iPhone 17 or iPhone 16: which lasts longer?
Overall rating, EU class, updates, battery and protection of both smartphones side by side, from the suppliers’ entries in EPREL (as of 2 November 2026).
Result
Both have EU repairability class C; in our overall rating from eight EPREL values, the iPhone 17 scores 4.8 out of 10 and the iPhone 16 4.5.
Both get 5 years of updates according to their suppliers; the battery is not user-replaceable on either.
The battery of the iPhone 17 lasts longer per charge (41 instead of 37 hours); in the drop test the iPhone 17 survives more drops (180 instead of 90); both are waterproof (IP68).
On every value where they differ, the iPhone 17 is ahead.
All values compared
Bold is the better value where the devices differ. Grey below: the typical value across all smartphones (median, our own calculation).
| Value | Apple iPhone 17 | Apple iPhone 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall ratingtypical 5.6 | 4.8 out of 10 | 4.5 out of 10 |
| EU classtypical 3.38 | C · index 2.82 out of 5 | C · index 2.80 out of 5 |
| Updatestypical 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Battery | Built in | Built in |
| Battery lifetypical 58 h | 41 h | 37 h |
| Charge cyclestypical 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Drop resistancetypical 270 | 180 drops · class B | 90 drops · class C |
| Water protectiontypical IP68 | IP68 · waterproof | IP68 · waterproof |
| Scratch resistancetypical Level 5 | Level 5 | Level 4 |
| On the market since | 09/2025 | 09/2024 |
More comparisons
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Frequently asked questions
Which gets updates for longer, the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 16?
According to the suppliers in EPREL, both get 5 years of operating system updates, counted from the end of sales.
On which can you replace the battery yourself?
According to the suppliers in EPREL, the battery is not user-replaceable on either the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 16.
Which is easier to repair, the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 16?
By EU repairability class, both are class C (index 2.82 and 2.80 out of 5). In our overall rating from eight EPREL values, the iPhone 17 is ahead with 4.8 out of 10 against 4.5 for the iPhone 16.
Sources
Laws and regulations in their current version, linked to the source.
- EPREL, European Product Registry for Energy LabellingEuropäische Kommission · Database · 13 Oct 2026
- EPREL public data disclaimerEuropäische Kommission · Database · 13 Oct 2026
- EPREL Public API terms and conditionsEuropäische Kommission · Guidance · 3 Jun 2024
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1669 (energy labelling of smartphones and slate tablets)EUR-Lex · EU regulation · 16 Jun 2023
- German Act against Unfair Competition (UWG)Bundesministerium der Justiz · Law · 27 Sept 2026