It’s been 2 weeks since I switched from my iPhone 14 to the new iPhone 17, and it already feels like my daily companion. I’ve taken it everywhere, from two weddings to a weekend trip at ECA Pitstop in New Bahru, and it’s handled everything I threw at it. It’s one of those upgrades that doesn’t just feel faster or shinier, but genuinely fits better into day-to-day life.
Camera and Video
The biggest upgrade for me is the camera. The new Centre Stage front camera makes taking selfies and group shots significantly easier, especially during wedding receptions.
It automatically keeps everyone in frame, and the stabilisation is incredible. (Peek the video later as I show how Centre Stage keeps you in focus at all times) Also, with the front camera, you can have the option to either take a portrait or a landscape video. Super useful when you are not so dexterous and find it hard to capture stable shots with the phone in landscape mode.
I also love the Dual Capture mode, which lets me record both the beautiful scenery where the Wedding dinner was located and my reaction. On the back, the dual 48 MP Fusion cameras are sharp and detailed, even in low light.
The Ultra Wide camera is great for wide venue shots, while the Main camera captures portraits with beautiful colour and clarity.
Not to mention, it is also equipped with an integrated optical-quality 2x Telephoto zoom. The stability in videos is unmatched. I was walking down the stairs at New Bahru and decided to film my POV. If you were to watch the linked video, it would be as though I had a gimbal with me.
Aside from the camera changes, the new camera controls are a nice touch. The interface is more customizable in iOS 26, where you can tweak exposure, focus, and even depth blur directly in the viewfinder without diving into menus.
Here’s a collage of the photos I took with the iPhone 17 over these 2 weeks:
Display
The display stands out. The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen with ProMotion makes everything look super smooth and bright.
At New Bahru, I could clearly see my photos and videos under the afternoon sun without any glare. Ceramic Shield 2 is tougher too; I accidentally dropped the phone once while juggling coffee and shopping bags, and it survived without a single scratch.
Performance and iOS 26
Performance-wise, the A19 chip is incredibly fast. I was editing the videos showcasing the clips from my first 2 weeks of the iPhone 17 while streaming music and messaging friends without any lag.
The battery life has been strong as well, easily lasting an entire day of heavy use. Adaptive Power Mode has been surprisingly useful, stretching battery life when I’m out longer than usual.
Aside from the new hardware features, recently, Apple recently released the new iOS 26, which I updated once I got the iPhone 17. There are over 25 new features, but here are some that were most impactful for me. Firstly, the inclusion of Liquid Glass, now everything from icons to widgets has this smooth, almost 3D-like depth that makes the screen look alive. Beyond the looks, it’s also smarter: you can snap a screenshot and instantly ask ChatGPT or run a visual search on what’s on your screen, super handy for shopping or identifying random stuff. Even little things like full-screen alarms and the option to override Focus modes make daily use more seamless.
Design
I went with the sage colour, which looks really clean and fresh, and had the Light Moss MagSafe Case with the Camera Control button. It was perfect for walking around ECA Pitstop, snapping quick shots of the food and the space without fumbling around with the start page.
Overall, the iPhone 17 has quickly become my everyday sidekick. It feels reliable, polished, and surprisingly fun to use. Whether it’s capturing special wedding memories or just a casual weekend out, it’s the kind of phone that fits effortlessly into whatever you’re doing.
The iPhone 17 is currently retailing from $1,299 at selected retailers and the Apple store.
