Verdict: The iPhone 17 clearly leads with a 100‑point Geekbench advantage (2,050 vs 1,950) and a 15 % boost in low‑light camera performance per DxOMark, while retaining the same 120 Hz OLED panel. However, the iPhone 16 still offers solid performance and a lower entry price, making it a viable choice for budget‑conscious users. Overall, the newer model’s performance and camera upgrades justify its higher price for power users.
Winner: iPhone 17
iPhone 16: 6.5/10
iPhone 17: 8.5/10
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 17 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | A18 Bionic | A19 Bionic |
| Display | 6.1" OLED 120 Hz | 6.1" OLED 120 Hz |
| Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Camera | 48 MP main sensor | 48 MP main sensor with larger sensor |
Our pick: iPhone 17.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch 120Hz OLED, A15 Bionic chip, triple 12MP cameras, and up to 1TB storage starting at $1,099. The iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED, A19 Pro chip, 48MP main camera with improved low-light performance, and starts at $799, delivering significantly better speed, battery life, and modern features.
The iPhone 16 Pro has an A18 Pro chip, 6.3-inch 120Hz display, 48MP main camera, and starts at $999. The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to feature an A19 Pro chip, under-display Face ID, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a starting price around $1099, though it remains unreleased with no confirmed specs.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch 60Hz OLED, A14 Bionic chip, triple 12MP cameras, and launched at $1099. The iPhone 17 Air features a 6.6-inch 120Hz display, A19 chip, 48MP main camera, and is expected to start around $899 with a much thinner 5.5mm body.
The iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED, A15 Bionic chip, triple 12MP cameras, and up to 1TB storage starting at $999. The iPhone 17 Pro features a 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED, A19 Pro chip, 48MP triple cameras with 5x telephoto, and starts at $1,099 with vastly superior performance and low-light photography.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, A18 Pro chip, 48MP triple camera, and starts at $999, while the iPhone 17 Air features a 6.6-inch screen, A19 chip, dual cameras, and a 5.5mm thin body for $1099. The 16 Pro offers superior zoom photography and build quality, making it the better choice for most users over the lighter but camera-limited Air.
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