{"id":280593,"date":"2025-11-09T04:20:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T04:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/280593\/"},"modified":"2025-11-09T04:20:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T04:20:28","slug":"i-put-the-iphone-17-vs-iphone-16-through-a-7-round-face-off-heres-the-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/280593\/","title":{"rendered":"I put the iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 through a 7-round face-off \u2014 here\u2019s the winner"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve spent a great deal of time testing out the iPhone 17<\/a>. After testing it out for a week<\/a>, I kept on saying how delightful it was for Apple to keep its price at $799 while giving it double the starting storage capacity. That\u2019s why an iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 face-off is necessary to really uncover what improvements Apple has given to its latest model.<\/p>\n

Another thing that really stood out to me after testing the iPhone 17 for a month<\/a> is how much its upgraded 120Hz refresh rate makes a huge difference. However, it\u2019s going to take more than a smoother looking display to validate the iPhone 17\u2019s superiority over its predecessor.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Apple also focuses heavily on the cameras, with upgrades made to the ultrawide and front-facing cams of the iPhone 17. That\u2019s one area I\u2019m eager to see play out because it\u2019ll prove if it\u2019s a best camera phone<\/a> contender. Without diving deeper into all of the categories I\u2019ll be judging here, I have a strong suspicion on which one will come out on top with this iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 comparison.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 Pro \/ Pro Max REVIEW: The Good, The Bad, The Surprising – YouTube
\n\"iPhone<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a>
\niPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: specificationsSwipe to scroll horizontally<\/p>\n

iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 16<\/p>\n

Starting price<\/p>\n

$799 \/ \u00a3799 \/ AU$1,399<\/p>\n

$799 \/ \u00a3799 \/ AU$1,399<\/p>\n

Display<\/p>\n

6.3-inch OLED<\/p>\n

6.1 inch OLED<\/p>\n

Refresh Rate<\/p>\n

120Hz<\/p>\n

60Hz<\/p>\n

CPU<\/p>\n

A19<\/p>\n

A18<\/p>\n

Storage<\/p>\n

256GB, 512GB<\/p>\n

128GB, 256GB, 512GB<\/p>\n

Rear cameras <\/p>\n

48MP main (f\/1.78), 48MP ultrawide (f\/2.2)<\/p>\n

48MP main (f\/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (f\/2.2)<\/p>\n

Front camera<\/p>\n

18MP (f\/1.9)<\/p>\n

12MP (f\/1.9)<\/p>\n

Charging Speed<\/p>\n

35W wired, 25W wireless (MagSafe)<\/p>\n

27W wired, 25W wireless (MagSafe)<\/p>\n

Colors<\/p>\n

Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, Black<\/p>\n

Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine<\/p>\n

Size<\/p>\n

5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31-inches (149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95mm)<\/p>\n

5.8 x 2.8 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm)<\/p>\n

Weight<\/p>\n

6.24 ounces (177 grams)<\/p>\n

6 ounces (170 grams)<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Price and availability<\/p>\n

When it was released on September 20, 2025, the base storage option of the iPhone 16 retailed for $799. It also came in five different colors: Black, White, Pink, Teal, and Ultramarine. Even though I\u2019ve always been a fan of the base iPhone\u2019s price, Apple makes it much better with the new.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Today’s best Apple iPhone 16 deals<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because Apple ups the base storage of the iPhone 17 to 256GB, while still carrying over the same $799 starting cost as before. However, Apple kept the same number of color options: Lavender, Sage, Mist Blue, White, and Black.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Today’s best Apple iPhone 17 deals<\/p>\n

Since the iPhone 17\u2019s release on September 19, 2025, Apple lowered the price of the iPhone 17 to $699. While the price cut is warranted, the fact that you get double the storage amount is more than enough to justify shelling out the money for the latest model.<\/p>\n

Winner: iPhone 17<\/p>\n

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Design<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Look quickly and you might not realize the changes Apple makes with the iPhone 17. There\u2019s nothing dramatically new with the iPhone 17\u2019s design, as it still features the same vertically arranged camera system on the back, Camera Control button on the side, and metal meets glass construction.<\/p>\n

The changes are miniscule, but it\u2019s almost unbelievable how Apple was able to increase the display size of the iPhone 17 from 6.1 to 6.3 inches without being any larger than the iPhone 16. Side by side, the iPhone 17 is a hairline taller than the iPhone 17 \u2014 yet I doesn\u2019t feel it any bigger when I hold it.<\/p>\n

Just as before, Apple leans on the same contoured aluminum frame construction with a matte-like glass rear casing. However, one advantage for the iPhone 17 is that it uses Ceramic Shield 2 for the front glass. This makes it stronger and more scratch resistant than the standard Ceramic Shield glass used by the iPhone 16.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

I will say, though, that I much prefer the bolder, more vibrant colors of the iPhone 16. The Aquamarine has a much deeper tone than the Mist Blue version with the iPhone 17.<\/p>\n

Winner: iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: display<\/p>\n

\n

\"Apple\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

The iPhone 17 has a larger 6.3-inch OLED display, while the iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch screen. That 0.2-inch difference is important because of the engineering Apple needed to achieve without dramatically increasing its size. This is due to the skinnier bezels around the iPhone 17\u2019s display, whereas they\u2019re thicker with the iPhone 16.<\/p>\n

Another important quality I want to point out is how the iPhone 17\u2019s display is brighter. I thought the 1,348 nits of brightness produced by the iPhone 16 was strong, but the iPhone 17 eclipses it with a peak brightness of 1,505 nits in our testing. When I play the same video on YouTube<\/a> while it\u2019s sunny out, I can visibly see the iPhone 17\u2019s display is brighter.<\/p>\n

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0 <\/p>\n

iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 16<\/p>\n

Display size<\/p>\n

6.3-inch OLED<\/p>\n

6.1-inch OLED<\/p>\n

sRGB (%)<\/p>\n

111.3%<\/p>\n

112.2%<\/p>\n

DCI-P3 (%)<\/p>\n

80.2%<\/p>\n

79.5%<\/p>\n

Delta-E<\/p>\n

0.20<\/p>\n

0.27<\/p>\n

Peak Brightness<\/p>\n

1,505 nits<\/p>\n

1,348 nits<\/p>\n

Finally, one of the biggest selling points for the iPhone 17 is the fact that its refresh rate gets upgraded to 120Hz. The difference is immediate as scrolling through the iPhone 17 is noticeably smoother. It doesn\u2019t end there either, as many games I frequently play perform more fluid thanks to this faster refresh rate.<\/p>\n

Winner: iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Cameras<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Now this is my favorite part of this iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 face-off because I\u2019m big on camera performance. While they both employ a dual-camera setup, the hardware\u2019s actually different on them \u2014 giving the newer model a big advantage.<\/p>\n

The iPhone 16 features a 48MP main camera paired with a 12MP ultrawide. In comparison, the iPhone 17 gets an upgraded 48MP ultrawide. But while the 48MP main camera of the iPhone 17 is similar on paper, the aperture actually goes down to f\/1.78. This isn\u2019t a big deal, but the f\/1.6 aperture of the iPhone 16\u2019s main shooter technically absorbs more light in the same amount of time.<\/p>\n

Additionally, it\u2019s worth pointing out the difference between their front-facing cameras. The iPhone 16 sticks to the same 12MP selfie shooter Apple\u2019s been using for eons now, while the iPhone 17 finally gets a much deserved 18MP Center Stage camera<\/a> upgrade.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

With the sun to my right, I snapped the photos above to test the iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 dynamic range performance to see how they deal with contrasting light sources. From what I can see, both phones manage to deliver the same exposure across the scene \u2014 including the areas in shadow, like the one side of the brown building in the middle and the trees beneath it.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Likewise, I don\u2019t see much of a difference in how the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 produce colors, as the shots of the oranges and lemons inside of Whole Foods look identical.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I will admit that both phones take exceptional looking macro shots. Just take a peek at the red flower above as they capture plenty of detail. Upon close inspection, though, the iPhone 17 delivers more sharpness and definition \u2014 while its brighter look makes it look more dramatic than the iPhone 16.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The beauty of the iPhone 17\u2019s new 18MP Center Stage camera is that it has a wider field of view, so it\u2019s way more suitable for group shots. Another quality I like about the Center Stage camera is that it gives me access to the same framing options regardless of me holding it in portrait or landscape.<\/p>\n

Considering that the iPhone 17\u2019s shot is wider (cropped to show their differences in the shot above), it\u2019s pretty impressive that it retains the same level of sharpness and detail as the iPhone 16.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When it comes to portraits, I don\u2019t see a lot of difference in the shots I captured of myself above. Both phones manage to get the bokeh just right, giving it an accurate look with how the extended part of my arm increasingly gets blurrier as it gets closer to my hand holding the phones.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The iPhone 17 handles panoramas better in my opinion. While the overall shots capture the scene nicely, the iPhone 16 suffers from looking slightly blurier \u2014 with more noise in the shot.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Neither phone has a dedicated telephoto camera, so all zooming is done through their main cameras and sensor cropping. At 2x zoom, though, the iPhone 17 pulls in slightly better details. If you look towards the middle at the parking sign, I can make out the words \u201ccommercial vehicles only\u201d better with the iPhone 17.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always been impressed by the low light performance of iPhones, but there\u2019s clearly an improvement with the iPhone 17. If you look at the shot above of the tree in my backyard that\u2019s in shadow, the iPhone 17 produces the brighter picture.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The last thing I want to show is the difference between their ultrawide cameras. Even though the iPhone 17 has a pixel crunching 48MP sensor, it doesn\u2019t really boost the amount of detail it captures. Instead, the improvement that I see pertains to the way the textures look throughout the shot. For example, there\u2019s almost this speckled appearance with the blue walkway in the foreground \u2014 which is something I also see with the red umbrellas.<\/p>\n

iPhone 16 – 4K 30fps sample – YouTube
\n\"iPhone<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n

iPhone 17 – 4K 30fps sample – YouTube
\n\"iPhone<\/p>\n

Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n

When it comes to capturing footage at 4K 30fps with their main cameras, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 perform very similarly to one another. I like the amount of detail and sharpness from their footage, along with how they adapt to the change in light when I pan across the street to a spot where there\u2019s more sun.<\/p>\n

However, the one improvement I see is with the stabilization of the iPhone 17. From the moment I start to walk forward, I can see that the iPhone 16 has a bit more jitter.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the iPhone 17 benefits from another new feature that Apple introduces with the new lineup. It\u2019s called Dual Capture, which finally lets users shoot video with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously. You won\u2019t find this mode with the iPhone 16, which I suspect is due to the amount of processing power that\u2019s needed for it.<\/p>\n

Overall, the iPhone 17 is the better camera phone for both still shots and video. The biggest differences between them come from the iPhone 17\u2019s better 18MP Center Stage camera, smoother image stabilization with video and stronger low light performance. Nevertheless, I wouldn\u2019t count out the iPhone 16 because its main camera behaves very similar to the iPhone 17<\/p>\n

Winner: iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Performance<\/p>\n

\n

\"Apple\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Even without digging through all the numbers, I can tell right away that the iPhone 17 has the better processing performance. GeekBench 6 scores heavily favor the iPhone 17 and its newer A19 chip, but the most telling difference is how I interact with both phones.<\/p>\n

From scrolling around the home screen, to launching apps, the iPhone 17\u2019s response is much tighter and more fluid. I\u2019m inclined to say it\u2019s largely due to its 120Hz refresh rate, but it\u2019s more than that.<\/p>\n

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0 <\/p>\n

iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 16<\/p>\n

Processor<\/p>\n

A19<\/p>\n

A18<\/p>\n

Geekbench (single core\/multicore)<\/p>\n

3,701 \/ 9,460<\/p>\n

3,301 \/ 8,033<\/p>\n

WildLife Original Unlimited (fps)<\/p>\n

130.97<\/p>\n

98.23<\/p>\n

Adobe Premiere Rush (mins:secs)<\/p>\n

0:22<\/p>\n

0:22<\/p>\n

Playing through a session with Diablo Immortal and Age of Origins provides more evidence of the iPhone 17\u2019s superior performance. If you look at results from 3DMark\u2019s Wild Life Original Unlimited test, the iPhone 17\u2019s average of 130.97 fps is way faster than the 98.23 fps of the iPhone 16.<\/p>\n

Combining the increased performance of the A19 chip with its smoother 120Hz refresh rate, the iPhone 17 feels like a totally different phone. Don\u2019t get me wrong, the iPhone 16 and its A18 chip is still a formidable package for every day tasks, but the iPhone 17 performs all the same actions with finesse.<\/p>\n

Winner: iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Battery life and charging<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Apple never directly reveals the battery capacities of its iPhones, but I can imagine there\u2019s still a bigger one in the iPhone 17. In Tom\u2019s Guide\u2019s battery drain test, the iPhone 17 reaches an average time of 12 hours and 47 minutes. I wouldn\u2019t consider that a giant leap, but it\u2019s nonetheless still an improvement over the 12 hours and 13 minutes put up by the iPhone 16 running the same test.<\/p>\n

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0 <\/p>\n

iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 16<\/p>\n

Battery size<\/p>\n

N\/A<\/p>\n

N\/A<\/p>\n

Battery life (Hrs:Mins)<\/p>\n

12:47<\/p>\n

12:13<\/p>\n

Wired Charging<\/p>\n

29W<\/p>\n

20W<\/p>\n

Recharge percentage (15 mins)<\/p>\n

39%<\/p>\n

29%<\/p>\n

Recharge percentage (30 mins)<\/p>\n

71%<\/p>\n

57%<\/p>\n

When it comes to my typical phone usage, the iPhone 17 easily carries me through a single day \u2014 but it\u2019s often close to depleted right before bedtime. Usually, I like to top it off sometime in the afternoon so that I can reasonably use it without worry during the evening.<\/p>\n

Apple also upgraded the charging speed of the iPhone 17 to 29W, which gets it to 39% and 71% after 15 and 30 minutes of charging. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16\u2019s battery charge is much less after the same time \u2014 reaching 29% and 59% respectively. That\u2019s due to its maximum charging speed of 20W.<\/p>\n

Winner: iPhone 17<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Software and AI<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Frankly, this is the one area where it\u2019s a dead tie because at the end of the day, they\u2019re running the same iOS 26<\/a> software \u2014 with no major exclusives for the newer iPhone 17. Despite that, there\u2019s a lot I love about iOS 26 beyond the updated visual makeover courtesy of Liquid Glass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Apple\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s more personalization than ever before, like adding a depth effect to my lock screen wallpaper and giving icons in the home screen that transparent effect. But there are other helpful features that I\u2019m happy Apple has rolled out, like the new Call Screening<\/a> and Hold Assist<\/a> features. And while there\u2019s still room for improvement with the former when I compared it to the Pixel 10\u2019s version<\/a>, Hold Assist works as advertised to tell me when someone is back on the line after being placed on hold.<\/p>\n

\n

\"iOS\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also tested the streamlined, updated look of the iOS 26 Camera app<\/a> \u2014 which now places many of the settings directly in the app, as opposed to being hidden in the general Settings menu. When I\u2019m driving some of the best electric cars<\/a>, I like the updated iOS 26 CarPlay<\/a> experience that brings many useful features straight from the iPhone.<\/p>\n

However, I\u2019m a little disappointed with the tepid Apple Intelligence features in iOS 26. The only meaningful addition is how Visual Intelligence is now integrated into the screen shot function<\/a>, so I can search for stuff I\u2019m looking at on my iPhone. It\u2019s like Circle to Search, but it\u2019s not as intuitive as Google<\/a>\u2019s implementation. I really thought that Apple would give the iPhone 17 a couple of new AI exclusives, but that\u2019s not the case as both phones offer the same experience. And the new and improved Siri<\/a> is not expected until the spring of 2026.<\/p>\n

Winner: tie<\/p>\n

iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Verdict<\/p>\n

\n

\"iPhone\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Tom’s Guide \/ John Velasco)<\/p>\n

Apart from the software, the iPhone 17 is clearly the better phone \u2014 and this year\u2019s upgrades are much more substantial. Even with the $100 savings you\u2019ll get with the iPhone 16, it\u2019s not enough for me to justify going with last year\u2019s model.<\/p>\n

The fact that you\u2019re getting double the starting storage, a bigger screen with a faster 120Hz refresh rate, a front-facing camera that has more framing options, and speedier performance out of the A19 chip all point at the obvious here. Frankly, the iPhone 17 is the biggest update in years to the base flagship model.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

\"Google\n<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow Tom’s Guide on Google News<\/a> and add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. <\/p>\n

More from Tom’s Guide<\/p>\n

Today’s best Apple iPhone 17 and Apple iPhone 16 deals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I\u2019ve spent a great deal of time testing out the iPhone 17. After testing it out for a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":280594,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[165,74],"class_list":{"0":"post-280593","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280593\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}