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The countdown is on for Apple’s next big release. While the iPhone 16 series has been impressing with sleek designs and powerful cameras, rumours about the new iPhone 2025 are already stirring excitement. Many are wondering, ‘should I wait for iPhone 17 or go ahead with the iPhone 16’?

With expected upgrades like a more powerful processor, improved cameras and much more, now is the perfect time to weigh up whether to get the iPhone 16 or wait for 17 to launch. Keep reading to help you make your decision!

In this blog:

• iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17 rumoured specs
  • Display
  • Cameras
  • Design
  • Colours
  • Performance
• Should I wait for iPhone 17?

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17 rumoured specs

While we can’t say for certain what Apple has in store for this year’s iPhone lineup, there are plenty of rumours that give us a good indication of what to expect. Here are all the rumoured specs of the iPhone 17 series compared to the current iPhone 16 range.

Display

The iPhone 16 series offers several display sizes: the iPhone 16 and 16e feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, the iPhone 16 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch display, the iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display and the iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a massive 6.9-inch screen.

Rumours suggest the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro will have a 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max could stretch to 6.9 inches and a new iPhone 17 Air could feature a 6.6-inch display.

While we don’t have any specifics on the iPhone 17 series display specs, it’s rumoured that Apple is expected to use the same OLED panel from the current iPhone 16 Pro models for the base iPhone 17 and 17 Air. There were also talks of a scratch-resistant anti-reflective coating for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, though this may have been scrapped due to time constraints.

Cameras

Camera upgrades are a major consideration when deciding whether to upgrade to iPhone 16 or wait for 17. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature dual cameras with a 48MP Fusion and 12MP Ultra Wide lens. The Pro models include a 48MP Fusion, 48MP Ultra Wide and Telephoto camera, while the iPhone 16e has a 2-in-1 48MP Fusion lens.

Exciting rumours for the iPhone 17 series suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to include three 48MP cameras – the first iPhone to offer this setup. Plus, all 17 series models could have an upgraded 24MP front-facing camera, doubling the iPhone 16’s 12MP front camera.

It’s also rumoured that the iPhone 17 Air could have a single-lens rear camera with an elongated bump, while the base iPhone 17 might feature a dual-lens system.

Design

The iPhone 16 line-up comes in two finishes: aluminium with colour-infused glass for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, and titanium with textured matt glass for the Pro models. The iPhone 16e also sports an aluminium frame with a glass back, however the glass is not colour-infused.

Rumours suggest the iPhone 17 series will mostly feature aluminium frames, with just the 17 Air potentially getting a titanium frame. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro models could see a an half aluminium, half glass back design.

One huge design change we could see with the new iPhone 17 series is a new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners spanning the width of the back of the device – this design change is expected to appear on all iPhone 17 models with the exception of the iPhone 17 base model.

There’s also speculation that a smaller Dynamic Island could appear on the iPhone 17 series due to new compact metalens technology, but as to how big of change this is, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Colours

In terms of colours, iPhone 16 comes in ultramarine, teal, pink, white and black for the base models, and desert titanium, natural titanium, white titanium and black titanium for the Pro models. The 16e, being Apple’s budget model, comes only in black and white colour options.

The iPhone 17 line-up is expected to come in black, white, steel grey, green, purple and light blue for the base model. The Pro and Pro Max models could come in black, white, grey, dark blue and orange, and the 17 Air is expected to come in black, white, light blue and light gold.

Performance

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are powered by the A18 chip, with Pro models sporting the A18 Pro. However, rumours suggest the iPhone 17 will sport a new A19 chip, with Pro and Pro Max models featuring an A19 Pro chip. Surprisingly, the 17 Air may get the A19 Pro chip, but with a 5-core GPU compared to the Pro models’ 6-core GPU.

Other improvements could include 120Hz ProMotion displays for all models (meaning Always-On Display for all the range), 12GB RAM for the high-end 17 series models, and support for faster Qi 2.2 wireless charging.

Should I Wait for iPhone 17?

If you’re wondering ‘is it worth waiting for iPhone 17’, we think so. The current rumours point to significant upgrades in performance, design and camera capabilities, so it’s definitely worth waiting to upgrade to the new iPhone 17 series. Waiting for the new iPhone release will also allow you to see the new iPhone 2025 in action and compare it directly to the iPhone 16.

Even if you’re considering an upgrade to the iPhone 16 now, holding off for the iPhone 17 also makes sense. The release of the new Apple iPhones typically leads to a price drop on previous models – including the iPhone 16 series – so you should be able to upgrade to the iPhone 16 and save a little bit more money just by waiting for the new iPhone 17 to hit the shelves.

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