Just like in every past year, this year’s festive sales bring a vibrant array of offers in the smartphone section. And like always, iPhone is in high demand, with fans feeling greater confusion: which iPhone is better—the latest iPhone 17 with specs like never before or last year’s flagship 16 Pro at a festive discount?
Simple answer: it depends on your needs and passion.
In 2025, as iPhone 17 makes its debut, the clash with iPhone 16 Pro becomes especially interesting.
In this post, we dig into specs, pricing, deals, and strategies to help you pick smarter during the festive season sales.
iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16 Pro: At a Glance
Apple usually follows the pattern of releasing a 3-5 phone line-up every year, making each of its products unique in its own way.
- The base model (iPhone 15,16,17, etc) comes with the basic features, and is one of the most affordable and sold variants every year. However, it is the benchmark of hardware and software properties for Apple products that year.
- The larger plus variants, thinner Air variants and budget-friendly SE variants don’t see much light compared to others.
- The high-end Pro and Pro Max variants are the top line-up of Apple every year, with better battery, display and other specs.
0
Bad
Check your Credit Score for Free
Your credit score is updated monthly and gives you insight into your creditworthiness. Take control of your financial future today.
Here is a full-on comparison between last year’s flagship and this year’s base variant (However, with many improved and, honestly, compelling improvements).
| Spec | iPhone 17 | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset / Processor | A19
| A18 Pro
|
| Storage | 8/256
8/512 | 8/128
8/256 8/512 8/1024 |
| RAM | LPDDR5X, 4 Channels | LPDDR5X, 4 Channels |
| ROM | NVMe, USB 2 (C type) | NVMe, USB 3.2 (C type) |
| Dimensions |
|
|
| Colours | White, Black, Blue, Green, Purple | White, Black, Silver, Gold |
| Display / Refresh Rate | 6.3-inch OLED, 1-120 Hz ProMotion | ~6.1-inch OLED, 1-120 Hz |
| Cameras | Dual Rear Camera:
Selfie camera:
| Triple Rear camera:
Selfie camera
|
| Battery & Charging |
|
|
| Connectivity & Features | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, 5G | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G |
| Software & Updates | Ships with iOS 26 | Shipped with iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 26/27, etc. |
| Launch Date | September 2025 | September 2024 |
| Launch Price / Release | ~₹71,000 (globally)
~₹82,900 (India) | ~₹87,000 (globally)
~₹1,19,900 (India) |
| Festive Season Offer Price |
| ~₹69,999 on Flipkart (128 variants) during BBD sales.
~₹57,105 on Amazon (128 variants) during the Great Indian Festival. |
Note: the sale offers and stock availability are subject to change.
| From the comparison, last year’s pro variant and this year’s latest iPhone don’t have a lot of difference in terms of hardware capabilities. So, keeping the price reduction during sales in mind, the iPhone 16 Pro would be a better option, considering practical application. |
Personal Loan
Quick Approval in 24 Hours
💰 No processing fee for first 100 customers | ⚡ Digital KYC in 5 minutes
Finding the Best Offers on iPhones in 2025
Flipkart’s Big Billion Days and Amazon’s Great Indian Festival are two of the most popular options where you can find the top electronic devices (including iPhones) at a reduced price.
These offers can include sale-based price reductions, bank discounts, exchange offers, and no-cost EMI.
iPhone 17 may not be available at such offers during the sales season, due to the fact that it was recently released. However, for the iPhone 16 Pro, one recent Flipkart deal showed ₹44,099 in a sale event (with conditions). The price is expected to be in the range of ₹50,000 and ₹70,000.
- Check authorised Apple resellers and “Apple Premium Reseller” sites — they occasionally match festival discounts, especially on older models
- Use price trackers (e.g., Keepa, BuyHatke) to see price history and judge whether discounts are real.
Here are some practical tips so you don’t fall for “fake sales”:
-
Check the price history before the sale day: if it was ₹1,10,000 yesterday and now ₹1,09,000 labelled ‘50% off’, be cautious.
-
Stack discounts smartly: bank offers, wallet cashback, and exchange can add up. Don’t just rely on the ‘sale price’.
-
Use ‘notifications for deals’: use the alert on in apps for those iPhone listings so you catch sudden drops.
-
Verify seller ratings & return policy: with premium phones, avoid grey imports or sketchy sellers.
-
Check eligibility & stock zones: sometimes deals are region-locked; ensure the model you’re seeing is shippable to your pin.
|
Are you looking for funding options for your next iPhone purchase? You see, a credit card is great if you plan to pay in full, especially with festive cashback offers. But if you are going for EMIs, watch out: unless it’s a no-cost EMI scheme, credit cards usually carry higher interest rates than other finance options. In those cases, consider applying for a personal loan to cover your expenses in full, and then take your turn in EMIs, with interest rates as low as 11.99%! |
Suggested Read: 7 Ways to Check if Your iPhone is Original
Final Word: Which One Should You Prefer?
If money is not a concerning matter and you want the latest tech in your hand, like a newer chip, better network hardware, and more colour options, the iPhone 17 has a slight edge. However, compared to the pro variants, the base model often falls behind in camera capabilities and AI functionalities.
The 16 pro, on the other hand, offers almost the same level of processing power as the A18 pro chipset and better camera capabilities at a very reduced price, with an ongoing offer compared to the latest release of the 17 series.
If you are looking for a practical application of a smartphone, value for money and discounts at 2025 festivals, the iPhone 16 Pro would be more cost-efficient once sales hit.
Just make sure to check your credit score before you apply for credit. Also, use an EMI calculator to plan your repayment cycles.
Download the Buddy Loan app now!
Get the free Buddy Loan app on your phone
