Confused between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16? Explore their key differences and get expert advice on which one is the better choice for you...
Confused between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16? Explore their key differences and get expert advice on which one is the better choice for you. People who want to buy an iPhone always wonder, "Should I upgrade, or is last year's model still good enough?" Apple has finally revealed the iPhone 17.
With its bigger screen, sharper cameras, better performance, and longer battery life, the iPhone 17 seems like a good step forward. But since the iPhone 16 is now $100 less expensive, it's not as easy as "newer is better."
If you can't decide between them, here are the seven biggest differences between them.
What's Really Different About the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 16 Are 1. The Prices and the Space
At launch, the iPhone 17 costs $829, or $799 with a provider deal. This is the same price as the iPhone 16 from last year. They kept the price of the iPhone 17 the same as the iPhone 16 from last year, but added 256GB of extra storage.
1. Price and Storage
The price of the iPhone 16 has dropped by $100, making it the more affordable choice. What's the trade-off? It still costs 128GB to begin with. If you're someone who quickly runs out of space, the iPhone 17 is a better long-term choice.
2. Display
Phone 17 has a 6.3-inch OLED screen with ProMotion, which lets you scroll smoothly at up to 120Hz. Plus, they added a screen that stays on all the time and a light of 3,000 nits, which is a huge improvement for use outside. Apple has also made it stronger with Ceramic Shield 2, which claims to be 3 times less likely to scratch.
On the other hand, the 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 16 is still sharp, but it can only go up to 60Hz and 2,000 nits, and it uses the older Ceramic Shield. It's good, but really not up to par.
3. Cameras
Apple made a small change to the camera boost on the iPhone 17. This camera has an 18MP lens and a function called "Center Stage" that keeps you in frame during video calls. The ultrawide camera now has 48MP, which is great for both wide shots and close-ups. There is also a new mode called Dual Capture that lets you record with both the front and back cameras at the same time. While the 12MP ultrawide camera and 12MP selfie camera on the iPhone 16 still take good pictures, it's clear that the iPhone 17 gives artists more options.
4. Performance
The faster and better A19 chip inside the iPhone 17 makes it work. Benchmarks show an 11% increase in single-core performance and a 9% increase in multi-core performance over the A18, as well as about 20% faster graphics. This means games will run more smoothly, changes will be done faster, and more Apple Intelligence features will run entirely on the device.
The A18 chip in the iPhone 16 is still strong, but you may notice that it works harder when you play games for a long time, edit videos, or do other complicated tasks. 5. How Long Does the Battery Last?
While the iPhone 16 could only play videos for 22 hours, Apple says the iPhone 17 can play videos for up to 30 hours. The new charging method from Apple makes it charge faster—50% in just 20 minutes with a 40W adapter.
The iPhone 16 feels behind this because it needs 20W to charge and has a smaller battery.
6. Design and Colors
There are five color options for the iPhone 17: black, white, mist blue, sage, and lavender. The frame is still made of metal. It's a little bigger and heavier than the 16, but Ceramic Shield 2 makes it last longer.
There are more bright and bold colors on the iPhone 16 (think Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine), and it feels lighter in your hand. If you care about style, it comes down to whether you like quiet elegance or loud personality.
7. Something else that stands out
Apple's new networking chip makes AirDrop and Hotspot more stable and more efficient, and the iPhone 17 is the first phone to have Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
7. Other Noticeable Feature
Even though the iPhone 16 doesn't have the new chip, it should be praised for being the first phone to come with Apple Intelligence, the company's big AI play.
Should you get the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 16?
It has a brighter screen, a bigger battery, a faster chip, and cameras that can do more. The iPhone 17 is clearly the more modern model. In general, it's the best choice if you always want the newest Apple products.
The iPhone 16 is now a better deal than ever, though. Even though it has a lower price, it still has features that most people will like and great performance.