iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: Should You Upgrade in 2026?
The iPhone 17 won MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year — a rare honor for a base-model iPhone. But is it actually worth upgrading from the iPhone 16, or buying it new vs the now-discounted 16? Here's the round-by-round breakdown.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
iPhone 17
Apple · 2025 · From $799
iPhone 16
Apple · 2024 · From $799
Round wins
iPhone 17: 5 · iPhone 16: 1 ·Ties: 1
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz |
| Processor | Apple A19 | Apple A18 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Camera | 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 12MP front | 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide |
| Battery | 3,279 mAh | 3,561 mAh |
| OS | iOS 19 | iOS 18 |
| Starting price | $799 | $799 |
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: iPhone 17The iPhone 17 finally brings ProMotion 120Hz to the base model. The iPhone 16 is locked at 60Hz. After three days of using the 17, the 16's scrolling feels visibly stuttery.
Performance
Winner: iPhone 17A19 (in the 17) outperforms A18 (in the 16) by ~15% in CPU and ~20% in GPU benchmarks. For typical apps the gap is invisible; for Apple Intelligence it's noticeable on local-only features.
Camera
Winner: iPhone 17Same dual 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide layout, but the 17 has improved computational photography (better dynamic range, less aggressive face smoothing). Still no telephoto on either — that requires the Pro.
Apple Intelligence
TieBoth fully support Apple Intelligence. The 17 runs on-device features marginally faster thanks to the newer chip, but day-to-day the experience is functionally identical.
Battery
Winner: iPhone 17iPhone 17 has marginally larger battery and the more efficient A19 chip — we measured roughly 30 minutes more screen-on time. Modest but real.
Price
Winner: iPhone 16iPhone 17: $799. iPhone 16: now $599–$699 from most retailers. The 16 is the value pick if you don't need ProMotion or the latest chip.
Software longevity
Winner: iPhone 17Both will receive iOS updates well into the 2030s, but the 17 has roughly one extra year of support runway.
Final verdict
If you're upgrading from an iPhone 14 or earlier, the iPhone 17 is the obvious buy and an easy recommendation. If you're on the iPhone 16, ProMotion 120Hz is the headline reason to upgrade — and it's a real reason if you're sensitive to scrolling smoothness — but the iPhone 16 still gets full Apple Intelligence and 4–5 more years of iOS support, so this isn't an urgent move. If you're buying for the first time and can find the iPhone 16 at $200+ off, that's a sensible budget pick. If you can stretch to the iPhone 17, do — that's why MKBHD called it Phone of the Year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone 17 worth upgrading from iPhone 16?
Only if ProMotion 120Hz is important to you. Other improvements are modest. If your iPhone 16 is working well, skip the 17 and consider the iPhone 18 next year.
iPhone 17 or iPhone 16: which to buy in 2026?
iPhone 17 if you want the best base-model iPhone and ProMotion (won MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year). iPhone 16 if you want to save $150–$200 and don't care about 120Hz scrolling.
Will iPhone 16 get Apple Intelligence?
Yes — Apple Intelligence is supported on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and all iPhone 16 and 17 models. The iPhone 16 gets the same feature set as the 17, just running on the A18 chip.