On September 19th， news broke that the reviews for the iPhone 17 series have been unsealed. Renowned tech influencer Zhong Wenze has also released his review of the iPhone 17 Pro series.
The absence of an iPhone 17 review was explained by Zhong Wenze on Weibo. He stated that while he recognizes the iPhone 17 is poised to be a significant product this year， the production timeline was extremely tight. With only five days allotted for the creation of videos for both the AirPods Pro 3 and the iPhone 17 Pro series， the standard iPhone 17 had to be strategically de-prioritized.
Regarding the iPhone 17， Zhong Wenze highlighted three key areas: the screen and front-facing camera， the rear camera system， and the choice between the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 17.
Zhong Wenze commented that the iPhone 17 has been brought up to par with the Pro series in terms of its display and front-facing camera， which he found to be a positive development. He specifically noted the practicality of the Always-On Display feature， deeming it far more useful for daily use than a 120Hz refresh rate.
The user experience for these aspects is identical between the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro series， so users can refer to the Pro review for more details.
Zhong Wenze also mentioned that the iPhone 17’s rear camera setup， featuring a 0.5x， 1x， and 2x optical zoom， is highly practical. He revealed that he has extensively used the iPhone 16 over the past year and frequently relies on it for photography.
For travel or specific scenarios like shooting cars， he finds the telephoto lens and ProRes capabilities of the Pro models more beneficial. However， for the vast majority of users， Zhong Wenze believes the iPhone 17’s rear camera configuration is both effective and intelligently balanced.
When addressing the question of choosing between the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 17， Zhong Wenze stated that after careful consideration， he found the iPhone 17 to be a very worthwhile option. While the Pro model offers a telephoto lens， the standard iPhone 17 boasts advancements in many other areas and comes at a more accessible price point. This positions the iPhone 17 as a compelling value proposition for many consumers. The omission of the telephoto lens is a trade-off， but for users whose primary needs are met by the standard features， this might be a less critical compromise.
Zhong Wenze concluded by characterizing the iPhone 17’s product positioning this year as aiming to elevate the standard lineup， while the Pro series is being further refined for a more professional user base. This strategy allows Apple to cater to distinct customer segments， offering tailored experiences and features.
He explicitly recommended the iPhone 17 for users who do not require professional-grade features and are looking for a device suitable for daily use. This suggestion is based on the observation that the iPhone 17 offers a robust and satisfying experience for everyday tasks， making it a practical choice for the average consumer.
The iPhone 17 is priced at 5999 RMB for the 256GB model， with potential government subsidies， and 7999 RMB for the 512GB model. These pricing tiers suggest a competitive strategy by Apple， aiming to attract a broader market share with the standard iPhone 17.
Internally， the iPhone 17 is powered by the A19 chip， manufactured using a 3nm process. It features a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU. The camera system includes a 48-megapixel main sensor and an ultra-wide lens. The display supports ProMotion technology， with a refresh rate adjustable from a high of 120Hz down to a low of 1Hz， contributing to both visual fluidity and power efficiency.
