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iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17 (2026): Which Should You Buy?
This video compares the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 17 in 2026, analyzing design, screen, performance, camera, and battery to help you decide which is the best option. It highlights the importance of the iPhone 17's 120Hz ProMotion display and improvements to the A19 chip.
1. 📱 Introduction: Is the jump to the iPhone 17 worth it?
- ✅ The video compares the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 to help users decide which to buy in 2026.
- ✅ It raises the question of whether upgrading to the iPhone 17 justifies the expense or if the iPhone 16 is still a viable option in terms of value for money.
00:00 - 00:21
1. 📱 Introduction: Is the jump to the iPhone 17 worth it?
- ✅ The video compares the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 to help users decide which to buy in 2026.
- ✅ It raises the question of whether upgrading to the iPhone 17 justifies the expense or if the iPhone 16 is still a viable option in terms of value for money.
00:22 - 02:23
2. 📐 Design and Screen: Key details and differences
- ✅ Both models have rounded aluminum edges, similar to those of the iPhone 15, making them comfortable to hold.
- ✅ The iPhone 16 introduced the action button and the camera control button, but the presenter admits not using them much in everyday life.
- ✅ The rear camera layout is identical on both models, maintaining the vertical shape introduced in the iPhone 16.
- ✅ The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen, slightly larger than the 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 16, thanks to the thinner bezels.
02:24 - 03:29
3. ✨ Screen: The big difference - 60Hz vs. 120Hz ProMotion
- ✅ The iPhone 16 maintains a 60 Hz screen, which is considered obsolete technology in 2026.
- ✅ The iPhone 17 introduces ProMotion technology, which allows a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, making scrolling and animations smoother.
- ✅ The iPhone 17 reaches a maximum brightness of 3000 nits outdoors, which improves visibility compared to the iPhone 16.
03:30 - 04:27
4. 🚀 Performance and Gaming: A18 vs A19
- ✅ The iPhone 16, with the A18 chip, offers decent gaming performance, but may experience frame drops and overheating during prolonged sessions.
- ✅ The iPhone 17, powered by the A19 chip, offers superior gaming performance thanks to better thermal management and the 120 Hz screen.
- ✅ Geekbench 6 results are presented for both phones, showing a significant improvement in the performance of the iPhone 17.
| Benchmark | iPhone 16 (A18) | iPhone 17 (A19) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Core | 3,154 | 3,573 |
| Multi-Core | 7,875 | 9,143 |
| GPU | 28,043 | 37,286 |
04:28 - 05:02
5. 📱 iOS 26: Experience and performance on both devices
- ✅ Both phones run iOS 26, which includes new animations and "liquid crystal" effects.
- ✅ iOS 26 works well on the iPhone 16, with fast app opening and efficient multitasking thanks to its 8 GB of RAM.
- ✅ After the initial update, the iPhone 16 experienced temporary heating during reindexing, but then stabilized and improved battery life.
05:03 - 05:39
6. 📸 Camera: 48MP Ultrawide and selfie improvements
- ✅ The main camera sensors are similar on both phones for everyday photos, but the iPhone 17 offers more detail.
- ✅ The iPhone 17 has a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, which offers clearer and more detailed images compared to the 12-megapixel one on the iPhone 16.
- ✅ The front camera of the iPhone 17 is 18 megapixels with a square sensor, which allows you to take wider selfies and is compatible with Center Stage.
- ✅ The iPhone 17 allows dual video recording, capturing simultaneously with the front and rear cameras.
05:40 - 06:53
7. 🔋 Battery and Disadvantages: USB 2.0 and 60Hz obsolescence
- ✅ The iPhone 17 has better battery life thanks to its screen that can reduce the refresh rate to 1 Hz when not in use.
- ✅ A disadvantage of the iPhone 17 (base model) is that it still uses USB 2.0, which limits data transfer speeds.
- ✅ In 2026, the 60 Hz screen of the iPhone 16 is considered obsolete, which could make the phone feel outdated in the long run.
- ✅ Apple Intelligence is available on both phones, but the presenter prefers Gemini or Chat GPT for their greater power.
06:54 - 07:47
8. 🤔 Conclusion: Which iPhone is the best option in 2026?
- ✅ If you already have an iPhone 16, it is not necessary to upgrade unless you need the 120 Hz screen or more storage.
- ✅ If you're coming from an iPhone 13, 14, or 15, the jump to the iPhone 17 is significant due to the ProMotion display, thinner bezels, twice the storage, and a more powerful chip.
- ✅ In 2026, the iPhone 17 offers a better long-term experience compared to the iPhone 16.