Buy iPhone 16 or wait for iPhone 17? My advice after years of phone review

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Like the clockwork, a new iPhone has made its way through the rumor mill in August, and users are beginning to be surprised whether they should buy what is currently available or as long as they play as long as they play.

Based on previous trends, there is a good chance that Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 series next Tuesday. So, should you choose iPhone 16 from your local Apple Store today or play long (but not long) game?

Also: Apple iPhone 17 event Live Blog: The biggest announcements we are expecting on 9 September

After testing every major smartphone release in the last several years and many families and friends helped to overcome this exact dilemma, here I work the decision tree every time.

1. Do you need a new phone right now?

Very simple, isn’t it? If you are currently using a handset that is severely damaged or a kind of faulty that prevents it from completing your daily tasks, then it is time to buy a new phone.

My friends say that they will be ready for power with a heavy torn iPhone through another month. If it means they can only buy the next generation model. However, it does not pay attention to the fact that Apple usually sells its latest iPhones week (if not longer), then officially they are officially unveiled to the public.

Also: You can download iOS 26 Public Beta right now – how to install (and which iphones support it)

Therefore, what is expected to be a week’s wait, it can easily be a month or more, depending on which configuration and model you buy. This is to say, if you need a new phone today, don’t wait – buy an ASAP.

2. How much do you want to spend?

Every new iPhone launch is a large unknown: pricing. Therefore, your current (and expected) budget should also be considered as you decide which model to buy. Apple did a commendable job to stabilize iPhone prices over the years, in which the base model usually starts at $ 799, Pro $ 999, and Pro Max at $ 1,199, so most people would assume that the iPhone 17 series will cost.

But this year’s iPhone launch has some more variable factoring. First, Apple is expected to release a new iPhone 17 Air (or Slim) model from Apple, with a thin and lighter design compared to the standard version. If it does Samsung’s price strategy with its ultra-skinned Galaxy S25 Edge, we can see an iPhone that is priced just below the pro model.

Also: Should you buy a Refurbished iPhone 15 from Apple? Only if these factors matters to you

The ongoing tariffs and trade talks have also inspired market analysts to believe that Apple will increase the price of iPhones starting from this September. As Jeffers analyst Edison LeeThe iPhone 17 Air, Pro and Pro Max may see an increase in price $ 50, or 4-5% collision from last year to offset the cost of new components and exports. Here is a Snapshot compared to the iPhone 16 series.

If the potential price increase stops you, it can create more financial understanding to buy old iPhone models like 16 or 15, or even new but accessible iPhone 16E (Started from $ 599)Apple usually reduces the price of the final generation iPhone model by $ 100 when a new is released, so there is a good chance that you will be able to buy the iPhone 16 for $ 699 at the end of this month-you should wait for things.

Also: How to clean your iPhone cash (and why should you do it before installing iOS 26 public beta)

Finally, while carriers and retailers usually offer aggressive trade-in and purchase-one-one-one deals. When a new phone is released, these deals are not without their catch and fine prints.

Most “free phones” offers by the leading carriers usually come in exchange for locking in a long -term contract or upgrade to a pricier data plan. It is not to say that the deals are not worth it; For the right customer, they can actually do a new iPhone net without you much extra work. Just remember to do your proper hard work before agreeing to anything.

3. Do rumors iPhone 17 features encourage you?

While none of these rumored characteristics have been confirmed or not officially created by Apple, they give us a glimpse of the ability of the next iPhone. This year is a list of expected changes, drawn from industry experts, supply chain analysts, and more.

• The iPhone 17 Air will feature a new performance size, the thinnest and lightest design with a titanium frame and a new camera bar.
• Apple will probably replace the iPhone 17 Plus with the iPhone 17 Air, as consumers have shown the least interest in the previous model.
• The iPhone 17 can adopt a small “metalance” technique that allows the face ID sensor and dynamic island module to take less space on the display. This allows Apple to shrink the phone’s bezels and increase the size of the screen to 6.3 inches.
• Only the iPhone 17 Pro model will have a new scratch-resistant, antireflective display panel. Like the Nanotecture Prasad of Apple for Macbooks and iPads, it can come at an additional cost.
• The iPhone 17 Pro model will have a new 48-megapixel telephoto camera that can capture 8X optical zoom (above 5X).

Too: iPhone 17 rumors: latest news and leaks – Cnet

The expected color 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

Lower Line: Buy or wait now?

If you immediately need a new phone and cannot wait for a month, you should buy one iPhone 16 (Or other existing models) right now. The current characteristics of the iPhone 16, including the A18 chip, can power the Apple Intelligence tools, action button, camera control and Wi-Fi 7 support, will be relevant for the coming years, so you are not missing much for last year’s model. There is also a good chance that you will get a deal or price drop on iPhone 16 today.

Also: We tested iOS 26 on the iPhone 16 Pro – these 5 features make the update meaningful.

If you are less quickly, wait till next Tuesday what Apple has to offer with the iPhone 17 series. Perhaps the iPhone 17 AIIR/Slim model will appeal to you more than expected, or Apple introduces a camera feature that resolves one of your biggest pain points. Just be prepared to be anything, including a higher price throughout the board – or none.