I took the iPhone 17 on a trip to Hawaii, and it surpassed my expectations (until it didn't)

• The iPhone 17 starts at $799 with 256GB of base storage
• The biggest upgrades are a new 120Hz ProMotion display and 18MP front camera.
• You'll still have to settle for not having a telephoto lens, and battery life is average.

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

Base model iPhones are often overlooked. Apple's launch of the iPhone 17 lineup made that even more the case, with the ultra-thin iPhone Air and the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro stealing all the attention. However, several weeks spent with the iPhone 17 have made it evident that it's the biggest win of the product season for most users.

The best part is that despite the upgrades, the latest iPhone model retails for the same price as its predecessor, but with double the storage (256GB).

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review: I've ...