We use our smartphones more than we do anything else and we hold them even more. So how a phone feels in your hand matters more than what’s inside. The iPhone 17 beats every other iPhone I have ever owned in terms of how it feels in my hand except the iPhone 4.

Everyone is saying this about the iPhone Air. I have two issues with the Air. First, it’s too big. I can live with the height, but the width bothers me. It’s just slightly wider than I would like. Second, it’s too light. I know that’s supposed to be a feature for extended use, and the weight distribution is excellent—you don’t feel any heaviness at the top. But it’s a little too light for my taste. It makes the phone feel cheap, almost plasticky.

The iPhone 17 gets everything right: perfect weight, perfect size, and the best white color Apple has done in years.

With that said, I would be lying if I didn’t mention that the variable refresh rate is what pushed me toward a non-Pro phone for the first time in a while. Once you get used to it, there’s no going back.

The camera bump and larger screen size make the iPhone 17 look like a modern phone. The iPhone 4, however, was a jewel and remains the pinnacle of consumer product design.