iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Which Is the Proper Alternative for You?

It’s possible you’ll be questioning whether or not to purchase Apple’s newest gadget, the iPhone 17, or rating final 12 months’s iPhone 16 at a reduction. To assist with that call, this is a breakdown of how the 2 telephones examine.

The iPhone 17 begins at $829 — or $799 with provider activation — the identical launch value because the iPhone 16. However there is a key distinction: the iPhone 17 begins with 256GB of storage, double the 128GB base on the iPhone 16.

The iPhone 16 is now obtainable at a $100 low cost. So, is it price saving some cash, or must you splurge on the most recent telephone?

This is what to find out about every telephone — from the cameras to the shows to the batteries.

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Display screen variations

Among the largest adjustments between the iPhone 16 and 17 should do with the show.

Apple says it shrunk the borders across the display screen on the iPhone 17, increasing the show from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16 to six.3 inches on the iPhone 17 with out increasing its dimensions. The brand new Ceramic Protect 2 cowl on the iPhone 17 presents 3x higher scratch resistance, in accordance with the corporate. 

The baseline iPhone 17 will get a show with a 120Hz refresh price, versus the 60Hz display on the iPhone 16. Which means the iPhone 17 lastly helps an always-on display, so you possibly can look on the time, your notifications and Stay Actions with out waking the display screen.  

The iPhone 17 additionally features an anti-reflective coating and a 3,000-nit peak brightness, in comparison with 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16. That ought to make it simpler to see your telephone in brilliant daylight.  

Digicam variations

Each the iPhone 16 and 17 have a 48-megapixel wide-angle digital camera. However the iPhone 17 upgrades the ultrawide digital camera from 12 megapixels on final 12 months’s telephone to 48 megapixels. 

The front-facing digital camera additionally will get an improve, going from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 18 megapixels on the iPhone 17. There is a new Center Stage function for the selfie digital camera that may mechanically modify from a portrait orientation to panorama to verify everyone seems to be within the shot. Which means you do not have to manually rotate your telephone to its facet anymore when there are extra folks to slot in the body. 

Each the iPhone 16 and 17 have a Camera Control button on the facet to rapidly launch the digital camera, snap some photographs and use Apple’s Visual Intelligence software to study extra about what’s round you.

Processor and RAM

The iPhone 17 packs an A19 chip, an improve from the A18 chip within the iPhone 16. One key distinction is that the iPhone 17 begins at 256GB, whereas the iPhone 16 began at 128GB for a similar $829 value when it debuted. 

Each telephones additionally help the Apple Intelligence suite of AI capabilities, which incorporates writing instruments, picture turbines and notification summaries. 

Battery life

Apple would not share particular battery specs, nevertheless it does measure longevity by way of video playback hours. The iPhone 16 helps as much as 22 hours of video playback, in accordance with Apple, whereas the iPhone 17 bumps that as much as 30 hours. 

In CNET’s 45-minute endurance take a look at, which incorporates streaming, scrolling via social media, becoming a member of a video name and taking part in video games, the iPhone 17’s battery went from full to 98%. That is simply over the 97% the iPhone 16 scored final 12 months. 

And in a three-hour streaming take a look at over Wi-Fi, which includes watching a YouTube video in full-screen mode at full brightness, the iPhone 17’s battery went from full to 89%. As compared, the iPhone 16 dropped to 86%.

Anecdotally, the iPhone 17’s battery lasts over a day, even after taking pictures, scrolling via social media, watching movies, texting, sending emails and extra. The same can be said about the iPhone 16, so that you seemingly will not really feel an enormous distinction between the 2 with regards to day-to-day actions. 

A brand new AI-powered Adaptive Power function arriving with iOS 26 might help preserve the battery by making “small efficiency changes,” like “permitting some actions to take a bit longer,” in accordance with Apple. 

The iPhone 17 arrives with the upcoming working system onboard, however you may additionally have the ability to obtain iOS 26 on the iPhone 16, as well as some older iPhones, as soon as it turns into obtainable publicly. That ought to assist to stretch your battery life on both gadget.

Shade choices and design

What’s on the within could also be most essential, however folks additionally care what their telephone appears to be like like. Just like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 is available in a spread of enjoyable colours: black, white, mist blue, sage (a light-weight inexperienced) and lavender.

For comparability, the iPhone 16 is accessible in black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine.

Each telephones have an aluminum body.

Take a look at the spec chart beneath for a breakdown of every telephone.