Apple iPhone 13 review: The All-Inclusive iPhone
Apple iPhone 13 review: The All-Inclusive iPhone
This year's Apple iPhone 13 series includes four models to choose from: the small-screen iPhone 13 mini, the iPhone 13, this article's review model, the iPhone 13 Pro, as well as the more advanced iPhone 13 Pro Plus and the largest-screen device of them all, the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Is this 'standard' iPhone the best option for the vast majority of people? In any case, the gap between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro is smaller in 2021 than it was in previous iterations of the iPhone. Despite the fact that it does not have the faster refresh rate of the Pro, the iPhone 13 still offers many of the features you'd want and, more importantly, will actually use on a daily basis.
Lovely Design
The Apple iPhone 13 has a design that is very similar to the iPhone 12, though those with keen eyes will notice a couple of minor differences that distinguish the two devices. The flat edge design is still there - and it's still lovely - and it feels like a throwback to the iPhone 5 from 2012 (do you remember that? ). In contrast, matte-finished aluminium is used for the frame (the antenna bars that sit within it are made from upcycled plastic), with a matte finish remaining as the material of choice. Although it is not as luxurious as the Pro models, it is still a beautiful finish.
An attractive glass finish can be found at the rear; this particular example has a royal blue hue to it. Also visible here is one of the most distinguishing differences between model years 2021 and 2020: the camera housing in the top left corner has been enlarged, and the camera lenses - themselves larger - have been placed diagonally rather than vertical. In addition, the glass appears to be more scratch- and smudge-resistant when compared to our previous iPhone 12 mini.
Second, the iPhone 13 has a smaller notch at the top of the display than its predecessor, which represents a significant design improvement over the previous model. Despite the fact that it is not a significant reduction, it is still a reduction of approximately 20%, which is satisfactory. The fact that Apple isn't pushing the envelope in this department in a world where punch-holes and under-display cameras are commonplace will be questioned.
On the whole, the iPhone 13 isn't that much different from the iPhone 12 in terms of design. In terms of physical dimensions, it's virtually identical to the previous model - we're talking about 0.15mm thicker here - but it's important to note that older cases will not fit due to the new camera arrangement. So that's something else to add to the shopping list, I suppose. However, even though the iPhone 13 is not as small and lightweight as the iPhone 13 mini, it is still light and comfortable to hold, and it has the advantages of a larger screen and a larger battery.
Bright Display
With a 6.1-inch display, the Apple iPhone 13 has the same size as the iPhone 13 Pro, though the technology is slightly different. The iPhone 13 is available in silver or gold. The standard iPhone 13 has a 60Hz refresh rate, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro model has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz - a feature Apple calls ProMotion - similar to that of other flagship smartphones such as the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.
As a result, the iPhone 13 Pro will have smoother scrolling, but unless you compare the two models side by side, it's not something you'll notice a difference between the two models. Having said that, with much of the Android competition, such as the Samsung Galaxy S21, offering 120Hz refresh as a standard feature, it is unlikely that Apple will be far behind in implementing this technology across its entire product line.
Because the iPhone 13's resolution is the same as the iPhone 13 Pro's (and the same as the older iPhone 12 and Pro models as well), you'll get the same level of sharpness and detail as you would with the iPhone 13 Pro. The newer device does, however, have a slight increase in brightness potential over its predecessor (from 1000nits to 1200nits for HDR), which is something you might not notice unless you were directly comparing the two models side-by-side. However, extra brightness is always welcome, especially when trying to combat outdoor brightness on bright days.
Overall, the iPhone 13 has a stunning display, with punchy and vibrant colors, deep blacks, crisp whites, and excellent viewing angles, all of which contribute to the device's overall appeal. It also includes all of the technologies that Apple users have come to expect as standard, such as True Tone (automatic color adjustment to ambient light), HDR support (for high dynamic range content), and Haptic Touch (long-press control with vibration feedback) - we've included links to in-depth features if you want to learn more about the specifics of those technologies.
Cameras
The Apple iPhone 13 is equipped with a dual-rear camera system consisting of a 12-megapixel wide-angle sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor. It's the same camera as the one found on the iPhone 13 mini, but it's an upgrade over the one found on the iPhone 12. The larger pixels on the main sensor allow for better processing potential and higher-quality results compared to the iPhone 12.
Photographic Styles and Cinematic video (which we'll get to in a moment) are two new features introduced with the iPhone 13 that were first seen on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 also has sensor-shift image stabilisation on board for the main camera, which was first seen on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Leaving aside the extra features, the iPhone 13 produces excellent images - and this is true for both the rear and front camera setups. Images are densely packed with detail, and their color accuracy and definition are excellent. Even in low-light conditions, we noticed some lag after pressing the shutter button before Night Mode kicked in, but the results were still satisfactory.
However, there is no Night Mode Portrait on the iPhone 13, as there is on the iPhone 13 Pro, and you also do not have the third lens, which is a telephoto lens for optical zoom, as there is on the iPhone 13 Pro. You'll also miss out on the macro mode, as well as ProRes (Apple's incoming high-quality 4K video capture format), when it becomes available.
Apple's Cinematic video mode, which allows you to choose where the focus should be, and that object, person, or pet will remain in focus throughout the recording, is still available on the iPhone 13. You have the option of changing the focus while the video is being recorded or after it has been recorded. However, good lighting is required in order for it to function properly. It's a fun feature and one that's well worth giving a shot.
The iPhone 12 supports 4K HDR recording with Dolby Vision at 60 frames per second, with Dolby Vision and HDR kicking in automatically, just like it did with the iPhone 12.
Photographic Styles is yet another feature that is shared across the entire iPhone 13 series, and it works by applying a subtle filter to the image. However, you should be aware that you can only apply the filter before taking a picture, and that once the picture has been taken, it cannot be removed. Thanks to the fact that the effects are subtle, you won't end up with a dreadful bleach bypass effect or anything of the sort. Presets are available in the camera app and can be accessed by sliding up from the bottom of the screen. You can choose between four different presets - Vibrant, Rich Contrast, Warm, and Cool - that you can use before pressing the shutter button.
Performance and Battery
Because of the A15 Bionic chipset with Neural Engine that powers the Apple iPhone 13, the device offers excellent performance. Everything loads quickly, the device switches seamlessly between tasks, and games and applications run without a hitch. The iPhone 13 Pro, despite the fact that it also uses the A15, is slightly more powerful than the iPhone 13 because it has an additional GPU core (five versus four) for its setup.
In terms of battery life, the iPhone 13 is claimed to last up to 19 hours - which, based on our testing, is not far off the mark. It has a longer battery life than the iPhone 13 mini, which is to be expected given its larger capacity, and the physically larger battery capacity means it is a significant improvement over the previous iPhone 12 in terms of overall performance.
Of course, how much you use your phone and how much of a power user you are will determine how much you spend. However, on days when we were testing the various camera features and watching movies and shows while also utilizing the video features and 5G, we were left with approximately 30 to 40% of our battery by bedtime on those days.
Software
It runs on iOS 15, which is available for all iPhone devices, including the Apple iPhone 13. (from the iPhone 6S and later). While there are some new features on the iPhone 13 that you won't find on previous models, such as the Cinematic video mode and Photographic Styles in the camera app, the overall experience is very similar to that of previous models.
There are some fantastic new features in iOS 15 that are well worth exploring, such as Portrait Mode on FaceTime and the Focus modes - both of which we adore - while Live Text and the Shared with You features are both extremely convenient. There are also some aspects of the new Safari design that will take some getting used to, such as the new navigation bar.
In our separate feature, we go into greater detail about all the changes brought about by the software build. However, one thing we'd like to point out is that we're pleasantly surprised by how much we like the slimmer and more timely delivered notifications on the lock screen, as well as how quickly we've gotten used to the Safari browser's URL bar moving. Give it a chance - change can be beneficial in some situations.
Verdict
Although the iPhone 13 isn't significantly different from its predecessor, the iPhone 12, it does have a longer battery life, making it an excellent choice for those who want a large screen device - something you won't get with the mini, of course - with plenty of power and functionality.
You will, of course, be missing out on a few desirable features when comparing the iPhone 13 to the iPhone 13 Pro - such as the telephoto zoom lens, macro mode, 120Hz fast-refresh display, and 1TB storage option - but the iPhone 13 is still a fantastic all-around device that, more importantly, isn't quite as expensive.
Because of the combination of power, large screen, and value for money, the iPhone 13 is the best choice for those looking for a well-balanced device that won't make them feel like they are settling for second best.
