Phone vs phone
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e
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.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
iPhone 16e — its best deal costs £589.96 including April rises, £12 less than the iPhone 17e.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 17e 6.1″, iPhone 16e 6.1″. Battery: iPhone 17e 4,005 mAh, iPhone 16e 1 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 17e: £843 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 16e: £743. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 17e£601.96
iPhone 16e£589.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The iPhone 16e is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £589.96 over 24 months with April rises, against £601.96 for the iPhone 17e — a gap of £12, or about £0.50 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e, side by side
| iPhone 17e | iPhone 16e | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £601.96 | £589.96 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £199 | £19 |
| Monthly on that deal | £14.99 | £21.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £17 |
| SIM-free price from | £699 | £599 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £843 | £743 |
| Contract deals tracked | 2,170 | 392 |
| Screen | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Battery | 4,005 mAh | 1 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| Weight | 169 g | 167 g |
| Released | March 2026 | February 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 3 | 2 |
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 17e | iPhone 16e | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £601.96 | £589.96 | £12 |
| Vodafone | £677 | £667 | £10 |
| Three | £822.20 | £834.20 | £12 |
| O2 | £883 | £811 | £72 |
Our verdict
On price, the iPhone 16e wins: £12 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is under £2 a month, so pick on features rather than price.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 17e has the larger battery (4,005 mAh), the iPhone 17e is the newer phone (March 2026).
Buying outright: iPhone 17e SIM-free plus SIM only costs £843, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 16e costs £743, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 17e if…
- You want the lowest monthly price — from £11.95 a month vs £17
- Battery size matters most to you
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the iPhone 16e if…
- You want the lower total — £12 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
iPhone 17e vs iPhone 16e questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 17e or the iPhone 16e?
The iPhone 16e. Its cheapest contract costs £589.96 over 24 months including April rises, £12 less than the iPhone 17e (£601.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 17e it is iD Mobile (£199 upfront, £14.99 a month); for the iPhone 16e it is iD Mobile (£19 upfront, £21.99 a month).
Is the iPhone 17e bigger than the iPhone 16e?
The iPhone 17e has a 6.1-inch screen and the iPhone 16e a 6.1-inch screen; they weigh 169 g and 167 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 17e starts at £699 and the iPhone 16e at £599, from retailers we track.