It’s officially iPhone season.
Just like clockwork, Apple has returned with another big September launch event, and there’s plenty to get excited about.
The iPhone 17 series includes four models once again, but this time, the all-new iPhone Air replaces the Plus model. With plenty of upgrades elsewhere, it’s the most significant iPhone launch event in years.
However, while I’m excited to see what Apple has in store and looking forward to testing one out, I won’t be switching to an iPhone 17 long term. And Google’s Pixel 10 series is a major reason for that.
Ultra-slim phones don’t do it for me
The headline announcement during Apple’s keynote was the iPhone Air. After three years of an identical flagship lineup, Apple has ditched the Plus in favour of a new, ultra-slim model.
Apple
The iPhone Air is an incredible 5.6mm thick, making it thinner than the 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge that Samsung launched earlier this year.
However, from testing that phone, a thin and light phone really doesn’t do it for me. While more comfortable to hold, battery life and cameras were both severely compromised on the S25 Edge, to the extent that it wasn’t worth the premium price tag.
Indeed, while Apple hasn’t disclosed it, the iPhone Air is likely to have a smaller battery than the regular 17. It also only has one 48Mp rear camera. Considering its starting price of £999/$999, that doesn’t seem worth it at all.
The iPhone Air has just one rear camera
Apple
I prefer Google’s approach, which retains the equivalent of regular, Pro and Pro Max models, yet replaces the Air with a book-style foldable.
Performance will be better, but not by much
One upgrade we were all expecting on the iPhone 17 series is a new chipset or two. Apple’s A19 series makes its debut here, with a regular version on the iPhone 17 and Air, while the A19 Pro remains exclusive to Pro and Pro Max.
However, the last-gen A18 series was already more powerful than the Tensor G5 found in Google’s Pixel 10 series, so the new silicon will only extend Apple’s lead. When it comes to phone performance, the iPhone is probably still the gold standard.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The question is: does it really matter? Pixel 10 Pro XL performance was still excellent throughout my testing time, and I can’t think of any scenario where it would feel underpowered.
Much of the Pixel 10 series’ computing power goes into its AI features, which are leaps and bounds ahead of Apple’s efforts with Apple Intelligence so far.
I care more about photos than videos
Even before the iPhone 17 series, the iPhone’s video abilities are unmatched by any Android phone. The detail and smoothness Apple can consistently deliver is something to behold, and it looks like the new Pro phones will be able to capture it in 8K.
However, I only take videos on my smartphone occasionally, and the Pixel 10 Pro’s ‘Night Sight Video’ is plenty good enough for me, even if the microphones could be better.
What’s much more important to me is consistently great photos, an area where the Pixel 10 Pro XL excels. In almost any situation, I can rely on it to deliver the high-quality shots I crave.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
The iPhone 16 Pro I tested last year certainly isn’t far behind, but there were enough duds to make me think twice about the photos I was taking. With only slight chances on the 17 Pro models, it’s likely to be more of the same for the most part.
Also, if you care about AI camera features, the Pixel 10 series is the way to go. Best Take, Add Me, Camera Coach and Super Res Zoom are all worth using, even if they’re by no means flawless.
Android suits me much better than iOS
The iPhone 17 series will debut iOS 26, the revamped version of Apple’s mobile operating system. Its new ‘Liquid Glass’ design language is a big overhaul, combining curved buttons with various translucent elements, as Apple aims to make it feel more like interacting with the real world.
However, plenty of the iOS fundamentals that I noticed when switching to the 16 Pro look set to remain, including Apple’s frustrating approach to notifications and quick settings. It also works far better if you use the company’s own apps rather than third-party alternatives.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
So, as someone who primarily relies on the Google ecosystem, the Pixel 10 suits me much better. It also has a redesign in the form of Android 16’s ‘Material 3 Expressive’, while keeping bloatware to a minimum and rivalling Apple for prompt updates and long support.
Ultimately, Pixel 10 phones are a better long-term fit for me than the iPhone 17 series, despite the significant changes Apple has made. However, if you’re an existing iPhone user or none of the downsides apply to you, there’s plenty to be excited about.
