Apple’s base iPhone gets stronger
Apple’s iPhone 17 vs iPhone16 comparison reveals how the company has meaningfully upgraded its base model without increasing the starting price. The iPhone 17 now offers a larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion support, a faster A19 chip with Neural Accelerators, and an upgraded 18MP Center Stage front camera. Storage has also improved, with the base configuration starting at 256GB instead of 128GB. Despite these changes, Apple kept the launch price at $799, making the iPhone 17 a stronger entry-level option.
Design and size details
Both the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 retain the familiar glass sandwich design with an aluminum frame. The vertical dual camera layout remains, along with the Action button and Camera Control, both of which Apple introduced on the iPhone 16. Dimensionally, the iPhone 17 is a little larger, measuring 5.89 inches tall compared to 5.81 inches on the iPhone 16, though width and thickness remain nearly identical. In terms of weight, the iPhone 17 tips the scales at 6.24 ounces, making it slightly heavier than the 6-ounce iPhone 16.
These subtle size changes don’t alter the overall feel, but the iPhone 17 benefits from design refinements that make it more durable. Apple also continues using aerospace-grade materials, ensuring both devices balance sturdiness with premium aesthetics.
Display and durability
One of the biggest highlights in the iPhone 17 vs iPhone16 comparison is the screen. The iPhone 17 introduces ProMotion technology, which allows for a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This ensures smoother scrolling, more responsive gaming, and sharper animations. By contrast, the iPhone 16 is limited to a fixed 60Hz refresh rate, which feels dated compared to modern displays.
Brightness is another major leap forward. The iPhone 17 boasts 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness, alongside 1,600 nits for HDR and 1,000 nits for typical content. The iPhone 16 maxes out at 2,000 nits. This difference makes the iPhone 17 far more usable in bright daylight conditions.
Apple also upgraded durability with Ceramic Shield 2, which improves scratch resistance by three times compared to the original Ceramic Shield used in the iPhone 16. On top of that, the iPhone 17 features a multi-layer anti-reflective coating, improving text clarity in both indoor and outdoor environments.
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Camera and video system
Apple introduced a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera on the iPhone 17, which is a major step up from the 12MP Ultra Wide camera on the iPhone 16. Both phones include a 48MP main Fusion camera with sensor-shift optical image stabilization and a virtual 2x telephoto option by cropping into the larger sensor. However, the iPhone 17 gains Dual Capture, enabling simultaneous recording from the front and rear cameras in up to 4K at 30fps.
On the front, the iPhone 17’s new 18MP Center Stage camera provides sharper selfies, better autofocus, and a clever ability to switch to landscape orientation without rotating the device. The iPhone 16 still uses the 12MP TrueDepth front camera, which is solid but no match for the improvements seen in the iPhone 17.
Both models continue to support advanced video features like Cinematic Mode, Action Mode, HDR video recording, Spatial Video, and Macro Video. However, the iPhone 17’s extra hardware capabilities make it a more versatile option for creators who want flexibility and higher-quality recordings.
Power, connectivity, and battery
At the heart of the iPhone 17 is Apple’s A19 chip, which brings a Display Engine to support ProMotion and always-on display features. The A19 also introduces Neural Accelerators, enhancing on-device AI and machine learning performance. The iPhone 16, powered by the A18 chip, remains fast but lacks these newer optimizations. Both devices include 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking.
The iPhone 17 also improves connectivity with Bluetooth 6 and Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi N1 chip, offering better performance for AirDrop, Personal Hotspot, and network stability. The iPhone 16 supports Bluetooth 5.3 and a standard Wi-Fi 7 chip. Both models feature 5G with mmWave and sub-6GHz support, along with satellite features for emergency SOS and roadside assistance.
Battery life is another area where the iPhone 17 pulls ahead. It delivers up to 30 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 16. Charging is also faster: the iPhone 17 reaches 50% in just 20 minutes with the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, while the iPhone 16 requires 30 minutes. Both support wireless charging via MagSafe at 25W and Qi2 at 15W.
Upgrade decision
So, should you upgrade? For iPhone 16 users, the improvements might feel incremental. ProMotion, higher brightness, and a new front camera are useful but not essential upgrades. However, for anyone coming from an older iPhone, the iPhone 17 vs iPhone16 comparison makes the newer model look far more attractive. You’re getting a better display, upgraded cameras, more storage at the base price, stronger durability, and longer battery life.
At $799, Apple has managed to make the iPhone 17 the most complete base model in years, with features that push it closer to Pro territory without increasing cost.
