September is incomplete without the big Apple announcement. Every year Apple seems to outdo itself. Post iPhone 12 series everyone was thinking of what new? Well, Apple has an answer, and it includes a far more superior camera, bigger and better battery life, and iPhone’s first high refresh-rate display.
SPECS
Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (2352 x 1170)
Refresh rate: 10-120Hz
CPU: A15 Bionic
RAM: 6GB
Rear cameras: 12MP (f/1.5) main, 12MP (f/1.8) ultrawide, 12MP (f/2.8) telephoto with 3x optical zoom
Front camera: 12MP (f/2.2)
Video: Up to 4K 60 fps, 4K 30 fps ProRes (256GB+), 1080p 30 fps ProRes (128GB), 1080p 30 fps (cinematic mode)
Battery life (hrs:min): 11:42
Charging: 20W wired, 15W MagSafe
Size: 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 7.19 ounces
DESIGN
Post a full revamp last year we all were not expecting a change in the look of the new iPhone. iPhone 13 has taken all its cues from its predecessor, with only two key changes: a bigger camera bump and a smaller notch. Apple claims the notch to be 20% smaller than the one used earlier, and you can see the difference. The notch is smaller, which is much better, as we know with Apple the notch is here to stay.
The stainless-steel frame gives it the oomph factor. This might make the device a bit heavier but we all are used to heavy phone cases—so no complaints.
DISPLAY
No real changes in the OLED panel. The 6.1inch screen is an absolute pleasure to view from all angles. iPhone 13 Pro gets Super Retina XDR technology making the display more interactive and intuitive. You are getting a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate on both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max which makes the viewing experience far more superior than any other device in the market.
The 120Hz display will spoil you for sure. The experience is so smooth and easy to the eye that you would not like anything else. The ProMotion display is a real upgrade that can only be felt when used.
CAMERA
The iPhone 13 Pro camera is the real hero of this device in accordance with me. The device comes with three 12MP rear cameras, including a telephoto lens offering a 77mm focal length and 3x optical zoom. The main shooter features a larger sensor and wider aperture this year at f/1.5.
The 12MP 120-degree ultrawide also received a larger sensor, as well as autofocus for sharper super-wide-angle shots. Low light photography is a real high point for this device. It is not just better than the competition but also outdoes its predecessor.
I have never questioned the effort behind iPhone lenses ever. But the iPhone 13pro is far more superior than my expectation. Especially photographs taken indoors, you will not find the colour bleed or find it leak at all. The output is as good as that you can see from your naked eye.
The ultrawide lens gives you well-balanced images with proper exposure and the autofocus on the ultra-wide makes the experience far better than before.
The telephoto images might be warmer than expected or might be a bit darker than desired but are totally worth posting.
The portrait mode has forever been a favourite of mine and many like me and the bokeh has just gotten better with the iPhone 13 Pro.
The night mode is something Apple has been raving about and why would they not. Especially with the telephoto and ultrawide lens, the results are beyond my expectation. That would work well for people clicking larger groups at parties at night.
Macro mode is a boom for those who want to capture the water droplets and polka dots of a ladybird clearly. You will be easily able to focus and capture your desired images.
The front camera which to gets a 12MP lens with support for night mode helps you get selfies—you can post them on your social media handles without any edit.
Video: iPhone for years has been well known for its good video recording. Many professionals like myself have used the device for multiple shoot events and have been very happy with the result. This time around the upgrade is of great benefit to filmmakers. You get a cinematic mode. Which is truly an artistic mode to shoot in. It can help you record in bokeh. Making the entire experience cinematic.
PERFORMANCE AND SOFTWARE
New with the iPhone 13 series is the A15 Bionic system-on-chip. It features a six-core CPU and a 5-core GPU on the Pro models, plus an upgraded Neural Engine. Paired with 6GB of RAM. The GPU in the A15 Bionic is powerful, with Apple claiming it’s 50% faster than the competition. The iPhone 13 Pro is the most powerful phone you can get right now alongside its own bigger self iPhone13 Pro MAX. The upgrade in the software can be seen in many features. Notification updates, FaceTime enhancements, Focus and you would find a lot of changes in the core app. I had used the updated software on my iPhone 12 Pro Max but enjoyed its real experience iPhone 13 Pro because of the ProMotion display and the A15 Bionic chip.
BATTERY
Battery life has been a forever concern of a lot of Apple users. The problem seemed to have started to get better with iPhone 11 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 Pro lasts 45 minutes longer than the iPhone 12 Pro as claimed. I use the iPhone 12 Pro Max as my primary device for a very long time, so I did feel an enhancement in the new 13 Pro’s battery life. The tradition started with the 12 series continues for the 13 series to have no charger in the box. The iPhone 13 Pro maxes out at 20W wired and 15W via MagSafe.
VERDICT
The iPhone13 Pro is for sure the best device you can get. If you have been an Apple user and are looking for an upgrade, this is the one you have been waiting for. For people like myself who prefer the bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is just as good and with a bigger screen. The phone gets a much better battery life, it is a pure delight for video recording and camera enthusiasts. The hardware and software are so well mated that you will not find a reason to be disappointed. What I miss is faster charging but at the same time, I can see the advancement Apple has made over the years. So, if you are thinking to spend that Rs 119,900 on one of the four beautiful colours the device is available in, then go ahead, and get yours by picking on some great discounts and offers that Apple is offering.