iPhone 13 Pro review: a refreshing smartphone (at 120 Hz)

This year again, Apple is delivering a coherent and clear range of smartphones. We have on one side the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, and on the other the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, with each duo a similar technical sheet, with different sizes. Like last year, the Pro models stand out with their photo module which gains a sensor, but unlike last year, it is not necessary to be interested in the larger format to take advantage of the best technologies.

You read it in the title: we will look here at the iPhone 13 Pro to deliver a full opinion on this smartphone after several days of testing.

A “SLIGHTLY” DIFFERENT DESIGN

At first glance, the iPhone 13 Pro looks… like an iPhone 12 Pro. If we play the game of 7 differences, it is difficult to find the real differentiating elements. The notch is a little wide, it seems, but this is not obvious, especially as what it gains in width is lost in height and that this does not allow more information to be displayed in the status bar. It’s a bit disturbing to have a brand-new phone in hand and not feel a real change.
Apart from that, this generation remains on the same template of 146.7 x 71.5 mm, with a slight additional overweight (7.65 mm thick against 7.4 mm for the previous generation), and a very industrial composed of glass plates on the front and back and a shiny stainless-steel frame. Inheriting the straight edges of the iPhone 4, the iPhone 13 Pro offers a particularly solid grip and does not slip, even to the point of standing upright. The angles remain rounded, which has the advantage of not sore the palm when you hold the phone firmly. All the ergonomics are straightforward, the buttons being perfectly positioned.

A VERY BRIGHT SCREEN, FINALLY 120 HZ

The biggest change of the iPhone 13 Pro is certainly at the level of its screen (whose size does not vary). No, it still doesn’t get rid of the notch, or increase its definition – that would be pointless – but it finally goes 120Hz, matching what is done on the best Android smartphones. It’s an adaptive display that can refresh the screen 10 to 120 times per second, to adapt to user needs without draining the battery.
I must admit that when I unboxed the iPhone, I had forgotten this detail and yet it jumped out at me on the very first settings screen asking me to choose my country from a drop-down list. Finally, perfect clarity on iOS! Apple was already good at creating animations giving an impression of fluidity within its system, the addition of ProMotion finally adds the technical layer that it lacked. Some already argue by slowing down a 900x video that it is not a real 120 Hz, but only 110 Hz, or that the adaptive side is not real … It must be recognized: in use the iPhone 13 Pro’s display fluidity is exemplary in the iOS interface. For applications, it’s up to developers to indicate the refresh rate they wait depending on the situation, whether it is a fixed rate or a range. There are some issues with the animations, but this should be fixed in the future.

EXCEPTIONAL BRIGHTNESS

For the rest, we stay on a very beautiful 6.1-inch OLED panel with a definition of 2,532 x 1,170 pixels, or 460 ppi. At first glance, what quickly marks is its luminosity. Apple announces 1000 nits as standard and a peak of 1200 nits in HDR and you only have to put the iPhone 13 Pro in direct sunlight to realize that this is not just a marketing promise. Even in the most difficult of conditions, the screen remains readable in all circumstances.

A NOTCH THAT WE ALMOST FORGET

The notch, although visible, is rather easily forgotten in use and many applications have. Since the iPhone X, adapted their interface so that it is not annoying. This is unfortunately not the case for a number of games and Arena of Valor like Genshin Impact. To name a few, are displayed in full screen, their interface thus falling below the notch. Buy the best parts for your smartphone and accessories like apple watch 3 screen replacement part from maya parts.

SOFTWARE: IOS SERVING THE 120 HZ SCREEN

The iPhone 13 Pro launched with iOS 15, the latest version, and will likely be updated for at least 5-7 years based on the recent habits of the Apple brand. Note that version 15.1 is already in beta with some additional new features to come. We also hope that this will correct the few bugs present in this version which are rather frustrating.
On the new side, this update is relatively contained. The biggest addition is the concentration mode, which gives more control over the settings of the “Do Not Disturb” mode, but the most advanced users will have already created this thanks to the Shortcuts available since iOS 13. The most interesting in my opinion is to be able to customize your home screen, but this requires reorganizing your different basic pages. In my case, I didn’t feel a real impact on my use, but this is definitely my personal use and it might be necessary to try it for more than a week to feel a real effect.

PERFORMANCE: THE A15 CHIP STILL ON TOP

The iPhone 13 Pro is equipped with a new A15 Bionic chip composed of a 6-core CPU (2 Avalanche for performance and 4 Blizzard for energy efficiency), a 5-core GPU (i.e., one more than on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 Pro) and a 16-core neural engine dedicated to treatments linked to artificial intelligence. If it remains engraved in 5 nm, we go from 11.8 billion transistors to 15 billion, which promises a gain in power. The whole is supported by 6 GB of RAM.

On the internal memory side, the iPhone 13 Pro is available in 4 versions. From 128 GB, with for the first time a storage capacity extending to 1 TB.

A VERY GOOD CAMERA OVERALL, BUT IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT

In addition to the screen, it is therefore at the level of the photo that the iPhone 13 Pro. Stands out from the previous generation with, to begin with. A configuration identical to the Pro Max model, unlike last year. Here is the announced configuration:

Wide-angle: 12 MP, f / 1.5 7-element lens, 26mm;
Ultra-Wide Angle (120 °): 12MP, 6-element f / 1.8 lens, 13mm;
Telephoto x3: 12MP, 6-element f / 2.8 lens, 77mm;
LiDAR sensor.

The telephoto lens has thus been improved (x3 instead of x2). The wide-angle benefits from the stabilization by movement of the sensor of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The ultra-wide-angle is now optically stabilized, just like the telephoto lens. And night mode is now available on the 3 sensors. In addition, a “macro” function (based on the ultra-wide-angle) is also part. As well as many improvements in the level of computational imagery allowed by the power of the A15 Bionic.

AUDIO: CLEAR AND SUFFICIENT SOUND

Like the majority of smartphones today, the iPhone 13 Pro has two speakers for a stereo effect. One on its lower edge and the other above its screen (at the level of the notch). As usual, the second speaker is a bit weaker and less clear than the main one. But this difference isn’t much felt in use unless you pay special attention to it.
The general power is correct, but remains lower than what is done with some competitors (such as the OnePlus 9 Pro for example). There is also a slight distortion of the sound at full volume. Which means not to go beyond 80% to avoid unpleasant crackling.

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BIGGER BATTERY, LONGER AUTONOMY

As the first teardowns showed, the iPhone 13 Pro has a 9% larger battery than the previous generation. With a 3095 MAh battery instead of 2815 MAh. We also know that the 120 Hz screen induces greater consumption. But that the A15 chip always wants to be more economical for the same task. So, what about autonomy?

Well, rest assured, the iPhone 13 Pro is still gaining in autonomy while the previous two generations. Finally made lie the detractors of the apple who spoke of the weak autonomy of the previous iterations. On fairly intensive use over a test period (screen tests with maximum brightness, gaming, etc.). I was able to last more than a day and a half (from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the next day). With more 8 hours of use, screen on, before receiving the notification warning me that the battery fell below 20%.

NETWORK AND COMMUNICATIONS

As for the network, the iPhone 13 Pro is compatible with all French 4G 5G frequency bands. All of them, with the exception of the 5G n258 band. The 26 GHz band which will be used for millimeter waves when they become available in a few years. Suffice to say that this is not a problem and that you may change your smartphone. Before feeling the need to take advantage of this network.

For the rest, we find the best (the opposite would have been annoying on this price range). Wi-Fi 6 (MiMo 2 × 2), Bluetooth 5.0, ultra-wideband. NFC and all the geolocation systems by satellite (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou).