iPhone 13 Pro Review | Is It Worth It?

An honest take on Apple’s newest Pro phone.
iPhone 13 Pro Credit: qragon2021 / Shutterstock
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Price: $999 Buy
Editor's Rating:

It’s been almost a month since I received the iPhone 13 Pro, and I think it’s time to tell you how it feels, whether I regret the switch from my iPhone 12 Pro, and most importantly, whether I think it was worth it.

First, I have to note that I use my iPhone without a case. Instead, I have been using a skin I bought online to avoid dents and scratches. I also decided not to use a screen protector this time, as the bare screen feels much better than it does with a plastic layer over it, plus it only costs $29 to replace with AppleCare+.

Let’s move on to the display. It’s amazing in some ways, but not in others. 

The Screen

At first, I didn’t notice the ProMotion technology, and to be honest, I still don’t notice it. However, when I look at my old iPhone or iPad, it looks to me like those devices run at 24Hz and my current iPhone 13 Pro runs at 60Hz. It’s odd. I don’t know if everyone reacted this way, but I certainly did.

I had a few friends test the display themselves. I gave them my iPhone 12 Pro and asked them if it ran smoothly, and they all said yes. When I gave them the 13 Pro, they said it was just as smooth as the 12 Pro. Then I gave them the 12 Pro again, and they said it didn’t look smooth at all. I don’t know why this happens, but it does. I suspect it has to do with how weird the human brain is.

Anyway, Apple claims that the brightness of the iPhone is better than the iPhone 12 Pro, but I don’t notice that either. Apple also says this display is the most durable they have ever made. Mine hasn’t shattered yet, and I hope it never will, but it does have a pretty big scratch already, and that’s not exactly pleasant to see when looking at the new iPhone you just paid $999 for.

And don’t get me wrong, I think it’s the best display I’ve ever seen, and I also understand that if you want to make it more shatterproof, the materials used have to be softer and thus more susceptible to scratches. Apple made a decision here, and I think it was the right one.

Battery Life

Amazing. That’s all I can say about the iPhone 13 Pro’s battery. It gets me through the day. Always. The only thing I have to complain about is how hot it can get. Sometimes I had to put the phone in my pocket and let it rest because I literally couldn’t even hold it. More on this heat issue later.

Cameras

This is usually what Apple highlights the most when they market the Pro lineup. And, to be honest, I don’t feel like this was an upgrade from my iPhone 12 Pro. 

Yes, images and videos look great, there is no doubt about it – but most of the time, I struggle to find any difference with the photos I took with my older iPhone.

3x optical zoom is something I barely use. I haven’t used the Cinematic mode once since I got the phone, and the preset filters are great, but that’s just software.

Macro is cool to play with, but I don’t use it other than to have some fun.

What I’ll say is that the iPhone 13 Pro really is better in Night mode. Sure, my 12 Pro was good, but the 13 Pro’s sensor is amazing.

A15 Bionic

This chip is an absolute beast. And I thought it was weird because Apple didn’t really market it that way. They kept comparing it to Android phone chips and not to the A14 Bionic like they usually do – so I thought it was pretty much the same. However, I have found that apps launch much faster, games run better, and apps that require GPU power work much better than on the 12 Pro.

Overheating Issues

I am sure I’m not the only one saying this iPhone overheats frequently. I have seen it time and time again on Twitter and other social media. Most people agree it has everything to do with the software, and that a future update will just fix the problem. Let’s hope for the best, but two updates later, the problem still does not seem to have been solved.

Review Summary

I have to say that this isn’t the best upgrade I’ve ever bought. I think the iPhone 12 Pro was a more solid upgrade than this one. But don’t get me wrong, I like it, I don’t regret buying it, and I think it was worth my money.

The cameras are exceptional, the battery life is amazing, the screen is impressive – I just don’t think it’s worth updating your iPhone every year anymore, unless you’re an Apple nerd like me. 

If you want to buy it, do it – it’s a great device and you’ll love it. The only problem is the heat issue, but I believe it will be solved with future software updates, so I wouldn’t worry about it.

Get the iPhone 13 Pro

Let us know in the comments if you own the iPhone 13 Pro and what you think of it.

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