Our iPhone 13 evaluation and iPhone 13 Professional evaluation spotlight that these stay two noteworthy entries in Apple’s signature smartphone line, however what is the distinction, and which must you purchase within the wake of the iPhone 14 sequence’ arrival?

The 13 and 13 Professional have each held a spot in our greatest smartphones rundown in current months they usually actually stay among the many greatest iPhones you should purchase proper now, however how do the 2 evaluate in opposition to each other, and which is the higher purchase? Is there nonetheless a spot for each within the present cellular market and within the shadow of their respective successors?

We scored the iPhone 13 a little bit greater than the iPhone 13 Professional once we first reviewed the pair, however that doesn’t imply the usual mannequin is the higher gadget general, as such there’s quite a bit to cowl in our iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional matchup. This one’s going to take some unpacking.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: value and availability

Each the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Professional hit outlets on September 24, 2021.

Pricing for the iPhone 13 began at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 for the entry 128GB mannequin, shifting as much as $899 / £879 / AU$1,519 for 256GB and $1099 / £1079 / AU$1,869 for 512GB.

Following the iPhone 14 sequence launch, pricing for the earlier line shifted down, with the iPhone 13 beginning at $699 / £749 / AU$1,229 (for the 128GB mannequin). The iPhone 13 Professional was faraway from buy direct from Apple, pushing patrons to choose one up from third-party retailers.

The 13 Professional’s 128GB mannequin initially set you again $999 / £949 / AU$1,699, whereas the 256GB mannequin price $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,869, and the 512GB mannequin price $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,219. That stated, time and now not being among the many high echelon of Apple’s smartphone portfolio means you must be capable to discover some drastically reductions on each in our iPhone 13 offers roundup.

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 13 Professional remained the dearer telephone of the 2 by a way. However did no less than additionally profit from the introduction of a further 1TB mannequin, for $1,499 / £1,449 / AU$2,569.

iPhone 13

$829 (opens in new tab)at Amazon (opens in new tab)$929 (opens in new tab)at Amazon (opens in new tab)$999.99 (opens in new tab)at Verizon Wi-fi (opens in new tab)

Weight: 174g
Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm
Display screen measurement: 6.1-inch
Decision: 1170 x 2532
CPU: A15 Bionic (w/ four-core GPU)
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery: As much as 19 hours
Rear digicam: 12MP+12MP
Entrance digicam: 12MP

Though solely a little bit higher than its direct predecessor, the iPhone 13 supplied vital good points in areas like battery longevity, granting it a full day’s use comfortably.

The smaller notch that continues to be on the iterative iPhone 14, first made an look right here, whereas the A15 Bionic chip nonetheless packs in loads of punch too (even when it is graphically weaker than the five-core GPU variant discovered inside each the iPhone 14 Plus, 14 and 13 Professional).

It loses out to the 13 Professional in apparent methods, like weaker cameras throughout each stills and video, together with one fewer rear lens (the telephoto) however a 60Hz show is its most archaic trait at the present time; particularly when you think about the 13’s premium standing.

For

• Sturdy battery life
• Nice design
• Highly effective internals

Towards

• Minimal design modifications
• No 120Hz display
• No Ceramic Protect on rear

iPhone 13 Professional

$899.99 (opens in new tab)at Amazon (opens in new tab)$899.99 (opens in new tab)at Greatest Purchase (opens in new tab)$899.99 (opens in new tab)at Verizon Wi-fi (opens in new tab)

Weight: 204g
Dimensions: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm
Display screen measurement: 6.1-inch
Decision: 1170 x 2532
CPU: A15 Bionic (w/ five-core GPU)
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Battery: As much as 22 hours
Rear digicam: 12MP+12MP+12MP
Entrance digicam: 12MP

There is a cause why we model the iPhone 13 Professional ‘the higher iPhone 14’ in our greatest iPhones roundup.

On high of the plain benefits over the usual iPhone 14 already talked about, eagle-eyed customers will discover that the iPhone 14’s most notable upgrades borrow from the 13 Professional too; with the identical lead 12MP digicam and the improved five-core GPU variant of the A15 at its coronary heart.

Offered you will get a great 13 Professional deal that undercuts the 14, you get the identical lead digicam and chip but in addition acquire a 120Hz ProMotion show, sooner charging, higher battery life, a greater digicam system, extra reminiscence and a nicer end; to call however a number of advantages.

For

• Nice efficiency
• Sturdy battery life
• Fascinating macro pictures mode

Towards

• Restricted design modifications
• Very costly
• 4K ProRes restricted in 128GB

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iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: design

• Comparable design and dimensions
• Matt aluminum end on the 13, polished metal end on the 13 Professional
• 13 Professional is noticeably heavier

The iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Professional sport very comparable designs to 1 one other, as we’ve come to anticipate from Apple. What’s extra, they’re barely modified from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Professional earlier than them, with the identical placing flat-edged look.

These two telephones are identically proportioned at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm as nicely. The iPhone 13 Professional is a good bit heavier at 204g, nonetheless, in comparison with the 174g iPhone 13.

One cause for that’s in using supplies. The iPhone 13 Professional contains a shiny chrome steel rim, whereas the iPhone 13 makes use of a lighter and fewer resilient aluminum chassis.

The iPhone 13 is available in Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and Product Purple, whereas the iPhone 13 Professional is available in Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue. They’re all a little bit muted, to inform the reality, although the iPhone 13 Professional’s Sierra Blue and the iPhone 13’s pink are the stand-outs of their respective ranges.

Each telephones improve the dimensions of their digicam modules over their iPhone 12-series equivalents, although the iPhone 12 Professional module is the larger of the 2. It’s a beast in each respect, as we’ll go on to debate.

Each telephones characteristic Apple’s nano-crystalline Ceramic Protect display know-how round entrance, which makes them tremendous powerful. You additionally get an IP68 score with each, which signifies that they are often immersed in six meters of water for as much as 30 minutes.

Each telephones have diminished the dimensions of their notches by 20% in comparison with the 12 sequence, although it’s not essentially the most consequential design advance we’ve seen, to say the least.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: show

• Each characteristic 6.1-inch 19.5:9 460ppi OLED screens
• 13 Professional’s show is twice as clean, with a 120Hz refresh charge
• 13 Professional boasts a brighter 1,000-nit panel

Each of those telephones pack 6.1-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED screens, with the identical 1170 x 2532 decision. However in contrast to their instant predecessors, there’s a a lot greater distinction between them this time round.

The iPhone 13 Professional can get brighter to the tune of 1,000 nits in comparison with the iPhone 13’s 800 nits, in typical situations, and each can hit 1,200 nits when viewing HDR content material.

However that’s not the large distinction we have been speaking about: that might be the introduction of a 120Hz ProMotion refresh charge with the iPhone 13 Professional, whereas the iPhone 13 is caught with the identical previous 60Hz refresh charge.

The distinction is most noticeable once you’re scrolling by menus or system apps, and it will possibly really feel a little bit jarring to return to the iPhone 13 from the iPhone 13 Professional because of this. However the overwhelming majority of individuals received’t be making that backwards transition, and can discover the iPhone 13 show completely fluid.

These smaller notches offer you a little bit extra display actual property than earlier than, however it’s not a game-changer in both case.

Total, the iPhone 13 Professional’s sooner response charge and better brightness makes it comfortably the higher panel than its non-Professional sibling. However as as to if that warrant’s the accompanying value bump, you’ll most likely must strive each telephones facet by facet to determine for your self.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: cameras

• Each characteristic 12MP foremost cameras however 13 Professional boasts bigger 1.9µm pixels
• Superior low-light and video from the 13 Professional
• Sensor-shift OIS on each

Each of those telephones make appreciable enhancements within the digicam division. The iPhone 13 borrows some key parts from final 12 months’s iPhone 12 Professional Max for its twin 12MP system, whereas the iPhone 13 Professional’s triple 12MP system takes an additional step ahead from that time.

The iPhone 13’s mains sensor can pull in 47% extra mild than earlier than, and produces giant 1.7µm pixels moderately than the iPhone 12’s 1.4µm. However the iPhone 13 Professional’s large sensor goes even bigger, producing 1.9µm pixels moderately than the iPhone 12 Professional’s 1.4µm.

Each digicam methods pack within the sensor shift stabilization system that made 2020’s iPhone 12 Professional Max so particular in low lighting situations. Evening mode is a factor to behold with each telephones, although once more the iPhone 13 Professional is the prince of darkness right here.

Each ultra-wide sensors are improved, however the iPhone 13 Professional additionally has the advantage of a 12MP 3x telephoto lens for zoomed-in pictures. That’s an enormous benefit over the iPhone 13, which has to crop in on the principle sensor for such close-ups.

After all, any next-gen iPhone digicam is the beneficiary of Apple’s software program advances as a lot as any {hardware} enhancements. As such, each telephones debuted the Photographic Types characteristic, which allows you to essentially change the tone of your snaps, whether or not you like them to be hotter, cooler, extra vibrant, or extra contrasty.

Each telephones additionally heralded the arrival of the rack focusing ‘Cinematic mode’, which primarily applies the same impact to your movies as Portrait mode does to stills. It allows you to change the main focus in a scene, even in post-production, and it’ll anticipate when a topic goes to enter the body and even observe a topic’s gaze.

The characteristic labored nicely in testing when have been first reviewed each telephones, and is more likely to be of most use to budding vloggers and movie makers; even when it’s not fairly the professional instrument Apple appears to be framing it as.

Whereas we’re speaking about video, one characteristic that’s distinctive to the iPhone 13 Professional (and 14 Professional line) is ProRes. It is a skilled video codec that packs in additional element for higher enhancing prospects. The one caveat is that it is restricted to 1080p on the 128GB iPhone 13 Professional.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: specs and efficiency

• 4GB RAM vs 6GB RAM between 13 and 13 Professional
• A15 Bionic in 13 Professional (and 14 / 14 Plus) good points a further GPU core
• 1TB storage choice unique to the 13 Professional

Apple doesn’t historically differentiate a lot relating to efficiency, with its Professional fashions tending to get the very same A-series chip because the non-Professional sequence; no less than that was the case till the iPhone 14 line, the place Apple saved the 14 and 14 Plus on the identical A15 Bionic because the 13 Professional, whereas giving the 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max the all-new A16 Bionic.

Close to the 13 and 13 Professional, each telephones get the 5nm A15 Bionic processor, which packs a six-core CPU that was 50% sooner than the main Android competitors at launch and stays close to the highest of most benchmarking charts.

The caveat is that the iPhone 13 Professional will get an additional GPU core (5 vs 4), making it the sooner performer general.

In sensible phrases, we problem you to inform the distinction. Each telephones are so quick as to render comparisons a tutorial train, and there are actually no video games on the App Retailer that get anyplace near hitting the efficiency limits of both.

However the iPhone 13 Professional undoubtedly has extra headroom inside this technology in comparison with earlier iterations. It’s more likely to keep feeling quick for a little bit longer, particularly relating to extra intensive duties too.

In our Geekbench 5 multi-core assessments, the iPhone 13 scored 4688 to the iPhone 13 Professional’s 4718. That’s a slight edge for the Professional, however the principle level to take from that is that these are each nonetheless among the many greatest performing telephones in the marketplace.

Each telephones assist extra 5G bands than earlier than, so extra nations are in a position to make use of them to entry 5G networks. Solely the US fashions supply mmWave assist, nonetheless, and comparatively few Individuals will be capable to benefit from these speeds anyway.

As we’ve talked about already, each telephones offer you 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. However the iPhone 13 Professional goes one higher in providing a 1TB choice.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: battery

• Each sport bigger batteries than earlier technology
• Each supply wonderful battery longevity
• iPhone 13 Professional helps sooner wired charging speeds

The one main enchancment that applies equally to each of those telephones is battery life. Each cells are greater than their instant predecessors. Alongside the A15 Bionic’s effectivity enhancements, which means that each final a good bit longer than earlier than.

Within the iPhone 13’s case you get a 3240mAh cell, whereas the iPhone 13 Professional offers you a 3095mAh battery. You may assume that this sounds a little bit counter-intuitive, giving the Professional handset the smaller battery. However whereas it sounds just like the Professional’s 120Hz show needs to be a extra power-hungry element, that’s not essentially the case.

Apple has applied good variable refresh charge know-how in order that the iPhone 13 Professional’s show can scale proper all the way down to 10Hz when the use case dictates. It solely goes full 120Hz in situations that warrant it, similar to scrolling by dwelling screens, menus, or net pages.

The upshot of that is wonderful battery life for each telephones. Apple claims you’ll get 2.5 hours extra out of the iPhone 13 on a single cost in comparison with the iPhone 12, whereas the iPhone 13 Professional will apparently get 1.5 hours extra in comparison with the iPhone 12 Professional.

In observe, each telephones tended to go away us with round 20% left within the tank after a full day of utilization. If something, the iPhone 13 lasts a little bit longer although, as we have been capable of push it that little large additional with the screen-on time.

MagSafe returns, providing magnetised wi-fi charging at 15W. You’ll have to purchase this individually although, as you’ll for the common 20W wired charger that each telephones assist.

30 minutes with one in all these chargers will get each telephones to only over half full. Not class-leading, however not unhealthy both.

iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Professional: takeaway

Neither the iPhone 13 nor the iPhone 13 Professional are recreation changers. They’ve comparable designs to their respective predecessors, and not one of the added options they provide are massively transformative.

Each telephones deliver higher battery life, higher processors and upgraded digicam setups to the desk.

We scored the iPhone 13 a little bit greater than the iPhone 13 Professional just because it provides a lot of the identical expertise for considerably cheaper. However in contrast to 2020’s iPhones, the Professional does truly deliver one thing contemporary and worthwhile to the desk, within the type of its 120Hz show which stays a Professional-exclusive characteristic on the iPhone 14 sequence too.

In the event you’re the sort of tech-savvy person who will actively discover and respect that smoother show, otherwise you merely need what remains to be among the finest smartphone cameras that cash should buy, then the 13 Professional ought to actually be within the working, particularly if now you can discover it at a worthwhile low cost.

The iPhone 13 remains to be quite a lot of telephone for the cash, however considered by the lens of the iPhone 14, you cash goes additional in case you go for the 13 Professional.

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• iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 Professional: is the older Professional mannequin a greater guess?

You may additionally wish to try the iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13 comparability.