The iPhone 13 Pro Full Review – My Verdict
After spending more than a month using the iPhone 13 pro – These are My Thoughts.
Summary
The most significant upgrades on the 13 Pro, like with the normal iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, are to the battery life and camera system. The 13 Pro offers a third significant upgrade with a fast refresh rate screen.
The iPhone 13 Pro is one of the greatest smartphones of 2021, even if it doesn’t do enough to justify upgrading from the 12 Pro. The battery life of Apple’s Pro iPhone is the finest we’ve seen, and you also get top-tier performance, a fantastic camera package, and a super-smooth 120Hz screen. While none of the 2021 changes are very significant on their own, when combined, they provide a superb smartphone experience.
so let’s dive in……
Specifications
- Screen: 6.1in Super Retina XDR with ProMotion (120Hz OLED) (460ppi)
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128, 256, 512GB or 1TB
- Operating system: iOS 15
- Camera: Triple 12MP rear cameras with OIS, 12MP front-facing camera
- Connectivity: 5G, wifi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5, Lightning, ultra wideband and location
- Water resistance: IP68 (6 metres for 30 mins)
- Dimensions: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.7mm
- Weight: 204g
iPhone 13 Pro Review: Design
The iPhone 13 Pro seems to be quite identical to the iPhone 12 Pro, with the exception of two important differences: a larger camera bump and a smaller notch. The first point is self-evident. When sitting on a table or desk, the lenses and the square surrounding them stand out quite a bit – the phone is far from flat when laying on a table or desk.
The tiny notch, on the other hand, is noteworthy. According to Apple, it’s around 20% smaller than the one we’re all used to. In practice, holding up the new phone next to an iPhone 12 Pro, you can obviously notice the difference.
Although the decreased notch is a start in the right direction, I still find it unattractive. Because Apple is still betting big on Face ID, the notch is here to stay for the time being – under-display TrueDepth tech is probably still a ways off.
The iPhone 13 Pro has a substantial frame made of stainless steel. It seems heavier and more substantial than the 7.19 ounces listed as the phone’s weight by Apple. Although my time with the phone has been brief so far, I did experience wrist and pinky tiredness while using it, more so than with the iPhone 12 Pro I use on a regular basis.
iPhone 13 Pro Review: Design Down Falls
On that topic, Touch ID is a significant omission on the iPhone 13 Pro. Rumors circulated that Apple was exploring in-display fingerprint technology, similar to that seen on many of the top Android phones. In a world where the COVID-19 epidemic is still raging and many of us are strongly advised to wear masks, I believe Apple’s failure to provide an unlock option to Face ID remains a concern. The solution offered in iOS 14.5 earlier this year is insufficient.
Finally, despite the fact that I know it’s a hopeless cause and that I sound like a broken record. I believe Apple should move the iPhone from the Lightning port to USB-C. Also, I feel Apple made a mistake by failing to capitalize on evident possibilities to do so with the major iPhone X and iPhone 12 redesigns. I understand why it hasn’t switched, but I disagree with them. The normal connection, especially on a “Pro” phone. Would be extremely easy and beneficial for both charging and attaching additional peripherals without adapters.
This year, I believe Apple played it safe, focusing instead on display and camera improvements.
iPhone 13 Pro Review: Display
The iPhone 13 Pro has the same size OLED panel as its predecessor. And packs a lot of pixels onto a screen that spans 6.1 inches diagonally. This is the newest generation of Apple’s Super Retina XDR technology, and it’s rather lovely. The colors are vibrant, there is lots of contrast, and the viewing angles are excellent.
The iPhone 13 Pro’s display delivered in every way, whether I was playing the anime-inspired, saturated Genshin Impact or witnessing the harsh orange moments in the latter half of Blade Runner 2049. Even brilliant cyberpunk or retrowave graphics in neon pinks, magentas, and purples looked gorgeous.
iPhone 13 Pro Review: Performance And Battery Life
The A15 Bionic system-on-chip is new to the iPhone 13 series. On the Pro variants, it has a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU, as well as an improved Neural Engine. (The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini use quad-core GPUs.) The iPhone 13 Pro, when combined with 6GB of RAM, is a genuine powerhouse. Worlds ahead of the finest Android have to offer. The A15 outperforms the Snapdragon 888, demonstrating Apple’s mastery of silicon.
The graphics prowess of the iPhone 13 Pro should not be underestimated. Apple claims that the GPU in the A15 Bionic is 50 percent quicker than the competitors. (likely referring to the Snapdragon 888 and it’s Adreno 660 GPU). Because iOS doesn’t allow you to check framerates in games, measuring real-world gaming performance is tough. Although more taxing titles like Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9 look amazing on the iPhone 13 Pro.
Benchmark
In the benchmark, we discovered that the iPhone 13 Pro scored 4718 in Geekbench 5 software. Which is somewhat higher than the iPhone 13, which scored 4688. It’s also significantly higher than the iPhone 12 Pro, which had a score of 3669.
These changes won’t be evident in regular use. But if you’re pushing your phone to its limits. You might enjoy the extra oomph the iPhone 13 Pro has to give.
The iPhone 13 Pro comes with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. We wouldn’t advocate buying for the 1TB option unless you absolutely need the extra capacity. For example, if you shoot a lot of videos. And many users may find 128GB a little restricting. But most people will be well served by either of the two middle options.
The iPhone 13 Pro is 5G-ready. And you’ll be able to use the next-generation connection standard. As long as your plan supports it and you’re in a covered location.
iPhone 13 Pro Review: Battery Life
The battery life on the iPhone 13 Pro is greater than those on prior Pro devices from Apple, but it’s not as great as on this year’s top-end iPhone, the 13 Pro Max.
We noticed that the iPhone 13 Pro can endure a full day of typical use. If you push your phone a little harder, it could need to be recharged before the end of the day.
On low-use days, the phone would usually have 10-20% battery life remaining when we placed it on charge at the end of the day — this is far better battery life than we’ve experienced on the iPhone 12 Pro and previous Pro devices before it.
iPhone 13 Pro Review: Camera Test
The iPhone 13 Pro’s camera arrangement consists of three 12MP shooters: a primary wide camera with an f/1.5 aperture, a telephoto camera with an f/1.8 aperture capable of 3x optical zoom, and an ultra-wide camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 120-degree field of view.
A 3D LiDAR scanner, which measures depth, is also available. This increases the accuracy of focusing and the precision of Portrait mode bokeh effects by discriminating between a subject and their backdrop. Aside from pictures, the scanner may also be used with augmented reality apps.
The main camera is excellent, and while it may not appear to be substantially different from the primary camera on the iPhone 12 Pro on paper, it does provide some significant improvements that elevate it to the ranks of the greatest smartphone cameras.
Overall image quality is great, with images taken in bright light displaying plenty of color and detail and a wonderful night mode for shooting in low light.
The telephoto camera on the iPhone 13 Pro has 3x optical zoom, but the 2020 model only has 2x — the difference isn’t great, but we found the quality of zoomed-in photographs to be really high.
This year, Apple also implemented sensor-shift optical image stabilization on the Pro model, making it simpler to rapidly snap a photo without the image being blurry. This was substantially better than the stabilization on the iPhone 12 Pro, although it’s worth noting that optical stabilization is also available on the less expensive iPhone 13.
The new macro mode is a significant improvement, allowing you to snap stunning close-ups of flowers, insects, and other tiny things. It’s a feature we’ve seen on many Android phones, and it’s fantastic to see Apple bring it here.
Software
The iPhone 13 Pro/ Pro Max comes pre-installed with iOS 15. It’s a little improvement over iOS 14 – the 2020 update transformed the appearance and feel of the iPhone platform, whereas iOS 15 merely adds a few changes and new functions.
For example, the new Focus mode allows you to choose which alerts you receive at different times of day – thus, for example, if you want to limit Twitter notifications during work hours, you can do it here.
The software runs well on the iPhone 13 Pro’s, and we didn’t come across any issues that impacted our experience.
We anticipate that the 13 Pro’s will be supported with new software upgrades in the coming years as well; iOS 15 is compatible with iPhones dating back to the iPhone 6S in 2015, so you can expect at least five years of updates.
Should I buy iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max?
Buy it if…
You like the new camera features
The iPhone 13 Pro’s macro mode is a new and interesting photography option, while new features like Cinematic Mode and ProRes will appeal to video shooters looking for more ‘pro’ tools.
You want good battery life
Battery life on the iPhone 13 Pro is better than we’ve seen on previous handsets from the company, with the phone able to make it through a whole day of normal usage.
You need a powerful smartphone
All of Apple’s iPhone 13 models are all-powerful, but the iPhone 13 Pro is one of the most powerful smartphones we’ve ever used. If you want a handset that you can truly push to its limits day-in, day-out, this could be a perfect choice.
Don’t buy it if…
You own an iPhone 12 Pro
There are lots of changes here from the iPhone 12 Pro, but they’re mostly minor ones, and it’s unlikely these will add up to a huge upgrade for you if you already own 2020’s smartphone. You may want to wait until 2022 at the earliest for your next upgrade.
You want a cheaper alternative
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro is fantastic, but so is the iPhone 13. If you want a cheaper alternative to the pricier Pro, the iPhone 13 is your best option, as it offers many of the Pro model’s features. If you’re unsure about the Pro’s, compare it with the iPhone 13 to see if you really need these extra features.
You want a 120Hz display that works with all your favorite apps
The introduction of a 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone has been a long time coming, but so far we’ve found it isn’t supported on a large variety of apps. If you’re desperate for this as a feature, look to the world of Android for your next phone.
