iPhone 17: Phone of the Year 2025 π
In a year packed with folding phones, experimental designs, massive batteries, and AI-first hardware, one device quietly did something far more important β it finally got everything right.
The iPhone 17 isn’t the flashiest phone of 2025. It doesn’t have the biggest battery or the wildest camera hardware. But it represents the most meaningful shift Apple has made to the base iPhone in years β and that’s exactly why it earns the title Phone of the Year.
The Smartphone Still Matters
Despite the rise of AI gadgets, smart glasses, and XR headsets, smartphones remain the center of our personal computing lives. They’re our cameras, wallets, communication hubs, and creative tools β and the best phone of the year should reflect that reality.
The iPhone 17 does.
Rather than chasing extreme specs, Apple focused on completeness β and for the first time in a long time, the base iPhone feels like the phone most people should buy.
The Most Improved iPhone β Ever
For years, the base iPhone felt like a compromise:
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60Hz display while competitors offered smooth scrolling
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Minimal storage at launch
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Cameras that lagged behind the Pro models just enough to matter
The iPhone 17 changes that narrative entirely.
What Apple Finally Fixed
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120Hz ProMotion display β smooth, bright, and long overdue
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Doubled base storage, without increasing the price
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Massively upgraded selfie camera, capable of high-quality portrait and landscape shots
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Latest flagship chip, no cut corners
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Excellent battery life, tuned through software efficiency rather than brute capacity
This is no longer a “starter iPhone.”
It’s all the iPhone most people will ever need.
An 8/10 Phone in Every Category (That’s a Compliment)
The iPhone 17 doesn’t try to dominate a single spec sheet category β and that’s exactly the point.
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Great display
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Great cameras
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Excellent video (still best-in-class)
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Reliable all-day battery
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Industry-leading software support
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Seamless ecosystem
Very few phones manage to score consistently high across the board without major trade-offs. The iPhone 17 does β and does it while keeping its price in check.
A Better Deal Than Ever Before
Perhaps the most surprising part?
For the first time in years, the base iPhone is genuinely competitive on value:
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Better display than rivals
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Longer software support than any Android phone
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Flagship performance without upselling pressure
It’s now easier to recommend the iPhone 17 than the Pro models for most users β a sentence that would have sounded absurd just a year ago.
Why the iPhone 17 Represents 2025
The Phone of the Year isn’t about benchmarks or biggest numbers.
It’s about the story of the year.
And the story of 2025 is this:
Apple finally stopped holding back the base iPhone.
While other brands experimented with extremes β folding screens, ultra-thin designs, or massive batteries β Apple focused on fixing long-standing gaps. The result is a phone that feels mature, confident, and complete.
Final Verdict: A Long Time Coming
The iPhone 17 isn’t revolutionary β it’s corrective.
And sometimes, that matters more.
By delivering a high-refresh display, better cameras, more storage, and flagship performance at the same price, Apple turned the base iPhone into the MVP of the year.
iPhone 17 isn’t just Phone of the Year β it’s the iPhone Apple should have made years ago.
Ready to upgrade? Sell your device with Vendi
If you’re considering upgrading to the iPhone 17 or selling your current iPhone, vendi offers the best way to maximize your device’s value:
Why Choose vendi:
- 40-50% Higher Prices: Significantly more than high street shops and network providers
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- Β£10 Shipping Contribution: We help cover your shipping costs
- 4.9/5 Star Rating: Trusted by thousands across all platforms
- Expert Verification: Fair and professional condition assessment
- No Hidden Fees: Transparent pricing with no surprise deductions
Simple 3-Step Process:
Step 1: Get an Instant Quote Visit vendi, select your device (iPhone 17, iPhone 16, or any other model), enter its condition and specifications, and receive an instant quote valid for 10 days.
Step 2: Ship Your Device Pack your device securely using our packaging guidelines (found in our Sellers FAQs), and send it to us. We’ll provide Β£10 to help cover shipping costs.
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