Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 at its “awe dropping” event together with the tremendous skinny iPhone Air and the highly effective iPhone 17 Pro/17 Pro Max. You could be questioning whether or not to get the brand new shiny customary iPhone 17 or purchase final 12 months’s iPhone 16 which is $100 much less. To assist with that call, this is a breakdown of how the 2 handsets examine.
The iPhone 17 begins at $829 (or $799 in the event you activate with a provider), the identical because the iPhone 16 when it got here out — with the caveat that the iPhone 17 begins with the next 256GB storage choice, versus 128GB.
The iPhone 16 is now obtainable at a $100 low cost, although its baseline configuration has 128GB of storage. So, is it value saving some cash, or must you go all out with the most recent cellphone?
This is what to find out about every cellphone, from the cameras to the shows to the batteries.
Watch this: The iPhone Air Is Unbelievably Skinny
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Display screen variations
A few of the greatest modifications between the iPhone 16 and 17 must do with the show.
Apple says it shrunk the borders across the display on the iPhone 17, increasing the show from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16 to six.3 inches on the iPhone 17 with out increasing its dimensions. The brand new Ceramic Protect 2 cowl on the iPhone 17 gives 3x higher scratch resistance, in accordance with the corporate.
The baseline iPhone 17 will get a show with a 120Hz refresh charge, versus the 60Hz display on the iPhone 16. Meaning the iPhone 17 lastly helps an always-on display, so you may look on the time, your notifications and Dwell Actions with out waking the display.
The iPhone 17 additionally beneficial properties an anti-reflective coating and a 3,000-nit peak brightness, in comparison with 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16. That ought to make it simpler to see your cellphone in brilliant daylight.
Digicam variations
Each the iPhone 16 and 17 have a 48-megapixel wide-angle digital camera. However the iPhone 17 upgrades the ultrawide digital camera from 12 megapixels on final 12 months’s cellphone to 48 megapixels.
The front-facing digital camera additionally will get an improve, going from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 18 megapixels on the iPhone 17. There is a new Center Stage function for the selfie digital camera that may robotically modify from a portrait orientation to panorama to ensure everyone seems to be within the shot. Meaning you do not have to manually rotate your cellphone to its facet anymore when there are extra folks to slot in the body.
Each the iPhone 16 and 17 have a Camera Control button on the facet to shortly launch the digital camera, snap some pictures and use Apple’s Visual Intelligence instrument to be taught extra about what’s round you.
Processor and RAM
The iPhone 17 packs an A19 chip, an improve from the A18 chip within the iPhone 16. One key distinction is that the iPhone 17 begins at 256GB, whereas the iPhone 16 began at 128GB for a similar $829 worth when it debuted.
Each telephones additionally assist the Apple Intelligence suite of AI capabilities, which incorporates writing instruments, picture turbines and notification summaries.
Battery life
Apple does not share particular battery specs, nevertheless it does measure longevity by way of video playback hours. The iPhone 16 helps as much as 22 hours of video playback, in accordance with Apple, whereas the iPhone 17 bumps that as much as 30 hours. Keep tuned to CNET’s evaluation of the iPhone 17 to see how that interprets in the actual world and the way the cellphone holds as much as our battery exams.
A brand new AI-powered Adaptive Power function arriving with iOS 26 will help preserve the battery by making “small efficiency changes,” like “permitting some actions to take a bit longer,” in accordance with Apple.
The iPhone 17 arrives with the upcoming working system onboard, however you may additionally be capable to obtain iOS 26 on the iPhone 16, as well as some older iPhones, as soon as it turns into obtainable publicly. That ought to assist to stretch your battery life on both machine.
Colour choices and design
What’s on the within could also be most vital, however folks additionally care what their cellphone appears to be like like. Just like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 is available in a spread of enjoyable colours: black, white, mist blue, sage (a light-weight inexperienced) and lavender.
For comparability, the iPhone 16 is accessible in black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine.
Each telephones have an aluminum body.
In case you’re leaning towards the iPhone 17, preorders begin Friday, and the cellphone hits retailer cabinets on Friday, Sept. 19.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16
| Apple iPhone 17 | Apple iPhone 16 | |
| Show measurement, tech, decision, refresh charge | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel decision; 1-120Hz variable refresh charge | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixel decision; 60Hz refresh charge |
| Pixel density | 460ppi | 460 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in | 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 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.) |
| Cell software program | iOS 26 | iOS 18 |
| Digicam | 48-megapixel (large) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (large), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) |
| Entrance-facing digital camera | 18-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video seize | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Apple A19 | Apple A18 |
| RAM + storage | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB | RAM N/A + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None (Face ID) |
| Battery | As much as 30 hours video playback; as much as 27 hours video playback (streamed). Quick cost as much as 50% in 20 minutes utilizing 40W adapter or greater by way of charging cable. Quick cost as much as 50% in half-hour utilizing 30W adapter or greater by way of MagSafe Charger. | As much as 22 hours video playback; as much as 18 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wi-fi charging as much as 25W with 30W adapter or greater; Qi2 as much as 15W |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None |
| Particular options | Apple N1 wi-fi networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Motion button. Digicam Management button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visible Intelligence. Twin eSIM. 1 to 3000 nits brightness show vary. IP68 resistance. Colours: black, white, mist blue, sage, lavender. | Apple Intelligence, Motion button, Digicam Management button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits show brightness vary, IP68 resistance. Colours: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine. |
| US worth begins at | $829 (256GB) | $829 (128GB) |
