Thinking of buying a premium phone but the options in the market right now either feel too expensive or simply not worth the asking price? Well, blame the RAM crises. But if you are desperately looking for a really good option, what about the iPhone 16? Yes, an iPhone, and you don’t necessarily have to pay the full flagship price. In fact, if you have an older iPhone to trade in, you could get this one for as low as Rs 45,000. Flipkart has an offer you should definitely check out.
Flipkart is currently offering – at the time of writing — the iPhone 16 at a discounted price of Rs 67,900, down from its launch price of Rs 79,900. But there’s more. The 128GB iPhone 16 is listed at Rs 67,900 on Flipkart. While there are no bank offers available at the moment, and the phone is out of stock across several other e-commerce platforms, you can save a lot more if you have an old phone to exchange. For instance, an eligible iPhone 13 can fetch an exchange value of up to Rs 22,250, bringing the effective price down to around Rs 45,600. But don’t wait too long. The phone could go out of stock on Flipkart too, and even if it doesn’t, the price may change.
That said, iPhone 16 is a powerful phone and can comfortably take on many Android rivals in this price segment. But with the iPhone 17 now in the market, is it still worth spending your money on the older model? At this price, the iPhone 17 is not in the competition. But if you are thinking about whether the phone is really that capable, we reviewed the iPhone 16 at India Today Tech when it launched and found it to be one of the best Flagships in 2024. Back then, it was Apple’s flagship.
In 2026, while it has since been succeeded by the iPhone 17, it certainly hasn’t lost its appeal, especially at this price. There are also rumours that iPhone 18 might not arrive this year so that makes the iPhone 16 still more appealing.
But for you readers who are still not convinced, here are four reasons why the iPhone 16 still makes sense, and one reason why you may want to skip it.
Reason 1: Excellent all-round performance
The iPhone 16 is powered by Apple’s A18 chip, and it is fast no matter what you throw at it. During our review, the phone handled everyday tasks, heavy multitasking and even demanding games with ease. It also stayed cool during long gaming sessions, making it one of the best-performing phones in its segment.
Reason 2: Premium design that sturdy build
Apple gave the iPhone 16 a subtle design refresh by introducing a new vertical camera layout. The redesigned camera island not only gives the phone a cleaner look but also enables Spatial Video recording. The rest of the premium build remains intact, with an aluminium frame, Ceramic Shield protection and an IP68 rating. During our review, we found the phone comfortable to hold, well-balanced and solid enough for everyday use.
Reason 3: Cameras deliver consistently good photos
If photography is high on your priority list, the iPhone 16 will not disappoint. During our review, we managed to capture detailed photos with natural colours and good dynamic range in most lighting conditions. Apple has also introduced the new Camera Control button, which takes a little time to get used to but can be handy once you do. In fact the camera system remains one of the iPhone 16’s biggest strengths, and the improved macro mode makes it easier to capture sharp close-up shots.
Reason 4: The iOS experience
If you love the iOS experience, you already know the perks. The iPhone 16 will support iOS 27 and offer a smooth and polished software experience with excellent app optimisation, features like Face ID and access to Apple’s ecosystem. Apple will also provide software updates for several years, so the phone should continue receiving new iOS features and security updates well into the future.
One reason to skip: iPhone 17 offers better experience
The biggest reason to skip the iPhone 16 is the iPhone 17 itself. This Flipkart deal relies heavily on exchanging your old iPhone to bring the price down. If you’re already planning to trade in your device, it may be worth stretching your budget a little further and picking up the newer iPhone 17 instead. Apple’s latest standard iPhone brings several meaningful upgrades, including a smoother 120Hz display, more storage, the newer A19 chip, improved cameras and better battery life. If you plan to keep your next phone for four or five years, spending a bit extra now could prove to be the smarter investment.
That said, if your budget is tight, the iPhone 16 also remains an excellent buy. At an effective price of around Rs 45,600 with an eligible exchange, you are getting flagship performance, dependable cameras, a premium design and Apple’s long-term software support.
