Apple iPhone 17 vs Apple iPhone 16
The Apple iPhone 17 scores 7.9 in our rating, and the Apple iPhone 16 scores 7.1. The Apple iPhone 17 leads in display, performance, camera, battery and value for money. The Apple iPhone 17 is the newer phone, announced Sep 9, 2025.
Key differences
Why choose the Apple iPhone 17
- Bigger battery 3,692 mAh vs 3,561 mAh
- Bigger screen 6.3 inches vs 6.1 inches
- Brighter screen 3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits
- Higher refresh rate 120 Hz vs 60 Hz
- Newer model Sep 9, 2025 vs Sep 9, 2024
- Higher screen resolution 1206 × 2622 px vs 1179 × 2556 px
Why choose the Apple iPhone 16
- Lighter 170 g vs 177 g
- Thinner 7.8 mm vs 7.95 mm
PhoneRanked scores
Calculated from specs, relative to phones from the same year and price range. How we rate phones
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
Overall
7.9
7.1
Display
8.5
6.7
Performance
8.3
7.9
Camera
6.9
6.6
Battery
5.7
5.3
Design
8.8
8.8
Software support
7.4
7.4
Value for money
5.5
4.1
Display
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
Size
6.3 inches
6.1 inches
Type
OLED, Super Retina XDR
OLED, Super Retina XDR
Resolution
1206 × 2622 px
1179 × 2556 px
Pixel density
460 ppi
460 ppi
Refresh rate
120 Hz
60 Hz
Adaptive refresh
✓ Yes
✕ No
Peak brightness
3,000 nits
2,000 nits
HDR
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Protection
Ceramic Shield 2
Ceramic Shield (latest generation)
Performance
Cameras
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
Main camera
48 MP, f/1.6
48 MP, f/1.6
Optical stabilization
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Ultrawide
48 MP
12 MP
Rear cameras
2
2
Rear video
4K@60
4K@60
Front camera
18 MP
12 MP
Front video
4K@60
4K@60
Battery and charging
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
Capacity
3,692 mAh
3,561 mAh
Battery type
Li-Ion
Li-Ion
Wired charging
40 W
—
Wireless charging
25 W
25 W
Reverse wireless
✕ No
✕ No
Charger in box
✕ No
✕ No
Design and build
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
Dimensions
149.6 × 71.5 × 7.95 mm
147.6 × 71.6 × 7.8 mm
Thickness
7.95 mm
7.8 mm
Weight
177 g
170 g
Form factor
Bar
Bar
Frame
Aluminum
Aluminum
Back
Glass
Glass
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Fingerprint
None
None
3D face unlock
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
SIM
eSIM only
eSIM only
Colors
Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage, White, Black
Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, Black
Connectivity and features
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
5G
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
6.0
5.3
USB
USB-C 2.0
USB-C 2.0
NFC
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
3.5 mm jack
✕ No
✕ No
Stereo speakers
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Satellite
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
IR blaster
✕ No
✕ No
Software
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
OS at launch
iOS 26
iOS 18
Security updates
5 years
5 years
Launch and price
Spec
Apple iPhone 17Apple iPhone 16
Announced
Sep 9, 2025
Sep 9, 2024
Released
Sep 19, 2025
Sep 20, 2024
Status
Released
Released
US launch price
$799
$799
Green marks the stronger value in a row. Specs come from official manufacturer data, cross-checked with established tech media; each phone page lists its sources. Report an error
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