Technologies

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

The latest Apple phone brings notable improvements to the camera, display and battery. But is it worth the upgrade?

If you’re looking to buy a new iPhone, you may be wondering whether to get Apple’s latest device, the iPhone 17, or score a discount on last year’s iPhone 16. To help with that decision, here’s a breakdown of how the two phones compare.

The iPhone 17 starts at $829 — or $799 with carrier activation — the same price as the iPhone 16 when it debuted. But there’s a key difference: The iPhone 17 starts with 256GB of storage, double the 128GB base on the iPhone 16.

The iPhone 16 is now available at a $100 discount. So, is it worth saving some money, or should you splurge on the latest phone?

Here’s what to know about each phone, from the cameras to the displays to the batteries.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Screen differences

Some of the biggest changes between the iPhone 16 and 17 have to do with the display.

Apple says it shrunk the borders around the screen on the iPhone 17, expanding the display from 6.1 inches on the iPhone 16 to 6.3 inches on the iPhone 17 without expanding its dimensions. The new Ceramic Shield 2 cover on the iPhone 17 offers three-times better scratch resistance, according to the company.

The baseline iPhone 17 gets a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as opposed to the 60Hz display on the iPhone 16. That means the iPhone 17 finally supports an always-on display, so you can glance at the time, your notifications and Live Activities without waking the screen.

The iPhone 17 also gains an anti-reflective coating and a 3,000-nit peak brightness, compared to 2,000 nits on the iPhone 16. That should make it easier to see your phone in bright sunlight.

Camera differences

Both the iPhone 16 and 17 have a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera. But the iPhone 17 upgrades the ultra-wide camera from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels.

The front-facing camera also gets an upgrade, going from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 16 to 18 megapixels on the iPhone 17. There’s a new Center Stage feature for the selfie camera that can automatically adjust from a portrait orientation to landscape to make sure everyone is in the shot. That means you don’t have to manually rotate your phone to its side anymore when there are more people to fit in the frame.

Both the iPhone 16 and 17 have a Camera Control button on the side to quickly launch the camera, snap some shots and use Apple’s Visual Intelligence tool to learn more about what’s around you.

Processor and RAM

The iPhone 17 packs an A19 chip, an upgrade from the A18 chip in the iPhone 16. One key difference is that the iPhone 17 starts at 256GB, while the iPhone 16 started at 128GB for the same $829 price when it debuted.

Both phones also support the Apple Intelligence suite of AI capabilities, which includes writing tools, image generators and notification summaries.

Battery life

Apple doesn’t share specific battery specs, but it does measure longevity via video playback hours. The iPhone 16 supports up to 22 hours of video playback, according to Apple, while the iPhone 17 bumps that up to 30 hours.

In CNET’s 45-minute endurance test, which includes streaming, scrolling through social media, joining a video call and playing games, the iPhone 17’s battery went from full to 98%. That’s just over the 97% the iPhone 16 scored last year.

And in a three-hour streaming test over Wi-Fi, which involves watching a YouTube video in full-screen mode at full brightness, the iPhone 17’s battery went from full to 89%. In comparison, the iPhone 16 dropped to 86%.

Anecdotally, the iPhone 17’s battery lasts over a day, even after taking photos, scrolling through social media, watching videos, texting, sending emails and more. The same can be said about the iPhone 16, so you likely won’t feel a huge difference between the two when it comes to day-to-day activities.

A new AI-powered Adaptive Power feature arriving with iOS 26 can help conserve the battery by making «small performance adjustments,» like «allowing some activities to take a little longer,» according to Apple.

The iPhone 17 arrives with the upcoming operating system onboard, but you’ll also be able to download iOS 26 on the iPhone 16, as well as some older iPhones, once it becomes available publicly. That should help to stretch your battery life on either device.

Color options and design

What’s on the inside may be most important, but people also care what their phone looks like. Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 comes in a range of fun colors: black, white, mist blue, sage (a light green) and lavender.

For comparison, the iPhone 16 is available in black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine. Both phones have an aluminum frame. Check out the spec chart below for a breakdown of each phone.

Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16

	Apple iPhone 17	Apple iPhone 16
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	6.3-inch OLED; 2,622 x 1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate	6.1-inch OLED; 2,556 x 1,179 pixel resolution; 60Hz refresh rate
Pixel density	460ppi	460 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in	5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in
Dimensions (millimeters)	149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm	147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	177 g (6.24 oz)	170 g (6 oz.)
Mobile software	iOS 26	iOS 18
Camera	48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide)	48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera	18-megapixel	12-megapixel
Video capture	4K	4K
Processor	Apple A19	Apple A18
RAM + storage	RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB	RAM N/A + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Expandable storage	None	None (Face ID)
Battery	Up to 30 hours video playback; up to 27 hours video playback (streamed).Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger.	Up to 22 hours video playback; up to 18 hours video playback (streamed). 20W wired charging. MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W
Fingerprint sensor	None (Face ID)	None (Face ID)
Connector	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	None	None
Special features	Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. 1 to 3000 nits brightness display range.IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, mist blue, sage, lavender.	Apple Intelligence, Action button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, 1 to 2,000 nits display brightness range, IP68 resistance. Colors: black, white, pink, teal, ultramarine.
US price starts at	$829 (256GB)	$829 (128GB)

Technologies

I Love One Thing About the New Nike Special Edition Powerbeats Pro 2 Earbuds

Beats and Nike have collaborated to bring us the Powerbeats Pro 2 — Nike Special Edition. I go hands-on with them.

Beats has released plenty of special edition products in the past, «collaborating» with various celebrities, including Kim Kardashian. But the new Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Special Edition is the first time it’s linked up with Nike. The buds have the Nike Swoosh on the right bud and the Beats «b» on the left, as well as Nike’s two-tone black and yellow colors and its «Just Do it» slogan printed inside the lid. They’re available via an early-access lottery today on SNKRS, then they’ll launch globally on March 20 for $250.

Read more: Best wireless earbuds of 2026

The Nike x Powerbeats Pro 2 have all the same features as the standard Powerbeats Pro 2, including built-in heart rate monitoring that syncs with Apple’s Fitness app and Nike Run Club1. Perhaps the coolest things about them is the Volt-speckled charging case, which has a bit of texture to it and is slightly easier to grip than the standard Powerbeats Pro 2’s case, which has a smooth matte finish.

The collaboration makes sense given that the Powerbeats Pro 2 are sports buds with an ear hook design that are popular among hardcore and recreational athletes. They’re fairly pricey, though: The standard Powerbeats Pro 2 also list for $250 but sometimes get discounted to closer to $200 online. You can read my full review here.

Beats has recruited longtime brand ambassador LeBron James for the launch, which isn’t a surprise. But he’s not promoting the buds playing basketball, but golf. In the promo video, James shows off his «less-than-elite» skills on the links while using the Powerbeats Pro 2 to tune out a trio of critics, played by professional golfer Tom Kim and actors Lionel Boyce and Travis «Taco» Bennett. He’s «embracing the game on his own terms.»

Technologies

Samsung Halts Galaxy Z TriFold Sales After Just Three Months

The 10-inch device cost nearly $3,000 and will no longer be available to buy in the US or South Korea.

If you haven’t yet shelled out nearly $3,000 for a Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, you might have missed your chance. The company is winding down sales of the phone after it’s been on the market in the US for less than two months, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Samsung will begin the phase-out by first ending sales in its home market of South Korea, and will then stop selling the phone in the US after all inventory has been depleted, Bloomberg said, citing a company spokesperson. In the US, the only way to buy a TriFold is on the Samsung website or at one of its seven Experience Stores across the country.

Samsung didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

A quick check on the Samsung website did not show any TriFold phones for sale, although Bloomberg said people have reported being able to buy the phone over the past few days at Experience Stores in Frisco, Texas, and Queens, New York. On a Galaxy Z TriFold subreddit, some customers have reported being able to get their hands on one.

The Galaxy Z TriFold was announced on Dec. 1, 2025, made its debut in South Korea on Dec. 12 and went on sale in the US on Jan. 30. The phone has a 6.5-inch cover screen and two hinges that enable it to be unfurled into a 10-inch main screen. The sale price is $2,899.

We liked the Galaxy Z TriFold when it was unveiled earlier this year in the US, and apparently so did many Americans — it sold out in minutes on its first day in the US.

CNET Senior Writer Abrar Al-Heeti spent two weeks with the foldable and called it «versatile, innovative and practical,» although ultimately a niche device that’s «not for everyone.»

Will the phone return? Bloomberg reported that Won-Joon Choi, chief operating officer of Samsung’s Mobile Experience Business, said in an interview last month that the company had not decided yet if it will bring the device — or an updated version — to a wider market.

If you’re interested in alternative trifold phones, be sure to also check out the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate (not sold in the US) and Tecno’s Phantom Ultimate G, which the company showed at MWC 2026 as a concept.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for March 17, #1732

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for March 17, No. 1,732.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is fairly common word, with a mix of common and rare letters. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with C.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with P.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a small device with interlocking pieces that fastens a necklace or bracelet.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is CLASP.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, March 16, No. 1731, was DRAMA.

Recent Wordle answers

March 12, No. 1727: SMELL

March 13, No. 1728: EATEN

March 14, No. 1729: ANKLE

March 15, No. 1730: GRADE

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q.

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

STARE

NOISE