The iPhone 13 Pro features a Pro Motion display, new camera system, bigger battery, and starts at $999

Apple is calling this year’s iPhone 13 Pro its most ‘Pro’ iPhone ever. The handset features a new camera system, enhanced display and bigger battery. It will also be available in some beautiful new colors, including Sierra Blue.

Design

As you can see, the new iPhone 13 Pro looks a lot like its predecessor. The notch has gotten smaller, and as Sebastien notes, the camera bump seems bumpier, but for the most part the design seems unchanged. There is, however, a gorgeous new Sierra Blue colorway.

Display

One of the more notable upgrades in this year’s iPhone Pro model is the new Pro Motion display. It’s an OLED panel, of the Super Retina XDR variety, and it offers variable refresh from 10Hz to 120Hz. This will bring about improvements such as smoother scrolling and iOS animations/transitions, and developers will be able to take advantage of it in their apps and games as well. The display is also brighter in sunlight, for those who use hardcore outdoor users.

Performance

The iPhone 13 Pro also features a new A15 Bionic processor, which of course is more powerful and efficient. It utilizes 5-nanometer technology and features a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and a new 16-core Neural Engine. All of this is to say that the new iPhone Pro is more powerful than ever before, and more than capable of driving that gorgeous new display. We haven’t been able to locate RAM numbers yet, but will be sure to update this when we do.

Camera

The all-new camera system features 3 cameras: Telephoto, Wide and Ultra Wide. There are a bunch of numbers to share, which we will do in a moment, but just know that iPhone 13 will offer 92% improvement for low-light shots and new macro photography mode, which will allow you to shoot gorgeous, detailed, up-close photos. Ok, here are the numbers:

  • Pro 12MP camera system: Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide cameras
  • Telephoto: ƒ/2.8 aperture
  • Wide: ƒ/1.5 aperture
  • Ultra Wide: ƒ/1.8 aperture and 120° field of view
  • 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 6x optical zoom range
  • Digital zoom up to 15x
  • Panorama (up to 63MP)
  • 100% Focus Pixels (Wide)
  • HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
  • 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
  • 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
  • 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
  • ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps (1080p at 30 fps for 128GB storage)

Oh yeah, before we move on we should mention the new Cinematic Mode for video recording. It’s essentially in-video field-of-depth transitions that happen automatically as you record—a high quality effect that is certain to give your films a more premium and professional look.

Battery, Storage and more

The iPhone 13 Pro has a bigger battery, and Apple puts it to good use. The 13 Pro will last up to one and a half hours longer in a day than the iPhone 12 Pro, and the 13 Pro Max will last up to two and a half hours longer than its predecessor. As for storage, both iPhone 13 Pro models will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options.

Ok other miscellaneous stuff. The new iPhone Pros feature more 5G bands, which means you’ll have access to 5G in more places. The device is still water and splash resistant (IP68), so no real change there. Oh and it still uses Face ID only, so for those of you (See) who have read this far hoping to find out about a new in-display Touch ID system, sorry.

Pricing and availability

As usual, Apple has managed to cram a number of improvements into the new iPhones while retaining their previous prices. The iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1099. Apple says customers in the US and more than 30 other countries will be able to pre-order both iPhone 13 Pro models beginning at 5am PDT on Friday, September 17. Retail availability begins on Friday, September 24.