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.
| Feature | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 17 |
| Price | Rs 69,999 (Flipkart Big Billion Day deal) | Rs 82,900 (likely Rs 77,900 with launch offers) |
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED, ProMotion, 2000 nits peak brightness | 6.3-inch OLED, ProMotion, 3000 nits peak brightness |
| Processor | A18 Pro + 6-core GPU | A19 with neural GPU cores + N1 wireless chip |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main + ultrawide + 5x telephoto | 48MP main + ultrawide (no dedicated telephoto) |
| Front camera | 12MP | 18MP with Center Stage, landscape selfies |
| Build | Brushed titanium, USB 3 port (20x faster transfers) | Aluminium, USB 2 speeds |
| Battery | 27 hours video playback (Claimed) | 30 hours video playback (Claimed) |
| Charging | 50% in 30 mins (20W adapter) | 50% in 20 mins (40W adapter), faster MagSafe |
| Extras | Premium feel, Pro variant | New colours, latest model |
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.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
