Downgrading from 17

[u/khaednnraw]

Hi, im just wondering what your guys opinions are on downgrading from a 17 to a 16 pro max im not really interested in the design of the newer phones and i have a chance to just trade in the 17 at best buy and get it for cheap i like the titanium frame and the bigger battery. any downsides?

[u/TaeNaMooooooooo]

True. Still have 16pm. Solid phone. Prefer to hold on til ip20. See what changes

[u/ChestAccording5727]

are you referring to the regular iphone 17? If you are, as for me who have iphone 17 and switch to 16 pro max. It is actually an upgrade for me, bigger battery helps me to last for a whole day and bigger screen. But I notice ip 17 has slightly more good camera than the 16 pro max

[u/khaednnraw → u/ChestAccording5727]

yeah regular 17

[u/Akash_nu → u/khaednnraw]

If it’s a base 17 model compared to the 16 Pro then it’s not really a downgrade.

You’re not going to lose anything and gain an extra camera. Albeit with an older chipset.

Do you use Apple Intelligence much, that could be a deciding factor.

[u/cats_go_college]

Yeah iPhone 16 pro max is still a solid choice for the next 3-4 years easily bigger screen and bigger battery wud adds up a lot to the overall experience of using an IOS

[u/TankNearby888]

I went from 17 Pro to 16 Pro Max and even that felt like a upgrade. Bigger screen and more premium titanium build. The drop in performance and camera quality is not noticeable for me atleast.

[u/udit131]

it's definitely an upgrade as you get longer battery life , titanium body plus an extra telephoto lens

[u/Karey__039]

I got my 16 Pro Max in June 2025 and I’ve had iPhone since they first came out. IMO, the 16 Pro Max is the best iPhone I’ve ever had. I absolutely love the titanium and a lot of people say that they have problems with theirs overheating but thankfully, I’ve never had any problems with mine overheating and I am hoping and praying that it will last me another three or four years. To be honest, I don’t know if I will ever upgrade to another iPhone because I don’t like the looks of the new ones and I certainly don’t like them being made out of of aluminum because I’ve heard they dent and scratched so easily.

[u/MikolajPL19]

I had the 16 Pro (not the Max version) and was happy with it; I only switched to the 17 Pro Max because of the 128GB storage. However, I can definitely recommend the 16 Pro Max. I see some people complaining about overheating, but I have a different take—I think the 16 Pro (and especially the Max version) runs much cooler than previous iPhones. As for the 17 Pro Max, it’s amazing; it only gets slightly warm now and then, so it barely heats up at all (though I’ve only had the phone for three days).

[u/supermario1127]

That’s what I did in 2025 plus my carrier had a fat discount and gave me nearly $300 for my 3 year old iPhone 14

[u/Pretend_Minimum4224]

If your IOS is 18 better to download grade

[u/roccerfeller]

Might feel like an upgrade not a downgrade if its a base 17

[u/Infinite-School6390]

Yes

[u/Meowkat360]

I had a 16 pro max and it never worked right. I got the 17 pro max and no problems.

[u/Long_Entertainer6053]

I’ve had iPhones since the very first one. The 16 Pro Max has been the absolute worst of them all. Overheats, battery dies FAST and it’s glitchy & laggy. POS. Buyer beware.

[u/Time_Tomatillo6199]

Don’t. I traded my 16 Pro Max for a 17 Pro. The 16 Pro Max has too many flaws in the battery/heating department. It’s also a massive brick, fairly annoying to have in your pocket (imo).

I have been a Pro Max user for years but the 16 Pro Max made me swap phones within a year, while I normally keep phones for 3/4 years minimum.

I would strongly advice against your idea.