On this page
01Why a 16 Pro case can't fit the 17 Pro
An iPhone 16 Pro case will not fit an iPhone 17 Pro. This isn't a near-miss like some generations. The back of the phone was redrawn, and the old case has a square hole where the new phone has a bar running edge to edge.
On the 16 Pro, the three cameras sit in a square block in the top-left corner. On the 17 Pro, they sit in a raised plateau that stretches across the full width of the phone. A 16 Pro case has solid material exactly where that plateau extends, so it physically can't seat.
Even ignoring the camera, the 17 Pro is half a millimeter thicker and a little larger on every side. Hard cases won't close. Soft cases would stretch over the plateau and pull away from the screen edges, which is where you most need them in a drop.
02iPhone 16 Pro vs 17 Pro: dimensions side by side
| Spec | 16 Pro | 17 Pro | 16 Pro Max | 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 149.6 mm | 150.0 mm | 163.0 mm | 163.4 mm |
| Width | 71.5 mm | 71.9 mm | 77.6 mm | 78.0 mm |
| Depth | 8.25 mm | 8.75 mm | 8.25 mm | 8.75 mm |
| Weight | 199 g | 206 g | 227 g | 233 g |
| Display | 6.3-inch | 6.3-inch | 6.9-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Frame | Titanium | Aluminum unibody | Titanium | Aluminum unibody |
| Camera housing | Square block | Full-width plateau | Square block | Full-width plateau |
Notice the screen sizes didn't change. That's why people expect old cases to work. The extra 0.4 mm in height and width plus the 0.5 mm in depth comes from the new body, not a bigger display, and the Pro Max grew by the same amounts.
03Check your case against your phone
The checker covers both Pro sizes from each year, plus the base iPhone 17, which has the same 6.3-inch screen as the 17 Pro and gets mixed up with it.
04What the plateau means for your next case
Because the camera housing now spans the back, a 17 Pro case has more work to do up top. There are two common designs, and they protect differently.
Full-width cutout
- Leaves the whole plateau open
- Thinner and lighter
- Relies on a raised lip to keep lenses off the table
Wrapped plateau
- Case material surrounds the plateau's edges
- Protects the corners of the camera housing
- Slightly bulkier at the top
We'd pick a wrapped design for most people, because the plateau's corners are the first thing to hit the ground when a phone lands back-down. If you want the plateau fully covered, a camera lens protector made for the 17 Pro adds a layer over the glass.
05Cases made for the 17 Pro and Pro Max
Choose iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max in the options on each listing.
Your MagSafe-compatible chargers, wallets and grips from the 16 Pro still work, and so do your USB-C cables. For the full history of which iPhones share cases, see our iPhone case compatibility chart. Already thinking about the next Pro? Read will a 17 Pro case fit the 18 Pro. You can also save your model in Find My Phone so the store only shows what fits.
Questions people ask
Is the iPhone 17 Pro bigger than the iPhone 16 Pro?
Slightly. It's 150.0 x 71.9 x 8.75 mm versus 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm, and 206 g versus 199 g. Both have a 6.3-inch screen. The camera housing is the bigger visual change, running across the full width of the back.
Will an iPhone 16 Pro Max case fit the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
No. The 17 Pro Max is 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm against the 16 Pro Max's 163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm, and it has the full-width camera plateau. The old case's square cutout blocks it.
Do iPhone 16 Pro screen protectors fit the 17 Pro?
Don't assume so. The screen size is the same 6.3 inches, but the body and edges changed. Buy a protector whose listing names the iPhone 17 Pro.
Can I use my 16 Pro MagSafe accessories on the 17 Pro?
Yes. The 17 Pro has built-in magnets, so MagSafe-compatible chargers, wallets and stands attach the same way. A case with magnets keeps the hold strong.
Does a base iPhone 17 case fit the iPhone 17 Pro?
No. They share a 6.3-inch screen, but the base model is thinner, narrower and has two cameras in a vertical pill. The 17 Pro needs a case cut for its plateau.