iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: For Apple fans, the excitement of every year’s iPhone launch is different. Recently, the iPhone 16 Pro was launched in September 2024 and the iPhone 17 Pro is going to be launched tomorrow. So let’s talk in a friendly style about the differences and improvements of these three flagship Pro phones. If you are a tech lover or a simple user who is thinking of upgrading your phone, this comparison will be very helpful for you.
Design & Style
The iPhone 15 Pro impressed everyone with its sleek titanium frame. It was much lighter than the earlier stainless steel models, and gave a very premium experience in overall handling and feel. In iPhone 16 Pro, Apple did not change the design much, just made the display a little bigger to 6.3 inches, but the titanium frame and premium look remained the same. Now it has been heard about the rumored design of iPhone 17 Pro that Apple is probably partially replacing titanium with a new aluminum and glass hybrid frame, which will make the phone more durable and improve heat dissipation. The camera design can also move from the traditional square bump to a horizontal “camera bar”, which will give a very unique and modern look.
Display & Visuals
In terms of display, Apple has maintained the ProMotion OLED. The iPhone 15 Pro had a 6.1-inch display, which provided a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and made the gaming or scrolling experience quite smooth. The display size was slightly increased to 6.3 inches in the iPhone 16 Pro, but the visual quality and color accuracy remained the same. According to rumors, the display of the iPhone 17 Pro will also remain 6.3 inches, but with a new anti-reflective and more durable coating, which will make the viewing experience better in outdoor sunlight.
Performance & Processor
The upgrade of every iPhone generation is noticeable in terms of performance. The iPhone 15 Pro featured the A17 Pro chip, with a 3nm process and a 6-core CPU and GPU that supported hardware-accelerated ray tracing for gaming. The iPhone 16 Pro came with the A18 Pro chip, which was also 3nm but with a new thermal design and an improved 16-core Neural Engine that was quite efficient at handling AI tasks. The iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to feature the A19 Pro chip, which should be even more efficient. Along with 12GB of RAM, this phone should offer smooth performance for heavy multitasking and intensive apps. The most interesting upgrade is that the phone will come with a vapor chamber cooling system, which will keep the phone cool during tasks like gaming and 8K video recording without letting the performance throttle.
Camera Setup
Camera upgrade is a major highlight with every iPhone Pro model. The iPhone 15 Pro had a triple-camera system – 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The iPhone 16 Pro has made major improvements in this, like a 48MP ultrawide lens and 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, which were previously available only in the Pro Max models. iPhone 17 Pro rumors suggest that the camera system will be a strong upgrade – the teen lenses will come with 48MP, and the telephoto lens will offer 8x optical zoom. The front camera could also be upgraded from 12MP to 24MP, which will be quite impressive for selfies and video calls. Overall, this looks like a very exciting upgrade for photographers and content creators.
Features & Tech
iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro have similar Wi-Fi support and storage options, where 15 Pro had Wi-Fi 6E, 16 Pro has added Wi-Fi 7 support. iPhone 17 Pro rumors suggest that the base storage will be 256GB, and Apple may remove the 128GB model. With the new Qualcomm 5G modem, connectivity will also become faster and stable. With the latest AI features of iOS 19 and Apple Intelligence, the phone will be smarter and responsive.
Battery & Charging
Not many official details are available in terms of battery, but as per the previous generation, the iPhone 17 Pro will optimize battery performance with an efficiency better chip and vapor chamber cooling. Fast charging and wireless charging options are expected, which will make daily usage smooth and hassle-free.
RAM & Storage
The iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro had 8GB RAM and 128GB base storage, which was sufficient for majority of users. The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to have 12GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage, which will be quite useful for heavy users and power users, especially if you are into gaming, video editing and multitasking.
Final Verdict
If you have the iPhone 15 Pro, the rumored upgrades of the iPhone 17 Pro may seem quite tempting, especially if you are a heavy user of photography, gaming and high-performance apps. For iPhone 16 Pro users, the upgrade may not be that necessary, but if you want 8x optical zoom and advanced thermal system, then you can definitely consider it. Overall, the iPhone 17 Pro seems to be a substantial leap, which is a big step in Apple’s trade.