If you’re looking to buy a new iPhone, you might be wondering whether to get the iPhone 17 or get a discount on last year’s iPhone 16. To help with that decision, here’s an explanation of how the two phones compare.
The iPhone 17 starts at $829 — or $799 with carrier activation — the same price as the iPhone 16 at launch. But there is an important difference: The iPhone 17 starts with 256GB of storage, twice the base 128GB on the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16 is now available for $100 off. So, is it worth saving some money or should you splurge on a new phone?
Here’s what you need to know about each device, from cameras to displays to batteries. (If you’re looking for a slightly more affordable option, check out iPhone 17E.)
Watch this: iPhone Air Review: Fun to Hold, at a Cost
Screen difference
Some of the biggest changes between the iPhone 16 and 17 are related to the display.
Apple claims to have reduced the borders around the screen on the iPhone 17, increasing the display from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16 to 6.3 inches on the iPhone 17 without increasing its size. The new Ceramic Shield 2 cover on the iPhone 17 offers three times more scratch resistance, according to the company.
The basic iPhone 17 gets a display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, unlike the 60Hz display on the iPhone 16. That means that the iPhone 17 finally supports an always-on display, so you can look at that moment, your notifications and Live Activities without waking up the screen.
The iPhone 17 also benefits from an anti-reflective coating and a 3,000-nit maximum brightness, compared to 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16. That should make it easier to see your phone in bright sunlight.
The camera difference
Both the iPhone 16 and 17 have a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera. But the iPhone 17 upgrades the wider camera from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels.
The front-facing camera also gets an upgrade, going from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 18 megapixels on the iPhone 17. There’s a new Center Stage selfie camera feature that can automatically adjust from portrait to landscape to make sure everyone gets a shot. That means you no longer have to manually rotate your phone on its side when there are more people to fit into the frame.
Both the iPhone 16 and 17 have a Camera Control button on the side to quickly launch the camera, capture specific shots and use Apple’s Visual Intelligence tool to learn more about what’s around you.
Processor and RAM
The iPhone 17 packs an A19 chip, which is an upgrade from the A18 chip in the iPhone 16. One key difference is that the iPhone 17 starts at 256GB, while the iPhone 16 starts at 128GB for the same price of $829 at launch.
Both phones also support the Apple Intelligence suite of AI capabilities, including writing tools, image generators and notification summaries.
Battery life
Apple doesn’t share specific battery specifications, but it measures longevity in hours of video playback. The iPhone 16 supports video playback for up to 22 hours, according to Apple, while the iPhone 17 maxes out at 30 hours.
In CNET’s 45-minute endurance test, which included streaming, scrolling through social media, joining a video call and playing games, the iPhone 17’s battery went up to 98%. That’s more than the 97% the iPhone 16 got last year.
And in the three-hour Wi-Fi streaming test, which includes watching a YouTube video in full-screen mode with full brightness, the iPhone 17’s battery is fully charged to 89%. In comparison, the iPhone 16 dropped to 86%.
Undoubtedly, the iPhone 17 battery lasts more than a day, even after taking pictures, scrolling through social networks, watching videos, sending messages, sending emails and more. The same can be said about the iPhone 16, so you won’t feel much of a difference between the two when it comes to day-to-day operations.
The new AI-Adaptive Power feature that comes with iOS 26 can help save battery by making “minor performance adjustments,” such as “allowing certain tasks to take a little longer,” according to Apple.
The iPhone 17 comes with a native operating system on board, but you’ll be able to download iOS 26 on the iPhone 16, as well as other older iPhones, when it becomes publicly available. That should help extend your battery life on any device.
Color and design options
The inside may be the most important, but people also care about how their phone looks. Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 comes in a variety of fun colors: black, white, blue, sage and lavender.
In comparison, the iPhone 16 is available in black, white, pink, yellow and ultramarine. Both the phones have an aluminum frame. Check out the detailed chart below for a breakdown of each phone.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16
| Apple iPhone 17 | Apple iPhone 16 | |
| Display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixel resolution; 60Hz refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 pp |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in |
| Dimensions (mm) | 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 177 g (6.24 oz) | 170 g (6 oz.) |
| Mobile software | iOS 26 | iOS 18 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| Front facing camera | 18-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K |
| The processor | Apple A19 | Apple A18 |
| RAM + storage | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB | RAM N/A + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Expandable storage | Nothing | Nothing (Face ID) |
| Battery | Up to 30 hours of video playback; up to 27 hours of video playback (streaming). Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using a 40W adapter or more with a charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using a 30W adapter or more with the MagSafe Charger. | Up to 22 hours of video playback; up to 18 hours of video playback (streaming). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W or higher adapter; Qi2 up to 15W |
| Fingerprint sensor | Nothing (Face ID) | Nothing (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | Nothing | Nothing |
| Special features | Apple N1 wireless network chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. 1 to 3000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, blue, smart, lavender. | Apple Intelligence, action button, camera control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, pink, yellow, ultramarine. |
| US pricing starts at | $829 (256GB) | $829 (128GB) |
