The Apple iPhone 17 Pro seems too good to be true. Apple claims that this carefully-crafted aluminum phone has the longest battery life, a new camera, and a cooling system that ensures the powerful new chip doesn’t generate too much heat. The screen of the new iPhone 17 Pro is said to be three times more scratch resistant, allowing both the back and front of the phone to be completely safe. Apple’s film on the iPhone 17 Pro highlights the photographic elements, referring to the phone as “the most cinematic camera we’ve ever made.” It has high quality zoom to get closer to action styled photography and filming.
Not only is it high-quality, but more eco-friendly than previous models as well. In Apple’s environmental report, the iPhone 17 is said to be made of 30% recycled content, and 35% of supplies come from renewable energy projects. The reports show that most, if not all, of the materials that make up the iPhone are recycled, including recycled gold, aluminum, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The packaging is 100% fiber-based and smaller than it has been for past models, which Apple says “reduces paper waste and carbon emissions as 35% more units can be shipped per trip.” Although the manufacture and use of an iPhone will still use carbon-based energy to an extent, this is not something that should be overlooked.
All this being said, there is one important factor that isn’t quite so dazzling: the ridiculous expense. The phone is priced at about $1,500. Even with all of the improvements, this cost is simply not worth it. A more affordable alternative still part of the Apple ecosystem could be the iPhone 15, or even the recent 16 from last year. These models are hundreds of dollars cheaper and are more than sufficient for the day-to-day uses one has for a cell phone.
Yes, the battery life, camera, durability, and environmentally-conscious features all sound wonderful on paper — but when you actually have the phone in your hands, will they really make that much of a difference? Will you really be taking pictures every day, marveling at the improved quality, or running out of battery just when you needed that last percentage the new phone would have gotten you? These may be nice features, but to the average iPhone user, they are utterly overpriced.
That being said, it all comes down to personal preference. If you’re someone who truly does value these new features, it might just be the perfect investment. But let’s face it: this phone is only going to be new for a year, until it’s replaced with the latest — and even more expensive — upgrade.
