Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is the cheaper of the two at $899 versus $999, a difference of about $100. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 16 Plus stands out for excellent battery life from large 4674 mah cell, while Apple iPhone 17 Pro is praised for a19 pro chip with 6-core gpu. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if…
- →Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- →A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- →New Camera Control button
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro if…
- →A19 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- →48MP triple camera with 5x telephoto
- →Aluminum unibody frame (lighter than titanium)
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Pros
- A19 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- 48MP triple camera with 5x telephoto
- Aluminum unibody frame (lighter than titanium)
- Thunderbolt USB-C
- 25W MagSafe wireless
Cons
- Still 27W wired charging
- Smaller battery than Pro Max
- Aluminum instead of titanium may feel less premium
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Apple iPhone 17 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | iOS 19 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 194 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum unibody frame, Ceramic Shield 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 150 x 72 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 24 MP, f/1.9 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@120fps ProRes |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 4200 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 27W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 25W MagSafe |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 1206 x 2622 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | 6-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | 6-core GPU |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Apple A19 Pro |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 (Thunderbolt) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
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Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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