iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Long-awaited upgrades or smart bargain?

I have been using the iPhone 17 as my primary device for more than a week, and I have realised that this year, you don’t need the Pro or Pro Max. Apple’s vanilla iPhone has finally grown up with the same 120Hz LTPO OLED display as the Pros, improved cameras, solid battery life, and that tough but compact build. As I said in my review, the iPhone 17 is the most sensible iPhone in 2025. But there’s a little twist for interested iPhone buyers. The latest vanilla iPhone costs Rs 82,900, meanwhile, last year’s iPhone 16 (review) recently dropped to just Rs 51,999 during Flipkart’s ongoing sale. Now we all know that sales don’t last forever, but year-old iPhones are usually seen at a discount on these e-commerce platforms.

So, if you are someone who wants to buy the new and compact iPhone at an affordable price, you have two options: the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 16. But which one should you go for? The cheaper one, or the newer one? And more importantly, what do you actually gain if you pick the 17? Here’s what I have to say.

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Design

Let’s start with the design and feel. Both iPhones carry the familiar new-generation iPhone look: They have an aluminium frame, two cameras on the back, Ceramic Shield protection, IP68 rating, and more. What you gain with the iPhone 17 is Ceramic Shield 2 on the front versus Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16. This is a small but promising upgrade for durability freaks like me. 

In-hand feel is also pretty much the same, except the weight distribution on the iPhone 17 is slightly better. They both feel premium, they both feel clean, and they both are compact. But if we specifically talk about what’s on paper, the iPhone 17 is just a tad thicker and heavier, with 8mm thickness and 177 grams in weight. However, this is only noticeable when you are nitpicking.  

Both phones come in a minimal finish. I have the iPhone 17 in Sage colour, and the iPhone 16 in Ultramarine. If you ask me, all the colours these phones come in look decent and clean; it’s just about your mood, whether you want a fancy colour or a subtle one. 

But one thing that we keep forgetting while discussing phone colours is that they don’t matter much. Because, at the end of the day, we all trust back covers more than Apple’s durability.

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Display

One major upgrade that I have to call out on the iPhone 17 is the display. This 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate it’s like Apple finally letting the vanilla iPhone stretch its legs. Everything finally feels smooth, alive, and responsive on the base iPhone model. You scroll through Instagram, flick through photos, swipe through messages, it all just feels slick. 

Now the iPhone 16? It is still gorgeous, you get to see vivid colours, deep blacks, but once you have used the 120Hz panel in action, that old 60Hz panel suddenly feels like you are watching a film in slow motion.

Even the display resolution is higher on the iPhone 17, which is as same as the iPhone 17 Pro models. You get 1206 x 2622 pixels resolution on the new iPhone, and 1179 x 2556 pixels on the iPhone 16. But honestly, the display quality feels the same on both iPhones. There is good sharpness on both, you get HDR and Dolby Vision support, and colours also seem accurate on both. 

And lastly, brightness. Even though Apple claims the iPhone 17 is brighter than the iPhone 16, I still feel these displays need to be even brighter under harsh sunlight. If you don’t use your phone outdoors much, you don’t have to bother about it.

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Performance 

Compared to last year, I think Apple has done a good job on the performance front this time. The iPhone 17’s A19 chip is so powerful that it leaves all its direct competitors sweating in benchmark tests. According to AnTuTu and Geekbench, the iPhone 17 is better than the Galaxy S25, the Pixel 10, and, of course, the iPhone 16.

But in real life, what matters is that you don’t feel the lag on either of these phones. I’m talking daily usage, editing videos, and even a bit of gaming. The iPhone 16 with the A18 chip is no slouch either, it handles everything you throw at it, but the iPhone 17 just feels more loaded. 

Software, as always, is a playground. iOS 26 brings Liquid Glass interface, Apple Intelligence refinements, Image Playground, and all the fun stuff to both of these phones. I don’t want to compare stuff here, as you get all the same features on both these phones with iOS 26. 

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Camera

Cameras are where Apple usually makes people debate endlessly. The iPhone 17 upgraded the main sensor to a 48MP Fusion sensor and a better 48-megapixel ultrawide lens over the iPhone 16.

If you put the pictures of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 side by side, the difference is not too apparent. However, if you look pretty closely, you will notice some differences that set the two apart.

The details, highlights, and shadows are all pretty much the same. But where I actually could see some minor difference was with the colours. iPhone 17’s pictures are slightly more colourful and vibrant, with a not-so-major-difference.

With ultrawide shots, you won’t see too much difference unless you look closely. The iPhone 17 has deeper tones and manages light and details better than the previous-gen iPhone 16. And honestly, that’s expected, since it comes with a higher-resolution ultrawide sensor than the iPhone 16.  

You will see a similar story with the portraits too. The edge detection and bokeh effect is pretty close, but the colours are a little different.

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Battery

A parameter that’s very important for iPhone users: Battery. With their sub-4000mAh batteries, both phones last a full day if your usage is light. The iPhone 17 stretches a little longer thanks to its better optimisations and a slightly bigger battery (3692 mAh vs 3561 mAh).

During our testing, we recorded a continuous 22 hours of screen time in a video loop test. So, you can expect 6–7 hours of daily screen time on the iPhone 17. Whereas the iPhone 16 is not bad either. About 18 hours on video loop, and 5-6 hours of daily screen time. 

Cut short – Unless you’re constantly pushing both these phones, either will get you through the day.

What’s the final thought? 

So, what’s the final thought? Well, I think the iPhone 17 is the phone for the person who wants to feel like they are getting the full Apple experience, the Pro feel without paying Pro money. It is future-proof, polished, compact, and smooth.

But the iPhone 16 is the one for smart bargain hunters. Same pocket-friendly design, solid cameras, good performance, but at almost Rs 30,000 cheaper with festive sales. A phone that says: “I’ll keep up with most of what you need, and I won’t break the bank.”

Personally, after a week with the iPhone 17, I can say Apple finally made the vanilla iPhone feel like the right choice. It is small, sensible, and fairly equipped for the segment. But I think the iPhone 16 is still a secret hero for anyone who loves a good bargain.