Head to head · October 2026
iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro is 7 g heavier than iPhone 16 Pro, with 6 more hours of video.
Pick iPhone 16 Pro for
- Slim and sleek
No longer sold new
Pick iPhone 17 Pro for
- Battery first
- Keeping it for years
No longer sold new
Our verdict
Which one should you buy?
Choose iPhone 16 Pro if…
- you like a slim phone: 8.25 mm thin.
Choose iPhone 17 Pro if…
- battery life comes first: up to 33 hours of video against 27.
- you keep phones for years: the newer A19 Pro chip will get software updates for longer.
Side by side
Next to each other, to scale.
Screen size
6.3″ vs 6.3″
Both have a 6.3-inch screen. iPhone 16 Pro is 2622 × 1206 pixels at 460 ppi; iPhone 17 Pro is 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi.
| Screen | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 6.3″ | 6.3″ |
| Approx. area | 97.2 cm² | 97.2 cm² |
| Resolution | 2622 × 1206 | 2622 × 1206 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Price
— vs —
Apple no longer sells iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro new. Refurbished and second-hand prices vary by condition and storage.
Full specifications
Every figure, side by side.
| Spec | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2024 | 2025 |
| Apple sells it new | No | No |
| Height | 149.6 mm | 150 mm |
| Width | 71.5 mm | 71.9 mm |
| Thickness | 8.25 mm | 8.75 mm |
| Weight | 199 g | 206 g |
| Display | 6.3″ | 6.3″ |
| Resolution | 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi | 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz ProMotion | 120 Hz ProMotion |
| Top of screen | Dynamic Island | Dynamic Island |
| Unlock | Face ID | Face ID |
| Chip | A18 Pro | A19 Pro |
| Rear cameras | Triple 48MP | Triple 48MP |
| Video playback | Up to 27 h | Up to 33 h |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| US price by storage | Not sold new | Not sold new |
| Colors | 4: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | 3: Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue |
Sources: Apple technical specifications for iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro; US prices from apple.com, checked October 2026. Apple does not publish RAM; it comes from Apple's Xcode device data as reported by MacRumors, or Wikipedia's list of iPhone models for older phones.
What reviewers say
16 Pro or 17 Pro?
Their conclusions, in our words. Follow the links for the full reviews.
GSMArena · Oct 2026
GSMArena finds the 18 Pro’s everyday gains modest and favors a cheaper 17 Pro where available, while noting that new 17 Pro stock can be hard to find in the US.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro ↗9to5Mac · Oct 2026
Stopping down the new variable aperture helps night shots with longer exposures and starbursts, but the tester doesn't see it as a reason to leave a 17 Pro, only a bonus for owners of older iPhones.
Here’s the difference the variable aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro makes at night ↗PCMag · Sep 2026
Displays are unchanged; the 18 Pro wins on speed and is the only one with a variable-aperture main camera and native Pro controls.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro: To Upgrade or Not? ↗TechRadar · Sep 2026
Lab-tests Apple's claims: video playback rises 9% on the 18 Pro and 15% on the 18 Pro Max over the 17 Pro models, though real gains depend on how you use the phone.
Our iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max battery life test results ↗
More reviewer perspectives (5)
ZDNET · Sep 2026
Get the 18 Pro for its variable-aperture camera and manual controls; the 17 Pro is a proven, well-tested phone and far from obsolete.
iPhone 18 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro: Is Apple's newest flagship really worth $100 more? ↗9to5Mac · Sep 2026
The headline changes are a new variable-aperture main camera, a smaller Dynamic Island, longer battery life and 50% charge in 15 minutes.
iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Here's everything new ↗GSMArena · Dec 2025
The iPhone 17 is close enough for most people (same 120 Hz screen, ultrawide and selfie cameras, lighter body); the Pro still earns its price with the 4x telephoto, faster chip and pro video features.
Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro ↗CNET · Sep 2025
Praises the new aluminum unibody design, sharper telephoto and new selfie camera, and a battery that scored highest of any phone CNET had tested.
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Review: Part Midlife Crisis, Part Battery King ↗How-To Geek · Sep 2025
A head-versus-heart call: the base iPhone 17 is no longer an entry-level compromise, while the 17 Pro adds sustained performance and better cooling.
Torn Between the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro? Here's How to Choose ↗
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Is iPhone 17 Pro bigger than iPhone 16 Pro?
- iPhone 17 Pro measures 150 × 71.9 × 8.75 mm and iPhone 16 Pro measures 149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 mm, so iPhone 17 Pro is 0.4 mm taller and 0.4 mm wider.
- Will an iPhone 16 Pro case fit iPhone 17 Pro?
- No. The bodies differ by 0.4 mm in height, 0.4 mm in width and 0.5 mm in thickness, and cases are cut to within a fraction of a millimetre. Buy a case made for your exact model.
- Which has better battery life, iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro?
- iPhone 17 Pro. Apple rates it for up to 33 hours of video playback against 27 hours for iPhone 16 Pro.
- Do iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro have the same screen size?
- Both have a 6.3-inch screen. iPhone 16 Pro is 2622 × 1206 pixels at 460 ppi; iPhone 17 Pro is 2622 × 1206 at 460 ppi.
- Which is lighter?
- iPhone 16 Pro weighs 199 g, 7 g less than iPhone 17 Pro (206 g).
- Can I still buy iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro new from Apple?
- No. Apple no longer sells iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro new; you will find them refurbished or second-hand.
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