The iPhone 13 Pro is the second model in terms of prestige and price. The version we tested, with 128 GB, while the 256 GB version is a bit more expensive. When compared to the Maxabout version we wrote about earlier, the 13 Pro differs mainly in size, battery capacity, and weight, but the set of cameras, processor, and display are identical. This is a good thing, as buying a smaller model can often involve some sacrifices. With the 13 Pro, there are no dilemmas and the only criterion is the thickness of our wallet and whether we prefer a larger or smaller phone.
The second important issue is the changes in comparison to the predecessor, the 12 Pro. There are only a few changes, but Apple users have already grown accustomed to them. The manufacturer introduces novelties sparingly, and this year’s visual change is primarily a reduction of the notch. The technical change is ProMotion, which allows for dynamic display refresh up to 120 Hz.
The main advantages and disadvantages iPhone 13 Pro
Benefits iPhone 13 Pro:
- Top-quality workmanship
- Great action
- Coherent ecosystem
- Safe FaceID
- Perfect display
- Refresh 120 Hz
- Waterproof at the level of IP 68
- Long battery life
- Stereo speakers
Defects iPhone 13 Pro:
- High price
- Minor changes compared to the previous version
- Notch
- The smartphone is heavy
- No USB-C
- Poor contents of the box
Design
The iPhone 13 Pro is very similar to previous models in the series, with only slight cosmetic changes such as a slightly larger camera island that protrudes from the device. The phone is available in Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue colors and boasts a top-class finish with glass on both front and rear surfaces and a steel frame. The back surface features a matte finish that is scratch-resistant and fingerprint-resistant, while the glossy frame provides a premium look but is not as practical. The device’s speakers, located at the bottom edge and above the screen, produce a perfect, spacious, and resonant sound signature. The Lightning connector for charging is located on the bottom edge of the phone, and the device also features a power button on the right side and a slider for muting, volume adjustment buttons, and a Nano SIM card slot on the left side. The iPhone 13 Pro meets the IP68 standard for water and dust resistance and has dimensions of 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm, making it comfortable to hold despite its angular sides. However, it is relatively heavy, weighing 204 g.
Display
The display on this device measures 6.1 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels, with a pixel density of 460 ppi and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The display is made using Super Retina XDR OLED technology and supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision. The standard brightness is 1000 nits, with a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits. The colors are vibrant and the viewing angles are perfect, making for an excellent viewing experience. The new feature of this device is the 120Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth and fluid operation. The reduction of the notch size is a nice change, although it is an evolutionary change of only 20%. The True Tone function dynamically adjusts the color temperature of the displayed white to match external lighting. However, the device still lacks the popular Android Always on Display feature, which is unfortunate. With better battery life and energy management, Apple could potentially implement this feature in future models.
Specification
The iPhone 13 Pro boasts a 5nm Apple A14 Bionic processor with GPU Apple, featuring 2×3.1 GHz Firestorm and 4×1.8 GHz Icestorm. It comes in memory versions of 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1T, with 6 GB RAM. AnTuTu Benchmark scored the phone 788,430 points, and it runs smoothly without any cuts or slowdowns during everyday use. Its fluency is comparable to that of Google Pixels in the Android world.
Connectivity options include 5G, LTE, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. The phone also features a range of sensors including an accelerometer, proximity, light, magnetometer, gyroscope, barometer, and gravity. Location is determined using A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS, with GPS functioning perfectly. NFC allows for convenient payments, and the phone call quality is excellent.
Operating system
The iPhone 13 Pro operates on the latest iOS 15 version, which is known for its seamless integration of all Apple services. Users can access iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Handoff, Apple TV+, Apple Music, iCloud Drive, and Maps. However, this does not prevent them from using Google or third-party services. An exciting new feature is the ability to chat with Android and Windows users via FaceTime after sending an invitation. Users can also customize their email domain and hide their email address, which helps prevent spam and encrypts traffic from the browser. Unfortunately, splitting the screen or using floating windows is not currently possible. Face ID is the most secure unlocking method, but can be inconvenient when wearing a mask. If Apple Watch is being used, the code can be bypassed.
Camera
The camera set looks like this:
- main lens 12 MP, f / 1.5, 26mm, 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS;
- tele lens 12 MP, f / 2.8, 77mm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom;
- wide angle 12 MP, f / 1.8, 13mm, 120˚, PDAF;
- TOF 3D LiDAR sensor responsible for depth;
- selfie 12 MP, f / 2.2, 23mm, 1 / 3.6.
We haven’t made any changes to the Max model’s lenses, which should make you happy since we no longer have to compromise on quality or photo opportunities like we did when deciding on a smaller version. We have some exciting news to share! Firstly, we offer different photography styles such as standard, high-contrast, lively, warm, and cool. Secondly, we have a movie mode that allows for background blurring and the subsequent ability to change the focus point. Thirdly, we have a larger telephoto lens that provides 3x optical zoom, which is of excellent quality compared to the previous 2x zoom. Lastly, we now have a macro mode that uses a wide angle and allows you to get as close as 2 cm to the object being photographed.
The wide angle lens performs exceptionally well, capturing a satisfying amount of detail and maintaining the same color scheme as the primary lens. Photos taken with the primary lens look natural, with excellent tonal range and detail. The front-facing camera also performs admirably.
There seems to be a shift in the philosophy of Android photography, with a focus on providing users with more options. While traditionalists who prefer iPhones may lament Apple’s lack of customization, I personally appreciate such solutions.
Video recording is available in the highest resolution at 4K 60 FPS for both front and back cameras. The resulting videos are flawless, with no issues regarding sharpness, sound quality, or stabilization, and they are highly enjoyable to watch.
Sample pictures:
Battery
The capacity of the cell is 3095 mAh, and it can be charged with a maximum power of 20W within an hour, provided we purchase a suitable charger as it may not be included in the packaging. The phone can alternatively be charged using Apple MagSafe with a power output of 15W and 7.5W if we use Qi-compatible chargers. Despite having a smaller capacity than Android devices, the phone has a great uptime. With typical usage such as phone calls, browsing the internet, listening to Spotify, instant messaging, and watching YouTube at night, the phone lasted me for two to three days. However, if I took many photos, the uptime would reduce to a day and a half.
Our final assessment
The iPhone 13 Pro is undoubtedly a premium device, superior to the iPhone 12 Pro. Although the new products are small, they are so attractive that it wouldn’t be surprising for someone to want to upgrade from an older model. However, as an Android user, I don’t see any reason to switch from a top-of-the-line flagship device to the iPhone. The differences between them aren’t significant and aren’t always in favor of the iPhone. There are phones out there with better quality photos or even videos, but ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.
The real value of switching to an iPhone is when you decide to become part of Apple’s entire ecosystem. With a MacBook, Apple Watch, and iPad, everything comes together into one perfectly functioning organism. If you’re already in this ecosystem, then you’re sure to be pleased with the new iPhone 13, 13 Pro, or Pro Max.
We love smooth operation
We do not like the notch and the lack of a charger
Who is it for iPhone 13 Pro:
- for brand lovers
- for lovers of mobile photography and filming
- For people in the ecosystem, Apple
- for the wasteful
For whom it is not iPhone 13 Pro:
- For those looking for the best price/quality ratio
- For die-hard Android fans
