Apple finally unveiled the iPhone 17 Series at their ‘Awe Dropping’ launch event on September 9, featuring upgrades to the battery, display, and cameras. To understand more, we compared the regular iPhone 17 to its predecessor, the iPhone 16, which is presently available at a discounted price following the release of its successor. Also, if you currently own an iPhone 16 model, this comparison can help you understand whether it is worth making the upgrade.
Here’s a comparison of iPhone 17 and iPhone 16.
In This Article
Display
iPhone 17: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
iPhone 16: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
Processor
iPhone 17: Bionic A19 chip
iPhone 16: 3nm octa-core Bionic A18 chipset
Rear camera(s)
iPhone 17: A dual rear camera system led by a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera ( f/1.6 aperture and OIS) with 2X telephoto support and a 52mm focal length. There is a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra-Wide secondary camera (f/2.2 aperture and macro feature).
iPhone 16: Features a dual rear camera with a redesigned setup, including a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera.
Selfie camera
iPhone 17: 18-megapixel square-shaped selfie camera with Center Stage feature
iPhone 16: 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera
Also Read: Comparison: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
RAM and storage
iPhone 17: 256GB and 512GB storage options
iPhone 16: 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage models
Battery
iPhone 17: not disclosed
iPhone 16: 3561 mAh
Operating system
iPhone 17: iOS 26
iPhone 16: iOS 18
Price
iPhone 17: Rs 82,900
iPhone 16: Rs 69,900
Our Take
The new iPhone has the same design as the model before it and is available in a variety of colours, including black, white, mist blue, sage, and lavender, comparable to the iPhone 16, which is available in black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine. The Camera Control button on the side of both iPhones allows for speedy camera launch, taking pictures, and use of Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature for greater comprehension. Both phones feature an aluminium frame. The new Ceramic Shield 2 cover provides three times more scratch resistance.
Apple has made major tweaks to the iPhone 16 and 17’s displays. The iPhone 17 has a reduced screen border, making it 6.3 inches bigger than the iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 now boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which allows it to show the clock, notifications, and Live Activities without unlocking the screen. Additionally, the iPhone 17 boasts an anti-reflective coating and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making it easier to read in strong sunshine.
The iPhone 17 has an A19 chip, which is an advance from the A18 chip in the iPhone 16, and starts at 256GB, whereas the iPhone 16 starts at 128GB.
The iPhone 16 and 17 both contain 48-megapixel wide-angle cameras, with the iPhone 17 increasing the ultrawide camera resolution from 12 to 48 megapixels. The front-facing camera also receives an update from 12 to 18 megapixels. The selfie camera now has a Centre Stage function that automatically switches between portrait and landscape modes.
Apple’s iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 feature varied battery life scores, with the former supporting up to 22 hours of video playing and the latter up to 30 hours. The iPhone 17 series boasts longer battery life, quicker charging, and greater power management. Apple’s A19 series CPUs and improved energy management in the new iOS version are likely to improve battery life.
Finally, following the iPhone 17 debut, Apple has dropped the prices of its earlier iPhone models, beginning at Rs 69,900 for the iPhone 16 and Rs 79,900 for the iPhone 16 Plus.
