Buy The Iphone 16 Or Wait For Iphone 17? My Advice After Years Of Phone Reviews

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Like clockwork, a caller iPhone has made its measurement done nan rumor mill successful August, and users are opening to wonderment if they should bargain what's presently disposable aliases hold until autumn to spot really things play out.

Based connected past trends, there's a bully chance Apple will unveil nan iPhone 17 series next Tuesday. So, should you prime up an iPhone 16 from your section Apple shop coming aliases play nan agelong (but not that long) game? 

Also: Apple iPhone 17 arena unrecorded blog: The biggest announcements we're expecting connected Sept. 9

Having tested each major smartphone release complete nan past respective years and helped galore family and friends flooded this nonstop dilemma, here's nan determination character I usage that useful each azygous time.

1. Do you request a caller telephone correct now?

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Pretty simple, right? If you're presently utilizing a handset that's severely damaged aliases defected successful a measurement that prevents it from completing your regular tasks, past it's clip to bargain a caller telephone correct now.

I've had friends opportunity that they'd beryllium consenting to powerfulness done different period pinch a heavy cracked iPhone if it meant they could conscionable bargain nan next-generation model. However, that doesn't return into information nan truth that Apple typically sells its newest iPhones weeks (if not longer) aft they're officially unveiled to nan public.

Also: You tin download iOS 26 nationalist beta correct now - really to instal (and which iPhones support it)

So, what's expected to beryllium a week's hold clip tin easy go a period aliases more, depending connected which configuration and exemplary you buy. That's to say, if you request a caller telephone today, don't hold -- bargain 1 ASAP.

2. How overmuch are you looking to spend?

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Every caller iPhone motorboat has a large unknown: pricing. So, your existent (and expected) fund should besides beryllium considered arsenic you determine which exemplary to buy. Apple's done a commendable occupation stabilizing iPhone prices complete nan years, pinch nan guidelines exemplary typically starting astatine $799, nan Pro astatine $999, and nan Pro Max astatine $1,199, truthful astir group would presume nan iPhone 17 bid will costs astir nan same.

But location are a fewer much variables factoring into this year's iPhone launch. First, Apple is expected to merchandise a caller iPhone 17 Air (or Slim) exemplary that features a thinner and lighter creation than nan modular variant. If it follows Samsung's value strategy pinch its ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, we tin beryllium looking astatine an iPhone that's priced conscionable beneath nan Pro models.

Also: Should you bargain a refurbished iPhone 15 from Apple? Only if these factors matter to you

Ongoing tariff and waste and acquisition talks person besides led marketplace analysts to judge that Apple will raise nan value of iPhones starting this September. According to Jefferies expert Edison Lee, nan iPhone 17 Air, Pro, and Pro Max whitethorn spot a $50 value increase, aliases a 4-5% bump from past year, successful bid to offset nan costs of caller components and exports. Here's a snapshot comparison to nan iPhone 16 series.

If nan imaginable value summation gives you pause, past it whitethorn make much financial consciousness to bargain an older iPhone exemplary for illustration nan 16 aliases 15, aliases moreover nan caller but accessible iPhone 16e (starting astatine $599). Apple typically reduces nan value of nan last-generation iPhone exemplary by $100 erstwhile a caller 1 is released, truthful there's a bully chance you'll beryllium capable to bargain nan iPhone 16 for arsenic debased arsenic $699 later this period -- should you take to hold things out.

Also: How to clear your iPhone cache (and why you should do it earlier installing iOS 26 nationalist beta)

Lastly, while carriers and retailers typically connection fierce trade-in and buy-one-get-one deals erstwhile a caller telephone is released, these deals are not without their catches and good print. 

Most "free phone" offers by awesome carriers usually travel successful speech for locking into a semipermanent statement aliases upgrading to a pricier information plan. That's not to opportunity that nan deals aren't worthy it; for nan correct customer, they tin really nett you a caller iPhone without overmuch other work. Just retrieve to do your owed diligence earlier agreeing to anything.

3. Do nan rumored iPhone 17 features excite you?

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

While nary of these rumored features person been confirmed aliases made charismatic by Apple, they springiness america a glimpse of nan adjacent iPhone's potential. Here's a database of expected changes this year, pulled from manufacture experts, proviso concatenation analysts, and more.

• The iPhone 17 Air will characteristic nan thinnest and lightest design, pinch a caller show size, a titanium frame, and a revamped camera bar.
• Apple will apt switch nan iPhone 17 Plus pinch nan iPhone 17 Air, arsenic consumers person shown nan slightest liking successful nan erstwhile model.
• The iPhone 17 whitethorn adopt a smaller "metalens" exertion that allows nan Face ID sensor and Dynamic Island module to return up little abstraction connected nan display. This besides allows Apple to shrink nan phone's bezels and summation nan surface size to 6.3 inches.
• Only nan iPhone 17 Pro models will person a caller scratch-resistant, antireflective show panel. Like Apple's nanotexture offerings for MacBooks and iPads, it whitethorn travel astatine an other cost.
• The iPhone 17 Pro models will characteristic a caller 48-megapixel telephoto camera that tin seizure astatine 8x optical zoom (up from 5x).

Also: iPhone 17 Rumors: Latest News and Leaks - CNET

The expected colour options are:

• iPhone 17: Black, White, Steel Gray, Green, Purple, and Light Blue
• iPhone 17 Air: Black, White, Light Blue, and Light Gold
• iPhone 17 Pro: Black, White, Gray, Dark Blue, and Orange
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Black, White, Gray, Dark Blue, and Orange

Bottom line: Buy now aliases wait?

If you request a caller telephone instantly and cannot hold up to a month, you should bargain an iPhone 16 (or different existing model) correct now. The iPhone 16's existent features, including an A18 spot that tin powerfulness Apple Intelligence tools, Action Button, Camera Control, and Wi-Fi 7 support, will stay applicable for years to come, truthful you're not missing retired connected overmuch by opting for past year's model. There's besides a bully chance that you'll find a woody aliases value driblet connected nan iPhone 16 today.

Also: We tested iOS 26 connected nan iPhone 16 Pro - these 5 features make nan update worthwhile

If you're successful little of a hurry, hold until adjacent Tuesday to spot what Apple has to connection pinch nan iPhone 17 series. Perhaps nan iPhone 17 Aiir/Slim exemplary will entreaty to you much than expected, aliases Apple introduces a camera characteristic that solves 1 of your biggest symptom points. Just beryllium prepared for thing to happen, including a higher value crossed nan committee -- aliases nary astatine all.