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This week, we’re talking about iPhones — Apple’s latest flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro, and what users expect from the smartphone pioneer moving forward.
About a month after Apple released its latest flagship, we decided to find out how our readers feel about the newest entry from a company that critics accuse of marketing ‘basic’ features as ‘breakthroughs’.
This Week’s Poll Results (HackerNoon)
What's the most eye-catching new thing about the iPhone 17 Pro?
iPhone 17 Pro just dropped and it’s wild. The screen hits 3000 nits — you can actually use it outside. Every rear camera is 48MP now, even the zoom one, so 8x optical shots look insane. Front camera? 18MP with AI that follows your face like it’s in love with you. Battery lasts 33 hours of video. No more “low battery” panic at 9 PM. A19 Pro chip stays cool under pressure, and it starts at 256GB. Oh, and it comes in Cosmic Orange — yeah, it’s loud on purpose.
1 in 3 respondents (33 %) voted for the upgraded 18 MP front camera with AI auto-framing as the standout feature.
Not everyone’s impressed, though.
“The camera plateau is both the most impressive and the most eye-sore. Packed with tech, but still manages to look so ugly, lol.” — @kien
Others were more blunt:
“IT IS JUST ANOTHER RECYCLED PHONE.” — @braham
“Was just commenting same thing.” — @linh
While the camera dominated attention, a noticeable share of readers said they were more intrigued by the all-aluminum redesign in new colors like Cosmic Orange, which many described as Apple’s most confident aesthetic move in years. Others leaned toward the ProRes RAW video and 40× zoom, praising the phone’s creative potential for filmmaking, even if it still “feels more like refinement than reinvention.” A smaller but vocal group highlighted the 12 GB RAM upgrade, arguing that sustained performance finally puts iPhones on par with flagship Androids.
If our readers’ responses are anything to go by, Apple’s newest flagship may be as refined as ever. But refinement alone isn’t cutting it, not anymore. And that sentiment isn’t limited to HackerNoon readers. Across the web, people are wondering whether Apple is still willing to surprise us.
Weigh in on the Poll Results here.
Around the Web: Polymarket Pick
Will Apple release a foldable iPhone in 2025?
Current odds: 4% Chance
As the image below illustrates, odds dropped sharply after the iPhone 17 was released, considering Apple’s predictable release cycle. Up until that point, users held out hope for something a little more…imaginative from the Cupertino giant.
Around the Web: Kalshi Pick
When will Apple announce foldable iPhone?
Current odds:
- Before 2026 - 4%
- Before 2027 - 70%
With the 2025 release cycle already behind us, attention has shifted to 2026. Roughly 70 % of respondents on Kalshi now expect Apple to finally give in to market pressure and enter the foldable smartphone space before 2027.
Across all three polls, the sentiment is clear: users think the new iPhone 17 is solid — but they’re hoping to see braver moves in the next cycle from the trillion-dollar smartphone pioneer.
We want to hear from you!
That’s it, folks! We’ll be back next week with more data, more debates, and more donut charts!
In the meantime:
Vote on this week’s poll: What’s more likely to disrupt Hollywood first?