better than before. There is no need to hold the phone in that awkward landscape position. In other words, orientation simply does not matter.
There is also the Camera Control on the iPhone 17, which we initially suspected would be little more than a gimmick. As it turns out, even as a quick launch shortcut for the camera app, it changes the way you use the phone entirely. We have ours set up to zoom in and out. The Action button, meanwhile, has been programmed to run Shazam, identifying music playing in the vicinity.
Any sensible company selling both a premium phone and a more affordable one will always hold something back to keep the two apart — there has typically been one or two headline features reserved exclusively for the Pro models. Not so with the iPhone 17.
A better display, better cameras, and better battery life — what more could one ask for? Add to that the superior performance delivered by the A19 chip, which leaves many flagship chipsets rather in the shade. Apple knows precisely what it wants from apps on iOS, and the chipset helps deliver exactly that.
No phone is perfect, mind you. But the complaints one has about the iPhone 17 feel considerably more minor than in previous generations, when there were glaring omissions to contend with. For instance, there is USB 2.0, which keeps data transfer speeds on the lower side. There is no telephoto lens either, though that is something the majority of users will never miss.
As for Apple Intelligence, it is simply a matter of time before it comes into its own, and one hopes the upcoming WWDC will prove to be the most innovative in years.
When the base model in a lineup is an excellent deal, the rest of the range becomes all the more compelling as well. After spending six months with the iPhone 17, one feels the ‘Pro’ in iPhone 17 Pro is entirely well-deserved. Apple can justify the premium pricing — better GPU performance and improved sustained thermal management see to that.
If you are particularly fond of sleek, thin, lightweight phones, the iPhone Air is the one for you. If you are heavily into gaming, recording video, photography, or simply want a bigger screen and a heftier battery, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max is your best bet. For everyone else, there is the iPhone 17. It is the finest iPhone in years, and after six months with it, one does rather find oneself wondering whatever happened to Android. Even though it launched last year, it would come as no surprise if it finds its way into the top three phones of 2026.