Now that the iPhone 16 Pro is here, you're probably wondering if it's worth upgrading if you're still rocking an older handset. While we're early in the iPhone 17 rumor cycle, already there seems to be a compelling argument to hold off on upgrading until the iPhone 17 Pro arrives.
That being said, there's plenty to write home about with the new iPhone 16 Pro, including an upgraded and souped-up camera array, display, chipset, and battery life compared to older models. Not to mention the advent of a new suite of AI-powered features, Apple Intelligence, only rolling out to the best iPhones on the market. If you're on the fence about upgrading to this year's model, this iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro comparison can help, giving you an idea about whether it's worth it to buy now or wait.
Scroll on to find our breakdown of all the specs and rumored upgrades for these two phones, including the important differences and similarities you should know about before deciding to switch. By the end, you should know enough about how the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro stacks up against the iPhone 16 Pro to arrive at an answer.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Models and price
The most promising rumor we've heard about the iPhone 17 lineup so far is the addition of a new phone called the iPhone 17 Slim. This model is said to be the thinnest iPhone ever and would feature cameras housed in a visor, similar to the Pixel 9 series. The iPhone 17 Slim would replace Apple's Plus line as a variant for its basic handsets, thus making the iPhone 16 Plus the last of its kind.
This far in advance, it's hard to nail down the iPhone 17 Pro's price. Rumors that Apple would raise the price on this year's iPhone models never materialized, with the iPhone 16 launching at $799 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max topping the lineup at $1,199. For now, we assume the iPhone 17 Pro will come in at the same price as the iPhone 16 Pro, $999, but a lot can happen between now and next September.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Design and performance
Based on everything we've heard so far, the iPhone 17 Pro's display is not likely to change much from this year's counterpart. If anything, one dividing line between Apple's vanilla and high-end iPhone lines could fall with the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Slim set to receive a Pro-style upgrade in the form of an LTPO display with 120Hz refresh rate.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are still stuck at 60Hz, a holdover since the iPhone 13 Pro, while 120Hz “ProMotion” screens, which offer smoother performance due to their ability to refresh the image up to 120 times per second, have traditionally been reserved for Apple's top-end handsets. That could change with the iPhone 17 series though.
With the iPhone 16 series, Apple brought both the Action and new Camera Control buttons to all four iPhone models. We expect those to remain on the iPhone 17 Pro Max as well, but Apple could have something new up its sleeve that's yet to surface.
Majin Bu, a leaker with a mixed track record when it comes to Apple rumors, suggests the iPhone 17 Pro could debut in three new colorways: Teal Titanium, Green Titanium and Dark Green Titanium. That would be quite the shake-up for Apple, which tends to prefer muted colors for its Pro series. For reference, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are available in Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium and Desert Titanium, a new metallic rose gold color.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Cameras
When it comes to cameras, there's a lot to be excited about the iPhone 17 series. Both the Pro and Pro Max are said to pack a 48MP telephoto rear camera and a 24MP front camera, a serious upgrade from the 12MP versions of both cameras found on the current Pro models. Though it's uncertain whether the 48MP telephoto rear camera will be exclusive to the larger Pro Max before making its way to the smaller Pro model with the iPhone 18 Pro.
All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to pack an upgraded 24MP front-facing camera, based on reports from Apple supply chain analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu. So that's just one more dividing line between the standard and Pro models that could fall by the wayside.
iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Outlook
With the iPhone 16 release just behind us, we're still in the early days of rumors for Apple's next-gen phones. If history stands, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro to launch alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 series sometime in should launch in September 2025. With so much time left to go, additional details are all but certain to surface over the coming months. So be sure to check out our iPhone 17 hub for all the latest rumors and leaks.
More from Tom's Guide
- New iPhone 17 Air leak reveals details on screen size, cameras, chip and more
- iPhone 17 just tipped for this long overdue ‘Pro’ upgrade
- I took over 200 photos with the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. OnePlus 12 — here's the winner
