The brand new iPhone 16 collection has simply launched, however that does not imply there aren’t individuals already trying ahead to what’s subsequent. The iPhone 17 rumors have already begun, which features a presumably radically new mannequin within the iPhone 17 Air / Slim.
When you’re on the fence about whether or not to improve to this yr’s mannequin, having some concept about what’s coming sooner or later would possibly enable you to make the choice to purchase now or wait. That is the place this iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 comparability is available in.
We do not have anyplace close to a whole image of the iPhone 17 at this level. However now we have heard sufficient particulars to check what you possibly can get from Apple’s future telephone with what the iPhone 16 brings to the desk proper now. This is how the iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 face-off is shaping up at this early stage.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Fashions and value
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Essentially the most distinguished rumor in regards to the iPhone 17 lineup includes a shakeup to the fashions Apple is prone to introduce. It seems the usual iPhone in addition to the 2 iPhone Professional fashions aren’t going anyplace, however the just-released iPhone 16 Plus will be the final of its form.
As an alternative, analysts tip Apple to roll out a brand new telephone known as the iPhone 17 Slim. This is not a one-to-one alternative for the Plus; as an alternative, it will likely be Apple’s new premium telephone, topping even the iPhone 17 Professional Max in subsequent yr’s lineup.
The iPhone 17 Slim’s foremost function is correct there within the identify — it is presupposed to be the thinnest iPhone Apple’s ever created. Contemplating the iPhone 16 is not precisely thick at 7.8mm skinny, we’re speaking a really slender telephone.
Early rumors appear to point the iPhone 17 Slim will probably be fairly a major addition to Apple’s product line, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman calling it a part of “a brand new class of Apple units that ought to be the thinnest and lightest merchandise in the entire tech trade.” As such, count on a premium price ticket to match, with the Slim probably costing greater than the iPhone 17 Professional Max.
As for the precise costs, it is unattainable to foretell what Apple goes to cost for smartphones a yr from now. Apple did maintain the costs on the iPhone 16 fashions, so that you’d think about that it might attempt to stick with the identical ranges for the iPhone 17 ($799), iPhone 17 Professional ($999) and iPhone 17 Professional Max ($1,199), assuming no fluctuations in element costs.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Design and show
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The ultra-thin look of the iPhone 17 Slim apart, early rumors do not have a lot to say about design modifications to the iPhone 17 lineup. We would think about that the Motion button added a yr in the past and the Camera Capture button debuting with the iPhone 16 lineup are right here to remain. It is unclear if Apple has plans for any extra buttons up its sleeve.
The large story right here could possibly be shows, now that the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max have new established sizes at 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. The iPhone 17 Slim is predicted to fit proper in the midst of these telephones with a 6.7-inch panel, and we might think about the iPhone 17 will proceed to supply probably the most compact display at 6.1 inches.
This could lastly be the yr that Apple joins the remainder of the smartphone world in providing adaptive refresh charges for all of its flagship telephones. Meaning the iPhone 17 is in line to get a LTPO OLED panel with the power to ramp up its refresh charge to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and higher graphics. The iPhone 16 stays caught at a hard and fast 60Hz charge, so this will probably be fairly the advance, even whether it is lengthy overdue.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Cameras
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Apple simply gave a refresh to each rear digicam on board the iPhone 16 Professional (and two of the three lenses on the iPhone 16 Professional Max), so that you would possibly assume that may be it for digicam enhancements. Nonetheless, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could feature 48MP sensors for all three of its rear cameras, with the telephoto lens getting a higher-resolution sensor.
It is unclear what which may imply for the iPhone 17 Professional and iPhone 17, however with the iPhone 16 Professional fashions including a 48MP ultrawide lens this yr, that is a possible function that might trickle all the way down to Apple’s customary flagship. There’s precedents for this, because the iPhone 15 gained a 48MP foremost digicam a yr after the iPhone 14 Professional fashions picked up that function.
A extra probably situation is an enchancment to the 12MP TrueDepth digicam on the entrance of all present iPhones. One rumor suggestions Apple to show a 24MP sensor to deal with selfies and FaceTime calls on the iPhone 17 lineup.
We must also observe a moderately perplexing rumor in regards to the iPhone 17 Slim — some individuals count on the telephone to solely function one rear digicam. That will be a space-saving maneuver to make the brand new telephone as skinny as doable.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Efficiency and battery life
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The A18 and A18 Professional chipsets powering the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional fashions, respectively, have offered an enormous enhance to Apple’s telephones, with A18 Pro benchmarks in notably establishing the Professional fashions because the pace kings of the cellular world. (That stated, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered handsets proceed to set the tempo for graphics efficiency.) Pretty much as good because the A18 silicon performs, although, the A19 prone to present up within the iPhone 17 household could possibly be even higher.
That is as a result of the A19 chips are prone to be bit on a 2-nanometer course of, versus the 3nm A18 silicon. The smaller chipsets get, the nearer the transistors are packed collectively, which results in features in each efficiency and energy effectivity. Thus, the A19 system-on-chip may see fairly a leap in pace over the A18.
That energy efficiency enchancment additionally has implications for battery life, as the higher a chipset is at managing energy, the longer a telephone can final on a cost. The iPhone 16 fashions already made nice strides on this regard with the assistance of bigger batteries. The truth is, the iPhone 16 Professional Max turned in the most effective efficiency of any Apple handset ever on the Tom’s Information battery take a look at, touchdown it close to the highest of our best phone battery life listing.
You’d assume any iPhone 17 mannequin can be hard-pressed to fulfill or beat that customary, however the A19 system-on-chip could possibly be an enormous assist in pulling that off.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Software program
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There’s not prone to be a lot distinction between the software program that powers each the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17. The brand new telephones are all however sure to debut with iOS 19 on board subsequent fall, however Apple additionally releases that software program as an replace to older iPhones. Given how latest the iPhone 16 fashions are — as in, they nonetheless have that new telephone scent at this level — you’d think about they’re going to don’t have any drawback working iOS 19 to its fullest.
Future Apple Intelligence features could possibly be one other matter. Apple’s AI-powered capabilities are set to reach by way of a software program replace in October for all suitable telephones together with the iPhone 16 fashions. However these telephones may also finally acquire visual intelligence features — principally, Apple’s tackle Google Lens — that will not be out there to the iPhone 15 Professional fashions that may in any other case help Aple Intelligence options.
Might Apple take an identical method subsequent yr with an Apple Intelligence function that is particular to the iPhone 17. It is too early to say at this level, however it’s a improvement value maintaining a tally of.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Outlook
Even at this early stage, the iPhone 17 sounds promising, with the iPhone 17 Slim specifically sounding like an enormous leap ahead for Apple when it comes to design. However ought to all that promise be sufficient to dissuade you from upgrading to what are some fairly improbable telephones within the iPhone 16 lineup?
The problem with any telephone buy is that there is all the time one thing doubtlessly higher simply over the horizon. So it’s a must to resolve if the options out there right here and now are those you need. The iPhone 16 Professional is the best camera phone primarily based on our testing, however the different iPhone 16 fashions additionally excel at capturing images and movies. All 4 new fashions final a very long time on a cost and supply snappy efficiency.
Briefly, if you happen to’re searching for the best iPhones, any of the iPhone 16 fashions has loads to supply proper now. The iPhone 17 might look promising, however delivering on that promise continues to be a great distance off.
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