iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Key differences compared
At a glance
Our Verdict
If you want better cameras, better battery life, and improved performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is the one for you. But the iPhone 16 Pro isn’t a bad iPhone if you can get a good deal.
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While the iPhone 16 to iPhone 17 sees Apple rolling out big improvements, like ProMotion and doubling the storage on its latest “base” phone, the jump from iPhone 16 Pro to iPhone 17 Pro is perhaps a little less consequential.
There are still improvements to be found, but they’re a bit predictable: a better battery, improved cameras, and a brighter screen.
Here’s our full comparison of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro, where we explore whether it’s worth switching from one to the other. We also think about what to do if you find a deal on an iPhone 16 Pro or a refurbished model: should you get it or should you pay more for the newer model?
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: design and build
There’s a notable difference between this year’s iPhone 17 Pro and its predecessor, and it’s all to do with the back of the device.
The camera cluster is gone, replaced by what Apple calls the “tray,” which houses the three sensors, flash, and more. The Apple logo has also been moved lower, placed on a ceramic cover that Apple says makes the new phones more durable.
It’s also more scratch resistant thanks to the Ceramic Shield (version 2) on the front, but the rest of the phone is no longer made of titanium. Instead, Apple has gone back to aluminum, and you can buy the new model in Deep Blue, Cosmic Orange, or Silver (no black, this time).
Foundry
iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Display
Even the iPhone 17 now has ProMotion for variable refresh rate, so there’s no longer a distinction between pro and standard iPhones.
There is, however, a change on the iPhone 17 Pro screen compared to the 2024 model: the brightness is improved, going to 3,000 nits (instead of 2,000 nits). Combined with an anti-glare case, the iPhone 17 Pro is much easier to read outdoors.
And, as we saw above, Ceramic Shield 2 makes the screen more scratch-resistant.
Stéphane Wiesend
iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: Specs
There are far fewer differences between the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro than there are between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17.
As with the iPhone 17, there is no longer a 128 GB version. The processor goes from the A18 Pro to the A19 Pro. Battery life is better. Bluetooth is improved. The camera, as you’ll see below, gets a pretty significant update.
| iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR (2622 x 1206), up to 120Hz refresh rate | 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR (2622 x 1206), up to 120Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | A18 Pro | A19 Pro |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | 256GB/512GB/1TB |
| Rear camera | 48MP main, 48MP telephoto, 48MP ultra-wide | 48MP main and ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto |
| Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth, f/1.9 | Center stage selfie 18 MP (f/1.9) |
| Video recording | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode, Spatial video, Wind noise reduction, Audio mixing | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps, Cinematic mode, Action mode, Spatial video, Wind noise reduction, Audio mixing |
| Biometric security | Face ID | Face ID |
| Control Options | Action button, camera control button | Action button, camera control button |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| LTE | 5G | 5G |
| Battery life | 27 hours (video playback) | 33 hours (video playback) |
| Loading | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless charging | Yes, with MagSafe (charges up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher) | Yes, with MagSafe (charges up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6 |
| Apple Pay | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproofing | IP68 | IP68 |
| SIM card | Dual (nano and eSim or 2x eSIM in the US) | Dual (nano and eSim or 2x eSIM in the US) |
| Dimensions | 5.89 inches x 2.81 inches x 0.32 inches or 149.6 mm x 71.5 mm x 8.25 mm | 5.91 inches x 2.83 inches x 0.34 inches or 150 mm x 71.9 mm x 8.75 mm |
| Weight | 199g | 204g |
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: performance
The iPhone 17 Pro’s exterior redesign, aluminum switch, and addition of a vapor chamber mean the new iPhone is better able to cool its components.
The result is twofold: not only does the phone heat up less in your hand when performing demanding tasks like playing games or editing videos, but it also means that performance can be maintained for longer. This is a big deal for users doing more with their phones, especially as we enter the era of AI and the deployment of Apple Intelligence.
Even aside from cooling, Apple says the new A19 Pro offers significantly improved performance over the A18 Pro and should mean more AI features can run on the device.
Worried about battery life? Don’t be. The iPhone 17 Pro can run for 31 hours on a single charge, which is about two hours longer than the iPhone 16 Pro despite the performance increases.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: cameras
Foundry
The iPhone 16 Pro had (or has) excellent photography potential, with 48 MP wide and ultra-wide snappers. Now, Apple has upped the ante and the 16 Pro’s 12MP telephoto lens has been updated to 48MP in the 17 Pro.
The zoom has also changed. There’s no longer a 5x optical zoom, but instead there are 4x and 8x options, the latter being Apple’s longest zoom. It’s a far cry from Samsung’s 100x zoom, but it takes better photos.
On the front, everything has changed too. The iPhone 16 Pro’s 12MP front camera is gone, replaced by the new 18MP Center Stage offering that is uniform across all iPhone 17 models.
It has a square sensor for taking wider selfies without needing to rotate your device, and it takes much better images than its predecessor while doing a great job of taking video while you move.
On this point, a new Dual Capture mode allows you to film what is in front of you, as well as your reaction.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: price
The iPhone 17 Pro costs $100 more than the iPhone 16 Pro, at $1,099, but it offers double the storage of the previous model.
So you’re essentially paying the same as you would have paid for a 256GB version of last year’s phone, but there’s no option for a 128GB version.
Should you buy an iPhone 17 Pro or an iPhone 16 Pro
Given the choice between the two phones, we’d choose the newer model, as there are a number of nice upgrades. The iPhone 16 Pro may be available for a while longer and as a refurbished model, and if you get a good deal on this iPhone, we still recommend it.
If you’re already using the iPhone 16 Pro, there aren’t many new features to get excited about in the new models, aside from a handful of predictable improvements like better cameras, better battery life, and improved performance.
Still, if you can get a decent trade-in deal for your current phone and want these items and a brighter screen, it’s worth a look.
