We’re getting closer to the launch of new iPhone 18 Pro models that will replace the iPhone 17 Pro models, so Woozad Videographer Dan Barbera decided to return to the iPhone he has been using for almost 12 months.
Ceramic Shield 2 was the best iPhone upgrade this year. Apple said it was more scratch resistant, and that turned out to be true. Dan is without a case and his iPhone 17 Pro only has light scratches, while the 16 Pro was scratched after three weeks. The iPhone also survived face-down drops without damage, but there are some chips in the aluminum along the edges. There have been reports of the orange color fading over time, but Dan didn’t see it with his device.
Battery life also stood out on the iPhone 17 Pro. It’s capable of keeping up with a full day of heavy usage, which is normally only possible with the larger battery of the iPhones Pro Max. Dan upgraded to the smaller iPhone 17 Pro rather than the 17 Pro Max because the battery lasted longer than the 16 Pro battery.
Apple added vapor chamber cooling in the 17 Pro, which helped keep the iPhone cooler than normal for most of the year. Dan said his iPhone was running hotter with minor performance drops, likely due to the iOS 27 beta. Running beta software can affect battery life and device performance.
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro won’t be a huge upgrade over the iPhone 17 Pro, and it’s likely that prices will increase. It’s not the worst idea to buy an iPhone 17 Pro now instead of waiting for the iPhone 18 Pro, especially if you have an older iPhone.
Popular stories
Apple increases iPhone prices in Japan
After raising the prices of all Macs and iPads worldwide last month, Apple has now increased the price of iPhone models in Japan. As spotted by Spanish blog iPhoneros, the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max all received price increases on Apple’s online store in Japan today. Prices increased by up to 11%. Previous model…
iPhone 17 prices could rise as early as Monday, rumor has it
Apple could raise iPhone 17 prices as soon as Monday, August 10, according to a new rumor, well ahead of the series of broader increases expected with the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro next month. Weibo leaker “Fixed Focus Digital” said in a post yesterday that rumors are circulating that an iPhone 17 price change will take effect on August 10. The leaker did not commit to whether the prices would actually…
Apple skips iPhone 18 launch this year
Apple vendor Pegatron indirectly confirmed today that the standard iPhone 18 model won’t be released until next year, according to a new report. Pegatron held a second-quarter 2026 earnings conference call today. During the call, Taiwan’s Economic Daily News said Pegatron indicated that one of its customers would change its usual smartphone shipping schedule. As widely expected, the…
