Smartphone shopping for recommendation is never easy.
Whereas we rank the highest 10 ‘finest’ telephones in our detailed shopping for information, the cellphone that fits you finest will fluctuate massively relying in your funds, {hardware} priorities and software program preferences.
At Tech Advisor, we pleasure ourselves on publishing in-depth critiques and detailed recommendation, serving to folks make an knowledgeable shopping for resolution. A one-size-fits-all strategy can be silly.
Nevertheless, for those who’re contemplating an iPhone, our recommendation is remarkably easy. In case your funds can accommodate it, the iPhone 17 is the excellent candidate, each now and nicely into the long run. It’s one of many only a few flagship telephones that we will wholeheartedly suggest to nearly anybody.
The candy spot in Apple’s iPhone lineup…
When Apple launched the iPhone 17 late final yr, it dramatically simplified the shopping for resolution for tens of millions of individuals all over the world. Certainly, it went on to change into the second hottest smartphone in This autumn of 2025 (based on Counterpoint Analysis), behind solely the iPhone 17 Professional Max.
Nevertheless, for most individuals, there’s no must cough up not less than £1,099/$1,099 for the Professional fashions, which introduce a divisive design and add little to the general expertise.
In the meantime, the ultra-thin iPhone Air that I reviewed prices £200/£200 greater than the iPhone 17, but is badly hamstrung within the digital camera, battery and speaker departments. And the iPhone 17e loses too most of the common mannequin’s quality-of-life options as a way to obtain its extra reasonably priced price ticket.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
For most individuals, the common iPhone 17 affords the right steadiness between worth and have set. It might even be sufficient to tempt some Android customers to make the change.
…as verified by our knowledgeable reviewer
As an Android consumer who often critiques iPhones, I wouldn’t blame you for not totally trusting my opinion on Apple handsets.
So, I assumed I’d name on my colleague Emma Rowley, an iPhone knowledgeable who’s been utilizing Apple handsets for 16 years (her first was the iPhone 4). She was effusive in her reward of the iPhone 17 in her 4.5-star evaluation final October, describing it as “the mannequin to get”.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
However after six months of fixed use, is her opinion nonetheless so beneficial? Effectively, it appears that evidently the cellphone has solely gone up in her estimation:
“The iPhone 17 is a cellphone I’d suggest to actually anybody who can stump up £799/$799 for his or her every day driver. Many of the causes to purchase it may be summed up beneath the next heading: it’s insanely handy.
“It’s a snug measurement and weight and has all the important thing {hardware} and software program upgrades of the previous few years (USB-C charging port and Motion button, plus Dynamic Island, At all times-On show and the Centre Stage selfie cam function). The OLED show is brilliant and crisp, with 3,000 nits’ peak brightness to ship an outstanding viewing expertise in all environments, and a 120Hz refresh fee.
“All this, plus a sooner chip than the iPhone 16 and double the beginning storage – for a similar launch worth. You’ll even be getting software program updates till round 2032, and it’s AI-ready, if Apple ever will get its act collectively in that space.”
Emma Rowley / Foundry
So, there you might have it. Except for missing AI, a problem that also impacts all iPhones, the one actual compromises you’ll should deal with are underwhelming low-light and zoom images. When you largely have a tendency to make use of the primary and selfie lenses in the course of the daytime, you’ll be more than pleased.
For most individuals, the common iPhone 17 affords the right steadiness between worth and have set
Basically, if in case you have an iPhone that’s not less than two years outdated, you’ll actually respect the dimensions of upgrades that Apple has launched on the iPhone 17. I’m not encouraging you to modify your smartphone each 24 months, although – going longer between upgrades is without doubt one of the best methods to make your cellphone extra sustainable.
It’s definitely not value holding out for the subsequent era, both…
Don’t anticipate the iPhone 18
Anybody eagerly awaiting the upcoming iPhone 18 has been hit with a double whammy of disappointment lately.
First, again in January, a number of experiences instructed that the common mannequin would have a later launch date, which means it wouldn’t arrive with the iPhone 18 Professional fashions in September. Its launch window is supposedly being shifted to Spring 2027 alongside the mid-range iPhone 18e, to make method for the long-awaited foldable iPhone this yr.
If true, that’d imply the iPhone 17 would stay the most recent base flagship for nearly one other full yr, making it a lot simpler to suggest.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Even when it does arrive, the common iPhone 18 is shaping as much as be a disappointing successor. Earlier this week, a Weibo leaker instructed that a number of of the manufacturing course of, chip specs or reminiscence will probably be downgraded.
The continued world RAM scarcity seems to be guilty, with unprecedented demand from AI knowledge centres main to an enormous improve in manufacturing prices.
In response, firms should take up the extra prices themselves, improve product costs, or compromise their {hardware} to make it cheaper to supply. Within the case of the iPhone 18, it appears as if Apple is choosing compromise.
The iPhone 18 has been hit with a double whammy of disappointment lately
With no base iPhone 18 anticipated till 2027 and downgrades probably as soon as it will definitely arrives, the iPhone 17 turns into an excellent higher purchase.
Get the iPhone 17 whilst you nonetheless can
As Emma talked about in her appraisal above, the iPhone 17 begins at £799/$799 when purchased outright. Make no mistake, that’s not low cost, although you may break the price down into month-to-month funds of round £36-£37 for twenty-four months by shopping for it on contract within the UK.
Nevertheless, it’s a particularly reasonable worth for an exceptionally nicely future-proofed cellphone, with no upgraded successor on the horizon and a promise of Apple’s lengthy and dependable software program assist.
The iPhone 17 is a cellphone I’d suggest to actually anybody who can stump up £799/$799 for his or her every day driver
The worldwide RAM scarcity additionally introduces the potential for Apple elevating the value on present iPhone fashions, because it has beforehand in response to Brexit within the UK and excessive ranges of inflation in 2022.
On the time of writing, the iPhone 17 stays obtainable for its launch worth of £799/$799 through many retailers within the UK (Apple/Amazon) and the US (Apple/Finest Purchase), however there’s no assure that’ll stay the case for lengthy.
$1099.99
Spending this a lot cash on a cellphone is an enormous resolution, even for those who’re getting it on contract. However for those who’re significantly contemplating a brand new iPhone, you may need to act quick on the iPhone 17. It’s as shut as you may get to a no brainer flagship cellphone.
Don’t thoughts an Android handset? Our guides to one of the best funds telephones, finest mid-range telephones and finest telephones general embrace some nice alternate options.