Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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AI Matrix
Powered by Claude AIApple iPhone 17 Pro narrowly beats the Apple iPhone 16 Plus in the smartphones category, especially in display quality (120Hz vs 60Hz), scoring 60 vs 56. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the recommended choice.
5 Reasons Why Apple iPhone 17 Pro Is Better
- 1.Smoother display: 120Hz vs 60Hz refresh rate
- 2.Faster charging: 30W vs 25W
- 3.Lighter: 199g vs 203g
- 4.Better performance score: 94 vs 81
- 5.Better display rating: 57 vs 0
What are you giving up?
Picking Apple iPhone 17 Pro over Apple iPhone 16 Plus means trading these off.
You give up
- −$300 cheaper ($799 vs $1099)
- −Larger battery: 4,674mAh vs 3,890mAh
- −Larger screen: 6.7" vs 6.3"
You gain
- +4g lighter (199g vs 203g)
- +Better front camera: 24MP vs 12MP
- +Smoother display: 120Hz vs 60Hz
- +Faster charging: 30W vs 25W
Spec Comparison
Apple iPhone 16 PlusApple iPhone 17 Pro
Score Breakdown
Apple iPhone 16 PlusApple iPhone 17 Pro
81
Performance35% weight
94Apple iPhone 17 Pro Winner
38
Camera20% weight
38Tie
67
Battery20% weight
47Apple iPhone 16 Plus Winner
49
Price10% weight
28Apple iPhone 16 Plus Winner
0
Display10% weight
57Apple iPhone 17 Pro Winner
39
Design5% weight
43Tie
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
✓ Pros
- ●Bigger battery: 4,674mAh vs 3,890mAh
- ●Lower price: $799 vs $1099
- ●Better battery score
- ●Water resistant (IP68)
✗ Cons
- ●Lower refresh rate: 60Hz vs 120Hz
- ●Slower chip: 190 vs 210 benchmark
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Winner✓ Pros
- ●Smoother display: 120Hz vs 60Hz
- ●Faster charging: 30W vs 25W
- ●Faster chip: 210 vs 190 benchmark
- ●Lighter build: 199g vs 203g
✗ Cons
- ●Smaller battery: 3,890mAh vs 4,674mAh
- ●Higher price: $1099 vs $799
Spec Comparison
| Spec | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Apple iPhone 17 ProW |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7"✓ | 6.3" |
| Display Type | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz✓ |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Apple A19 Pro |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 48MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 24MP✓ |
| Battery | 4674mAh✓ | 3890mAh |
| Charging | 25W | 30W✓ |
| OS | iOS 18 | iOS 19 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Weight | 203g | 199g✓ |
| Price | 799$✓ | 1099$ |
Who Should Buy
Buy Apple iPhone 16 Plus if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy Apple iPhone 17 Pro if…
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro — FAQ
Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro: which is better?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro narrowly beats the Apple iPhone 16 Plus in the smartphones category, especially in display quality (120Hz vs 60Hz), scoring 60 vs 56. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the recommended choice.
Is Apple iPhone 16 Plus better than Apple iPhone 17 Pro?
No, Apple iPhone 17 Pro scores higher (69 vs 60).
Which is cheaper, Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?
Apple iPhone 16 Plus is cheaper at $799 vs $1099 for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro.
Who should buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus?
Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Who should buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro?
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Which has better battery life, Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?
Apple iPhone 16 Plus has a larger battery (4,674mAh vs 3,890mAh for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro), which generally means longer use between charges.
Which has a bigger screen, Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?
Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the larger display (6.7" vs 6.3").
Related Comparisons
Full Apple iPhone 16 Plus review →Full Apple iPhone 17 Pro review →All Apple Smartphones →All Apple Smartphones →
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: April 25, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.