I used to be utilizing the iPhone 17 after I picked up my iPhone 16 to have a look at an older video, and it led to an epiphany: nothing concerning the iPhone 16 felt any worse than its successor. It wasn’t any slower, the design didn’t really feel dramatically completely different, and nothing about it screamed “previous” or “outdated.” That feeling caught with me for a number of days.
Over time, the smartphone trade has educated us to deal with one yr of upgrades (regardless of how incremental) as one thing that ought to really feel important, however upon switching again to the iPhone 16 after utilizing the iPhone 17 for over six months, I noticed that wasn’t the case. We’re so caught find the smallest adjustments within the spec sheet that we overlook that an organization’s product cycle isn’t a measure of obsolescence.
Shikhar Mehrotra / Digital Tendencies
A telephone that doesn’t really feel outdated subsequent to its predecessor
The second I picked up the iPhone 16 (which was resting and not using a case in my drawer), I couldn’t assist however discover its cool aluminum body and the matte glass again within the Teal end, and it introduced a smile to my face. The following second, I took out my iPhone 17 and held it side-by-side.
If you happen to miss the bigger kind issue (because of a much bigger display) and the completely different finishes, the iPhone 16 shares all its design components, together with the Dynamic Island on the entrance, the vertical digicam format on the again, and the buttons (together with the Motion button and Digicam Management), with the iPhone 17.
And that’s when it hit me: the iPhone 16 doesn’t really feel all that previous, even subsequent to its successor.
Shikhar Mehrotra / Digital Tendencies
The chip hole isn’t as vast because the ProMotion show makes it really feel
Over the subsequent couple of days, I began utilizing the telephone as my every day driver, simply to examine whether or not there have been any noticeable variations within the efficiency, and I got here to a slightly nuanced conclusion.
Had Apple geared up the iPhone 16 with a 120Hz ProMotion show, it will have felt as easy because the newer iPhone 17. That is the explanation why the Pixel 10a feels so easy regardless of that includes a much less highly effective chipset.
Shikhar Mehrotra / Digital Tendencies
However even in any other case, in third-party apps that solely assist a 60Hz refresh charge, it was fairly laborious to distinguish between the telephones when it comes to efficiency (except you time the export of the identical video through a third-party modifying app).
The A19 chip on the iPhone 17 is barely 8-10% sooner than the A18 chip on the iPhone 16; that’s a distinction most customers won’t ever discover with their day-to-day duties.
4,000 images later, the principle digicam nonetheless holds its floor
Extra importantly, each the telephones totally assist iOS 26 and run all of the obtainable Apple Intelligence options. One other main similarity between the telephones is their major digicam.
I’ve taken over 4,000 images and 800 movies on my iPhone 16 as a every day driver for months, and the 48MP holds up very well, even subsequent to these from the iPhone 17. Coloration science and pores and skin tones stay correct, dynamic vary not often disappoints, plus there’s loads of element in photos.
Shikhar Mehrotra / Digital Tendencies
I’d say that the 12MP ultrawide and the 12MP selfie cameras sound just like the iPhone 16’s weak spots, particularly since Apple upgraded the digicam {hardware} on the iPhone 17, however how a lot it bothers you is dependent upon how continuously you utilize these cameras and for what functions. What’s extra essential is that the iPhone 16 has a Digicam Management button, one thing that I personally discover very helpful.
All-day battery and MagSafe comfort at an reasonably priced value
The battery on my iPhone 16, despite the fact that it’s at 91% battery well being, nonetheless lasts a complete day on a cost, and helps the identical MagSafe equipment (wi-fi powerbank and pockets) I take advantage of with my iPhone 17. All these items made me notice how Apple’s newest iPhone relies on some helpful however largely incremental updates, and the way the general expertise might really feel awfully related, barring a number of issues.
Shikhar Mehrotra / Digital Tendencies
iPhone 16What iPhone 17 Provides60Hz OLED show, 2,000 nits peak120Hz ProMotion OLED, brighter displayA18 chip, full Apple IntelligenceA19 chip, ~8-10% sooner, higher efficiency48MP most important + 12MP ultrawide48MP most important + 48MP ultrawide (main improve)12MP entrance camera12MP Middle Stage entrance camera6.1-inch compact kind factorSlightly bigger screenMagSafe, identical accent ecosystemSame MagSafe ecosystemCamera Management + Motion buttonSame buttonsFull iOS 26 + Apple IntelligenceSame software program, identical AI featuresAll-day batteryLonger battery, higher effectivity (A19)
All these realizations, together with the truth that the iPhone 16 at present prices $699 for the baseline variant with 128GB of storage, made me arrive at a stable conclusion: the iPhone 16 isn’t final yr’s baseline iPhone, however it’s this yr’s best iPhone, for many customers who’re conscious of the compromises and aren’t bothered by them.
Shikhar Mehrotra / Digital Tendencies
If you happen to’re upgrading from an historical Android telephone, or an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, the iPhone 16 might strike the right steadiness between a significant and reasonably priced improve.
That stated, there are some stable the reason why you continue to may need to improve to the iPhone 17. If a smoother 120Hz show, a brighter display, higher ultrawide and entrance cameras, and a longer-lasting battery matter to you, and also you’re upgrading from a comparatively newer mannequin, just like the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15, the iPhone 17 might present a greater sense of improve for you.
