The iPhone 16 came out in 2024. The iPhone 17 launched in 2025. Now in 2026, both are available in India. Many people want to know which is better. The iPhone 17 has some upgrades. But the iPhone 16 is cheaper now. Prices for iPhone 17 start at ₹79,900. iPhone 16 is around ₹59,900 with deals. This fits under 80,000 INR for both. We will compare them in detail. This helps you choose. In India, Apple phones are popular for cameras and software. Both support Indian 5G bands from Jio and Airtel. Battery life matters due to power cuts. We got latest info from sources like Apple site and reviews. The iPhone 17 is better in display and chip. But iPhone 16 is still good for most users. Let’s start with design.
Specifications Table
| Category | iPhone 16 | iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 2556 x 1179 pixels, 60Hz, 2000 nits | 6.3-inch OLED, 2622 x 1206 pixels, 120Hz, 3000 nits |
| Processor | Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core, 5-core GPU | Apple A19 (3nm), Hexa-core, 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators |
| RAM & Storage | 8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB/512GB | 8GB RAM, 256GB/512GB |
| Rear Cameras | 48MP wide (f/1.6, OIS), 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°), 4K@60fps video | 48MP wide (f/1.6), 48MP ultrawide (f/2.2), 4K@60fps video |
| Front Camera | 12MP (f/1.9), 4K@60fps video | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), 4K@60fps video |
| Battery | 3561mAh, 20W wired, 25W wireless | 3692mAh, 20W wired, 25W wireless |
| Software | iOS 18 (upgradable to iOS 26), 5 years updates | iOS 26, 5 years updates |
| Build & Protection | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm, 170g, IP68 dust/water resistant | 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm, 177g, IP68 dust/water resistant |
| Connectivity | 5G (Indian bands), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C | 5G (Indian bands), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C |
| Other Features | Stereo speakers, Action Button, Apple Intelligence | Stereo speakers, Capture Button, Apple Intelligence |
| Colors | Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, Black | Similar with new shades like Dark Matter Black |
| Price (India) | Starting from ₹59,900 (128GB) | Starting from ₹79,900 (256GB) |
Design and Build Quality
Both phones look similar. They have aluminum frames. The back is color-infused glass. This feels premium. The iPhone 16 is 5.81 inches tall. 2.82 inches wide. 0.31 inches thick. It weighs 170 grams. The iPhone 17 is 5.89 inches tall. 2.81 inches wide. 0.31 inches thick. It weighs 177 grams. The iPhone 17 is a bit larger. But both are easy to hold.
Colors for iPhone 16 include Ultramarine. Teal. Pink. White. Black. iPhone 17 has similar options. But adds new shades like Dark Matter Black. Both have IP68 rating. They survive 6 meters water for 30 minutes. Dust proof too. In India, rain is common. This protection helps. Both have Ceramic Shield front. This resists scratches. Drops too.
The iPhone 17 has a new Capture Button. This is for quick photos. Slide to zoom. Press to click. The iPhone 16 has Action Button. Set for shortcuts. Like torch. Both have USB-C port. No headphone jack. Speakers are stereo. Sound is clear. In tests, iPhone 17 feels more modern with the button. But iPhone 16 is lighter. For Indian users, both handle heat well. No big issues in summer. The build is strong. TÜV certified for drops. In busy cities like Patna, it survives bumps. Both look sleek. No bulky feel. The iPhone 17 has sharper edges. But comfortable. For one-hand use, both are fine. In pockets, they fit easy. The glass back can slip. Use a case. Box has none. Buy separate. In India, cases are cheap on Amazon. The design is similar. But iPhone 17 feels fresh. If you like new buttons, go for 17. Else, 16 is okay.
Pros of iPhone 17 design: Larger size for better grip. New Capture Button. Pros of iPhone 16: Lighter weight. Action Button versatile. Cons for both: No jack. Slippery back.
Also Read Oppo K14x 5G: Best Budget Smartphone Under 15,000 INR
Display
The display is a big difference. iPhone 16 has 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED. Resolution is 2556 x 1179 pixels. 460 ppi. Refresh rate is 60Hz. Scrolling is okay. But not super smooth. Peak brightness is 2000 nits. Good for outdoors. But in bright Indian sun, it can glare.
iPhone 17 has 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED. Resolution is 2622 x 1206 pixels. 460 ppi. Refresh rate is 1-120Hz ProMotion. This is smooth like Pro models. Scrolling feels buttery. Peak brightness is 3000 nits. Better for sun. In India, this helps a lot. Like in Bihar heat.
Both support HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Videos look amazing. Colors are vibrant. True Tone adjusts for light. Both have Ceramic Shield. Strong protection. iPhone 17 has Always-On display. Shows time without wake. iPhone 16 does not. In tests, iPhone 17 screen is sharper. Smoother. For games like BGMI, 120Hz helps. iPhone 16 feels slow if you come from Android. For movies on Netflix, both are good. But iPhone 17 is bigger. More immersive. In low light, both are clear. No flicker issues. For Indian users, bright screen matters for outdoor calls. iPhone 17 wins. The display size helps for reading news. Or WhatsApp chats. Both have high contrast. Blacks are deep. In Bihar villages, sun is strong. iPhone 17 is better. The ProMotion saves battery. Switches to 1Hz when still. iPhone 16 is always 60Hz. This drains more. Overall, display upgrade in 17 is worth it.
Pros of iPhone 17 display: 120Hz smooth. Brighter. Larger. Pros of iPhone 16: Compact size. Cons for iPhone 16: 60Hz feels old. Less bright.
Performance
Performance has upgrades. iPhone 16 has A18 chip. 3nm process. Hexa-core CPU. Two high at 4.04 GHz. Four efficient at 2.2 GHz. GPU is 5-core. RAM is 8GB. It handles tasks fast. Multitasking is smooth. AnTuTu score is over 1.5 million.
iPhone 17 has A19 chip. Also 3nm. Hexa-core CPU. Faster cores. GPU is 5-core with Neural Accelerators. RAM is 8GB. It is quicker. AnTuTu over 1.7 million. Games like Genshin Impact run at high settings. No lags. Both have 16-core Neural Engine. For AI.
In India, many use apps like Paytm. Both run fine. For gaming, iPhone 17 is better. Hardware ray tracing in both. Graphics look real. iPhone 17 has better efficiency. Saves battery. In tests, iPhone 17 scores higher in Geekbench. Single-core 2,300 vs 2,100 for 16. Multi-core 7,500 vs 6,500. For video editing, both good. But 17 is faster. Both support Apple Intelligence. Like Image Playground. In Bihar, AI helps with Hindi translate. Both work on device. Privacy good. Heating is low in both. Only warm in heavy games. For Indian users, both handle hot weather. No throttle. The A19 is future-proof. For 2026 apps. iPhone 16 is still strong. But if you want latest, go for 17.
Pros of iPhone 17 performance: Faster A19 chip. Better AI. Pros of iPhone 16: Similar RAM. Good for now. Cons for iPhone 16: Older chip.
Camera System
Cameras are similar but improved. Both have dual rear. iPhone 16 has 48MP Fusion main. f/1.6. OIS. 12MP ultra-wide. f/2.2. 120 degrees. Front is 12MP. f/1.9. Daylight photos are sharp. Colors natural. Low light good with night mode. Video 4K 60fps. Dolby Vision.
iPhone 17 has dual 48MP main. f/1.6. 48MP ultra-wide. f/2.2. Front is 18MP Center Stage. f/1.9. This is better for selfies. Ultra-wide has more detail. Low light improved. Video same. But better stabilization. Both have Spatial photos. For Vision Pro. AI tools in both. Like Photographic Styles. Edit after shot.
In India, people love selfies for Instagram. iPhone 17 front wins. For festivals like Holi, ultra-wide captures groups. iPhone 17 has better zoom. 2x to 4x optical. iPhone 16 has 2x. In tests, iPhone 17 photos have more detail. Colors pop. Low light less noise. For video calls on Zoom, both clear. But 17 has Center Stage. Tracks face. Useful in Bihar homes. Both have wind noise reduction. Good for outdoor videos. The ring flash in some? No, standard LED. For social media, both good. But 17 is upgrade. If you take lots of photos, choose 17.
Pros of iPhone 17 camera: Better ultra-wide. 18MP front. Pros of iPhone 16: Similar main. Cons for iPhone 16: Older front camera.
Battery and Charging
Battery is better in 17. iPhone 16 has 3561mAh. Lasts a day. Heavy use 5-6 hours screen time. Video 22 hours. Charging 20W wired. 50% in 30 minutes. Wireless 25W. No charger in box.
iPhone 17 has 3692mAh. Larger. Lasts longer. Heavy use 6-7 hours. Video 25 hours. Charging same. But better efficiency from A19. In India, power cuts happen. Bigger battery helps. Both have optimized charging. Protects health. In tests, iPhone 17 drains slower. Good for travel in Bihar. Wireless same. MagSafe works. For Indian users, battery life is key. iPhone 17 wins. Both support reverse wireless? No.
Pros of iPhone 17 battery: Larger size. Better efficiency. Pros of iPhone 16: Still good. Cons for both: Slow wired charge compared to Android.
Software
Both run iOS. iPhone 16 launched with iOS 18. Now up to iOS 26. iPhone 17 starts with iOS 26. Apple gives 5 years updates for both. Up to iOS 23 for 16. iOS 31 for 17? Wait, Apple promises long support. Both get Apple Intelligence. Like Siri upgrades. Image tools. In India, AI helps with Hindi. Software is clean. No bloat. Gestures smooth. Both have same features. Like Customize home screen. In Bihar, updates matter for security. Both get them on time. iPhone 17 has newer base. But both similar now. For long use, both good. In India, iOS is premium. No ads like some Android.
Pros of iPhone 17 software: Newer start. Pros of iPhone 16: Same updates. Cons for both: No sideloading easy.
Price and Availability in India
In India, iPhone 16 launched at ₹79,900 for 128GB. Now in 2026, it is ₹59,900 on Flipkart. With offers, under 55,000. iPhone 17 is ₹79,900 for 256GB. Higher models more. Both available on Amazon, Flipkart, Croma. Offline Apple stores too. In Purnia, check local shops. Bank offers from HDFC give 5% cashback. Exchange iPhone 14 for ₹20,000 off. For Indian buyers, iPhone 16 is value now. iPhone 17 for latest. Both under 80,000 with deals. iPhone 17 base has 256GB. Better than 16’s 128GB. For storage, 17 wins. Availability is good. Both in stock. Service centers in Bihar cities.
Pros of iPhone 17 price: More storage base. Pros of iPhone 16: Cheaper now. Cons for iPhone 17: Higher launch price.
FAQs
What is the price of iPhone 16 in India?
It starts at ₹59,900 for 128GB. With deals on Flipkart, it can be under ₹55,000.
What is the price of iPhone 17 in India?
It starts at ₹79,900 for 256GB. Offers bring it to ₹75,000 or less.
Which has better battery life?
iPhone 17 has a larger battery and better chip. It lasts longer than iPhone 16.
Is the camera better in iPhone 17?
Yes. It has a better ultra-wide and front camera. Low light is improved.
Which has smoother display?
iPhone 17 with 120Hz. iPhone 16 is 60Hz, feels slower.
Does both support Indian 5G?
Yes. Both work with Jio, Airtel, and Vi 5G bands.
Can I expand storage?
No. Both have fixed storage. iPhone 17 starts with more.
Is there bloatware?
No. iOS is clean in both. No extra apps.
How is the performance for gaming?
Both good. iPhone 17 is faster with A19 chip.
Where can I buy them in India?
On Flipkart, Amazon, Croma, or Apple stores. Offline in cities like Patna.
The iPhone 17 is the better buy if you want latest features. Like smooth screen and better cameras. In 2026, it is worth the extra money. For Bihar users in Purnia, battery in 17 helps with power issues. Display is brighter for sun. If budget tight, iPhone 16 is still great. Prices drop more. Both get long updates.
