Phone vs phone
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
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Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 16 — its best deal costs £709.96 including April rises, £48 less than the iPhone 16 Plus.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 16 6.1″, iPhone 16 Plus 6.7″. Battery: iPhone 16 3,561 mAh, iPhone 16 Plus 4,006 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 16: £943 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 16 Plus: £943. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 16£709.96
iPhone 16 Plus£757.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 16 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £709.96 over 24 months with April rises, against £757.96 for the iPhone 16 Plus — a gap of £48, or about £2 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus, side by side
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £709.96 | £757.96 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £19 | £19 |
| Monthly on that deal | £26.99 | £28.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £28.99 |
| SIM-free price from | £799 | £799 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £943 | £943 |
| Contract deals tracked | 2,054 | 81 |
| Screen | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Battery | 3,561 mAh | 4,006 mAh |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| Weight | 170 g | 199 g |
| Released | September 2024 | September 2024 |
| Colours on sale | 5 | 5 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £709.96 | £757.96 | £48 |
| Vodafone | £829 | £1,025 | £196 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 16 wins: £48 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £2 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 16 Plus does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 16 Plus has the bigger screen (6.7 vs 6.1 inches), the iPhone 16 Plus has the larger battery (4,006 mAh).
Buying outright: iPhone 16 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £943, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 16 Plus costs £943, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 16 if…
- You want the lowest monthly price — from £11.95 a month vs £28.99
- You want the lower total — £48 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
Pick the iPhone 16 Plus if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £9
- You want the bigger screen
- Battery size matters most to you
FAQ
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 16 Plus?
The iPhone 16. Its cheapest contract costs £709.96 over 24 months including April rises, £48 less than the iPhone 16 Plus (£757.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 16 it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £26.99 a month); for the iPhone 16 Plus it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £28.99 a month).
Is the iPhone 16 bigger than the iPhone 16 Plus?
The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch screen and the iPhone 16 Plus a 6.7-inch screen; they weigh 170 g and 199 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 16 starts at £799 and the iPhone 16 Plus at £799, from retailers we track.