Apple iPhone 13 Pro

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro offers a huge portion of the iPhone 13 Pro Max experience at a slightly lower price. With largely positive reviews from all market corners, it comes with improved cameras, a new cinematic mode, and a high refresh rate. But is it worth the admittedly hefty price tag? Let’s see what reviewers are saying!

Design

Not a lot has changed regarding the design of the iPhone 13 Pro, especially when compared to the iPhone 12 from last year. However, compared with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it is much more manageable for people who like to use their phones one-handed. The camera housing is also a bit larger than that of the iPhone 13 base model and will be noticeable if you try to lay the phone flat on its back without a case.

Display

The iPhone 13 Pro is nearly the same screen as the iPhone 13 base model. The real difference comes from the refresh rate.

For gaming, silky-smooth scrolling, and other high-motion features, the 120Hz is a treat for the eyes. But it also has adaptive refresh which automatically adjusts the refresh rate depending on what apps you’re using. Reviewers said it works very well.

As a 6.1-inch XDR OLED panel, reviewers also loved the visuals on offer with excellent contrast, plenty of detail, and ample room to enjoy everything from games and movies to Facetime and texting.

Performance

The Bionic A15 chipset brings a much-noticed boost in performance for all models and allows for quick multi-tasking without any jitters. The high refresh rate display and new processing power make everything seem smooth and seamless from games to social media apps. Reviewers were very impressed.

Software & Storage

The iPhone 13 Pro runs iOS 15 right out of the box. But it’s not a massive change, aiming more to tweak and slightly improve on what iOS 14 already established. The options for internal storage have thankfully adjusted to 128/256/512GB options.

While there is a 1TB option but reviewers stated that unless you’re an avid movie maker it’s unnecessary for the price.

Cameras

Reviewers are in love with the new cinematic mode and its auto-adjusting focus and smooth transitions. Photos also look great, turning out clear and crisp even in low-light. The macro mode option pleased some reviewers with its ability to capture even the smallest objects in full focus from just inches away.

Battery Life

Battery life in the iPhone 13 Pro is better than the base iPhone 13 model however not as spectacular as the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

That being said it’s still really good, on an average day of use it lasted reviewers through the day. If you’re a little busier with it, you’ll likely need to charge it again mid-way through the day. However, fast charging and wireless charging support mean it can conveniently reach 50% battery in only 30 minutes.

Keep in mind though, it does not come with a charger in the box. In an attempt to curb electronic waste, Apple expects you to use your previous charger.

Audio

With nothing specific being mentioned about the speakers on the phone other than having them, it’s expected that it has the same average audio capacity as many of the smartphones on the market.

However, if you want to improve audio quality, you’ll need to use a pair of wireless headphones or find a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter to connect your favorite cans.

Specs at a Glance

• Aluminum and glass chassis
• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
• Apple Bionic A15 processor
• 6GB of RAM
• IOS 15
• 128/256/512GB or 1TB choice of storage
• 12MP camera

Bottom Line

The iPhone 13 Pro offers a few advantages over the base iPhone 13 model, most notably the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. While it’s not the true pinnacle of Apple’s 2021 line-up, it is certainly a very premium phone. Reviewers caution that if you already own an iPhone 12 Pro, the chances of finding all that much of a difference are slim.

However, if you’re new to iPhones or looking to upgrade from a three- or four-year-old phone, the iPhone 13 Pro tops nearly every mobile benchmark chart available.

Tech Radar says, “The iPhone 13 Pro is one of 2021’s best smartphones, even if it doesn’t quite do enough to warrant upgrading from the 12 Pro. The battery life is the best we’ve seen in Apple’s Pro iPhone, and you’re also getting top-level performance, a great camera package and a super-smooth 120Hz screen. While on their own none of the upgrades for 2021 are huge, they add up to offer a fantastic smartphone experience.”

Tom’s Guide states, “The iPhone 13 Pro is one of the most powerful phones ever. Despite the larger camera hump and lack of Touch ID, the latest iPhone is a beast with a stellar display and excellent cameras.”