Another year means another new iPhone release. Every fall, Apple comes out with another iPhone; this time, it is the iPhone 17 and another shocking addition, the iPhone Air. 

     The brand-new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air were released on September 19. According to Apple, the new iPhone 17 is more durable and has better camera quality, storage, and battery life compared to any other iPhone. So what is the big deal? Apple says the same old stuff every single year. But customers do not seem to mind rolling out hundreds of dollars each year. According to Apple’s financial reports, the company brought in $404 billion in revenue in 2024. Customers tend to buy a new iPhone every 2-3 years, but we all know that one person who demands they need a new one every year. 

     Apple claims the new iPhone 17 is scratch-resistant, but Forbes author, Janhoi McGregor says otherwise. McGregor says that the new iPhone 17 is under scrutiny for allegedly being easily scratched. Customers are not happy to see that their brand-new phone is already scratched up within the first week of owning it. It does not help that this costly phone is $799, with the Pro costing an extra $200. The scratches are most prominent around the raised camera bar and the glass panel below it, but who wants to pay hundreds of dollars for a phone only to have scratch marks anywhere on it? With all of this being said, make sure to buy a strong, durable case for your phone, no matter what model it is. 

     I was curious to know whether the iPhone 17 was worth it or not, so I found someone with an unbiased opinion to answer some questions. Lewis Cass senior, Owen Cotner-Graves used to have the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and recently acquired the brand-new iPhone 17 Pro Max. When asked how he feels about his new phone, Owen answered, “I like it a lot better than my old phone, and the battery lasts forever.” When asked if he liked his new phone or his old phone better, Owen stated, “This phone is a lot better, but there is a lot of new stuff that I’m not up to date on.” Owen is talking about the new iOS 26 update; there are several new ways to personalize your phone in this update. He did not mention any scratches on his new iPhone yet. Overall, looking at the new iPhone, if you want a battery that lasts all day, the iPhone 17 is the way to go. 

     Now, something customers have not necessarily seen before in the Apple lineup is the new iPhone Air. This new phone is just as it sounds-as light as air. Despite not having “17” in the title, this phone is still a part of the iPhone 17 series. This $999 phone weighs 5.82 ounces and is 5.6 millimeters thick; a record-breaking weight and width for Apple. Apple states this new phone was “designed to give pro performance in the thinnest iPhone ever.” However, this phone only has one camera, lacking high-quality camera capabilities, and shorter battery life, lasting only 12 hours compared to some iPhones, such as the iPhone 17, that last up to 17 hours. So why buy the iPhone Air? I honestly have no idea why anyone would want to, other than the fact that it looks kind of cool and futuristic. I struggle to find why anyone would pay the extra hundreds of dollars for a phone that looks like you could snap it in half in mere seconds. I do not know if it is possible to make an iPhone any thinner and lighter than this phone, but I am sure Apple will try to. 

     My take? Apple needs to stop making brand-new phones with the same features every year. But hey, they must be doing something right if they are making hundreds of billions of dollars every year. If you are someone who likes to go a whole day without charging your phone, one plus is that the new battery life seems to get better with each phone. I need Apple to slow down because I am starting to lose track of what number iPhone model we are currently on.