iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Is the Upgrade Worth It in 2025?
The iPhone 17 launched on September 19, 2025, bringing significant upgrades over the iPhone 16. With a larger ProMotion display, doubled base storage, and major camera improvementsāall at the same $799 priceāthis might be the most compelling base-model iPhone upgrade in years.
But is it worth upgrading from the iPhone 16? Let's break down every difference to help you decide.
Quick Verdict
Upgrade if you have: iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, or older Skip if you have: iPhone 17 (obviously), or if you're on a tight budget
The iPhone 17 offers the best value in Apple's 2025 lineup, with flagship features at a mid-range price.
Display: Finally, ProMotion for Everyone
iPhone 17
- Size: 6.3 inches (diagonal)
- Technology: ProMotion with adaptive 1Hz-120Hz refresh rate
- Features: Always-On display
- Brightness: 3,000 nits peak (outdoors)
- Protection: Ceramic Shield 2 (3x more scratch-resistant)
iPhone 16
- Size: 6.1 inches
- Technology: Standard 60Hz display
- Features: No Always-On display
- Brightness: 2,000 nits peak
- Protection: Ceramic Shield (previous generation)
Winner: iPhone 17 by a landslide.
The addition of ProMotion is huge. You get:
- Buttery-smooth 120Hz scrolling
- Always-On display showing time, widgets, and notifications
- Adaptive refresh rate (saves battery by going down to 1Hz)
- 50% brighter outdoors (3,000 vs 2,000 nits)
Plus, the 6.3-inch size is a sweet spotābigger than the 6.1" iPhone 16 but smaller than the 6.9" Pro Max.
And Ceramic Shield 2? It's three times more scratch-resistant than the original, meaning fewer micro-scratches over time.
Performance: A19 vs A18
iPhone 17
- Chip: A19 Bionic
- CPU: 6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency)
- GPU: 5-core
- RAM: 8GB
- Neural Engine: 18-core (improved AI performance)
iPhone 16
- Chip: A18 Bionic
- CPU: 6-core (2 performance + 4 efficiency)
- GPU: 5-core
- RAM: 8GB
- Neural Engine: 16-core
Winner: iPhone 17 (but it's close)
Both phones have the same 8GB RAM required for Apple Intelligence. The A19 chip brings:
- 10% better efficiency (longer battery life)
- 15% faster sustained performance (less throttling during gaming)
- Improved Neural Engine for AI tasks
In real-world use, you probably won't notice the differenceāboth are blazing fast. But the A19's efficiency improvements contribute to the iPhone 17's significantly better battery life.
Storage: Double at the Same Price
iPhone 17
- Base storage: 256GB
- Price: $799
iPhone 16
- Base storage: 128GB (now $699 after price drop)
- Original price: $799
Winner: iPhone 17
This is one of the best value upgrades. You get twice the storage (256GB vs 128GB) at the same $799 price the iPhone 16 launched at.
For reference:
- iPhone 16 256GB costs $899
- iPhone 17 256GB costs $799 (saves you $100)
If you were planning to buy the 256GB model anyway, the iPhone 17 is a no-brainer.
Camera: Massive Ultrawide Upgrade
iPhone 17
- Main camera: 48MP (24MP default)
- Ultrawide: 48MP (24MP default) - NEW
- Front camera: 18MP Center Stage with square sensor
- Video: 4K120 ProRes, cinematic mode improvements
- Features: Macro photography (via ultrawide)
iPhone 16
- Main camera: 48MP (24MP default)
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
- Video: 4K60 ProRes
- Features: Limited macro capabilities
Winner: iPhone 17
Three major camera upgrades:
1. 48MP Ultrawide Camera
The iPhone 17's ultrawide jumps from 12MP to 48MP (defaulting to 24MP with pixel binning). This means:
- 4x more detail in ultrawide shots
- Proper macro photography (get within 2cm of subjects)
- Better low-light performance
- Clearer zoomed photos
2. 18MP Center Stage Front Camera
The new front camera uses a square sensor, allowing you to:
- Switch between portrait and landscape without rotating the phone
- Get 18MP high-res selfies (vs 12MP)
- Better video calls with improved low-light performance
3. 4K120 ProRes Video
Pro-level video recording at 120fps in 4Kāpreviously exclusive to Pro models.
Battery Life: 6+ Hours Better
iPhone 17
- Video playback: Up to 30 hours
- Streaming: Up to 27 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 100 hours
- Charging: 45W wired, 25W MagSafe wireless
iPhone 16
- Video playback: Up to 22 hours
- Streaming: Up to 20 hours
- Audio playback: Up to 80 hours
- Charging: 30W wired, 15W MagSafe
Winner: iPhone 17
The battery life improvement is substantial:
- 8 hours longer video playback (30 vs 22 hours)
- 7 hours longer streaming (27 vs 20 hours)
- 20 hours longer audio playback (100 vs 80 hours)
Plus, faster charging:
- 45W wired charges 0-50% in 20 minutes (vs 30 minutes on iPhone 16)
- 25W MagSafe for iPhone 17 with Qi2-certified chargers (67% faster than 15W)
This means less anxiety about battery life and less time tethered to a charger.
Design & Build
iPhone 17
- Dimensions: 6.3" display, slightly larger
- Weight: 199 grams
- Colors: Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
- Materials: Aluminum frame, glass back
- Protection: Ceramic Shield 2 (3x more scratch-resistant)
iPhone 16
- Dimensions: 6.1" display
- Weight: 190 grams
- Colors: Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine
- Materials: Aluminum frame, glass back
- Protection: Ceramic Shield (previous gen)
Winner: Tie
Both phones share the same design languageāAction button, Camera Control button, USB-C port, and Dynamic Island. The iPhone 17 is slightly larger and heavier due to the bigger display and battery.
The color options are identical, so pick based on your preference.
Apple Intelligence
Both phones support all Apple Intelligence features in iOS 26:
ā Live Translation in Messages, FaceTime, Phone ā Visual Intelligence with screenshots ā Enhanced Siri with ChatGPT integration ā Writing Tools across all apps ā Genmoji creation ā Smart email summaries ā Third-party app AI integration
Winner: Tie
Both have the required 8GB RAM and Apple's Neural Engine to run Apple Intelligence features smoothly.
Pricing: iPhone 17 Wins on Value
Current Pricing (October 2025)
iPhone 17:
- 256GB: $799
- 512GB: $999
iPhone 16 (after price drop):
- 128GB: $699 ($100 cheaper)
- 256GB: $899
- 512GB: $1,099
Value Analysis
If you want 128GB, the iPhone 16 saves you $100.
But for 256GB:
- iPhone 17 costs $799
- iPhone 16 costs $899
- iPhone 17 saves you $100 while giving you ProMotion, better cameras, and longer battery
Winner: iPhone 17 for most people
Should You Upgrade?
ā Upgrade to iPhone 17 if you have:
iPhone 16: Only if you:
- Can sell your iPhone 16 for good value
- Really want ProMotion and Always-On display
- Need more storage (256GB+)
- Are a heavy camera user
iPhone 15 or older: Absolutely. You get:
- ProMotion display (huge quality of life upgrade)
- 2x storage at the same price
- Significantly better cameras
- 6+ hours better battery life
- Faster charging
iPhone 14 or older: No questionāthe jump is massive.
ā Skip the upgrade if:
- You have an iPhone 16 and are happy with it
- You're tight on budget (iPhone 16 dropped to $699)
- You only need 128GB storage
- You don't care about ProMotion or Always-On display
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 17 | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3" ProMotion 120Hz | 6.1" 60Hz |
| Always-On | ā Yes | ā No |
| Brightness | 3,000 nits | 2,000 nits |
| Chip | A19 | A18 |
| Storage | 256GB base | 128GB base |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 48MP |
| Ultrawide | 48MP | 12MP |
| Front Camera | 18MP | 12MP |
| Battery Life | 30 hours | 22 hours |
| Wired Charging | 45W | 30W |
| MagSafe | 25W | 15W |
| Ceramic Shield | Version 2 (3x) | Version 1 |
| Price | $799 | $699 |
What About iPhone 17 Pro?
If you're considering the iPhone 17 Pro ($999), you get:
- Titanium frame (lighter, more premium)
- 6.3" ProMotion with thinner bezels
- Triple-camera system with 5x telephoto
- Action Button + Capture Button
- A19 Pro chip (faster than A19)
- ProRes video recording
- 1TB storage option
Is it worth $200 more?
- For photographers: Yes (5x telephoto is killer)
- For videographers: Yes (ProRes + advanced tools)
- For most users: No (iPhone 17 has 90% of the features)
Real-World Usage: What's It Like?
Daily Performance
Both phones are fast. You won't notice speed differences in 99% of tasksāapps open instantly, multitasking is smooth, and games run beautifully.
The ProMotion Difference
Once you use 120Hz, you can't go back. Scrolling feels like butter, animations are smooth, and the Always-On display is incredibly convenient for checking time and notifications.
Camera Quality
The 48MP ultrawide makes a huge difference for landscape photos, group shots, and macro photography. The 18MP front camera takes noticeably sharper selfies and video calls look clearer.
Battery Life
The iPhone 17 easily gets through a full day with 20-30% left. The iPhone 16 gets through a day, but you might need a midday charge with heavy use.
Accessories to Consider
For iPhone 17:
- MagSafe charger supporting 25W (Qi2-certified)
- Case for 6.3" size (iPhone 16 cases won't fit)
- Screen protector for Ceramic Shield 2
- See our full iPhone 17 accessories guide ā
Need help choosing accessories?
Check out our MagSafe accessories guide for the best chargers, wallets, and stands.
Final Verdict
iPhone 17: 9/10 ā
Pros:
- ā ProMotion 120Hz display
- ā Double the storage (256GB) at the same price
- ā 48MP ultrawide camera (huge upgrade)
- ā 6+ hours better battery life
- ā Faster charging (45W wired, 25W MagSafe)
- ā Ceramic Shield 2 (3x more scratch-resistant)
Cons:
- ā $100 more than current iPhone 16 pricing
- ā Slightly heavier (199g vs 190g)
iPhone 16: 7.5/10 ā
Pros:
- ā Now $699 (great value)
- ā Still very fast (A18 chip)
- ā Supports all Apple Intelligence features
- ā Good battery life
- ā Same design as iPhone 17
Cons:
- ā Only 60Hz display (no ProMotion)
- ā 128GB base storage (fills up fast)
- ā 12MP ultrawide camera (dated)
- ā Shorter battery life
Our Recommendation
For most people: Get the iPhone 17
The combination of ProMotion display, doubled storage, better cameras, and significantly longer battery life makes the iPhone 17 the best value iPhone in 2025.
Yes, it's $100 more than the iPhone 16, but you're getting features that were previously locked to Pro modelsāespecially that gorgeous 120Hz ProMotion display.
If you're on a budget: The iPhone 16 at $699 is still excellent
You still get Apple Intelligence, the A18 chip, and all-day battery life. Just know you're missing out on some quality-of-life features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will iPhone 16 cases fit the iPhone 17? A: No. The iPhone 17 is larger (6.3" vs 6.1"), so you'll need new cases.
Q: Can I trade in my iPhone 16 for an iPhone 17? A: Yes! Apple accepts trade-ins. Check apple.com/trade-in for current values.
Q: Is the iPhone 17 waterproof? A: Both phones are IP68 ratedāwater-resistant up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.
Q: Does the iPhone 17 have a SIM card slot? A: No, US models are eSIM-only (like iPhone 16).
Q: When will iPhone 17 go on sale? A: It's already available! Launched September 19, 2025.
Q: Should I wait for iPhone 18? A: iPhone 18 won't launch until September 2026āthat's almost a year away. If you need a new phone now, get the iPhone 17.
Where to Buy
iPhone 17 ($799+)
- Apple Store - Full price, trade-in available
- Amazon - Sometimes discounted
- Carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) - Installment plans + trade-in deals
iPhone 16 ($699+)
- Apple Store - $100 price drop
- Amazon - Often cheaper
- Carriers - Better deals with trade-ins
The Bottom Line
The iPhone 17 is the most significant base-model iPhone upgrade in years. ProMotion, doubled storage, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and 6+ hours better battery lifeāall for the same $799 priceāmakes it the iPhone to buy in 2025.
If you have an iPhone 15 or older, upgrade without hesitation. If you have an iPhone 16, it's worth it if you want ProMotion and can get good trade-in value.
Best iPhone for most people in 2025: iPhone 17 š
Related Articles:
- 15 Best iPhone 17 Accessories You Need in 2025
- iOS 26 Hidden Features: 26 Tips You Didn't Know
- Best MagSafe Accessories for iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17: Which Should You Buy?
Have you upgraded to the iPhone 17? Share your experience in the comments below!
