The major differences between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 screens revolve primarily around size, refresh rate, brightness, and display technology advancements. The most noticeable upgrade is that the base iPhone 17 finally receives a ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate display, which the iPhone 16 base model lacked (stuck at 60Hz). The iPhone 17 also has a slightly larger screen size compared to the iPhone 16, going from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, achieved by slimmer bezels rather than a larger overall phone size. Additionally, the iPhone 17 boasts much higher peak brightness outdoors (up to 3000 nits compared to 2000 nits on iPhone 16 Pro models), making the screen more vivid and readable under harsh lighting conditions.
Both models use OLED technology, but the iPhone 17 employs newer LTPO OLED panels that enable the adaptive refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, which also supports the Always-On display feature on all iPhone 17 modelsâsomething that was only available on the Pro and Pro Max models of iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 also features Ceramic Shield 2 on the front glass, providing 3x better scratch resistance and reduced glare due to an improved anti-reflective coating.
The resolution and pixel density remain quite similar between the two generations, with about 460 pixels per inch (ppi), maintaining crisp and sharp visuals. The iPhone 17 screen supports the P3 wide color gamut, True Tone technology, HDR content (HDR10 and Dolby Vision), and Haptic Touch like the iPhone 16, but with some improvements in brightness and efficiency.
Dynamic Island, the notch area at the top of the screen, is refined and slightly smaller on the iPhone 17, allowing for a better status bar experience without compromising Face ID functionality.
In summary, the iPhone 17 screen offers a larger, brighter, and significantly smoother display experience than the iPhone 16, particularly for the base model, which now includes features that were once exclusive to the Pro line, such as 120Hz ProMotion and Always-On display. These upgrades enhance usability, gaming, media consumption, and general interaction fluidity, making the iPhone 17 screen a marked improvement over the iPhone 16.
A detailed exploration of these differences follows.
Screen Size and Design
The base iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch OLED panel, whereas the iPhone 17 upgrades the base model screen to 6.3 inches. This size increase is not because of a larger phone footprint but thanks to thinner bezels around the display. This results in a more immersive screen experience without significantly increasing overall device size. The Pro models of both generations keep their sizes stable at 6.3 inches for the 16 Pro and 17 Pro, and 6.9 inches for the 16 Pro Max and 17 Pro Max. The design refinements also include a slightly smaller Dynamic Island notch on the iPhone 17, which frees up space on the status bar for additional icons.
Refresh Rate and Smoothness
The biggest leap for the base model is the upgrade from a 60Hz display on the iPhone 16 to a 120Hz ProMotion display on the iPhone 17. This brings the base iPhone on par with Pro-level smoothness, resulting in much smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming experiences. The iPhone 17 uses LTPO technology that dynamically adjusts the refresh rate from as low as 1Hz to 120Hz based on content, optimizing performance and battery usage. This is a significant improvement since the iPhone 16's base model still had a traditional 60Hz screen. The Pro and Pro Max iPhones maintained 120Hz refresh rates across both generations, so their major changes lie elsewhere.
Brightness and Outdoor Visibility
Apple improved the brightness significantly on the iPhone 17 lineup, which now reaches up to 3000 nits peak brightness outdoors, compared to a peak of 2000 nits seen on the best iPhone 16 Pro models. This improvement means the iPhone 17 screens remain more visible and vibrant even under direct sunlight, which benefits outdoor usage tremendously. Typical brightness for everyday content remains around 1000 nits, with HDR content brightness peaking around 1600 nits or more, providing a superior HDR viewing experience.
Display Technology and Features
Both generations employ OLED technology, but the iPhone 17 shifts to newer generation LTPO OLED panels that support adaptive refresh rates and Always-On display features across all models including the base phone. The iPhone 16 limited these features to the Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 17 also uses superior materials, including Ceramic Shield 2 for the front glass, which provides increased scratch resistance and lowers reflectivity with an improved anti-reflective coating. These advances reduce glare and improve durability.
Other display features like True Tone (for adaptive white balance), P3 wide color gamut support (for vivid colors), HDR10, and Dolby Vision HDR support remain present and are enhanced with brighter, more efficient panels in the iPhone 17. The contrast ratio remains very high at around 2,000,000:1 typical, contributing to deep blacks and vibrant colors that Apple OLED displays are known for.
Always-On Display and Dynamic Island
With the adoption of LTPO OLED panels on all iPhone 17 models, Apple extends the Always-On display to every phone in the lineup, not just Pro models as before. This feature allows users to see important information (time, widgets, notifications) at a glance without unlocking the phone, contributing to convenience and power efficiency. The Dynamic Island at the top of the screen is refined on the iPhone 17, becoming slightly smaller and more efficient in displaying notifications and interactions without interrupting the display area. The Face ID sensor array remains unchanged but still integrated effectively within the smaller notch.
Resolution and Pixel Density
Despite the upgrades in size and brightness, Apple maintains a consistent pixel density of around 460 pixels per inch for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 models. This consistency ensures sharp, clear, and detailed visuals on both phones. The actual screen resolutions differ slightly due to changes in screen size (e.g., 2622 x 1206 pixels on the iPhone 17 vs. approximately 2532 x 1170 on the iPhone 16), but the visual sharpness remains equivalent, preserving a high-quality viewing experience.
Summary of User Experience Impact
The screen improvements from iPhone 16 to iPhone 17 translate into a smoother, more vibrant, and more durable display experience. Users of the base iPhone 17 get significant perks such as the buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate, Always-On display, and better outdoor visibility with enhanced brightness. These changes also lead to improved gaming and video playback experiences. Increased durability via Ceramic Shield 2's better scratch resistance and reduced glare enhances everyday usage comfort and longevity. The Pro models retain their excellent display specs but benefit from brighter screens and minor design refinements.
Overall, the iPhone 17 screens mark an important evolutionary upgrade, particularly bridging the gap between base and Pro models, ensuring more users have access to high-end display technologies at a more accessible price point.
This detailed exploration highlights the significant display advancements Apple introduced with the iPhone 17 compared to the iPhone 16.