The iPhone 17 is the closest a vanilla iPhone has ever come to Pro-level territory. Compared to the iPhone 16, the new iPhone 17 brings a host of meaningful upgrades including a ProMotion display, tougher screen protection, the latest A19 chip, an improved selfie camera, and significantly longer battery life. Here’s a detailed look at the iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 to help you decide if this year’s upgrade is worth it for you.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Build and design
The iPhone 17 sticks with Apple’s tried-and-true aluminium and glass design but introduces Ceramic Shield 2, a new protective layer that’s three times more scratch-resistant than before.
Slimmer bezels give the phone a more modern look, while the display size has grown slightly from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16 to 6.3 inches. The trade-off is a marginal increase in weight.
ALSO READ: iPhone 17 series price in India: How much each storage variant costs
Apple is also keeping things fresh with playful new colours like Lavender, Mist Blue, Sage alongside the classic Black and White options.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Display
This is where the biggest leap happens. The iPhone 17 finally gets 120Hz ProMotion, bringing smoother scrolling and animations to the vanilla line. The iPhone 16 was stuck at 60Hz, making this a major upgrade.
Outdoor usability has also improved with peak brightness jumping to 3,000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility under harsh sunlight. Add in the Always-on display (down to 1Hz refresh rate for power savings), and the vanilla iPhone display now feels properly 2025-ready.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Performance and software
Under the hood, the iPhone 17 is powered by the new A19 chip, which is faster and more efficient than the A18 in the iPhone 16. The improved sustained performance should particularly benefit gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
Apple has also doubled the base storage. The iPhone 17 starts at 256GB instead of 128GB, which is perfect for today’s higher storage needs.
On the software side, it ships with iOS 26, featuring the new Liquid Glass treatment and Apple Intelligence tools such as Live Translation and Call Screening.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Cameras
Apple finally brings real camera upgrades on the vanilla model. The iPhone 17 packs a 48MP primary sensor and a new 48MP ultrawide camera for sharper detail and better macro shots.
ALSO READ: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: What’s different?
The front camera gets a big refresh too. It is now 18MP Centre Stage selfie camera with a squarer sensor for a wider field of view. Features like wider selfies, horizontal group shots, stabilised 4K HDR video, and dual capture (shooting with front and back cameras simultaneously) make it much more versatile than the iPhone 16’s 12MP selfie shooter.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Battery
Battery life has been improved significantly as well. Thanks to a larger stacked cell and the efficiency of the A19 chipset, the iPhone 17 promises up to 30 hours of video playback, compared to the iPhone 16’s 22 hours.
Charging speeds are faster too, with 40W wired fast charging and 25W Qi2 wireless charging that works with all MagSafe accessories.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Price
Apple has actually sweetened the deal this year. The iPhone 17 starts at Rs 82,900 for the 256GB variant, which is a full Rs 7,000 cheaper than the 256GB iPhone 16 at launch. A 512GB version is also available at Rs 1,02,900.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Why it makes sense to upgrade
For years, the vanilla iPhone has lagged behind the Pro models. With the iPhone 17, Apple finally closes the gap. You’re getting ProMotion, a brighter and tougher display, upgraded cameras, better battery life, and faster charging, all at a lower launch price than its predecessor for the same storage tier.
In 2025, sticking with a 60Hz display and 12MP ultrawide camera feels outdated. So, the iPhone 17 delivers meaningful improvements across the board, making it a far more compelling upgrade.
What do you think about the iPhone 17? Let us know and stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.
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Dhriti Datta
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