Phone vs phone
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16
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, £92 less than the iPhone 17.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 17 6.3″, iPhone 16 6.1″. Battery: iPhone 17 3,692 mAh, iPhone 16 3,561 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 17: £1,043 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 16: £943. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 17£801.96
iPhone 16£709.96True 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 £801.96 for the iPhone 17 — a gap of £92, or about £3.83 a month.
Prices checked 27 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16, side by side
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £801.96 | £709.96 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £39 | £19 |
| Monthly on that deal | £29.99 | £26.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £899 | £799 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,043 | £943 |
| Contract deals tracked | 4,255 | 2,064 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Battery | 3,692 mAh | 3,561 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| Weight | 177 g | 170 g |
| Released | September 2025 | 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 17 | iPhone 16 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £801.96 | £709.96 | £92 |
| Talkmobile | £889.80 | £745.80 | £144 |
| Vodafone | £923 | £829 | £94 |
| Three | £982.20 | £872.20 | £110 |
| O2 | £1,035 | £991 | £44 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 16 wins: £92 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £3.83 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 17 does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 17 has the bigger screen (6.3 vs 6.1 inches), the iPhone 17 has the larger battery (3,692 mAh), the iPhone 17 is the newer phone (September 2025).
Buying outright: iPhone 17 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,043, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 16 costs £943, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 17 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
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the iPhone 16 if…
- You want the lower total — £92 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 16?
The iPhone 16. Its cheapest contract costs £709.96 over 24 months including April rises, £92 less than the iPhone 17 (£801.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 17 it is iD Mobile (£39 upfront, £29.99 a month); for the iPhone 16 it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £26.99 a month).
Is the iPhone 17 bigger than the iPhone 16?
The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen and the iPhone 16 a 6.1-inch screen; they weigh 177 g and 170 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 17 starts at £899 and the iPhone 16 at £799, from retailers we track.