Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Our Verdict: For Apple iPhone 16 Plus versus Apple iPhone 17 Pro, the recommendation depends mostly on what you want from the hardware. The 16 Plus is ahead for display quality, with a larger 6.7-inch screen, its Super Retina XDR OLED panel, and a larger 4,674 mAh battery; the 17 Pro is the better match for its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, a higher-resolution 18MP front camera, and 256GB to 1000GB storage. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. The 16 Plus is the better fit for display quality, while the 17 Pro is the one to consider for camera hardware.

The 16 Plus is the cheaper one to own: around £772 over a typical contract, £259 less than the 17 Pro.

Expert Rating
4.2
12 reviews
4.5
12 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.3"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution
2796 x 1290 1206 x 2622
Pixels Per Inch
460 458
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Apple A19 Pro
Battery
4,674 mAh 3,988 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm
Weight
199 grams 206 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£31.79/mo (£9.00 upfront) £9.00/mo (£799.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£539.00 £899.99
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 17 Pro Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Expert Rating 4.2
12 reviews
4.5
12 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.3"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution 2796 x 1290 1206 x 2622
Pixels Per Inch 460 458
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 18 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Apple A19 Pro
Battery 4,674 mAh 3,988 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS Apple iOS Apple iOS
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm
Weight 199 grams 206 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins)
Contracts £31.79/mo
£9.00 upfront
£9.00/mo
£799.00 upfront
SIM-free £539.00 £899.99
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple iPhone 16 Plus

24 Months

128GB

Black

Refurbished

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£31.79 per month, £9 upfront.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

24 Months

256GB

Deep Blue

100GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£9 per month, £799 upfront.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30 off)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is cheaper on contract at £771.96 over the life of the deal from £31.79 per month with £9.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro's 6.3", both screens are similarly sharp at around 460 pixels per inch, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro has a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro has a 48 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £539.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), while the Apple iPhone 17 Pro uses the Apple A19 Pro.

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

It's a trade-off: the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is lighter but the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is more compact. It's 7g lighter at 199 grams, though the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is actually the more compact phone at 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is slimmer at 7.8mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Apple iPhone 17 Pro?

Both phones share the same water resistance rating of IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro run?

Both phones run Apple iOS.