Apple iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Cupertino-based tech giant Apple announced the iPhone 17 last year. While its upgrade is due early next year, the sale season is set to begin in India, where major e-commerce platforms will offer the iPhone 17 at a discounted price. Not only that, iPhone 16 will also be available at discounts in the sale season.
Depending on your budget, this could prove to be the last chance to buy the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 at prices lower than their launch rates. But which one will be the better deal? We have compared the specifications and prices of the two to help you understand.
Display: While both iPhones get Super Retina XDR OLED screens, they differ slightly in size: iPhone 16 – 6.1-inch and iPhone 17 – 6.3-inch. Plus, the iPhone 17 offers a 120Hz refresh rate, slimmer bezels and higher peak brightness at 3,000nits (compared to iPhone 16’s 2,000nits), among notable upgrades.
Performance: iPhone 17 gets an A19 chipset, while the iPhone 16 offers an A18 processor. Out of the box, the latest vanilla flagship debuted with iOS 26, compared to iOS 18 on the previous-generation model. However, both phones can be upgraded to the latest iOS 27 software.
Battery: Apple claims the iPhone 17 can survive up to 30 hours of video playback (in a controlled environment), eight hours more than the iPhone 16. GSMArena’s listing claims the iPhone 17 packs a 3,692mAh lithium‑ion battery and the iPhone 16 packs a 3,561mAh Li-Ion cell. Plus, with the upgraded PD charging standard, the base 17 also supports faster charging.
Camera: For photography, the iPhone 17 packs a 48MP primary + 48MP ultrawide rear cameras and an 18MP Center Stage front shooter. The iPhone 16 packs a 48MP + 12MP back and a 12MP selfie shooter. Speaking of upgrades, the iPhone 17 offers better ultrawide and front camera hardware.
On Apple India’s official website, the iPhone 16 starts at Rs 89,900. At Rs 10,000 higher, the iPhone 17’s starting price is Rs 99,900. However, during the Festival of Electronics sale at Reliance Digital stores starting October 9, the iPhone 17 will be available for Rs 79,899. An additional Rs 3,000 bank cashback and Rs 8,000 exchange bonus can bring the price down to Rs 68,899.
Apple iPhone 16 will be available for Rs 69,899, with an additional Rs 1,500 bank offer and a Rs 3,000 exchange bonus. When it comes to the verdict, the iPhone 17 is the better pick if you can stretch your budget and avail these offers, thanks to a 120Hz display, a faster chip, improved battery life and an upgraded camera setup.