iPhone

I’ve Tested More Than 50 Cases for the iPhone 17 Lineup. This Is the Ultimate Case Guide

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Other Screen Protectors I’ve Tested

ESR Armorite Pro screen protector.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

ESR Armorite Screen Protector and Privacy Protector for $20: This pack is better value than Smartish’s screen protectors, because you get three tempered glass sheets instead of two. All the necessary equipment is here, from an application tool to wet wipes. While it uses a pull-tab, I found Smartish’s and Dbrand’s systems easier to use overall. I also tried ESR’s Privacy Protector, which was effective at blocking the screen when viewed from the left or right. I didn’t see a major impact on sharpness or color accuracy. I tested ESR’s Armorite Pro ($36) with tempered glass made by Corning, the company that makes most of the glass found on smartphones. The edge feels a tiny bit sharp, but it was otherwise easy to apply and looks great.

OtterBox Glass Screen Protector for $40: OtterBox is now using a pull-tab system for installation, and the process was very easy, though I did end up with more air bubbles than my top picks. It comes with a microfiber, wet wipe, and dust-removal stickers, but you only get one aluminosilicate screen protector.

Nomad ProShield Glass for $39: Here’s another aluminosilicate screen protector made by Corning, the company that makes the glass on most smartphones. Instead of a pull-tab, you put the phone in the application tool, then close the tool like a book and push down as glass sticks to glass. It worked surprisingly well, with just a few air bubbles. I still feel like the edges of the protector are a little sharper than I’d like, compared to the Dbrand and Smartish. It also only comes with one.

Zagg XTR5 Screen Protector for $60: Zagg is really going after the blue-light crowd. If you think cutting as much blue light from your smartphone will help you sleep better or might be easier on the eyes, by all means, try the XTR5. It may give you peace of mind. But studies are still mixed on the efficacy of this, though Zagg claims this version specifically cuts out the wavelengths that impact sleep and eye comfort. The glass feels smooth and is thick. It annoyingly doesn’t cover the entire screen, but the edges don’t feel sharp. Installation was easy with the pull-tab system (a first for Zagg), and the company says this tempered glass is fortified with graphene for extra durability; it’s hard to say just how much it helps. It’s worth noting that I did notice an impact on color accuracy. Compared with another iPhone, the XTR5 delivered a cooler tone to the iPhone screen.

Astropad Fresh Coat Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for $35: Apple already added an anti-reflective coating to all of the new iPhones, but this Astropad screen protector can take that even further. Installation was easy with the pull-tab application system, though I got far more air bubbles with it than with any of the other pull-tab installations. It actually does work and cuts glare. I compared it with another iPhone that didn’t have a screen protector, and noticed glare was less pronounced with the Astropad. There’s no real loss in color accuracy or sharpness. I compared photos on the two phones, and they looked virtually identical. I haven’t found much reason to complain about glare on the iPhone 17 screen, but if something like that has bothered you before, the Fresh Coat might be up your alley.

Rhinoshield Impact Protector Pro (Transparent) for $36: This flexible screen protector was easy to apply, though I am a bit miffed that Rhinoshield didn’t include a wet wipe (just a microfiber and dust-removal stickers). It still left air bubbles, but the squeegee was able to get rid of them. The edges are a little sharp, which isn’t a problem on my top picks. This isn’t as much of an issue when paired with a case. The company claims it restricts blue light, but take this with a grain of salt. Studies have shown mixed results that cutting blue light from a smartphone will help you sleep better.

UAG Glass Shield Screen Protector for $40: This tempered glass screen protector is available for the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. But the application tool is a little too basic. It allows for some room for error, at least, more than my top picks, and it also gave me a lot of air bubbles. The glass is pretty thick, which feels protective, but you can also feel the sharp edges running along the side.

Other Great Cases

I’ve tested more than 50 cases for the iPhone 17 lineup. Not all of them deserve a top spot above, but many are still great and come in fun designs and styles. Check ’em out.

Alto Wood Case for $41: I love a good wood case, but I have some mixed feelings about these cases from Alto. You can get custom laser-carved prints, like from its Wildlife or Flora series; you can even add your own image. But these look a little tacky to me. Why hide that gorgeous wood? You can choose from a range of wood styles, from olive wood to cherry. I’d probably grab something from the company’s Burl & Exotic Series. The case itself is OK. The rubber bumper around the edges is grippy, but feels a little cheap. The power button is solid, and there’s a cutout for the Camera Control button, but the volume rocker feels a tiny bit mushy.

Beats Rugged Case for $79: This case is the opposite of the Beats Kickstand case that I listed in the avoid section below. Where that case was super slippery, this one offers a much better grip. The buttons are clicky, the display and cameras are protected, and it looks very pretty. It’s not the grippiest case I’ve tried, nor is it the most rugged, despite its name. I prefer the Camera Control button design on the Nomad Rugged Case, which has a thicker bumper. It’s available for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

BodyGuardz Performance Pro and Pulse Cases for $50+: BodyGuardz’s Pulse case is a fine case that comes in a fun matcha color and includes a wrist strap. The Camera Control button is nicely elevated. Look along the side edges and you’ll see vents—this is to help disperse heat, along with the help of cooling gel on the inner lining. I’ve tried testing this in the past and haven’t noticed much of a difference in gaming performance on the phone. The directional speaker is something that does actually work. Basically, the case directs the audio from the rear speakers towards you instead of downward, and you can marginally hear the difference. The Performance Pro takes it to the max with larger vents, and it adds a kickstand. I just don’t like how the case feels when you hold it.

Burton Goods Heritage Leather Case for $79+: Burton Goods is from the creator of Pad & Quill, which shut down in 2023 due to bankruptcy. The company was known for its classy leather cases, and that has continued with the new brand. The Heritage will make you feel like you’re sitting on a cozy armchair near a fireplace in an old English study. The full-grain leather feels supple (and smells great), and the stitching gives it even more character. There’s MagSafe baked in, a microfiber interior, and all the buttons are responsive. The edges are raised well around the display and Camera Plateau, too. You can pair it with the Heritage MagSafe Wallet Stand, which is a magnetic wallet with a kickstand. I was able to fit about three credit cards, though the top cover flap makes it a little hard to remove the cards.

Rhinoshield SolidX and Clear Cases for $38+: I have no qualms with either of these Rhinoshield cases. The SolidX is robust, thick, and protective, with clicky buttons and MagSafe. The Clear case has extremely clicky buttons that stick out quite a bit, and it feels very sturdy. There’s just not much else to them, other than the fact that the company uses a proprietary material called Mono. It’s 100 percent recycled and is essentially a single compound, making recyclability easier.

OtterBox Symmetry Series Case for $60: OtterBox’s Symmetry series is its most fun lineup because there are usually several nifty designs to choose from. Case in point, look at this adorable cactus embroidered case! It’s a fun texture to have on the back of your phone, and it’s super cute. This version is actually made from cactus leather, but other Symmetry cases are standard plastic. I don’t think the basic Symmetry cases are worth the $60 price, but the embroidered versions are worth considering. While these have MagSafe baked in, the embroidery does weaken the magnetic connection. It still charged my iPhone, but I wouldn’t trust it on a MagSafe car dock.

OtterBox Commuter Series Case for $50: OtterBox’s Commuter case is simple and inoffensive. You have a few muted colors to choose from, and the dual-layer design has a rubber slipcover surrounded by a harder plastic shell. I like the rubber edges as they help with grip, too. It checks off all the boxes—even the USB-C port is covered up—but it’s just not very exciting.

OtterBox Sole Series Case for $70: I actually really like the look and feel of this case. The ridged edges are grippy, and the netting-like fabric texture on the back is so satisfying to run my fingers over. It’s kind of like sandpaper, but in a good way. The cameras and display are protected, and the buttons are clicky. However, I’m very confused by the included lanyard loop. It’s way too tiny to put on even the smallest wrists. I suspect you’re meant to affix it to a carabiner or backpack instead. If that’s your jam, you’ll like this. If not, the lanyard is removable, and you can buy another one designed for wrists.

Mous Super Thin Aramid Fibre Case for $70: Several companies now make aramid fiber ultra-thin cases, and honestly, you can’t go wrong with most of them. I prefer the subtle texture of Pitaka’s case (see above), but Mous’ Super Thin is a close second, and it even comes in a clear option with MagSafe. I very much like the raised protection for the camera, though the Camera Control button is exposed, and there’s less protection on the top and bottom, unlike Pitaka’s case. As always, this sturdy case is extremely thin and is not going to provide the best protection, especially for the screen, but it’ll cover the usual wear and tear. Pair it with a screen protector.

Thinborne Super Thin Aramid Fiber Case for $70: It’s super thin like the Pitaka and Mous aramid fiber cases, with baked-in MagSafe, but I like Pitaka’s designs better. All of the buttons are exposed here, including the Camera Control. Thinborne includes a screen protector, but you have to freehand the installation as it doesn’t come with an application tool.

Zagg iPhone 17 Cases for $50+: I have tried all of Zagg’s cases, and they’re all solid, though I prefer the Sedona (see above) the most. Here are some thoughts on the lineup. The Crystal Palace Snap With Stand has the same great kickstand as the Sedona, as well as an actual button for Camera Control, but this case is clear. It’s a great way to show off your iPhone’s color, though it smudges easily. The Manhattan Snap ditches the kickstand and is silicone, but I found it attracts too much dust and lint; it is very soft, though. The Milan Snap has a fun iridescent color, and the Santa Cruz Snap With Stand has a striking, colorful bumper that’s grippy, but the Camera Control button is a cutout. The Luxe Snap might be my favorite of the lot in terms of design, with a fun texture on the back and grooved edges, but there’s no kickstand. Finally, the Rainier Case With Kickstand is the newest in Zagg’s lineup, and if you want robust protection, this one will satisfy. It’s a two-shell case with a hard and thick bumper, and seriously raised edges for maximum screen protection with extra-thick corners. Even the USB-C port is covered up. You get the same great kickstand, but the buttons are a bit mushy.

ESR Clear, Soft, and Tough Magnetic Case for $30: ESR has three versions of this case, each in a different material. The Soft employs a soft-touch silicone, and it’s quite nice, with clicky buttons and a dedicated Camera Control button. The Clear is, well, clear, and the Tough uses a hard plastic shell. None of them particularly excites me, but what makes them unique is the built-in kickstand that surrounds the camera module. It’s a neat idea, but you can only prop these phones up in landscape orientation. Technically, you can put them upright in portrait mode, but the phone has to be upside down. Either way, the Zagg recommendation above is a much better kickstand case.

Smartish Gripzilla, Gripmunk, and Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 Cases for $20+: These cases are nice and affordable. The Gripzilla has textured edges that make for a nice grip, though it’s nowhere near as grippy as Dbrand’s Grip case that I recommend above. The Gripmunk has some ridges to help with grip, and the Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 lets you stuff several credit cards on the back. However, the wallet interferes with MagSafe and has no magnets inside, so it cuts you off from wireless charging. It also makes the case very thick. They’re all solid cases for the money, and you should shop directly from Smartish as it has some exclusive designs on its store.

Matter HT Snap Cases for $60: Formerly known as Atom Studios, these “Snap” cases aren’t actually cases. They’re just a backing you can magnetically stick to your phone to protect the rear glass. The company offers them in a clear, wood fiber, or agave material. They all look nice and feel great, especially the Clear version for the iPhone Air. However, I don’t see the point of these. They don’t cover the edges at all, which is where you’ll most likely see scuffs and scratches after a drop. I’d much rather go for an ultra-thin case that wraps the edges of a phone, or something like the Arc Pulse.

UAG Cases for $45+: I have tested the full suite of UAG’s cases, from the Plyo and the Monarch Pro to the Metropolis LT and Plasma XTE. If I had to pick one, I’d buy the Pathfinder ($60). I love the bright yellow color, and the design is bold, but it works. It makes me feel tactical, like I’m about to scale and infiltrate a building. The problem with all of UAG’s cases is that they’re expensive, and none of them feature a dedicated button for Camera Control; it’s all a cutout. (I’ve just come to really prefer having an actual button on the case!) I also like the UAG Dot ($45) and its fun translucent case.

Avoid These Cases

Beats Kickstand Case for $59: This case is available for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but not the iPhone Air. I feel bad not recommending it because it’s adorable, especially in pink, and the kickstand is super creative. Instead of embedding a kickstand into the case, the included lanyard has a pill-shaped kickstand that pops out. Place it on one of the longer edges of the iPhone, and voila, kickstand! The problem is that it doesn’t work at all in portrait orientation, so it’s limited as a kickstand case. Also, the polycarbonate case is shockingly slippery. I don’t think I’ve ever used a case more slippery. I was so surprised I showed my wife, and she immediately said, “Yeah, no, I don’t like that.” I guess that’s why a lanyard is included.

Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case for $69: I like Mujjo’s leather cases, but I don’t really like the ones with a wallet sleeve embedded into the case itself. Firstly, the sleeve barely fits my card properly, let alone three, like the company claims. It’s also really hard to take the cards out. While Mujjo has built-in magnets in the case, the magnetic connection is fairly weak because the sleeve interrupts it. Not to mention the fact that you have to remove your cards to actually use MagSafe. It just seems counterintuitive. Just get a MagSafe wallet at that point.

OtterBox Defender Series Pro XT Case for $80: I’m so used to OtterBox’s Defender series having solid colors that the clear design here threw me off. I don’t hate it, but it does show smudges easily. While I usually choose this case as the most protective due to its dual-layer design (a polycarbonate frame sits on top and a rubber slipcover rests underneath), I ran into a problem. The Camera Control button is way too responsive. It’s so easy to press that I kept launching the camera every time I picked up the iPhone. My grip alone would end up pushing the button. I have tried installing and reinstalling this case several times to make sure the fit was right, but the problem still keeps happening. Bah.

Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1 for $30: This is an odd case. The wallet sleeve on the back is really tight, and I had trouble stuffing two cards in. Taking them out isn’t easy either because they get stuck on the edge. Smartish also advertises a kickstand, but there is no kickstand on the case. Instead, you’re supposed to use your own credit card as the kickstand, which is just a little weird.

UAG Trooper Case for $65: Cases are so good these days, which is why it irks me when there’s an obvious flaw in a design. UAG’s Trooper is a rugged, tough case that is very bulky. Yet instead of adding a button for Camera Control, the company kept a cutout. But when the edge is so thick, it’s genuinely hard to press this button, even if the back edge is sloped in. (Could be my fat fingers.) The volume rocker and Action Button are also hard to press.

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Julian Chokkattu

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September 20, 2025

Diminish Distractions by Setting Your iPhone to Gray Scale When You’re Home

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Phones are undeniably useful when you’re out and about in the world. Directions, photos, music, messaging the people you’re meeting up with, or even just scrolling while you’re waiting for the bus—it’s all great.

The problem with phones, in my opinion, is when you’re at home. Home is the place where you might rather spend your time reading a book, practicing an instrument, or messing around in the garden. But everything is hard, almost impossible, when your phone is so freaking interesting.

That’s why it’s important to make your phone boring on purpose. Whenever we talk about how to break your smartphone addiction, a trick that’s commonly cited is to set your phone to gray scale. The problem: making your phone black and white and gray all the time makes it less useful during the times you actually need it.

That’s why I set up an automation that sets my phone to gray scale when I arrive at home and turns it back to color when I leave my house. This gives me the best of both worlds: a fully functional phone on the road and a less distracting one at home. Even better, because I’m using Apple Shortcuts to do this, I don’t need to buy or install any apps. I don’t even need to tap a button to make it work.

Here’s how you can set this up. And yes, because these tools are specific to iOS, you’ll need an iPhone.

Step 1: Make 2 Shortcuts

To get started, open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. We’re going to make two shortcuts, one for when you get home and one for when you leave home. Name both appropriately.

Courtesy of Justin Pot

For the first shortcut, which will trigger when you get home, search for the action Set Color Filters. Add it and make sure that the shortcut is set to turn color filters On. This will filter out onscreen colors and turn your display gray scale. For the other shortcut make sure it will turn color filters Off. You should now have two shortcuts.

Step 2: Set Up the Automation

From the main screen of the Shortcuts app, tap Automations in the bottom toolbar. We are going to set up two automations: one for when you leave home and another for when you get home.

Diminish Distractions by Setting Your iPhone to Gray Scale When You're Home

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Justin Pot

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September 20, 2025

10 things I wish I knew before buying refurbished electronics

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Buying refurbished electronics sounds like a no-brainer. You get the latest gadgets at a fraction of the cost while giving devices a second life, which is better for the environment. It seems like the perfect solution for those on a budget, but it isn’t always that simple. Not every refurbished device is equal, and the fine print matters more than you think.

Some sellers do a fantastic job restoring products, while others barely touch them before reselling. If you’re considering refurbished tech, here are important lessons I wish I knew beforehand. These insights will help you make smarter choices, avoid headaches and get real value for your money.

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Researching a seller’s track record is more important than chasing after the lowest refurbished price point. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images)

1) Refurbished does not always mean like new

In the tech industry, the label refurbished carries no uniform standard. From factory-certified devices that meet stringent quality checks to third-party refurbishments that address only surface-level defects, the range is vast. My experience shows that treating refurbished items as “like new” is a mistake. Many come with cosmetic blemishes or partially worn components, and some sellers stop at a basic reset and cleaning.

The key is to scrutinize the seller’s refurbishment process and request detailed specifications or photos to ensure the item is in good condition. Look for transparency about what has been repaired or replaced. A reputable refurbisher will disclose whether critical components such as screens, batteries or motherboards were replaced or simply tested.

Pro tip: Many refurbishers use a grading system (A, B, C). Grade A means near new, Grade B usually has light scratches, while Grade C shows heavier wear. Knowing the grade helps set realistic expectations.

2) Check the warranty and return policy

One of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of buying refurbished electronics is the warranty and return policy. Through years of testing products, I’ve seen warranties vary wildly from generous 90-day coverage to none at all. A solid warranty is not just a formality; it’s a reflection of the refurbisher’s confidence in the quality of the product. Without it, you’re taking a gamble.

Industry best practices suggest opting for sellers who provide at least a 90-day warranty and a clear, no-hassle return window. I have consistently seen reliable refurbishers like Amazon Renewed, eBay Certified Refurbished and Back Market stand by their work with transparent policies.

Also look at Apple Certified Refurbished and Dell Outlet, which are industry leaders for high-quality laptops, tablets and phones.

3) Know the seller’s reputation

Not all sellers are equal when it comes to refurbished tech. My years covering consumer electronics have made it clear that choosing a reputable seller is more important than chasing the lowest price. Factory-certified refurbishers and authorized resellers tend to follow strict testing and quality control procedures. In contrast, independent sellers often vary in quality and reliability.

I always emphasize researching the seller’s history, reading verified customer reviews and ensuring they offer clear refurbishment guarantees. Established marketplaces and brand-certified stores provide additional layers of security, including dispute resolution mechanisms.

Red flags include: vague warranty language, listings with only stock photos, “open box” items marketed as refurbished and any product sold “as-is.” If you see those, walk away.

4) Don’t forget accessories and packaging

A less obvious but important consideration is the state of accessories and packaging. In industry practice, refurbished products rarely arrive in original packaging or with the full set of accessories. I’ve seen that some sellers ship devices with generic boxes and subpar third-party accessories or omit chargers and manuals altogether.

If accessories are important to your workflow, don’t assume they’ll be included. Always verify the listing description and, when in doubt, ask the seller directly. Knowing exactly what comes in the box prevents surprises and ensures you don’t have to hunt for compatible chargers or cables after the fact, potentially eroding any savings you initially gained.

5) Battery life may not be the same

A common misconception is that refurbished devices come with batteries that perform like new, but that’s not the case. Batteries naturally degrade with use, and not all refurbishers replace them.

Some sellers disclose battery replacement while others do not. It is critical to confirm whether the battery is new, tested or original. Otherwise, expect performance issues such as rapid discharge or failure to hold a charge. A device with a worn-out battery is rarely worth the lower upfront cost, as you’ll likely need to replace the battery soon after purchase.

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A good warranty and return policy are essential safeguards for choosing refurbished devices. (Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

6) Software updates and compatibility

You should only use electronic items like phones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches as long as they’re receiving software updates. Many might disagree with this, but the truth is that once software support ends, your device becomes vulnerable to all kinds of unpatchable security flaws. Some good brands known for reliable software support are Apple, Samsung, Google, MSI and Lenovo.

Before purchasing, always verify that the device is still supported with regular updates. This information is often available on the manufacturer’s website or through trusted tech resources.

7) Test the device thoroughly after purchase

Testing a refurbished device thoroughly upon arrival is a best practice I’ve recommended repeatedly in my writing. Even trusted sellers can occasionally miss a defect. I always advise checking every essential function, such as the screen, charging port, Wi-Fi, sound and camera, within the seller’s return period. Many problems won’t be obvious from photos or descriptions alone.

Immediate testing ensures you catch issues early enough to return or replace the product without hassle. It’s a small investment of time that prevents far bigger frustrations later.

And don’t forget to perform your own factory reset on iPhone, Android, PC or Mac to ensure no old accounts, locks or data are lingering on the device. For Apple devices, make sure “Find My iPhone” has been disabled before purchase, or it may be unusable.

8) Install strong antivirus software

Refurbished devices can sometimes carry hidden risks, especially if the previous owner didn’t wipe the device properly or if the seller missed deep software issues. Installing strong antivirus software is essential to protect your device from malware, spyware or other security threats that may be lurking.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

9) Use a password manager

Security doesn’t end with antivirus protection. Many refurbished devices come with pre-installed software or misconfigured settings that could expose you to risk. One of the smartest moves you can make is using a reliable password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

10) Know the real value of your savings

Refurbished doesn’t always mean a bargain. As a rule of thumb, expect to save 20-40% compared to new, depending on the brand, age and condition. If you’re only saving 10-15%, the trade-off on warranty, lifespan or battery may not be worth it. Calculate the long-term cost, especially if you’ll need to buy a new battery or accessories soon after.

6 KITCHEN ITEMS THAT EXPERTS ‘WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND’ BUYING AT SECONDHAND SHOPS

Refurbished products often arrive without original packaging or accessories, leaving buyers unprepared. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Bonus: The eco-friendly upside

Every refurbished device purchased keeps one more gadget out of the landfill and reduces carbon emissions from manufacturing. Studies show buying refurbished can cut a product’s carbon footprint nearly in half. That means you’re not only saving money but also helping the planet.

Kurt’s key takeaway

Buying refurbished electronics can be a great way to save money and reduce e-waste. But it pays to be careful. By sticking with certified sellers, knowing what “refurbished” really means and insisting on warranties and clear return policies, you can protect both your wallet and your data.

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Have you ever bought a refurbished electronic device? How was your experience? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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September 20, 2025

Tim Cook Swears Tariffs Aren’t to Blame for iPhone 17 Pro Price Hike

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Apple CEO Tim Cook wants everyone—especially Donald Trump—to know that the company’s new iPhone Pro price hike has nothing to do with tariffs.

“There’s no increase for tariffs in the prices to be totally clear,” Cook told CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday, the launch day for Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup. Earlier this month, Apple announced it would be raising the starting price for its most advanced iPhone by $100.

For the first time since the iPhone X debuted in 2017, Apple’s entry-level Pro model starts above $999. Analysts had predicted the increase, noting that major gaming companies also recently raised prices on their consoles.

For months, Cook and other executives have tried to stay on Trump’s good side in hopes of getting favorable policies for their respective businesses. But that has proven to be trickier than expected, as the president has shown no hesitation to involve himself in the affairs of private corporations, leaving top CEOs balancing on a very thin tightrope.

Since Trump’s election in November, big names like OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg have all met with him. Cook even presented Trump with a glass sculpture and pledged to boost Apple’s U.S. investments to $600 billion in an attempt to navigate Trump’s tariff threats against China and India, where most iPhones are assembled.

Apple isn’t alone in pledging huge investments. OpenAI, Eli Lilly, General Motors, and more have also promised billions in U.S. investments. But it seems these offerings of goodwill can only get you so far with Trump.

Even after Hyundai pledged $26 billion in U.S. investments, federal immigration agents raided its under-construction battery plant in Georgia.

For Apple, the tariffs have already cost it some money.

“For the June quarter, we incurred approximately $800 million of tariff-related costs,” Cook admitted on an August earnings call. He said those costs could climb to $1.1 billion in the September quarter if Trump’s trade policies remain unchanged. But Cook maintains they played no role in the price hike.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Gizmodo.

But even if tariffs are nudging prices upward, Cook has little incentive to say so.

Trump has been quick to attack companies that cite tariffs for raising consumer prices. In May, he blasted Walmart on Truth Social after its CEO warned it couldn’t keep absorbing rising costs, writing that the company should “EAT THE TARIFFS.”

Since then, Trump has taken an even more direct approach with companies.

Last month, the U.S. government bought a stake in struggling chipmaker Intel after Trump called for CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign.

And this week, he told reporters that any TV network critical of him should lose its broadcasting license, a remark that came after ABC yanked Jimmy Kimmel Live from the air following pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

We’re not even a year into Trump’s second term, yet CEOs are already buckling—and no one knows how much further they’ll cave without putting up a fight.

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Bruce Gil

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September 19, 2025

How to save any file as a PDF

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Portable Document Format (PDF) is one of the most widely used file formats for storing and sharing documents. It makes sense since PDFs are a universal file format that maintains layout, fonts, colors and images regardless of the device used to read them. Many people use PDFs to send resumes, receipts, tickets, contracts and school papers because they ensure the documents will look the same regardless of who opens them.

Furthermore, unlike proprietary formats, such as docx, xlsx and pptx, they are less likely to disappear. They’re also one of the easiest files to secure and encrypt in case you’re sending sensitive information.

The best part? You can turn just about any text document or image into a PDF. Let’s look at some popular ways of doing this.

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Kurt Knutsson explains how to save any file as a PDF. (REUTERS/Hannah Beier)

Save files as PDF on desktop

If you’re using a Windows or Mac, there is a built-in option that allows you to save a file as a PDF with a few clicks. This method usually works on files like text documents, images and emails.

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Windows

You can use the print function in many Windows apps to save a file as a PDF.

Open the file in its default app.
Click File > Print, click the printer icon or press Ctrl + P.
In the print dialog window, select Microsoft Print to PDF in the Printer dropdown menu.
Click Print.

A step-by-step guide shows how to save a file as a PDF.

Windows offers a built-in way to save a file as a PDF. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Mac

Like Windows, many macOS apps allow you to save files as PDF when printing them.

Open the file in its default app.
Click File > Print, click the printer icon or press Command + P.
In the print dialog window, click PDF in the bottom left corner and choose where to save it.
Click Save.

Chromebook

Whether you are viewing a document, image or webpage (even in an Android app), as long as the app you’ve opened it in supports printing, you can save it as a PDF.

Open the file.
Click File > Print, click the printer icon or press Ctrl + P.
In the print dialog window, select Save as PDF in the Destination dropdown menu for selecting printers.
Click Save.

Save files as PDF on mobile

On Android and iPhones, you can exploit the share function to save files as PDFs. It also only takes a few taps.

Android

There are several ways to export a file as a PDF on Android, with the easiest option being the print function when sharing it.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Open the file in the default app.
Tap the Share icon.
Tap Print.
Tap the PDF button to download it.

On iPhone, you can save a file as a PDF in apps like Photos, Files and Notes. Here are the general steps:

Open the file.
Tap the Share icon.
Tap Print to see a PDF preview of the file.
Tap the Share icon.
Tap Save to Files.
Then, tap “Save” in the upper-right corner of the screen.

You can save a file as a PDF on your iPhone or Android. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Save a file as a PDF on apps and cloud services

Many apps and online services offer built-in tools to convert files to PDF format, whether you’re using popular office suites or cloud-based services. Let’s look at the options available on various platforms.

If you’re using Microsoft Office apps, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, you can just save the file as a PDF.

Open the file.
Click File > Save As.
Under the location where the PDF will be saved, set the file type dropdown to PDF.
Click Save.

Follow these steps to save a document as PDF in Microsoft Word. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

For Google Workspace apps, such as Docs, Sheets and Slides, you can download them as a PDF:

Open the file.
Click File
Then tap Download,
Next, click the PDF Document.

If you want to save a webpage in browsers like Chrome, Edge and Firefox, follow the steps below:

Open the web page.
Click the three-dot icon or three-line icon in the top-right corner.
Click Print.

Even a webpage can be saved and exported as a PDF file. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Set Printer or Destination to Save as PDF.
Click Save.

Follow these steps to save a document as PDF in the Edge internet browser. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, follow the steps below (keep in mind that you need a premium subscription to use this feature):

Open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. It will automatically be converted to a PDF.
Press Ctrl + S on Windows or Command + S on Mac to save the PDF.

Notetakers like Evernote, OneNote and Notion also allow you to export files as a PDF. For instance, in Notion, you have to do it this way:

Click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner.
Click Export.
Select PDF in the Export format dropdown.
Click Export.

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Convert a file to a PDF online

You can convert files to PDF using online conversion tools. To convert a file into a PDF using CloudConvert, follow the steps below:

Go to https://cloudconvert.com/
Click Select File.
Select the file you want to convert on your computer or phone.
Select PDF in the Convert to dropdown. You can upload more than one file.
Click Convert.
Click Download.

While these sites provide a convenient means of converting files to PDFs, it’s best to avoid uploading sensitive documents like tax returns, medical records, financial statements, legal contracts or personal identification documents. That’s because they may store copies of those files on their servers, which means they can become vulnerable to security breaches or unauthorized access. For these, use built-in tools or trusted apps (any of the ones mentioned above will do).

Save physical documents as PDF files

You will find many apps for scanning documents and saving them as a PDF on Android and iPhone. The best one often mentioned is Adobe Scan, which you can download on the App Store or Google Play.

Here’s how to use it.

Open the Adobe Scan.
If it’s your first time opening it, you will need to sign in with your Apple (iPhone only), Google or Facebook account.
Tap the white circle in the bottom center of the screen to scan the document.
Tap Save PDF in the bottom right corner.

Working with PDFs

Once you’ve saved your file as a PDF, you may want to perform various actions to make it more useful or secure. Here’s how to work with your PDF files effectively.

Merging PDFs

You can use online tools to merge PDFs for free.

On your computer, go to https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/acrobat/combine-pdf.
Drag and drop the PDFs you want to merge into the browser window.

Adobe’s website offers a free method to combine PDF files. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

You can rearrange the PDFs by dragging them to the position you want them to be in.
Click Combine in the top-right corner.

The Adobe website makes it possible to combine PDFs and arrange them in any order. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Shrinking PDFs

Adobe also has an online tool you can freely use to compress PDFs.

On your computer, go to https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html.
Drag and drop the PDF you want to compress into the browser window.
Click Compress in the bottom-right corner.

Protecting your PDFs with a password

You can also password-protect your PDFs for free on the Adobe website using the steps below.

On your computer, go to https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/acrobat/protect-pdf.
Drag and drop the PDF you want to compress into the browser window.
Enter the password under Set password. Enter the same password under Confirm password.
Click Set password in the bottom-right corner.

You can protect a PDF with a password on the Adobe website. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Sign PDFs

There are plenty of ways to sign a document, and the easiest one is to use Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.
Select the E-sign tab.
Click Add signature or Add initials in the FILL AND SIGN YOURSELF section in the menu on the left.
Type your signature or initials in the dialog window. You can also draw it if you have a graphics tablet or add an image of it. Just switch to the Draw or Image tab.
Click Apply.
In the toolbar on the left side of the document area, click the pen icon.
Select your signature or initials in the menu that appears on the right.
Place your cursor, which will now look like your signature or initials, where you want to sign and click to insert the signature.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

As you can see, saving any file as a PDF is easy regardless of your device or platform. It takes just a few clicks or taps. Use PDFs when you want to share documents without losing their formatting elements. Remember to follow best practices when sharing them, especially if they contain sensitive information. You can always add an extra layer of security by password-protecting or encrypting your PDFs.

What other format do you like converting files to for storing and sharing? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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September 19, 2025

Engadget Podcast: iPhone Air and 17 reviews, Meta throws a screen on smart glasses

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We’re still in iPhone mode this week, as all of our reviews of Apple’s new hardware are rolling out. In this episode, Senior Writer Sam Rutherford joins us to chat about his experience with the iPhone Air and our final thoughts on the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. Also, we dive into all of the news from Meta Connect 2025, including the Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. Is Meta actually on to something with these smart glasses? Or is Zuck just desperate to get people away from phones?

Topics

iPhone 17 Air review: Thinness with a purpose – 1:21
What’s the iPhone 17 Air’s battery life like? – 14:47
iPhone 17 Pro: a more substantive update than meets the eye – 24:54
The base iPhone 17 is a great phone for pretty much everyone – 35:26
Mark Zuckerberg announces Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses during his Connect keynote – 39:35
Other News: The ‘framework’ of a TikTok deal is in place, U.S. may license ByteDance’s original algorithm – 1:09:08
New rumors about a touchscreen MacBook Pro – 1:10:41
Pop culture picks – 1:15:02

Livestream

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam Rutherford
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

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Devindra Hardawar

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September 19, 2025

How to Switch iPhones Without Losing a Thing

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Photograph: Simon Hill

If your old device doesn’t support Quick Start, or you don’t want to use it, then follow the steps on the Hello screen until you reach a screen asking whether you want to join a Wi-Fi network. Choose the network you wish to join. You will be prompted to set up eSIM (choose Transfer From Another iPhone) and then set up Face ID or Touch ID.

… or Restore Your Backup

Alternatively, you can restore the backup you made. Here’s how:

Restore From iCloud Backup

If you used iCloud to back up your iPad or iPhone, continue through the setup process until you reach the Apps & Data screen and tap the Restore from iCloud Backup option. Sign in to your Apple ID (if you’re forgetful, consider using a password manager to find and store old login information), and choose the backup you want to use. The backups are time-stamped, so if you’ve been regularly backing up your phone, there will be several listed; be sure to look at the date and size of the backup to make sure you pick the correct one.

Restore From Mac or PC

If you used your computer to back up your data, plug your phone or tablet into it. If you’re using a Mac running Catalina 10.15, open Finder and select your device. If your Mac is running an older operating system or you have a PC, open iTunes. Select your iPhone/iPad when it appears in the window. Click Restore Backup under the General tab and choose the correct date.

Make Sure Your Wi-Fi Connection Is Stable

Don’t disrupt the Wi-Fi connection until the transfer is complete. Disconnecting early will cause your backup to pause until you reconnect. The same goes if you are restoring by tethering your device to a Windows PC or Mac—leave your phone or tablet plugged in until it’s finished.

That’s It!

Closeup of a mobile phone with the screen saying Enjoy Your New iPhone.

There isn’t anything else to it. If you went ahead and fired up your new iPhone or iPad without transferring anything, you’ll have to either erase it and start over or transfer your content manually—but that’s going to be a lot more work than doing a full transfer. We recommend starting over from scratch and following the above steps to get all your data over at once.

Do not delete data on your old device until your new one is up and running. Have fun with your new iPhone or iPad, and if you don’t need your old phone, consider selling it. Be sure to check out our Best MagSafe Accessories and Best Apple 3-in-1 Wireless Chargers guides to kit out your new iPhone.

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September 19, 2025

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max review: An impactful redesign

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For the sake of this iPhone 17 Pro review, I’ve developed a gaming addiction.

I don’t mean triple-A games like Destiny: Rising and Genshin Impact, or even double-A or non-A titles like Inside or Vampire Survivors, both of which I greatly enjoy. I’m specifically referring to Snake Clash on YouTube Games — the type of thing you mindlessly play while pretending to watch a documentary on TV, or while sitting on the throne, slowly growing a hemorrhoid.

The reason I’ve been playing so much Snake Clash is because I’ve noticed in my year with an iPhone 16 Pro that countless hours with games like this cause the device to burn up in my hands. And maybe some other title might also push thermal performance in similar ways, but alas, such is my taste. (Also, Inside and Vampire Survivors never caused my phone to get too warm.)

I spent a lot of time on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max trying to get them to run hot, because one of the most interesting additions this year is a vapor chamber. That thermal management feature, together with the aluminum unibody redesign and three 48-megapixel rear cameras, is among the most compelling updates for this generation. Throw in the powerful A19 Pro chip (now situated in the “plateau”), a novel Center Stage selfie camera, promises of longer battery life and an eye-catching new color, and frankly the latest Pro phones seem like a serious leap.

For this review, I focused on the performance, thermal management, camera capabilities and battery life of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. I am bundling them together because aside from screen size, battery capacity and price, the two are functionally identical. I also spent time checking out Apple Intelligence and iOS 26 features, which won’t be exclusive to the new hardware and I’ll refer you to our iOS 26 preview for a deeper dive on.

Editor’s note (on September 19, 8:00AM ET): The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are now officially available in retail outlets, and those who have pre-ordered their devices will be receiving them starting today. As you make your decisions on whether or which of these you should buy, make sure to check out our reviews of the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17, as well as the AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11. We also published a closer look at the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s satellite connectivity feature, which has some impressions of what it’s like to use in real life.

Apple / Engadget

The iPhone 17 Pro is a powerful smartphone with an innovative selfie system, versatile rear cameras and a redesigned exterior that feels sturdy.

Pros

Innovative and useful Center Stage selfie camera
Versatile triple-sensor system for rear cameras
Aluminum unibody feels sturdy and scratch-resistant
Improved AI and thermal performance

$1,099 at Apple

An aluminum unibody design that’s new and familiar all at once

When I first picked up the iPhone 17 Pro at Apple Park, I found it refreshingly different from the iPhone 16 Pro I’d been using for a year (and also the iPhone 15 Pro before that). But the longer I caressed the matte edges of my review unit, the more I felt sparks of familiarity. The aluminum unibody here reminded me of the iPhone 8, which is no surprise since that device was made of steel wrapped in an aluminum band. Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 17 Pros use the same 7000-series aluminum alloy that’s proprietary to Apple so that makes sense. Of course, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are far from being as thin as the older handset, but something about the matte finish felt great.

Two weeks before the iPhone launch event, my iPhone 16 Pro slipped out of my hand and crashed to the floor of a grimy public bathroom. It had landed at an awkward angle on its edge and cracked spectacularly. Thankfully, most of the shattered glass was near the bottom edge, while hairline fractures reached up in a strangely pretty pattern to the rear camera module. These didn’t cut my hands, but I knew I wanted the next iPhone to be a lot more durable.

With its aluminum frame protecting the edges of the rear and back, there is little chance the iPhone 17 Pro will break in the way my iPhone 16 Pro did. Its screen is now protected by Ceramic Shield 2, so if it fell flat on its face it should still be able to survive the impact. The rear is a bit more vulnerable, since the three cameras still protrude slightly from the plateau, but those are covered by the same sapphire crystal that previous models were. I’ve yet to crack an iPhone’s camera despite my years of klutzy behavior.

This bodes well for the iPhone 17 Pro, though I’ll say I didn’t try very hard to scratch my review unit. I actually went as far as to keep it in the Finewoven case that Apple provided in the first few days so I could maintain a pristine surface for our review photos. After removing the case, I did put both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in a bag with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro so I could bring them around while camera testing, and it was pretty nice to be able to identify the newest models simply by touch. For years, I’ve seen Android phones, particularly those by Samsung, grow more and more iPhone-like so the departure from glossy glass is welcome.

Plus, neither the Pro nor the Pro Max have been scratched despite my placing them, naked, in backpacks or pockets with other phones, keys or badges with hooks in them, though to be fair the same is true of the iPhone 16 Pro until its unfortunate fall.

One other way the iPhone 17 Pro is distinct? That orange color, which is reminiscent of the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultras. It’s also fairly similar to the hue on some traffic cones, though in a more metallic, burnished way. Because the iPhone 17 Pro is supposed to be so much more durable and scratch-resistant, I’d argue for simply showing off its bold new color by going case-free. I also took a whole bunch of pictures of the orange iPhone 17 Pro Max I’ve been testing in a variety of lighting conditions so you can better understand what it looks like in real life. Enjoy:

After publishing this review, I noticed our slideshow’s captions stated the iPhone 17 Pro was silver, when I believed it was white. I set about complaining to our team about the error when I was rightfully informed it is actually silver. So you should be aware that the silver iPhone 17 Pro looks white on its back, where the aluminum ends and Ceramic Shield begins.

Faster AI processing and a body that’s largely cooler to hold

Apart from the material and the camera plateau, the iPhone 17 Pro’s redesign had a lot to do with thermal management and battery life. Like I mentioned in the beginning of this review, my iPhone 16 Pro runs hot sometimes, especially in recent months. I was eager to see if the vapor chamber in the new devices was effective at keeping them cool in similar situations.

In general, the iPhone 17 Pro stayed cool — and that’s both during the first few days with the case on and after I removed it altogether. When I played Snake Crash for about 25 minutes, I started noticing some gentle warmth emanating from the camera plateau. I put the device down on a terry cloth blanket and picked up the iPhone 16 Pro to play on instead, and just five minutes later it had gotten as warm as the 17 Pro. Ten minutes later, I had to adjust my fingers so the iPhone 16 Pro didn’t feel like an iron. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro had cooled down in that time despite being on something I usually use to keep warm.

That’s not to say the iPhone 17 Pro never got noticeably hot in my testing, by the way. In my experience, generating photos in Image Playground or creating Genmoji typically caused my iPhone 16 Pro to heat up to scary levels. On the iPhone 17 Pro, it took a slightly longer time to get as warm, but it did eventually become so hot I felt the need to warn people if I were to hand the device off. I found the aluminum parts of the handset to be the hottest, which makes sense both scientifically and in the way our skin perceives temperatures.

I do want to commend Apple for the improved performance in Image Playground and Genmoji. It used to take ages for AI-generated pictures or emoji to appear (especially those based on a picture of someone in my photo album), but on the iPhone 17 Pro I was able to get several options in succession before things slowed down. Pictures where I opted to use ChatGPT’s more realistic styles took a lot longer, but by and large I saw a marked improvement in speed here. Those neural accelerators in the A19 Pro’s six-core GPU are certainly pulling their weight.

It might be worth noting that in the 25 minutes of Snake Clash time, the iPhone 17 Pro’s battery level dropped about ten percent. The iPhone 16 Pro went from 90 percent to 79 percent in roughly the same duration, so power efficiency in this specific use case seems fairly similar.

Camera performance

The trio of 48MP cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are impressively versatile. Not only are they sharp, megapixel-laden sensors that deliver rich detail and vibrant colors, but also pull double duty and provide additional zoom options. When I was shooting on the iPhone 17 Pro, the camera app showed shortcuts for 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x, which is slightly different from the iPhone 16 Pro’s 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x.

As I mention those two models, I’m deeply aware that most people aren’t going to be considering upgrading from a phone as recent as the iPhone 16 Pro. So I’ll just say that as long as you’re swapping from the iPhone 14 Pro and older, you’ll get a significantly better camera system. For those already on an iPhone 15 Pro, it depends on whether you’re using a Max model and care a lot about some extra zooming ability.

I compared the iPhone 17 Pro mostly to the iPhone 16 Pro to see its improvements, as well as to the Pixel 10 Pro, since I consider it to be the best smartphone camera this year. So far, anyway. As it turns out, the iPhone 17 Pro holds its own against Google’s latest in most situations. In fact, it’s usually a bit better at retaining detail in shadows in photos with high dynamic range.

Also, as has been the case in the last few generations of iPhones, Apple’s images tend to be warmer and more saturated, whereas Google’s seem a bit muted and gray in comparison. That’s a somewhat subjective observation, really, and likely won’t impact anyone that’s not constantly carrying both phones around.

A composite of four pictures taken by the iPhone 17 Pro, showing the World Trade Center from across the Hudson River. The images are labeled 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x from left to right, with corresponding zoom levels on the pictures.

All about zoom

It gets a bit complicated to compare the three phones on their various zoom capabilities, since they all have different limits and dedicated pipelines. But by and large, the iPhones performed similarly at the 1x level, which isn’t surprising given they’re basically the same hardware. They were also pretty closely tied at the 2x level, and further zooms were slightly different from that point.

I did find that the 8x option on the iPhone 17 Pro delivered clean shots with little noise or blur, and they were well-exposed in general. The fact that I could now go up to 40x compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s top limit of 25x with digital zoom was a delightful bonus, especially when I was photographing some geese chilling by the river.

The Pixel 10 Pro’s scene options are 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x, with Pro Res Zoom allowing you to get all the way up to 100x, if you don’t mind AI filling in some gaps. I would caution against that, given the strange things it’s generated so far, but you’ll also still be able to use Super Res Zoom for up to 20x zoom without any generative AI assistance, just good ol’ computational photography (Math).

For what it’s worth, none of the photos beyond 8x on the iPhone 17 Pro and 10x on the Pixel 10 Pro look great. But in pictures I took of the “Water’s Soul” sculpture from my vantage point along the waterfront in downtown Jersey City, the Google version delivered cleaner lines and generally looked more sharp. I have yet to encounter obviously weird hallucinations in my photos, though in one close-up shot of a window in a skyscraper, the Pixel turned a white object inside the building into what appeared to be a smear of bird poop.

As an aside, I also had to wonder what the lettering on the Hoboken Terminal clock tower actually looked like up close, since the Pixel-rendered image had the word “Lackawanna” seem like it had bulbs or dots.

In short, you can get up closer to faraway subjects with a Pixel 10 Pro and typically get cleaner photos, but be mindful that the AI might generate some weird things. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro delivers solid quality at 8x and gives you greater flexibility than it did before.

Portrait mode is better now

Apple is even closing the gap that Google has had in the last few years in Portrait mode, with its updated engine for photos with digitally applied background blur. The differences, I’ve learned, are in overall Portrait quality at the 2x zoom level, as well as refinements in separation of stray hairs from the background across the mode.

In these portraits I shot of a friend, as well as of a dog statue with a furry tail, there was a significant improvement, particularly at 2x zoom (which is the level I always use for portraits on an iPhone anyway). The iPhone 16 Pro blended some bits of hair (and fur) that stuck out of the silhouette into the mudded background, while the iPhone 17 Pro managed to accurately keep both in focus.

Three photo samples from the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro, featuring a smiling woman. They show the digitally applied background blur and have insets with closeups on the woman's hairline.

When I compared the portraits by the iPhone 17 Pro to those from the Pixel 10 Pro, it was a close fight. While the Pixel was better at keeping definition along my friend’s temples, the iPhone was slightly better at mimicking the falloff in focus you’d get from a standalone camera with a large sensor. This is especially noticeable with the tuft of blonde hair poking out of her post-cardio ponytail, which the Pixel blurred completely into the background, while the iPhone 17 Pro kept it more in focus.

I will point out that I still prefer Google’s approach when it comes to shooting in portrait mode. In the dedicated mode on iPhones, you have to wait till the interface lights up to take your shot. That’s outside of the usual photo mode where the effect kicks in as soon as it detects faces of people and some animals. On a Pixel, you can simply swipe to Portrait mode, aim your camera and snap — no need to wait for the system to tell you it’s okay to shoot.

It’s also worth noting that people might prefer how they look with the coloration of the iPhone shots compared to the Pixel’s, regardless of which is truer to life. You can always edit a picture in post-processing to get it to your desired representation, of course, and Apple’s portraits are also subject to the specific style chosen by the photographer.

I do want to shout out how much I love Apple’s Photographic Styles, which are basically sophisticated filters that apply effects based on depth maps. This year, the company added a new Bright style, which makes everything pop in a pleasant way (and is similar to my once-favorite Instagram filter “Oslo,” that is unfortunately no longer available).

Center Stage square sensor for portrait and landscape selfies

Apple’s latest selfie-camera update is, quite simply, a stroke of genius. I know it sounds hyperbolic, and I want to reassure the skeptics that I was on your side. At first. But I was won over when, almost immediately after saying I didn’t see the practical use for Center Stage in selfies, I was forced to turn my iPhone horizontally so I could squeeze in an extra person when trying to grab a photo of myself and my podcast guests Karissa Bell and The Verge’s Allison Johnson. Nothing convinces as quickly as instant shame.

I was all the more persuaded when I paired Center Stage with a timer or remote control of the selfie camera and placed the iPhone 17 Pro Max on a table. A group of seven or so friends and I gathered in front of the device and watched it flip into landscape mode as more of us got into the scene. It has been helpful in a number of unexpected ways.

If you’re like me and have grown used to zooming out whenever you flip over to the iPhone’s front camera, you’ll find that tapping the onscreen button to do so will disable Center Stage for that photo session. Don’t fret though, whenever you exit the camera app and relaunch it, Center Stage will be on again. You can turn it off altogether by tapping the button on the top right of the viewfinder and disabling both the zoom and orientation options. Or you can select one of the two, whichever you prefer to have.

I’ll also point out that the camera is sharper now, as the 24MP square sensor delivers 18MP selfies, compared to the 12MP TrueDepth system before. Though I‘ve noticed some issues with FaceID, no changes have been made to either TrueDepth or FaceID, so it’s likely my struggles were to do with the way I had set it up on the iPhone 17 Pro compared to the 16 Pro.

I’m not usually a fan of higher-resolution selfies, and did notice my freckles were a lot more prominent in some sunlit shots, but by and large the images haven’t been jarringly different.

Center Stage also works on FaceTime calls, although there it mostly tries to keep your face centered, similarly to how it functions on iPad and Macbook. However, the execution is slightly different, since it’s meant for hand-held calls as you’re walking on the street, for example, or when you don’t have a stable surface to place your phone. I would have loved it if my partner had Center Stage when he FaceTimed me from the streets of New York during a wild night out on the town.

When I called my coworker and paced around a large meeting room, we both noticed the difference with Center Stage and after I turned it off. It was most obvious when I stood still, held out my arm and didn’t move it, then shifted my head around. The iPhone 17 Pro adjusted the background and view of the call to keep my face fully in frame. Now I want to use Center Stage whenever I’m forced to hold my phone during a FaceTime (like an impromptu therapy session, for instance), so I can worry less about whether I’m in view and focus on the conversation.

Dual-camera video recording

I don’t know about you, but my selfie video angle is quite different from my regular angle. That is to say, I hold my hand stretched out farther away from my body, sometimes higher up than my face, tilted slightly down. I find it more flattering. When I shoot anything using the rear cameras, I simply hold it up in front of my face, not as far away as it would be for a selfie.

What I’m trying to say is: I didn’t like most of the dual-camera videos I shot because I could either prioritize the angle for the selfie camera, which might not be great for the rear sensor. Or I could focus on shooting what was behind the phone and include beautiful footage of my forehead. And I’ll be honest, I frequently found myself staring at my face in the little picture-in-picture box and sometimes even moved the phone around to show landmarks behind me, only to realize the main camera (and the rest of the screen) had already been recording it all along.

I don’t think there will be too many situations where dual-camera videos will be useful or share-worthy, but at least it’s a mode you turn on only when you want and isn’t in the way. Plus, for the specific times when you want to show off where you’re at while proving you’re also in the scene, it’s a nice tool to have handy. I did end up liking one dual-camera video I shot of myself enjoying the breeze by the Hudson River.

The white iPhone 17 Pro and orange iPhone 17 Pro Max lying face down on a red book. — Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Greater battery life

I had one goal during this review, and that was to see if the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max would be able to last during my testing period without needing a charge. Since there was supposedly more space and better efficiency thanks to the redesign creating more room for the battery, I thought, perhaps naively, that maybe there would be a leap in endurance.

Alas, I was wrong. The smaller Pro fell short of those admittedly great expectations, the Pro Max did come close. Usually, the larger handset lasts about two full days as I go about my review process, which typically mostly involves camera testing, messaging and gaming. I tend to spend more time on the smaller device, using it for tasks like banking, emailing, social media browsing and posting, all in addition to the things I do on the Max. All that is to say that the two days I normally get out of the Pro Max is likely due in part to the fact that I use it less than the Pro, so don’t expect yours to last that long.

With that in mind, the iPhone 17 Pro Max made it to the end of Saturday before it dropped to 20 percent, having last been charged to about 95 percent on Thursday at 8:54AM. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro typically gets from 7AM till about 11pm ET without breaking a sweat. I still plugged it in overnight though, because I generally don’t like leaving the house in the morning with less than 50 percent, and the iPhone 17 Pro usually ends the day close to 25 percent. So far it mirrors my experience with the iPhone 16 Pro, though I’ll need a bit more time to better gauge the differences.

iOS 26 updates and other areas of improvement

I can’t write a review of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and not mention their screen sizes, so here: they’re 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively. ProMotion’s adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz continue to make scrolling Reddit a breeze, and while Apple has improved the anti-reflection treatment here, it’s been hard for me to determine what’s changed.

The more obvious refresh when using the iPhone 17 Pro is in iOS 26, which rolled out this week to the public. Friends have already begun to complain about or compliment the new Liquid Glass aesthetic, and one buddy immediately had to turn on the “reduce transparency” option.

There’s a lot I could say about how much I appreciate the bigger buttons throughout the system, or the new lock screen styles. I could also go on about how I had to adjust to the new Screenshots interface and hate that it now requires an extra swipe to dismiss. The revamped Photos, Camera and Phone apps are… fine. I don’t hate the changes, and actually like the new Phone layout.

Ultimately, iOS 26 feels like a significant refresh that matches the vibes of Apple’s new hardware — especially the Air. But because it also rolls out to several previous generations, it’s not something that will impact your (or my) evaluation of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

The iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max laid out face down in a row on a dark yellow surface. — Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Why a Pro and not an Air or the iPhone 17?

This year, the iPhone Air actually feels like the status symbol model for those who need to own fancy hardware for external validation. It’s impressively svelte, has an A19 Pro chip and is just something I can’t stop trying to wave in people’s faces to get them to touch. It supplants the Plus model, at least this year, and has a medium-sized 6.5-inch screen that might be ideal for many. And despite its thin profile, the iPhone Air still managed to deliver respectable battery life, according to my colleague Sam Rutherford.

If a 6.5-inch screen or a super thin phone is something you simply must have, by all means go for the iPhone Air. But because I love to shoot ultrawide shots as well as closeups of distant, skittish wildlife, a versatile multi-camera setup is a must for me. If that sounds like you, pick a Pro. Whether you opt for the Max boils down to your preference for size (and I have to admit using the larger 6.9-inch screen was a lot easier on my eyes).

Those with unlimited resources can, of course, get both. Congrats on the wealth.

People with partners or family members that are looking to upgrade at the same time can consider getting one of each. I’ve suggested that to my friends who are married, so the person who cares more about photos gets the Pro and the one who hates bulk gets the Air. Neither is a bad purchase, but the Pro is slightly more reliable. In exchange, you’ll have to fork over more money and give up some pocket space.

Finally, it’s worth looking seriously at the iPhone 17 this year. With its new ProMotion screen, dual 48MP rear cameras and Center Stage selfie setup (that supports the same dual-camera video feature as the Pros), it’s a compelling package for hundreds less. You’ll even get the same Portrait mode that the 17 Pros offer, while the Air has its own specific image pipeline that enables automatic depth capture with a single camera.

If you’re a video creator or producer, I should point out that the iPhone Air’s USB-C port is only rated for USB 2 transfer speeds of 480Mbps and doesn’t support DisplayPort for video out. The regular iPhone 17 is also USB 2, but does support DisplayPort, while the Pro line can handle USB 3 speeds of up to 10Gbps and DisplayPort.

Wrap-up

This year’s iPhone lineup is forcing me to re-think the idea of a Pro phone. Is it one that looks and feels expensive or is it one that’s slightly more durable and maybe doesn’t appear as stylish? I’ve seen some discourse online about how the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max don’t look as classy as before and that the iPhone Air seems to be the more premium of the family. And while I agree that the Air is a shinier, more attractive device, for my needs the iPhone 17 Pro is still the way to go.

Of course, it would be better if Apple didn’t create this conundrum with this year’s iPhones, but it still has to obey the laws of physics. I like a reliable, durable phone that easily lasts all day, takes great pictures from all distances and angles and won’t burn a literal hole in my pocket. It might burn up your wallet, since the $1,099 price is certainly not something everyone can afford, but it does buy some security and longevity.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are a significant update from previous models, and I haven’t felt this excited by a new generation of iPhones in a very long time.

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Cherlynn Low

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September 19, 2025

iPhone 17 review: Closer to Pro

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For years, the “regular” iPhone received hand-me-downs from the Pro models. This was less so with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, but the trickle-down philosophy was still there to a degree. For 2025 and the iPhone 17 ($799) is no longer the compromise that the base model used to be. Apple finally blessed it with a 120Hz display and this year’s most exciting camera feature, Center Stage.

While it may seem like Apple is no longer forcing iPhone users to compromise, or at least not to the degree it used to, there’s still one big thing to consider. With the introduction of the iPhone Air, the company has shaken up the screen sizes across the iPhone 17 lineup. Instead of the previous 6.1-inch iPhone and 6.7-inch Plus model, Apple is splitting the difference with the iPhone 17’s 6.3-inch screen. That also aligns it size-wise with the iPhone 17 Pro, while the Air sits in the middle of the series at 6.5 inches.

I guess I’m a big-phone guy now, because it’s been a rough week transitioning from the 16 Plus to the iPhone 17. At times I feel like my phone is a toy, and at others it’s like I stepped back in time. I don’t particularly like either sensation.

Putting my screen size preferences aside, the iPhone 17 remains the best iPhone for most people. Since Apple brought its best new features to this regular model this year, you don’t have to feel like you’re waiting for the exciting tools from the Air or Pro to make it to a more affordable iPhone model in 12 months. The upgraded display and new front camera are certainly the highlights, but the iPhone 17 remains a solidly built device with dependable all-day battery life and capable performance.

Editor’s note (on September 19, 8:00AM ET): The iPhone 17 is now officially available in retail outlets, and those who have pre-ordered their devices will be receiving them starting today. As you make your decisions on whether or which of these you should buy, make sure to check out our reviews of , , as well as the and the . We also published a closer look at the feature, which has some impressions of what it’s like to use in real life.

Apple/Engadget

The “regular” iPhone got a big refresh this year with the addition of a ProMotion display and Center Stage camera.

Pros

Finally, a 120Hz display
Center Stage front camera works great
Dual 48MP Fusion rear cameras take sharp photos

Cons

6.3 inches will be too small for some
Best camera performance is reserved for the 17 Pro

$799 at Apple

Finally, a 120Hz display

A big change on the iPhone 17 is the 6.3-inch ProMotion 120Hz display. Not only is it slightly bigger than the 6.1-inch iPhone 16, but it finally refreshes faster now. The higher refresh rate was one of the last remaining items Apple had yet to bring down from its Pro models, and this one makes a big difference to the overall experience. Swiping around iOS 26 feels a lot smoother. Apps like Instagram and Safari where I previously encountered some jitters now move effortlessly. When it’s time to venture outside, you’ll be glad that Apple boosted the peak brightness to 3,000 nits — a 1,000-nit increase from the iPhone 16. It’s a welcome upgrade for the times you need to use your phone in direct sunlight.

The company also equipped the iPhone 17 with an always-on display, which is useful for updates at a glance if you’ve missed a notification. And of course, Dynamic Island is still there, providing ongoing info for progress on things like live sports, music playback, navigation, ride sharing and more.

You won’t really notice the display upgrade until you start using the phone, so a quick glance won’t reveal any obvious hardware changes. Unless you do a side-by-side with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, where the size variation will be apparent, you won’t detect any difference. Flip over to the back though and there’s an almost entirely new color palette. Black and white remain, but Lavender, Sage and Mist Blue have replaced last year’s Ultramarine, Teal and Pink options. I prefer this year’s hues, as they aren’t as pastel-y as the 2024 lineup, and that Sage green looks really sharp in person.

Venture back to the front and there’s another important update that isn’t visible. Apple upgraded the scratch resistance with Ceramic Shield 2, which the company says provides three times better protection than on the iPhone 16. I needed to keep my iPhone 17 pristine for photos during my review, so I haven’t put it in situations with the potential for injury just yet. My mischievous cocker spaniel did get a hold of it for a few minutes, but there are no visible teeth marks or scratches from that harrowing (for me) incident.

Camera updates take Center Stage

The iPhone 17 still features two rear cameras, but the ultra-wide has been upgraded. — Billy Steele for Engadget

For many, camera performance is the most essential aspect of an iPhone, and this year’s model got a significant upgrade there. The biggest change is the new 18MP Center Stage front camera that replaces the 12MP TrueDepth camera. This new version has a square sensor that enables the iPhone 17 to automatically switch from portrait to landscape when more people enter the frame for a selfie.

After using Center Stage for about a week, it’s easily the best new camera feature Apple has released in years. I can concede that the addition of macro mode and Photographic Styles in previous iPhones were also excellent, but Center Stage feels like magic. I’m not even a big selfie taker, but when I do need to snap one on a family outing, this 41 year old no longer feels like a Boomer holding his phone sideways. The adjustments happen quickly so you’re not left waiting, and if you don’t like it, you can disable the auto rotation, auto zoom or both.

Center Stage also works with video calls to keep you in the frame. This is particularly helpful if you’re walking or otherwise moving around while trying to have a chat. It does take a second for the system to make its adjustment after you move from the center of the frame, but it’s smooth and won’t be a distraction to anyone on the call.

Another update to the front-facing camera is a new Dual Capture mode. This simultaneously records footage with the front and rear cameras for things like reaction videos. As the parent of two kids in youth sports, I can see the utility for things like championship games, or even milestone moments at school. I think a lot of people will also film themselves singing along at concerts, but I’m not one of them.

The front camera has been upgraded with a square sensor for Apple's Center Stage feature. — Billy Steele for Engadget

The only issue I have with Dual Capture is that it’s a challenge to keep both the action and yourself in frame. You can’t look in two places at once, so if you want to maintain a centered reaction shot or ongoing commentary, you’ll have to figure out a way to juggle the shots. I’ve yet to master it myself and you’ll likely struggle if you prefer your selfie clips shot from a downward angle.

The front-facing camera isn’t the only photography-centric upgrade on the iPhone 17. Around back, there are now two 48MP Fusion cameras. On the iPhone 16, only the main was a Fusion camera while the ultra-wide has a 12MP sensor. You’ll get the same 0.5x, 1x and 2x zoom options as before, automatic macro mode, True Tone flash and the rest of the handy features from the iPhone 16 — like Portrait Lighting. If you’re into Apple’s Photographic Styles, there’s a new one called Bright that enhances skin tones and makes the rest of the image more vibrant. My colleague Cherlynn Low compared it to the now-retired Oslo filter on Instagram, and I think that’s an apt comparison.

By default, the main camera delivers shots in 24MP resolution for a balance of detail and brightness. In general, the photos I took with the iPhone 17 appeared to be slightly sharper than those I captured with my iPhone 16 Plus, especially in details like texture (as evidenced by the photos of pumpkins and my dog Biscuit). There isn’t a huge leap in rear camera performance here, but I noticed a slight improvement.

In lower-light settings, like in my pictures under the awning of my local produce stand and inside a local bar, colors remained accurate and crisp. Macro images were just as sharp and detailed as before, judging from my close-up of a sunflower which you can see here. Night time pics still produce accurate colors, especially when rendering the warmth or coolness of street lights, and those elements aren’t lacking in clarity either. Swap your camera settings to 48MP and you’ll notice enhanced detail in images that contain landscapes, as one example. Just keep in mind that those max-res photos are limited to 1x zoom and any Night mode or flash shots will always be saved at 12MP.

Besides the fact that it uses the non-Pro A19 processor, the cameras are the main area the iPhone 17 lags behind the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. They have a third camera around back — a 48MP Fusion telephoto — that’s equipped with 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization. That three-camera array also provides additional zoom options at 4x and 8x. They also unlock ProRAW for stills and both ProRes and ProRes Raw for video, and come with a four-microphone setup for “studio-quality” audio capture. If you desire the pinnacle of Apple’s photographic prowess (currently, anyway), the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 — $300 more than the iPhone 17.

Performance

Some parts of iOS 26 will feel familiar, others are jarringly new. — Billy Steele for Engadget

While Apple equipped the iPhone 17 with its latest A19 chip, there’s still a six-core CPU and five-core GPU — same as the iPhone 16. The difference here is that the GPU now has Neural Accelerators on each core, which Apple says will boost peak computing power for AI tasks. Unless you’re coming from an older iPhone, you probably won’t notice too much of an improvement year-to-year. Apple explains that the CPU performance in the iPhone 17 is up to 50 percent faster than the iPhone 13, but that phone is from four years ago — basically an eternity. Obviously, you’d expect to see a major uptick in speed when comparing the flashy new model to such an aging device.

That said, the iPhone 17 speedily handled any task I threw at it. During my everyday use, I didn’t encounter a single time the phone stuttered or struggled to complete the job. The only time I had to wait for anything was for Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT to generate my latest prompt or make a Genmoji in Image Playground (I don’t recommend asking for “a hot dog thunderstorm,” by the way). What’s more, I never noticed the iPhone 17 getting warm when using these AI tools on their own, but it did start to heat up when I simultaneously started multitasking (playing music, etc.). The iPhone 17 never got more than noticeably warm to the touch, though.

I’m not an avid mobile gamer, but I did play some Destiny: Rising (a recommendation from the Engadget staff) on the iPhone 17 for my due diligence. The combination of the A19 chip and the 120Hz display provided silky smooth action for the first-person shooter, even in chaotic skirmishes. Plus, the iPhone 17 didn’t get hot during my gaming sessions, despite not having the vapor chamber that the Pros do. This probably led me to play a lot longer than I should at times, since the device never got warm enough to remind me of how much time had passed. The iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max and Air all have the more powerful A19 Pro chip, but the regular iPhone this year is a capable mobile gaming device too.

The arrival of iOS 26

My colleague Mat Smith covered all the new features of iOS 26 in detail, so I’ll refer you to his guide for the nitty gritty on the update. I will offer some quick thoughts on the new software overall, starting with Liquid Glass. After a week with the latest design, I’m still not a fan. In some areas the refresh is useful: I particularly like the changes to CarPlay, the phone app and Messages. I’m also starting to get onboard with the tweaks to the Camera app. But for every one update that’s helpful, I find five more I hate. I don’t like the new menu in Apple Music that sometimes requires an extra tap to reveal the options, which is one of my biggest annoyances.

I do love the combination of the iPhone 17’s always-on display and iOS 26’s Priority Notifications. It’s immensely helpful to glance over at my phone and see if there’s anything I need to address immediately. This pairing is also handy when it shows me things when I might’ve missed a notification as it first popped up. It’s only been a week, so I’m likely to find other elements I can put to good use as I spend more time with the new OS. And since iOS 26 is a bigger visual overhaul than Apple’s typical annual refresh, the iPhone 17 feels like even more of an upgrade.

Since I’ve also been using the AirPods Pro 3 for the last several days, two features I’ve tested a lot are the earbuds’ heart-rate tracking and Live Translation. It’s nice to not have to postpone a workout if my Apple Watch is charging, since I now know the AirPods Pro 3 will track my movement and properly credit my Activity Rings. I also can’t wait to travel abroad with Live Translation, since the tests I’ve conducted at home have already produced surprisingly helpful results.

Battery life

The front camera may look familiar, but it has been majorly updated. — Billy Steele for Engadget

Once again, Apple promises “all day” battery life on the iPhone 17. Of course, the company doesn’t quantify that phrase, other than a commitment to 30 hours of video playback or 27 hours of streaming time. My colleague Sam Rutherford got nearly 25 hours while streaming a video as a comparison for his review of the iPhone Air. During a day of what I’d consider “regular” use — checking email, responding to Slack messages, listening to music, calls, texting, scrolling Instagram and watching a few episodes of The Bear — I still had 16 percent battery left by bed time. That’s after a day that started at 7AM and ended at 12AM, and I had the always-on display active the entire time.

Apple slightly increased the MagSafe wireless charging wattage on the iPhone 17. It’s now up to 25W (with a 30W adapter), which matches the iPhone 16 Plus, and is a 3W increase from the iPhone 16. If you don’t mind cables, you can expect to recharge to 50 percent in 20 minutes with a 40W (or higher) adapter and to get halfway with a 30W charging accessory in half an hour. That charging-to-50-percent time on the iPhone 17 is faster than what you get on the 16 and 16 Plus by 10 and 15 minutes respectively.

The competition

If you’re looking for a non-Apple alternative, Google’s Pixel 10 is your best bet. It has improved performance compared to its predecessor along with an upgraded telephoto camera with 5x zoom. There’s support for Google’s take on MagSafe (Pixelsnap) and the Gemini-powered Magic Cue feature is surprisingly handy. Plus, the Pixel 10 starts at $799, just like the iPhone 17.

Samsung’s latest entry-level flagship, the Galaxy S25, is less of an obvious choice. Since the series has long been a rival of Apple’s iPhone, it merits inclusion here. The S25’s display and cameras haven’t been upgraded over the S24’s, but it has a powerful new processor and excellent battery life. Gemini works better on the S25 than it did in the past and there’s the solid build quality that Samsung always offers at this price range. Speaking of cost, the S25 also costs the same as the iPhone 17.

Wrap-up

With the most significant update in years, the iPhone 17 is an easy choice for an upgrade for most people. Even if you’re coming from the iPhone 16, you’ll reap the benefits of the overhauled display and improved cameras. I don’t say any of that lightly as I’m not a person who recommends getting a new phone every year. Most of the time, there simply aren’t compelling enough changes to warrant it. That’s not the case this year, and if you’re coming from an iPhone that’s a few years old, you’ll likely feel as if you’ve stepped into the future.

I went into this review expecting to be eager to return to my iPhone 16 Plus when I was through testing. And while I do prefer the larger device after using it for a year, the updates Apple has amassed on the iPhone 17 — especially the Center Stage camera — have appeased that desire… for now. I don’t have much use for the performance boosts that the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max provide, and I can’t justify splurging just for a bigger display. So, I can confidently say that even though there’s one less option in the regular iPhone lineup than there was a year ago, the iPhone 17 is still the best iPhone for most of us.

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Billy Steele

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September 19, 2025

The best MagSafe power banks for your iPhone

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As smartphones get thinner, their batteries necessarily get smaller — but all phones, includingiPhones, like to die at inopportune moments. The best MagSafe power bank can provide extra juice when you need it, no cables required. And, thanks to new charging standards, charge-ups are quicker.

I’ve been testing power banks for Engadget for around three years and have watched portable chargers get more efficient in real time. After testing around a dozen magnetic banks, I think Anker’s Qi2 MagGo 10K power bank is the best MagSafe power bank. But you’ll also find a budget option, a Qi2 25W pick and an ultra-slim model (which we think is better than Apple’s own iPhone Air MagSafe battery).

The best MagSafe power banks for 2025

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Specs: 10,000mAh capacity, Qi2 certified, display, stand, USB-C port

Who is this for? The person who never remembers to charge their phone overnight.

Anker’s MagGo power bank was one of the first Qi2-certified products to come to market — and it’s still one of the most well-rounded MagSafe banks you can get. It charged an iPhone 15 from 5 percent to 60 percent in a little over 45 minutes. It took under two and a half hours to get the phone from near-dead to full, and it had enough power left over for an additional 70-percent refill.

A small display tells you just how much charge remains (and how long until it’s full when you’re recharging the battery). The kickstand is sturdy so you can use the phone hands-free in portrait mode, or you can twist the phone to watch something in landscape orientation.

Like many Anker products we’ve tried, it has a sturdy build and a clean aesthetic. Plus, it comes in purple, blue and green in addition to the standard (and comparatively boring) black and white. Though it’s on the pricier end of the battery pack spectrum at $90, it’s often on sale for $70 and has sold for as little as $50 on Amazon.

Pros

Delivers a fast charge
Enough juice for 1.7 iPhone 15 charges
Sturdy stand lets you watch while charging

$90 at Amazon

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Specs: 10,000mAh capacity, Qi2 25W certified, USB-C cable/strap, USB-C port

Who is this for? The person who wants the latest charging tech for their iPhone 17.

Ugreen was the first to market with a Qi2 25W-certified power bank with its MagFlow 10K brick. Belkin and Anker have debuted their stationary charging accessories and we’ll likely see portable chargers from them and others soon. As I don’t have an iPhone 17 yet and the public version of iOS 26 wasn’t available for my iPhone 16 at the time of testing, I didn’t get the fastest possible speeds out of the bank — but it was still a solid performer with plenty of perks.

It charged an iPhone 15 from near-dead to 50 percent in around 45 minutes and it’s got a display to tell you about how much charge the bank has left, which I found to be pretty accurate. Its attached USB-C cable doubles as a handle and the overall design feels premium. At 10,000mAh, it’s got enough capacity for a refill and a half for a standard iPhone. That also makes it a little bulky, but not so much that you can’t use the phone as it charges. There’s also no built-in stand so it’s more awkward to watch while you charge with this one.

Pros

First Qi2 25W-certified power bank
Includes a screen to tell you the remaining charge
Built in USB-C cable

$70 at Amazon

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Specs: 5,000mAh capacity, Qi2 certified, under 5 oz, 0.34-inches thick, USB-C port

Who is this for? The minimalist; the person who wants their power bank to blend in.

iPhones are sleek and slim — if you want the same from your portable charger, Anker’s new Nano 5K MagGo Slim is a good pick. It’s one of the thinnest chargers I’ve ever tested and has a nice, smooth matte texture. Since it’s thinner and a little wider than many battery packs, it’s ideally proportioned for a standard iPhone, stretching edge-to-edge on the back and sitting just below the camera. That makes it easy to grip your phone and use it as it recharges. There’s no stand, strap, screen or any other extras, but that’s the point with a minimalist accessory like this.

It took an iPhone 15 from 5 percent to 90 percent in about two and a half hours. Like all power banks, it slowed down significantly after the pack was half drained, so it’s worth noting that it charged the phone to 40 percent in less than an hour.

Pros

Slim enough to blend in
Minimalist design
Premium build

Cons

No stand, screen or strap

$46 at Amazon

Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Specs: 10,000mAh capacity, Qi2 certified, USB-C cable/strap, stand, USB-C port

Who is this for? The person who wants the most charge for the lowest price.

This is the first product from Iniu that I’ve tested and I was impressed by both the features and the value. The P73 10K Magnetic Power Bank managed to get an iPhone 15 from five percent to full in around two hours and fifteen minutes. It had enough left over to deliver another impressive 90 percentage points to the iPhone in round two — that’s actually a slightly better performance than our top Anker pick. As it’s the first of its kind, I’m not as certain of the bank’s long-term reliability (like I am with Anker batteries), but so far, Iniu seems pretty capable.

Instead of a display on the bank, the remaining power is indicated with a cute, lit puppy paw. The lights on the toe pads and center pad disappear as the battery discharges; it’s a cute variation on regular LEDs. The stand at the bottom works in either landscape or portrait mode, but the strap gets in the way when it’s in the latter position. Speaking of the strap, it’s not just a handy way to grab the bank — it’s also a detachable USB-C cable. That may come in handy when it’s time to recharge the pack or you want to lend some charge to another device.

Pros

Great capacity for the price
Includes a stand
Attached strap doubles as a short USB-C cable

Cons

Strap gets in the way of the stand

$40 at Amazon

What to consider before buying a MagSafe power bank

Choose the right capacity. Most portable MagSafe chargers have either a 5,000 milliamp hour (mAh) or 10,000mAh capacity. Obviously, the larger capacity batteries are physically bigger, but thanks to an iPhone’s magnetic attachment points, you can still use the phone comfortably as it charges. If you’re worried about overall bulk, you may prefer the slimness of a 5,000mAh battery.

Just note that a 5K battery pack won’t deliver its entire capacity to your phone due to energy loss from voltage conversion and heat dissipation. Over the years, I’ve measured around a 60-percent delivery rate for wireless banks. For example, that means an iPhone 16 with its 3,561mAh battery will get about 85 to 90 percentage points from a 5K battery. A 10K bank will charge that same phone fully once, with enough for a 50- to 60-percent boost next time.

Understand MagSafe versus Qi2. All iPhones model 12 and later have MagSafe technology, which rely on embedded magnets to align the phone with a wireless charger and can support charging speeds of up to 15 watts. The MagSafe name is owned by Apple — third-party chargers can’t freely use the term and instead call their accessories “magnetic,” or apply a branded name like Anker’s MagGo or UGreen’s MagFlow. Be sure to check the product details before buying: anything that works with Apple’s technology will be listed as MagSafe-compatible.

Qi2 is a standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (of which Apple is a member) and has the same stipulations as MagSafe (15W charging and magnetic alignment). Any company can submit their tech for this certification. iPhones 13 and later are Qi2 compatible.

The newest standard is Qi2 25W and bumps wireless charging speeds up to 25W. The WPC says a certified smartphone using a certified charger can wirelessly go from dead to half full in about 30 minutes (keep in mind that both the charger and phone need to be certified to get those speeds).

Accessories, like power banks that support the new standard are starting to hit shelves now. As for phones, Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL, Apple’s iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max all support the standard as well. iPhone 16 models (except the 16e) will likely support the standard after an update to iOS 26.

Remember travel restrictions. You may have seen news reports of flights being grounded because a power bank caught fire in the cabin. Currently, the TSA allows them in your carry-on luggage as long as they’re rated at 100 watt-hours or lower (about 27,000mAh for lithium ion batteries).

But some airlines have enacted further restrictions. Southwest, for example, requires you to keep power banks out of the bag and visible while charging. Even if your airline doesn’t make such demands, keeping a power brick out in the open while it’s in use is a good idea — it’ll keep it cooler and you’ll be more likely to notice if it starts to overheat. Most, if not all, MagSafe battery packs come in at under the 100-watt-hour limit, so traveling should be easy with one.

Consider the extra features. You may not need them, but the little extra perks of a MagSafe power bank can come in handy. Some have stands so you can watch your phone while it refills. Some have LED displays that tell you how much charge is left, which can be a little more precise than the lighted pips other banks use. Some also have straps to make the bank easier to carry around or fish out of your bag.

What about the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery?

When Apple introduced the iPhone Air, it announced the new $99 iPhone Air MagSafe Battery in the same breath. It’s now the only Apple-branded MagSafe power bank — but it only works with the iPhone Air. A quick peek at the shape of the battery will clue you in as to why: the Air is the only model with a camera array that allows the battery to attach.

We think Anker’s Nano MagGo Slim is a better bet. It has the same minimalist look and pocketable thinness, but it’ll attach to other phones in addition to the Air. Plus it’s $35 cheaper and, judging from the size and specs, Anker’s bank is likely higher capacity (Apple doesn’t list the battery’s size).

Other MagSafe batteries we tested

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 10K

Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro is Qi2-certified and was only a touch slower than other models in terms of charging speeds, boosting an iPhone 15 from 5 percent to full in about two and a half hours. The feel is premium and the stand is sturdy, but it got quite hot during charging, took overly long to refill itself and is pricer and a bit bulkier than similar models.

Baseus Picogo 5K

The Picogo 5K from Baseus is teensy but still packs a stand and a 5,000mAh capacity. It’s Qi2-certified and delivered a 43 percent bump to our tester iPhone 15 in 42 minutes, ultimately charging it to 91 percent. The slim slab of the Anker Nano battery is sleeker. But that one doesn’t have a stand — so if you want to prop up your phone while it charges, go for this one.

MagSafe power banks FAQs

What does MagSafe do?

MagSafe is Apple’s own technology that supports up to 25W wireless charging speeds and incorporates embedded magnets to align the phone with chargers and other accessories.

Which iPhones support MagSafe?

iPhones 12 and later support 15W MagSafe technology, though only iPhones 13 and later can reach the 15W charging speed with third-party Qi2 accessories. The iPhone 12 maxes out at 7.5W with non-Apple accessories.

The new iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max support up to 25W charging speeds with Qi2 25W-certified chargers. iPhone 16, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max should also support those speeds after an update to iOS 26. The iPhone Air supports MagSafe charging at a max speed of 20W.

Can you use MagSafe batteries with a case?

In most cases (heh), yes. The wireless charge can travel across a distance of a few millimeters. If the case is more than 5mm thick or contains metal components, the wireless charge can be blocked. Many iPhone cases are marketed as MagSafe-compatible, which means the case itself has complimentary magnets inside and should not interfere with charging accessories. We tested a MagSafe power bank on an iPhone 15 with and without a MagSafe case and got the same charging speeds and amounts in both tests.

How much power do MagSafe batteries provide?

That depends on the power bank. If it is Qi2-certified, it can provide up to 15 watts of wireless power. Qi2 25W-enabled chargers can deliver up to 25 watts to a compatible handset. Non-Qi2 batteries typically deliver around 7.5 watts.

The amount of charge delivered depends on the capacity. Most MagSafe portable chargers are rated at 5,000mAh or 10,000mAh. The former can get a standard iPhone 15 from five percent to around 90 percent. The latter can fill the phone completely with enough left over for another half charge.

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Amy Skorheim

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September 19, 2025

iPhone 17 Review: The Best iPhone Value in Years

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Next to the ultra-thin iPhone Air and the packed-to-gills iPhone 17 Pro/17 Pro Max, the iPhone 17 looks unremarkable—boring, even. The three new colors other than black and white are less vibrant than the shades the iPhone 16 came in. But peel back a few layers and things become clear: the iPhone 17, starting at $799, is in fact a remarkable value, providing a ton of bang for your buck.

Besides the slight growth of the screen from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, the iPhone 17 is cosmetically similar to the iPhone 16. If the iPhone Air is the new premium model and the iPhone 17 Pros are the most powerful, then the iPhone 17 is the everyman’s iPhone. It has more than enough solid upgrades over last year’s model, but not as many as the iPhone 17 Pros.

The iPhone 17 is not going to wow anyone with its industrial design, but underneath it all, it’s a trooper that goes the distance. It’s the iPhone you get if you want the Goldilocks experience.

iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 offers the best bang for buck in an iPhone. It’s a value proposition that’ll last for at least five years.

Pros

Tag: iPhone

Other Screen Protectors I’ve Tested

Other Great Cases

Avoid These Cases

Step 1: Make 2 Shortcuts

Step 2: Set Up the Automation

1) Refurbished does not always mean like new

2) Check the warranty and return policy

3) Know the seller’s reputation

4) Don’t forget accessories and packaging

5) Battery life may not be the same

6) Software updates and compatibility

7) Test the device thoroughly after purchase

8) Install strong antivirus software

9) Use a password manager

10) Know the real value of your savings

Bonus: The eco-friendly upside

Kurt’s key takeaway

Save files as PDF on desktop

Windows

Mac

Chromebook

Save files as PDF on mobile

Android

iPhone

Save a file as a PDF on apps and cloud services

Convert a file to a PDF online

Save physical documents as PDF files

Working with PDFs

Merging PDFs

Shrinking PDFs

Protecting your PDFs with a password

Sign PDFs

Kurt’s key takeaways

Subscribe!

Topics

Livestream

Credits

… or Restore Your Backup

Make Sure Your Wi-Fi Connection Is Stable

That’s It!

An aluminum unibody design that’s new and familiar all at once

Faster AI processing and a body that’s largely cooler to hold

Camera performance

All about zoom

Portrait mode is better now

Center Stage square sensor for portrait and landscape selfies

Dual-camera video recording

Greater battery life

iOS 26 updates and other areas of improvement

Why a Pro and not an Air or the iPhone 17?

Wrap-up

Finally, a 120Hz display

Camera updates take Center Stage

Performance

The arrival of iOS 26

Battery life

The competition

Wrap-up

The best MagSafe power banks for 2025

What to consider before buying a MagSafe power bank

What about the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery?

Other MagSafe batteries we tested

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 10K

Baseus Picogo 5K

MagSafe power banks FAQs

What does MagSafe do?

Which iPhones support MagSafe?

Can you use MagSafe batteries with a case?

How much power do MagSafe batteries provide?

Basic design

A more “pro” display

Nearly pro performance

The Center Stage camera is legit

More battery to doomscroll

More for the same money

These three iOS 18 iPhones aren’t compatible with iOS 26

iPhones compatible with iOS 26

iPads compatible with iPadOS 26

What if I don’t want to buy a new iPhone?