The new range of high-end smartphones from Apple is about to land and is available this year in 4 models: iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. But we are clearly in a year of transition, with relatively few new features, but still very interesting. It remains to be seen whether the gap with the 2020 iPhone 12 is significant. Let’s try to start a response with what we know about the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 12: a very similar design

Last year, Apple inaugurated a new era of design with the iPhone 12, the smartphone leaving the rounded shapes introduced by the iPhone X, for a return to a more “square” format, however with nice rounded corners. Quite logically, the company is capitalizing on this look for the iPhone 13, which looks almost exactly like its predecessor.. Some differences are however present. First, and it casually matters to many people, the iPhone 13 is offered in a new color, pink. There are also black, white, red and blue.

Left: iPhone 12, right, iPhone 13

At the back, we also notice that the photo sensors are now placed diagonally and no longer vertically as on the iPhone 12. At the front, we especially appreciate the size of the notch in the upper part, which has been greatly reduced. This is due, according to Apple, to better optimization of the True Depths camera, which is responsible for making Face id work. Finally, it should be noted that the iPhone 13 is very slightly thicker than the iPhone 12 (7.7 mm against 7.4 mm).

On the screen side, if the diagonal remains the same as the OLED panel, Apple specifies that the maximum brightness has been increased compared to the iPhone 12, of the order of 28%. In use, however, this should be barely visible, as it is rare to turn up the brightness to the maximum. HDR-type content should however benefit from this. Also note that we keep a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

A new chip for the iPhone 13

Few aesthetic differences, therefore, but on the other hand some new features inside. Like every year, Apple offers a new chip and now passes to the A15 Bionic, which takes over from the A14 Bionic. Apple however remained rather vague on the specifics of this new chip. It is again engraved in 5 nm and offers 6 cores for the CPU and 4 cores for the GPU. It is currently difficult to compare it to the A14 Bionic chip, which has the same number of cores. Apple claims, however, to have improved the energy efficiency of its chip, which allows it to offer better autonomy. Added to this is the “Neural Engine” chip dedicated to artificial intelligence, which has also been improved, without further details.

Increased autonomy

Apple also worked on the integration of components inside the iPhone 13 and managed to integrate a slightly larger battery. The company does not give a specific size, but several leaks suggest a capacity of 3095 mAh against 2815 mAh for the iPhone 12. The autonomy would thus be 2h30 higher on the iPhone 13 and 1h30 better on the iPhone 13 mini (which has a smaller battery).

Better photos in “night” mode

Side photo, the two models seem at first glance very similar, with two sensors of 12 megapixels each at the back. But there are still several improvements. The wide-angle sensor now benefits from mechanical stabilization, which should improve overall rendering, especially in night scenes. The “night” mode of the iPhone 12 was also already very good and it should become even more attractive on the iPhone 13. We also note the arrival of “Cinematic Mode” on the iPhone 13, a function that allows you to focus very quickly between two elements of a scene. A character in the foreground can turn around, look at the background scenery and this background will then become clear. An impressive function made possible in part by the Neural Engine chip.

Price unchanged, but more generous storage

Another thing that does not change, but we will not complain: the prices. The iPhone 13 mini always starts from € 809, while the iPhone 13 is accessible from € 909. On the other hand, Apple is a little more generous on the storage part, since the basic option is now at 128 GB, against 64 GB on the iPhone 12. It is also possible to go up to 512 GB.

iPhone 13 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro: A Refresh Rate Matter

For the most comfortable wallets, it is undoubtedly towards the iPhone 13 Pro that it will be necessary to turn. But, then again, the differences with the iPhone 12 Pro are relatively few. As a reminder, the iPhone 13 Pro is available in two versions: a “classic” with a 6.1-inch screen and another “Max” at 6.7 inches. The design and finish are substantially identical to those of the iPhone 12 Pro, with a “mat” back and metal-effect contours. At the front, the screen remains the same in size and there is also an OLED panel. On the other hand, there is a big difference compared to the iPhone 12 Pro: the ProMotion technology, that is to say a refresh rate which can go up to 120 Hz. As on the iPad Pro, the iPhone 13 Pro benefits from a display apparently more fluid, with however an adaptive mode which will decrease this refresh rate according to the content viewed, in order to save battery. The arrival of Pro Motion is a first on iPhone and it was time for Apple to get started.

Left: iPhone 12 Pro. Right: iPhone 13 Pro

On the battery side, again, there is a gain compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. The “Max” model also promises “the best battery life ever seen on an iPhone”.

In terms of power, the A15 BIonic chip reinforces the iPhone 13 Pro, which now has a little more RAM (8 GB against 6 GB on the iPhone 12). We also note the possibility, unprecedented, of up to 1 TB of storage.

Photo sensors more efficient than ever

Often a strong point of the “Pro” range, the photo part should not be outdone on the iPhone 13 Pro and should improve several points compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. Three 12-megapixel sensors are available, as before, but these have been improved overall: larger aperture, better stabilization, better light capture, telephoto lens with x3 zoom, etc. So many functions that should offer very good low-light photos, better quality portraits and much more precise images.

As for the iPhone 13, the prices for the iPhone 13 Pro have not changed compared to last year: from € 1159 for the 13 Pro and € 1259 for the 13 Pro Max.

A smooth evolution, with some nice new features

You would have understood it : iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro seem to capitalize on the qualities of last year’s models, and add just what is needed to generate a minimum of interest. Better autonomy, increased performance, even more successful photos, 120 Hz on the “Pro” model … Arguments which, put end to end, make this new generation rather attractive.