Hi everyone,
I upgraded to the base iPhone 17 from an iPhone 13 mini. Except a bank app I can't yet transfer the login, as it requires my Chinese phone number as identity confermation and I can't receive texts from it while in the US, my other accounts, emails and the like are successfully transfered. Right now, the phone has been off the charger for 7 hours and the battery is at 60%.
A few initial impressions / customizations:
1. The smoothness in scrolling with VoiceOver is much improved on the new phone, and tasks run much faster. Though I do have to say, the 13 mini is no slouch either, but the battery life is very different now. It's great to have my new phone now with no heat, and without plugging it in all the time!
2. Siri Voice 4 sounds more natural under Siri with Apple Intelligence. I guess you can't make that particular version of the voice work with VoiceOver?
3. The speakers sound more like a portable radio, with some bass. I can use it to watch spoken word videos or listen to such podcasts without any problems.
4. Camera Control is actually pretty good, as I needed to scan a QR code, I just flip it to the code scanner. I set it to double tap to launch, and require screen on. Now I no longer have to worry about the button.
5. The action button is new, and VoiceOver will tell me to hold for silent, or hold for ring, depending on the mode I switch to. I think that's really good. However, the byproduct of the removal of the ring switch is, whenever I press the action button, the phone will display the lock screen in order to change the mode. That's alright, I can certainly do it before a concert or church, knowing that it's the mode I switched to and move on from there.
So far, it's been a good upgrade, and I love using Siri to listen to NPR News. The Listen To Page feature also is really cool, as it uses the Apple Intelligence voice. Other then that, the usage experience and context is similar to my 13 mini, only smoother and faster.
Take care and have a nice day!
Comments
I’m glad you’re enjoying your experience with your new phone
I’m glad you’re enjoying the experience with your new phone. I think an upgrade a phone always is a good thing whenever you can do it. I upgraded from my SE third generation to a 15 and I definitely noticed a faster performance as well. I didn’t know there were different voices once you get to Apple Intelligence that’s really cool. My phone doesn’t have Apple Intelligence capabilities. I guess my next phone will whenever I get one. But I just got my iPhone 15 on August 13 of this year so it’ll be a long time before I upgrade anything else. I’m glad that the action button wasn’t a big issue just switched too. I purposely got an iPhone 15 because I still wanted to be switch and that’s the last one that has one.