Apple's iPhone 17 series launch: Should you go orange?

Apple’s iPhone 17 line-up arrives in four distinct forms: the standard iPhone 17, the all-new iPhone Air, and the Pro and Pro Max that anchor the premium end of the family. Each model is pitched at a different type of buyer, yet together they reveal Apple’s strategy of balancing stability with modest innovation.

The iPhone 17 itself delivers the most noticeable improvement in years. It now features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, offering a smoother 120Hz refresh rate, and its base storage has been doubled to 256 gigabytes. These refinements significantly close the gap between the standard and Pro tiers, making the entry-level version a genuinely appealing upgrade for mainstream users.

Recommended For You

Lives at risk: UAE Filipinos watch in fear as typhoon Fung-wong batters the Philippines

'The Night Manager 2' teaser: Tom Hiddleston returns to unearth an arms conspiracy

Alcaraz off to winning start at ATP Finals with win over De Minaur

Should you ‘feed a cold and starve a fever’? Find out if the adage is true

Dubai residents can help shape the city's future through new community initiative

 

The iPhone Air, marketed as the slimmest iPhone Apple has ever built, brings titanium construction and Ceramic Shield protection. It is meant for those who prioritise elegance and portability, though concerns remain about whether such thinness compromises battery life.

The Pro models showcase Apple’s engineering push. Both Pro and Pro Max introduce an aluminium unibody with vapour chamber cooling, while the Pro Max adds the company’s longest optical-quality zoom at eight times and up to two terabytes of storage for professional creators. Yet overall, these changes feel incremental. The iPhone 17 family is polished, but not revolutionary.

Cosmic Orange with an Indian Pulse

The real talking point is colour. Apple has added Cosmic Orange to the Pro range, a vivid finish that immediately sets this year’s line apart. On the surface it is a bold design choice, but it also coincides with a significant moment in Apple’s supply chain. For the first time, all four models are being manufactured in India from the very start, including the Pro models that were previously reserved for production in China.

This marks a turning point for Apple. Diversifying assembly into India helps reduce its dependence on China while tapping into India’s growing manufacturing capacity. For Indian buyers, Cosmic Orange carries cultural resonance. The colour has long been associated with celebration, energy, and national pride. The fact that this new shade is being built in local factories lends it symbolic value that goes beyond aesthetics.

However, colour alone does not translate into technical advantage. Cosmic Orange may turn heads in Dubai cafés or resonate with Indian pride, but at the end of the day, buyers will judge the device on performance, value, and reliability.

From Silicon Valley to South Asia

The supply chain story gives the iPhone 17 added significance. Apple has long been defined by the phrase “Designed in California, Assembled in China". With rising costs and geopolitical pressures, that model is shifting.

Bloomberg and Reuters report that Apple intends to produce the majority of US-bound iPhones in India by 2026. The iPhone 17 is the first major step in that plan, with all models now being assembled in India.

Where the iPhone 17 Excels

One of Apple’s enduring strengths is consistency. Across all lenses, whether wide, ultra-wide, or telephoto, the colour balance and skin tones remain steady. This reliability means that even without the headline-grabbing megapixel counts of some Android rivals, the iPhone delivers images that are natural and cohesive.

The vapour chamber cooling in the Pro models is also a practical step forward. iPhones have often overheated under pressure, particularly during extended gaming or while recording long videos. This addition improves stability, especially in warmer climates like the Middle East where devices are pushed harder.

Battery life is respectable. The standard iPhone 17 can comfortably last a full day, and the Pro Max stretches further. While not class-leading, Apple’s efficiency with the A19 chip ensures reliable endurance without dramatically increasing the battery size. Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI-powered features, is now integrated into iOS. Tools such as transcription, photo editing, and personalised recommendations are seamlessly woven into apps. Perhaps the most significant development is that the standard iPhone 17 is now a strong choice in its own right. With ProMotion and expanded storage, it no longer feels like a compromise.

Mainstream Wins, Pro Ambitions

This year’s strategy shows Apple tightening the spread across its range.

The iPhone 17 offers everyday value, the Air appeals to those who love elegant design, and the Pro Max is aimed squarely at creators who need the very best performance. The Pro sits in between but risks being overshadowed, since its difference from the standard model is less pronounced than before.

For the average buyer, the iPhone 17 will feel like the best value device Apple has produced in years. For creators, the Pro Max is hard to ignore, with its larger vapour chamber, extended zoom, and vast storage ceiling. And for those who simply want the thinnest iPhone ever made, the Air fills that niche.

Where It Falls Behind

Despite these refinements, Android rivals still lead in several areas.

Camera versatility: Andriods coming up with a 200-megapixel main sensor, dual telephoto lenses offering three and five times optical zoom, and 8K video capture. While Apple’s eight times optical-quality zoom is a first, it does not match the range of options andriods offer.

Battery capacity: Android flagships ship with batteries as large as 6000 milliamp hours. Apple’s cells are smaller, relying on efficiency instead of raw capacity. For heavy users, especially gamers, Android devices still last longer.

Charging speed: Most of the andriods now deliver up to 100-watt wired charging and 50-watt wireless. Apple continues with slower charging rates, meaning a full charge still takes significantly longer. This is a very visible gap in daily use.

Customisation: iOS remains a tightly controlled environment. Android phones allow users to customise themes, layouts, and features far more freely. Some lead on AI-powered tools such as live call screening and automated image editing, which Apple has yet to match.

Price-to-spec ratio: Andriods in particular undercut Apple while delivering flagship hardware. Buyers who compare purely on specifications often find better value in Android devices, raising questions over Apple’s premium pricing.

Clash of Titans: Android
versus iPhone

These differences highlight the contrasting philosophies. Apple focuses on integration, polish, and ecosystem lock-in. iPhones rarely lead in specifications but consistently perform in ways that feel reliable and coherent.

Android manufacturers prioritise innovation and variety, offering productivity through its stylus, pushing AI boundaries, and delivering endurance and charging speed. For buyers in the UAE and wider region, the choice often comes down to priorities. If you are deeply tied into iMessage, FaceTime, or AirDrop, the iPhone remains hard to beat. If you want more flexibility and stronger hardware for the price, Android presents clear advantages.

Closing Gaps but Not Leading

The iPhone 17 series is a measured update, not a radical reinvention. The standard iPhone 17 offers real value, the Air revives excitement in design, and the Pro Max is a capable creative tool. Cosmic Orange adds flair, but its deeper significance lies in Apple’s shift to Indian manufacturing.

For loyal Apple users, the iPhone 17 offers enough refinement to justify the upgrade. For those comparing ecosystems, the question remains whether style and stability are enough to outweigh Android’s power and versatility.

— sana@khaleejtimes.com

Sana Eqbal

Staff Writer

• 

sana@khaleejtimes.com

Sana Eqbal is a journalist with over 10 years of experience and a media strategist specialising in corporate communications, public relations, digital media, and content management.