Released in September 2021, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are part of Apple’s latest line-up. How do they stack up against each other? Read our review to find out more.
Overall Winner in snapshot: iPhone 13 Pro
While the regular iPhone 13 is a great and powerful phone, the iPhone 13 Pro includes some additional advanced features that give it a distinct edge. With a longer-lasting battery life, advanced camera features and brighter, slicker display, it’s just that bit more impressive.
It’s a happy medium between the regular 13 and the 13 Pro Max – the sheer size and weight of the 13 Pro Max can be off-putting to some, so the iPhone 13 Pro packs all the Pro features in a pocketable frame.
And it has a price tag that sits in the middle too. So, if you’re willing to stretch your budget to get your hands on all the exclusive Pro features, but not all the way to the eye-watering prices of the Pro Max, the iPhone 13 Pro is your best bet.
On the other hand, if you don’t think you’ll need the extra functionality of the Pro model, you may want to save some money and go with the regular iPhone 13.
Compare iPhone 13 deals
-
iPhone 13 (128GB Black)
- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £48.00 device cost
- download speed limit
- £42.00 per month
24 month contract From Sky Mobile -
iPhone 13 (128GB Blue)
- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £99.00 device cost
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £14.99 per month
24 month contract From Carphone Warehouse -
iPhone 13 (128GB Black)
- 300GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £99.00 device cost
- download speed limit
- £17.00 per month
24 month contract From MobilePhonesDirect.co.uk -
iPhone 13 (128GB Black)
- 90GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- £39.00 device cost
- download speed limit
- Claim free Apple TV+ for three months
- £23.00 per month
24 month contract From Affordable Mobiles
Compare iPhone 13 Pro deals
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: What are the key differences?
- RAM – the iPhone 13 comes with 4GB of RAM, while the 13 Pro has 6GB
- Storage – the iPhone 13 Pro comes with a massive 1TB storage option
- Camera – the iPhone 13 has a dual lens rear camera, while the 13 Pro has a triple lens camera as well as several extra shooting features
- Build quality – the iPhone 13 has a lightweight aluminium finish, while the 13 Pro uses a heavier but sturdier stainless steel
- Screen – the iPhone 13 Pro has a brighter display with ProMotion technology
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro design
On first glance, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro look remarkably similar.
Closely following the iPhone 12’s design – which, in turn, took cues from the classic iPhone 4 – both phones feature a flat metal edge and glossy glass back. Not to mention, an edge-to-edge screen with a notch that’s 20% smaller than on the iPhone 12.
When it comes to build quality, they differ a little. The iPhone 13 Pro has a sturdy stainless-steel rim, whereas the iPhone 13 uses lightweight aluminium. As a result, the 13 Pro feels heavier in the hand, weighing 204g compared to the iPhone 13’s 174g. Nevertheless, the trade-off in weight for a stronger build may be worth it to you.
The iPhone 13 comes in five colourways: Pink, Blue, Midnight Black, Starlight White and Product Red. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 Pro comes in four: Graphite, Gold, Silver and Sierra Blue.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro camera
Both phones have an improved 12MP wide and ultra-wide lens rear camera system. They come with some exciting new features, such as Cinematic Mode, Photographic Styles and an improved Night mode.
But while the iPhone 13 sports a diagonal dual lens camera, the iPhone 13 Pro adds an extra telephoto lens to its arsenal, not to mention a LiDAR Scanner.
If you have a keen interest in photography or videography, it’s worth noting that the 13 Pro comes with a few exclusive bits of camera tech.
As well as better low-light and portrait capabilities, it has Apple ProRAW, which lets you shoot RAW files that allow for much greater detail and editing potential. Similarly, it supports Apple’s ProRes video recording, which gives you advanced video capabilities with high quality and low compression.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro screen display
On paper, both phones have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with a 2532 x 1170-pixel resolution.
However, to the eye, the iPhone 13 Pro outshines the iPhone 13. With a maximum brightness of 1000 nits, compared to 800 nits on the regular model, it’s a brighter and more dazzling display.
Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro comes with exclusive ProMotion technology, which brings adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. This means you’ll have an even smoother experience when you’re scrolling on websites and viewing animations.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro battery life and performance
The regular iPhone 13 has a bigger battery capacity than the iPhone 13 Pro, packing a 3227mAh cell compared to the Pro’s 3095mAh. However, due to some clever performance optimisation, the 13 Pro actually has a longer battery life.
Nevertheless, both batteries are a step up from their iPhone 12 counterparts. According to Apple, the iPhone 13 lasts 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 on a single charge, while the 13 Pro lasts 1.5 hours more than the 12 Pro.
At any rate, both phones have great battery life. You should be able to get through a full day of usage very comfortably.
Additionally, they both come powered with an A15 Bionic chip, Apple’s most high-tech processor to date.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro software
Both phones come installed with iOS 15 out of the box. At the time of writing (February 2022), they both support Apple’s latest iteration, iOS Version 15.3.1.
And with Apple providing software updates long after release date, you can rest assured that both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro will be supported for years to come.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro verdict
Overall, both devices are solid and reliable flagships that will surely satisfy most users. While they don’t deviate too much from their iPhone 12 predecessors, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro present several worthy improvements, particularly when it comes to camera features and battery life.