iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 Pro: Which one makes more sense for you?

Apple iPhone 17

Apple’s new iPhone 17 arrives soon in stores with a surprisingly generous set of upgrades — enough to put it in direct competition with last year’s iPhone 16 Pro. What makes the comparison even more relevant in India is pricing. The iPhone 16 Pro will sell for as low as Rs 69,999 during Flipkart’s Big Billion Day sale, while the iPhone 17 starts at Rs 82,900 (and could dip to Rs 77,900 with early offers). Here’s how they stack up.

Display

Both phones have 6.3-inch OLED displays with ProMotion and Always-On. The only real difference? The iPhone 17 pushes outdoor peak brightness up to 3000 nits versus the 2000 nits on iPhone 16 Pro — a noticeable advantage under the Indian sun.

Performance

The iPhone 16 Pro runs on the A18 Pro, while the iPhone 17 steps up to the A19 chip. CPU gains are modest, but Apple added neural accelerators to the GPU and included its first in-house N1 wireless chip. Both phones support Apple Intelligence.

Cameras

This is where things diverge. The iPhone 16 Pro has a dedicated 5x telephoto camera, making it the better pick for zoom shots. The iPhone 17, however, introduces a sharp 18MP selfie camera with Center Stage, great for group selfies and landscape shots without rotating the phone.

Battery & Charging

The iPhone 17 stretches video playback by 3 extra hours and introduces 40W fast charging (50% in 20 minutes). MagSafe charging also gets a slight bump.

Which should you buy?

Go iPhone 16 Pro (Rs 69,999): If you want better zoom, titanium build, and value for money.

Go iPhone 17 (Rs 77,900–82,900): If you want a brighter display, upgraded selfie camera, and faster charging.