iPhone 13 Pro Review: Display
With the same size OLED panel as its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro packs a lot of pixels in a screen that measures 6.1 inches diagonally. Apple calls this the latest version of its Super Retina XDR technology, and it sure is pretty. Colors pop, theres plenty of contrast, and the viewing angles are stellar.
Whether I was playing the anime-inspired, saturated Genshin Impact or watching the harsh orange scenes in the latter part of Blade Runner 2049, the iPhone 13 Pros display delivered in every regard. Even vibrant cyberpunk or retrowave images with their bright neon pinks, magentas and purples looked stunning.
Heres how the iPhone 13 Pros screen stacks up against the Galaxy S21 Plus and iPhone 12 Pro in display benchmarks.
| iPhone 13 Pro | |
| 747 | 742 |
The iPhone 13 managed similar color saturation to its predecessor, and its Delta-E color accuracy score was about the same as the iPhone 12 Pros. But pay attention to the max brightness we measured in our lab: 1,024 nits is insanely bright.
Of course, the star this year is the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate on both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The ProMotion experience is really nice. The iPhone 13 Pros display can automatically jump between 10Hz and 120Hz, offering a smooth experience that adapts to not only the content on screen, but also how fast your finger swipes across the glass.
iPhone 13 Pro Features:
iPhone 13 Pro is basically a good blend of advanced hardware and super intelligence software. Apple has provided the best upgrade ever in iPhone 13 Pro. It has housed an advanced camera system dimension. Macro photography has come into the system with its powerful auto-focus and redesigned lens. It has a triple 12mp quad-core camera that features dual-LED dual-tone flash and HDR. Additionally, it has a dual 12-megapixel front camera.
iPhone 13 Pro is the best you can get to get the light at night. Photography at night is not an issue with iPhone 13 Pros largest sensor and wider aperture to get the light right.
iPhone 13 comes with internal memory storage of 128 GB that is expandable to 256 GB, 512GB, 6GB Ram, and 1TB GB. Storing your shot photographs and cinematic clips is now easier with the cellphone.
When it is the iPhone 13 Pro, you can get the longest battery life. Its Hexa core CPU and Apple GPU provide the best battery life ever. Besides these, its wireless charging and fast charging feature make it worth the purchase. It is equipped with a non-removable 3095 mAh battery with fast charging facility. It can get charged up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 13 Pro: Video
All four iPhone 13 handsets can capture video at up to 4K and 60 frames per second. And all phones put in solid point-and-shoot video performance, as has bene the case with the past few generations of iPhone.
There’s also a new Cinematic mode for capturing videos with smart near-instant autofocus between differnet subjects, as well as more dramatic depth-of-field effects think portrait mode video but more powerful. But do note that this mode only works on 1080p videos. And in our real-world tests, we found the Cinematic mode isn’t perfect with it taking a little longer than expected to recognize faster moving subjects.
Aside from the extra telephoto camera, the iPhone 13 Pro has the advantage in video by being able to capture using ProRez, Apple’s new high-quality, lossy video compression format aimed at people who want more control over editing their videos yet don’t want to swamp phone storage with uncompressed videos. However, if you only have the 128GB iPhone 13 Pro, then ProRez is limited to shooting 1080p videos at 30 fps, rather than 4K at the same frame rate.
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iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 13 Pro: Which Is For You
We compare iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro to help you find the best one for you.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro join the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone Pro Max to make up the latest family of iPhones. Compared to the previous iteration of iPhone, the iPhone 13 and the Pro feature a smaller notch, the newest A15 Bionic chip, a longer battery life, improved cameras, and new colour options.
While the iPhone 13 starts from $799 / £779, the iPhone 13 Pro starts from the slightly higher price of $999 / £949. If you’re wondering whether to purchase the iPhone 13 or whether to spend the extra and have access to a larger number of new features with the iPhone 13 Pro, then this guide is for you.
If you want to look at each of these phones in more detail, see our iPhone 13 review and our iPhone 13 Pro review.
iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 13 Pro: Camera
The main difference between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro is their rear camera setups. The iPhone 13 has a dual 12MP camera system with Ultra Wide and Wide lenses, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro has a triple camera setup that adds a Telephoto lens into the mix. The iPhone 13 Pro is also able to optically zoom in ten times further than the standard iPhone 13.
The iPhone 13 Pro is also able to take photos in Apple ProRaw, allowing you to take higher quality photos and record video in 4K at 30 fps.
In addition to this, the iPhone 13 Pro has a LiDAR Scanner in the rear camera array to accurately map the environment and depth, allowing you to take Night mode portrait photos and use the camera for augmented reality.
If the camera is important to you, then you’re probably better off opting for the iPhone 13 Pro or the iPhone 13 Pro Max models, rather than just the iPhone 13.
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So Which iPhone 14 Should You Buy
Compared to other previous models, wed say its a very good time to buy a Pro-tier iPhone, and a good year to skip the standard iPhone. With a modified version of last years chips and only a couple of notable hardware features, the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus dont necessarily warrant an upgrade unless you really need a new phone. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max offer some really exciting changes, big and small, such as an always-on display, Dynamic Island, and an upgraded set of cameras
Theres definitely an argument to go for the iPhone 14 over an older model. Features like Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection offer great infrastructure changes that are great to have, even if you never want to use them. That said, we wouldnt blame anyone for buying a used iPhone 13 or 13 Pro to save a little money. Ultimately, its about finding the right balance of hardware, software features, and price that works best for your needs.
iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 13 Pro: Battery Life
When playing back video, the iPhone 13 Pro allows three extra hours of battery life compared to the iPhone 13, which offers 19 hours total . The Pro model can also offer five hours longer battery life when streaming video too.
Overall in regards to battery life, the iPhone 13 Pro has a strong advantage over the iPhone 13. For those who tend to stream video a lot or want to use their iPhone to record and edit video, the higher-end Pro model would be the better option of the two models.
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iPhone 12 Pro Vs iPhone 13 Pro: Video
iPhone 12 Pro video sample
iPhone 13 Pro video sample
Video functionality is broadly similar across both devices: both have the ability to record 4K at up to 60fps, and both have Dolby Vision HDR. However, there is one key difference seen in the addition of Cinematic Mode. You can use this to create shallow depth of field effects for moving subjects, something which was previously only available for stills shooting with the iPhone 12 Pro.
It works pretty well for the iPhone 13 Pro, particularly if the subject such as a person or a pet has a reasonably well-defined outline. That said, you cant record this in 4K, so its perhaps more something you might consider a fun effect rather than anything more seriously. It also seems reasonably likely that this could come to the iPhone 12 Pro via a firmware upgrade at some point.
The iPhone 13 Pro also offers ProRes 4K recording, as long as your device has at least 256GB of storage. That makes sense, because ProRes video will take up a lot of space on your phone. So if youre seriously into your vlogging, make sure you plump for a higher capacity device. ProRes at 1080p, meanwhile, is available for 128GB models.
While the iPhone 12 Pro marked somewhat of a design departure from its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro is almost identical to its forebear. Both the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro have 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR screens, with both offering HDR displays at the same resolution.
iPhone 14 Vs iPhone 1: Whats The Same
While thats a fair amount of difference between the two iPhones, there is much more thats the same. In fact these two iPhones are so similar that it is a bit of a challenge to tell them apart.
Both iPhones have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio , 800 nits max brightness , and 1200 nits peak brightness . The iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 also have an identical notch. This is a smaller notch than that of the iPhone 12, but its still a notch. If you want less notch you need to look to the iPhone 14 Pro with its new Dynamic Island area.
As weve already explained, there are new camera features on the iPhone 14, but there are also a lot of camera features that both iPhones share, so choosing the iPhone 13 wont mean sacrificing photography features such as the Portrait Mode and Portrait Lighting effects, Photographic Styles, Cinematic Mode, and HDR video recording with Dolby Vision in 4K at 60 fps.
If you are clumsy neither of these phones are more durable than the other. Both have water resistant to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. They both feature a Ceramic Shield front, which should mean that the glass on the front is less likely to smash if you drop it. However, both feature a glass back and if you drop your iPhone with no case on then you are pretty much guaranteed to break the glass on the back. So our recommendation is that you pop your new iPhone in a case .
Foundry
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How Good Is The iPhone 14 Pros Camera
Stan Horaczek
If photography is your No. 1 concern when picking up a new phone, you should consider the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. This years flagship iPhones feature more significant changes than usual, resulting in higher-quality images and videos. One of the most notable changes is a 48MP main camera, the highest ever in an iPhone. This new sensor takes advantage of a process called pixel binning, which allows the software to create more detailed 12MP images by combining groups of four pixels into a single virtual pixel. You can also take full 48MP images if you shoot in RAW, giving you more flexibility to manipulate the images in your editing software of choice.
You can read more about the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max camera changes in our review. In short, the hardware and software changes are worthwhile and superior to the dual-camera system in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Display: Only iPhone 13 Pro And Pro Max Have 120hz Refresh Rate
The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models both feature a 120Hz display. The number of hertz a phone screen is rated for refers to the number of frames per second it can display, which determines how fast and smooth the screen feels when you’re scrolling through apps and web pages. The standard and Mini models, however, don’t feature the 120Hz display.
Apple seems late to the game, since other high-end smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S22 and OnePlus 9 Pro, already have a 120Hz refresh rate.
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Why iPhone Stops Growing Longer/larger
From iPhone 12 on, the size of the main generation of iPhone starts to shrink, iPhone 12 is smaller than iPhone 11, for instance. Maybe Apple hears about what its users think about the growing taller iPhone and decide to stop its child from growing taller anymore.
Or, if iPhone keeps growing taller, the aspect ratio will lose its balance and become strange/uncomfortable for users. Also, it is inconvenient to carry a smartphone everywhere. If the iPhone keeps growing larger, it may become an iPad and there is no size advantage for iPhone over iPad for carriage.
Is The iPhone 14 Worth It Compared To The iPhone 13
We spent about a week using the iPhone 14 to test how it compares to the previous model and other handsets in its price range, finding almost every aspect of the phone is fantastic, although very little has been updated since last years iPhone 13 and its a shame that the new base model doesnt get the new A16 chip, higher refresh rate or the Dynamic Island tech of the iPhone 14 Pro models.
The cameras, screen and iOS 16 software on the new are all a joy to use, and the build quality feels very high-end, but the same goes for its recent predecessors. The iPhone 13 is still widely available from £749, and the iPhone 12 is still available from £649. Older models are available refurbished on BackMarket too, and we highly recommend giving tech a second life. If budget is your top priority, you can also pick up the new iPhone SE for £449.
But thats not to say the iPhone 14 doesnt have its charms. Anyone who wants the latest-and-greatest tech will find a lot to love, as will anyone who is moving over from an Android smartphone but doesnt want to pay the £1,000+ for a Pro model. Its also possible the iPhone 14 could see some very tempting contract deals. For us, the iPhone 14 is a top flagship, even if its not a completely must-have one.
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iPhone 14 Vs iPhone 1: Storage
Theres one other comparison between the two iPhones that might not be immediately obvious, but should certainly be considered. While both phones start at 128GB for storage, price is still an issue. On one side, we have the iPhone 14 for $799/£849 with 128GB storage, on the other we could consider an iPhone 13 with 256GB storage, for $799/£859. There are many for whom extra storage will trump the additional features offered by the iPhone 14.
Just how much storage do you really need though? As we discuss in a separate article, you may not need as much storage as you think you do thanks to services such as iCloud and Apple Music. However, in our experience, if the storage on your new iPhone is smaller than that of your old iPhone there are challenges to be faced when transferring the data between the iPhones.
If you are happy to sacrifice storage for the the features of the iPhone 14 read our story on how to free up space on an iPhone for tips to reduce the amount of space you are using before you make the move.
iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 13 Pro: Battery
All four iPhone 13 handsets have been given a battery boost, though Apple never reveals the actual capacity of its phones battery packs.
And in our testing, which involves continuous web surfing over 5G with the display set at 150 nits of screen brightness, that has borne fruit. The iPhone 13 mini lasted 8 hours and 41 minutes, the iPhone 13 managed 10 hours and 33 minutes, the iPhone 13 Pro reached 11 hours and 42 minutes, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max topped the charts with a battery life of 12 hours and 16 minutes.
So if you want the best battery life, then the iPhone 13 Pro models are the phones to go for, but the iPhone 13 still beats the iPhone 12 for electrical endurance.
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iPhone 13 And iPhone 13 Mini: Check Out The Redesigned Camera Module And Smaller Notch
The prices for the iPhone 13 increase as you increase the amount of storage, especially since the iPhone features a 1TB storage option for the first time. The extra storage is only available on the Pro models and ups the price of an iPhone13 Pro Max to $1,599.
Here are US prices for each of the iPhone 13 models:
iPhone 14 Pro And iPhone 14 Pro Max
Apple
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are the most powerful iPhones to date. Starting at $999, the iPhone 14 Pro features an upgraded triple-camera system and an always-on display, which can show you information at-a-glance without waking your device. It features Apples new A16 Bionic chipset, with a 6-core CPU that features two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, a triple-camera system with a 48MP main sensor, and a 120Hz refresh rate whether gaming or scrolling apps, emails, and feeds.
Unlike other iPhones with Face IDincluding the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plusthe iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max feature a pill-shaped cutout, rather than a notch. Following in the footsteps of hole-punch selfie-cameras in recent Android phones, the notch replacement gives the Pro and Pro Max a sharp, distinctive look.
The cutout also serves as the centerpiece for the phones new notification and quick-access feature, the Dynamic Island, which creates a reactive window around the cutout to show alerts, notifications, and ongoing background activities like Maps, Music, and more. It will also support Live Activities, a type of interactive push notification when it launches later this year.
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