At a look
Our Verdict
In the event you purchased an iPhone 16 final yr you may maintain on to it, however if you’re Contemplating upgrading from one thing older there isn’t a purpose to choose the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 17 on the value Apple is promoting it for.
Worth When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing At this time
Worth When Reviewed
Apple iPhone 17: From $799
Apple iPhone 16: NOW $699 for 128GB (WAS: $799/128GB, $899/256GB, $1,099/512GB)
Finest Costs At this time: Apple iPhone 17
As is at all times the case right now of yr, there are new iPhone fashions to get enthusiastic about, however if you’re fortunate sufficient to be upgrading to a brand new iPhone is the brand new iPhone 17 the one to get, or do you have to get monetary savings and purchase a brand new iPhone 16?
The iPhone 17 is full of options that shrink the hole between it and the Professional and Professional Max fashions and it boasts some large enhancements over the already nice iPhone 16. Plus, at solely $100/£100 greater than the iPhone 16, and with twice as a lot storage, it appears like a discount as compared.
However may there be any purpose to purchase the iPhone 16 as an alternative of the iPhone 17? And In the event you already personal an iPhone 16 is there any level upgrading to the 2025 mannequin, or do you have to wait one other yr (or two).
Right here’s how the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 stack up towards each other.
Learn our full evaluations: iPhone 17 and iPhone 16.
iPhone 17 vs 16: Design and Construct
Whereas the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Professional fashions have seen a shift to the brand new ‘plateau’ bump on the rear, the iPhone 17 appears loads just like the iPhone 16, albeit in new colour choices.
Alongside the now-standard Black and White, you will discover iPhone 17 in Mist Blue, Sage, and Lavender. These colours are a little bit paler than the iPhone 16’s daring Ultramarine, Teal and Pink. We might at all times suggest that colour isn’t an essential issue as a result of our recommendation is to place your iPhone in a case to guard it, however in the event you choose vibrant pink to the extra muted lavender, then the iPhone 16 could get your vote.

The iPhone 17 has smaller bezels than the iPhone 16
and a barely larger show.
Thomas Armbrüster
There’s nonetheless that vertically-aligned pair of digital camera sensors on the again, however look a little bit nearer and the thinner bezels on the entrance imply the show is a 6.3-inch panel slightly than a 6.1-inch one (extra on that shortly).
That does make the telephone ever so barely bigger than its predecessor, although, so in the event you’re already pushed for pocket area, that’s one thing to contemplate.
iPhone 17 vs 16: Show
Right here’s the place the newer iPhone 17 begins to tug away. Not solely is that show a fraction bigger, however it additionally has ProMotion. Apple’s variable refresh charge expertise has by no means been on a non-Professional iPhone earlier than, so it is a big deal.
For the reason that show can provide a refresh charge that’s anyplace from 1Hz to 120Hz, not solely is movement buttery easy whenever you’re scrolling in nearly any app, however you’ll discover that the battery can last more as a result of it’s probably solely powering a single refresh whereas earlier than it was pushing 60Hz on a regular basis.
The show is extra sturdy, too, with Ceramic Protect 2 making it more durable, alongside an anti-reflective coating that makes the iPhone 17 simpler to make use of outdoor.

David Worth / Foundry
iPhone 17 vs 16: Specs
One of many largest variations that you simply may not discover is the storage. There isn’t a 128GB mannequin of the iPhone 17. The newer telephone begins at 256GB, with a 512GB possibility for anybody who wants it. The iPhone 16 alternatively is now solely obtainable with 128GB storage.
This could maybe be acceptable if it wasn’t for the truth that the 128GB iPhone 16 solely prices $100/£100 lower than the iPhone 17 with 256GB storage.
It will be very onerous to argue towards paying simply $100 extra for twice the quantity of storage and all the opposite options provided by the iPhone 17, so we received’t! Discover that additional $100, you received’t remorse it!
Right here’s how the 2 telephones evaluate, at a look:
iPhone 16 | iPhone 17 | |
---|---|---|
Show | 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR (2556 x 1179), 60Hz refresh charge | 6.3-inch Tremendous Retina XDR (2622 x 1206), as much as 120Hz refresh charge |
Processor | A18 | A19 |
Storage | 128GB | 256GB/512GB |
Rear Digicam | Twin 48MP f/1.6 Fusion, 12MP f/2.6 Extremely Extensive; 0.5X, 1X, and 2X zoom; Good HDR 5, Macro, Spatial Seize | Twin 48MP most important (f/1.6), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2); 2x, 4x optical zoom, digital zoom 10x; Good HDR 5, Macro, Spatial Seize |
Entrance Digicam | 12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9 | 18MP Heart Stage selfie (f/1.9) |
Video Recording | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Imaginative and prescient as much as 4K at 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Motion Mode, Spatial video, Wind noise discount, Audio combine | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Imaginative and prescient as much as 4K at 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Motion Mode, Spatial video, Wind noise discount, Audio combine |
Biometric Safety | Face ID | Face ID |
Management choices | Motion button, Digicam Management button | Motion button, Digicam Management button |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
Mobile | 5G | 5G |
Battery Life | 22 hours (video playback) | 30 hours (video playback) |
Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
Wi-fi Charging | Sure, with MagSafe (charging as much as 25W with 30W adapter or increased) | Sure, with MagSafe (charging as much as 25W with 30W adapter or increased) |
Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6 |
Apple Pay | Sure | Sure |
Waterproofing | IP68 | IP68 |
SIM | Twin (nano and eSim or 2x eSIM in US) | Twin (nano and eSim or 2x eSIM in US) |
Dimensions | 5.81in x 2.82in x 0.31in or 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.8mm | 5.81in x 2.82in x 0.31in or 149.6mm x 71.5mm x 7.95mm |
Weight | 170g | 177g |
iPhone 17 vs 16: Efficiency
Efficiency virtually seems like a moot level. iPhones not often really feel sluggish, even years into their lifecycle, and 2024’s A18 continues to be doing a terrific job for nearly everybody we all know utilizing one.
The A19 is a step past (with Geekbench 6 benchmarks suggesting a sizeable efficiency bounce), however you probably received’t see a lot of a distinction in day-to-day utilization. As new AI options debut, which may change, in fact, so the A19 is the chip to go for if you wish to delay the lifetime of your iPhone.

David Worth / Foundry
Then there’s battery life. The iPhone 17 can play video recordsdata for as much as 30 hours, which is an enormous bounce from final yr’s efficiency by round 8 hours, however a lot of this might come right down to the aforementioned advantages of a ProMotion show.
In any case, the iPhone 17 will last more and carry out higher, each of which win it factors towards the iPhone 16.
iPhone 17 vs 16: Cameras

David Worth / Foundry
The iPhone 17 additionally provides an enormous step up by way of its cameras.
Beginning on the entrance, all iPhone 17 fashions have the brand new Heart Stage digital camera, with an 18MP sensor. That sensor is sq., so you may take panorama selfies with no need to carry your telephone awkwardly. That’s a step up from 12MP possibility on the iPhone 16.
On the again, there are two cameras once more, however they’re each 48MP this time round (the iPhone 16’s Ultrawide was a 12MP one). Photos are way more detailed because of this, significantly in macro pictures.
Lastly, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out Twin Seize. It feels aimed on the subsequent wave of TikTok stars, however means that you can movie what you’re and your response concurrently.
iPhone 17 vs 16: Worth
We had anticipated a value bounce for the iPhone 17, significantly on the again of tariffs hitting merchandise within the U.S., so we have been very impressed to see Apple maintain the bottom iPhone at $799, regardless of doubling the storage and enhancing nearly each facet of its design.
The year-old iPhone 16 noticed a value drop, however solely by $100. Charging $699 for an older iPhone with half the storage actually does appear amis. Particularly when you will get a 256GB iPhone 16e for a similar value.
If Apple actually wished to promote the iPhone 16 it wanted to drop the worth additional, or promote the 256GB mannequin, however it hasn’t. So we are going to conclude that it doesn’t actually need to promote it. And on that notice, you in all probability shouldn’t purchase it.
Do you have to purchase iPhone 17 or 16?
For the primary time in a very long time, it’s very straightforward to suggest the iPhone 17, both in its place buy to the cheaper iPhone 16, or as an annual improve from the iPhone 16, significantly if you will discover a good trade-in deal on your present mannequin.
The iPhone 17 has an even bigger, higher show, extra efficiency, higher battery, improved cameras and extra storage on the backside tier, and nonetheless is available in on the identical value.
We theorise that the iPhone 16 is barely left on sale as a way for Apple to upsell folks to the iPhone 17, in spite of everything, it’s solely prices an additional $100 and also you get a lot extra on your cash.
Need extra assist selecting which iPhone to purchase? Learn our iPhone comparability chart. And to get the most effective offers learn: Finest iPhone offers.