Buy a refurbished iPhone 17 if you want the best screen, selfie camera and battery life and plan to keep the phone for years. Buy a refurbished iPhone 16 if the lowest price matters most and you don't need a 120Hz display. Both are fast, both support Apple Intelligence, and every device we sell has a 12-month warranty.
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison to help you understand the key differences between the refurbished iPhone 17 and iPhone 16.
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Pick the iPhone 17 if... |
Pick the iPhone 16 if... |
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You want a smoother, bigger 6.3-inch screen with 120Hz |
A lower price matters more than a smoother screen |
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You take selfies or make lots of video calls |
You're happy with the 12MP front camera |
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You want 256GB from the start |
You're fine with 128GB, or will choose 256GB |
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You keep phones for three years or more |
You'd rather put the saving towards storage or accessories |
The iPhone 17 arrived in September 2025, a year after the iPhone 16. On paper the two look close, and in daily use only a few things really separate them. This guide goes through them one round at a time, then covers what changes when you buy refurbished.
Round by round: iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16
Round 1: Screen. iPhone 17 wins
This is the upgrade you'll notice every minute. The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, which adapts from 1Hz up to 120Hz, plus an Always-On display. The iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch OLED at 60Hz. Scrolling, animations and games look noticeably smoother on the 17.
Round 2: Cameras. iPhone 17 wins, narrowly
Both have a 48MP main camera, and by most accounts it is the same hardware. The difference is elsewhere. The iPhone 17 gets a 48MP ultrawide, where the iPhone 16 has a 12MP one, and an 18MP Center Stage front camera instead of 12MP. Center Stage keeps everyone in frame for group selfies and video calls, in portrait or landscape.
Round 3: Battery. iPhone 17 wins
Apple rates the iPhone 17 at up to 30 hours of video playback and the iPhone 16 at up to 22 hours. Refurbished is where this gets interesting. Battery health matters as much as the rating, and our grade guide shows what you're guaranteed: 80% or above on every grade, and 90% or above on Premium.
Do the sums on Apple's own figures. An iPhone 17 at 80% battery health still works out at roughly 24 hours of video (80% of 30), which is above the 22 hours Apple rates a brand-new iPhone 16. That is an estimate, and real use varies, but it shows how much headroom the 17 has.
Round 4: Storage. iPhone 17 wins
The iPhone 17 starts at 256GB, with 512GB above it. The iPhone 16 started at 128GB, with 256GB and 512GB options. Apple launched the two at the same price in the US, so the 17 effectively doubled the entry storage for nothing. You can't add storage later, so look at the sizes in our current iPhone range before you decide.
Round 5: Speed. iPhone 17 wins, but you probably won't feel it
The iPhone 17 has the A19 chip and the iPhone 16 has the A18. The A19 is faster and more efficient, but both phones are quick for messaging, photos, streaming and games, and both run Apple Intelligence. Speed alone isn't a reason to pay more.
Round 6: Design and controls. A draw
Both have an aluminium body, USB-C, the Action button and the Camera Control button. If you like how the iPhone 16 feels in the hand, the 17 is only slightly bigger to make room for its larger screen.
Round 7: Price. iPhone 16 wins
The iPhone 16 is the older phone, so it usually costs less. That saving is the whole case for choosing it. Compare both on the pages linked at the end of this guide, and judge whether the 17's extras are worth the gap for you.
The scorecard
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Round |
Winner |
In one line |
|---|---|---|
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Screen |
iPhone 17 |
6.3-inch, 120Hz, Always-On, against 6.1-inch at 60Hz |
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Cameras |
iPhone 17 |
48MP ultrawide and 18MP Center Stage selfie camera |
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Battery |
iPhone 17 |
Up to 30 hours of video, against up to 22 |
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Storage |
iPhone 17 |
256GB to start, against 128GB |
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Speed |
iPhone 17 |
A19 against A18, but both are fast |
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Design and controls |
Draw |
Same materials, USB-C, Action button and Camera Control |
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Price |
iPhone 16 |
The older phone usually costs less |
What changes when you buy refurbished
The model year matters less than these four checks.
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Battery health. After your phone arrives, open Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health & Charging to see the maximum capacity. Apple designs the batteries in iPhone 15 and later to keep 80% of their capacity at 1,000 charge cycles.
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Grade. Premium is like new, Excellent has barely visible marks, Good shows light scratches and possibly minor denting, and Fair has noticeable wear. All are fully working. The grade also sets the battery floor.
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SIM or eSIM. Some listings are marked eSIM only. If your network doesn't support eSIM, choose a model that isn't.
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Proof of testing and cover. Every device comes with an independent diagnostics report and a 12-month warranty covering repair or replacement for hardware breakdown. Faulty items can be returned free for 12 months, and the returns policy covers the 30-day period, with conditions.
Which one fits you?
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You mostly message, browse and stream: the iPhone 16 is plenty, and it costs less.
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You scroll and game a lot: the iPhone 17's 120Hz screen is the biggest upgrade you'll feel.
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You're on calls or take group photos: choose the 17 for Center Stage and the 18MP front camera.
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You shoot lots of photos and video: choose the 17 for 256GB as a starting point and the better ultrawide camera.
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You're keeping it for years: the 17 is the newer chip with a bigger battery rating, so it has more years left in it.
What we have in stock right now
Stock moves quickly. At the time of writing, our iPhone 17 range and iPhone 16 range list Pro-series models, such as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro, so check back or contact us if you want a standard model. In stock when we checked were the iPhone 16 Pro (eSIM only) at £820 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (eSIM only) at £939. Klarna offers 0% interest over 3 months on listings, and orders over £250 ship free.
Compare current refurbished iPhones
Ready to compare? Compare current refurbished iPhones side by side, with grade, storage and battery guarantee on each listing. Every one is tested, graded and covered by a 12-month warranty.
Refurbished iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16: FAQs
1. Is a refurbished iPhone 17 worth more than a refurbished iPhone 16?
Usually, if you value the screen and storage. The iPhone 17 adds a smoother 120Hz display, a bigger 6.3-inch screen, an 18MP selfie camera, a sharper ultrawide camera and 256GB as the starting size. If none of those matter to you, the iPhone 16 costs less and does the job.
2. Does the iPhone 16 support Apple Intelligence?
Yes. Both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 16 support Apple Intelligence. The iPhone 17 has the newer A19 chip, but day to day you are unlikely to notice a speed difference between the two.
3. How much longer does the iPhone 17 battery last?
Apple rates the iPhone 17 at up to 30 hours of video playback and the iPhone 16 at up to 22 hours. On a refurbished phone, battery health matters too. Our iPhones are guaranteed at 80% or above, and Premium grade at 90% or above.
4. How much storage should I choose?
The iPhone 17 starts at 256GB, and the iPhone 16 started at 128GB. If you take a lot of photos and video, choose 256GB or more. You cannot add storage to an iPhone later, so buy for how you use it now.
5. Do refurbished iPhones work with eSIM?
Both phones support eSIM. Some of our listings are marked eSIM only, which means the phone has no physical SIM slot. Check that your network supports eSIM before you order one of those.
6. What warranty do refurbished iPhones from MacStore UK come with?
Every device has a 12-month warranty covering repair or replacement for hardware breakdown, whatever the grade. You also get free returns on faulty items for 12 months and a 30-day returns policy, with conditions.
7. How do I check battery health on an iPhone?
Open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery Health & Charging. You will see the maximum capacity as a percentage. Menu names can vary slightly between iOS versions, so check it soon after your phone arrives.