Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale is always a spectacle, but this year, one deal has managed to cut through the noise of TVs, refrigerators, and fashion discounts: the iPhone 16 Pro. For the first time in the sale’s decade-long history, a Pro iPhone has dropped below the ₹70,000 mark. The number almost looks like a typo ₹69,999 for a phone that launched at ₹1,19,900 just a year ago.
This is more than a discount; it’s a turning point. Indian buyers, long used to paying some of the world’s highest iPhone prices, are suddenly faced with a choice they never had before: a year-old Pro iPhone at an unprecedented price, or Apple’s freshly launched iPhone 17, which goes on sale in India on September 19.
And make no mistake, this is not an easy decision to make. Because for once, both options have their reasons to buy.
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Why does the iPhone 16 Pro Big Billion Day Sale matter?
Flipkart and Amazon have fought India’s festive sale war for years, but one number just changed the game ₹69,999. That’s the price Flipkart is teasing for the iPhone 16 Pro this Big Billion Days, a phone that launched at ₹1,19,900 just a year ago and, until now, had never dropped below ₹1,07,900 (and that too briefly earlier this month, between September 1-10).
What does it do for Flipkart? Well, it creates Social feeds, WhatsApp forwards, and news headlines are dominated by a single number iPhone 16 Pro at ₹69,999, giving Flipkart priceless free marketing.
ALSO READ: My iPhone 16 Pro Is Barely a Year Old, but I’m Tempted to Buy the iPhone 17 Pro. Here’s Why.
Should I buy the iPhone 16 Pro or the new iPhone 17?
Well, let’s break down the comparison across design, performance, cameras, battery, and long-term value to help you make the smartest buying decision.
Big Billion Days Sale 2025: Why the iPhone 16 Pro Could Be the Smarter Choice Over the iPhone 17
1. ProRAW Photography for Creators
The iPhone 16 Pro supports Apple ProRAW, giving photographers more flexibility to edit, recover details, and work with professional workflows. If you shoot for Instagram, Lightroom, or YouTube, this alone makes the 16 Pro more creator-friendly than the iPhone 17. However, if you are someone who doesn’t like to edit their photos to such an extent, you may skip this.
2. Larger Main Camera Sensor
Its primary sensor gathers 8% more light than the iPhone 17, resulting in slightly better photo. Even with last year’s ISP, sensor size should theoretically give it an edge in difficult lighting. That said, 8% is not really a huge difference, especially when you consider the fact that the iPhone 17 has a newer ISP that’s more intelligent.
3. Telephoto Zoom Lens
The 5x telephoto camera makes the 16 Pro more versatile for travel and long-distance photography. Yes, it has limitations (125cm minimum focusing distance and poor image quality in low light), but the iPhone 17 doesn’t offer optical zoom at all. Something is better than nothing?
4. Titanium Build Quality
The iPhone 16 Pro uses titanium, making it stronger than the iPhone 17’s aluminum frame. However, the titanium frame has its cons too. It is not as good of a heat dissipator as the alumium frame on the iPhone 17.
5. Faster USB-C Transfers
Unlike the iPhone 17, the 16 Pro supports USB 3 transfer speeds. This matters for professionals moving ProRAW photos or 4K ProRes videos quickly to laptops or external drives.
ALSO READ: iPhone 17 Pro Max Price in India vs. Abroad: The Ultimate 2025 Savings Guide
Reasons to Buy the iPhone 17 Over the iPhone 16 Pro During the Big Billion Day Sale
1. Brighter, Anti-Reflective Display
The iPhone 17 peaks at 3,000 nits outdoor brightness (vs 2,000 on the 16 Pro) and adds an anti-reflective coating, making it far easier to use outdoors in India’s sunlight. For day-to-day use, this is arguably the most noticeable upgrade.
2. Faster Charging & Better Battery Life
With a slightly larger 3,692 mAh battery (3,582 mAh on the 16 Pro), more efficient SoC, and faster charging speeds, the iPhone 17 clearly takes the win. In fact, it charges at 40W now, which takes the battery from 0 to 50% in just 20 minutes, as opposed to 30 minutes that the 16 Pro takes.
3. Stronger Durability With Ceramic Shield 2
The iPhone 17 introduces Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the rear, making it tougher against drops. The 16 Pro only had the older Ceramic Shield on the front.
4. Better Selfie Camera
In the era of Instagram Reels and FaceTime, the iPhone 17’s improved selfie camera is a meaningful upgrade. Everyday users will feel this benefit more often than the Pro’s 5X telephoto zoom.
5. Double the Storage by Default
The iPhone 17 doubles the base storage compared to the 16 Pro, now offering 256GB as the default option. The iPhone 16 Pro currently on sale for 70K is the 128GB version.
6. Newer ISP With Dual Video Recording
Its upgraded image signal processor enables smarter photo processing and dual video recording (shooting from the front and rear cameras simultaneously). For vloggers and casual creators, this is more relevant than ProRAW.
7. Longer Software Support
The iPhone 17 will receive an extra year of iOS updates compared to the 16 Pro. Considering many Indians keep their iPhones for 4–5 years, this translates directly into longer usability and higher resale value.
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Verdict: iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 17?
- Buy the iPhone 16 Pro if you want Pro-level hardware with ProRAW, titanium, telephoto zoom, and USB 3 speeds at a price no one thought possible. At ₹69,999, it’s the most affordable “Pro” iPhone India has ever seen.
- Buy the iPhone 17 if you care about everyday usability brighter display, faster charging, better selfies, better battery, more storage, better durability, and extra years of software support. It’s clearly the better phone for most people and future-proof as well, especially if you plan to hold onto your phone for 4–5 years.
Overall, the iPhone 16 Pro is a rare opportunity to own a Pro iPhone at a mainstream price, while the iPhone 17 is the better choice for most people.
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