iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max Review: The Verdict
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are two of the best phones you can buy right now. While they're expensive, they don't make compromises. You get great battery, exceptional cameras, and a gorgeous display. If you can justify the spend, you won't be disappointed.
What we love
- Fantastic cameras with a fun new macro mode
- Great battery, especially on the Pro Max
- ProMotion screen is a nice bonus
What could be improved
- Expensive
- Pro Max will be too large for some
The essentials
- Performance: Best you can get on a phone.
- Battery: Great, even with constant 5G connectivity. On the iPhone 13 Pro you should get as much as five hours of screen time, which is a full day of moderate usage with a buffer. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is even better, with as much as eight hours of screen time per charge.
- Screen: Lovely as usual, and the ProMotion high refresh rate is a nice bonus that makes everything look a little smoother.
- Camera: Exceptional. The primary lens is the best you'll find on any phone, the ultra-wide lens gets welcome improvements, the zoom is longer range, and you get a fun new macro mode that can take stunning shots.
Until Apple announced the iPhone 13 family, the iPhone 12 Pro Max was arguably the best all round flagship phone you could buy. It had the best battery life of any 5G phone, the best camera, and the best software support. Even a year into its life, no other phone manufacturer had bested Apple's crown jewel. Sure, the Galaxy S21 Ultra had better zoom range and the OPPO Find X3 Pro had a better ultra-wide camera, but no phone represented the complete package as much as the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Despite this, the iPhone 13 Pro Max still represent an improvement over its predecessor. Batteries are bigger, screens are nicer, and the cameras are a step up once again. It's a victory lap. And better yet, the iPhone 13 Pro benefits from all the same upgrades too.
Before we start, here's how the iPhone 13 family compare:
iPhone 13 specifications
| iPhone 13 mini | iPhone 13 | iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.4-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED |
| Resolution | Super Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina | Super Retina |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Rear Cameras | 2x 12MP | 2x 12MP | 3x 12MP + LiDAR | 3x 12MP + LiDAR |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Processor | A15 | A15 | A15 | A15 |
| Storage | 128GB - 512GB | 128GB - 512GB | 128GB - 1TB | 128GB - 1TB |
| Water-Resistance | IP68
|
IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| 5G | Sub 6 | Sub 6 | Sub 6 | Sub 6 |
| Price | From $1,199 | From $1,349 | From $1,699 | From $1,849 |
Ready for a close-up
Apple makes some pretty big claims about the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max's photographic prowess, saying the pair tout a "dramatically more powerful camera system". On paper, Apple is 100% correct, the camera tech it has stuffed into its new devices is impressive. In practice, the upgrades will matter to some more than others.
This time around, not only do the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max share an identical camera setup, every lens is different to what you'd get in the standard iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 mini.
The primary camera is the star of the show. It's a fast, big lens. It gives you the best possible chance of not missing a moment. It can even get sharp shots of a rambunctious puppy playing with her new favourite stick.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also deliver further improvements in low light. Once again, it's easier to clear, detailed photos even in very dark environments. When compared to the standard iPhone 13, the improved primary lens means low light photos take faster, which leads to a better photo - there's less chance of blur. For example, while an iPhone 13 might need three seconds to take a shot at night, the iPhone 13 Pro Max might only need one. Here's one of my favourite low light photos I've taken so far:
During the day, the differences are less pronounced. You're going to get excellent photos regardless of whether you picked a standard or Pro. Even in low light, you'll still get impressive photos from the baseline iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini - you might not even notice the difference without pixel peeping. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max just have that extra level of detail that's predominantly going to appeal to camera nerds like myself.
The ultra-wide lens has also benefitted from an upgrade that makes it better at night. It doesn't perform as well as the primary lens in low light environments, but it's still a marked improvement over past iterations. While this shot isn't bad, the sky wasn't anywhere near as dark when I took it:
Lastly, Apple has upgraded the telephoto lens to a 3x zoom on both phones, up from 2x on the iPhone 12 Pro (and other previous Pro models) and 2.5x on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. While it's nice to have the extra range, this does mean it's a slower lens. It's pretty easy to get great shots on the 3x lens when you've got enough ambient light, but it becomes trickier in the dark. Even though the lens supports night mode, it's harder to stabilise, which can add camera blur.
The details in this photo are a bit too soft:
It does take really nice portrait shots, however, such as the one below:
And here's a zoom comparison of the three cameras:
Once again, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max both feature a LiDAR sensor which predominantly helps with taking portrait photos in low light.
In addition to upgraded hardware, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max get a few new camera software tricks. For many, these will probably be a touch more exciting than the camera upgrades.
The first is Photographic Styles, a feature also available on the standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. Photographic Styles are filter-like adjustments that happen before you shoot, rather than something you manually add after. You can tweak the contrast and warmth of the camera itself, so every photo you take has the same look. There are a few preset options you can pick from out of the box, but you can also create your own. I've always been happy enough with the iPhone camera's default look, but it's nice to have the extra customisation if you want it. It's just worth noting that you can't remove a style from a photo after you've shot it.
Here's the default out of camera look:
Here are Apple's four preset styles:
And here's a photo where I've really cranked the customisations:
A new feature exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max is an all new macro mode that lets you get as close as 2cm to your subject and take rather stunning shots. Framing photos can be a little tricky, but I've had a lot of fun experimenting with the mode. As it stands, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max camera automatically swaps to macro mode when you get close to a subject, which can be a tad annoying if you didn't want to get into macro mode, but Apple says a manual toggle in coming in a future software update.
Here are two of my favourite macro photos:
When you're shooting night mode photos, you now get access to even longer exposure times if you're using a tripod. The longer the exposure, the more light your iPhone can capture. These now max out at 30 seconds across the entire iPhone 13 family, compared to 10 on previous models.
Here's a 30-second night mode shot in a pitch black room:
And here's a 22-second night mode shot that revealed more stars than I could see with my eyes:
Lastly, the iPhone 13 family also feature a new video option called cinematic mode. It's ostensibly portrait mode for video. You pick a subject and the phone blurs the background behind them, and is smart enough to track motion. It can also pull focus if you tap on another subject, if your primary subject looks elsewhere in the shot, or if someone else enters frame.
It's a very cool trick, but it also feels a little like earlier versions of portrait mode where there you'll get imperfections in how the background behind your subject is blurred. Cinematic mode is available on the standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, but the Pros benefit from being able to change the focal subject of your video after you've shot it, which is some real witchcraft. While cinematic mode isn't perfect, it's a neat little addition that makes the iPhone even more of a video powerhouse.
Can a screen really be professional?
One of the major changes that sets the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max apart from the standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini is a ProMotion display. ProMotion is Apple's take on a high refresh rate display, which can make all motion on your phone look smoother - especially when scrolling and swiping. A standard phone screen - such as the iPhone 13 display - runs at 60Hz. A ProMotion screen can go as fast as 120Hz. It's a nice addition, although arguably long overdue. Even budget Android phones now feature high refresh rate displays.
While ProMotion makes scrolling down a web page in Safari look silky smooth, it's a feature I could live without. Swapping to an iPhone 13 or back to the iPhone 12 Pro Max hasn't seemed jarring by contrast. It's definitely not the reason to pick an iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max over the standard models.
That being said, the ProMotion display may also add to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max's longevity. In addition to being able to dial up the refresh rate as fast as 120Hz, it can crank it down as low as 10Hz when you're not interacting with your phone. The slower refresh rate means less power usage, and Apple rates the iPhone 13 Pro battery as slightly better than the standard iPhone 13.
In practice, the iPhone 13 Pro holds up well. You should be able to get about five hours of screen time per charge while connected to a 5G network. For many, this should translate to about a full day of usage with a comfortable buffer. Not only is this an improvement over last year's iPhone 12 Pro, it's about as good as battery gets on a 5G phone. With 5G switched on (and constantly connected to a network), I've found many 5G handsets can struggle to even hit four hours of screen time.
The key exception is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which just lasts forever. You should comfortably be able to get around eight hours of screen time (again, when connected to a 5G network, which could represent as much as two days per charge for lighter users. Even if you're pushing the phone to its limits, it's hard to imagine it dying early.
Sign up and get money-saving deals, telco news and more.
Inside and out
When it comes to design, both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max feature the same squared-off aesthetic as their predecessors, rather than the pillowy aesthetic of the iPhone 11. Both the phones are also a tad thicker, but not enough to notice, and the camera bump is larger to the point you'll need a new case if you're upgrading from last year's model. Both phones have a smaller notch, but the tweak hasn't resulted in any usability changes.
One change I would have liked to see is a better stainless steel frame. While it feels fancy, the stainless steel edging on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max is a fingerprint magnet. It may sound like a nit-pick, but a smudgy exterior undermines the premium aesthetic. In lieu of a fingerprint-resistant coating, aluminium would have been a more pragmatic choice, even if it's less lux.
Once again, the iPhone 13 Pro measures in at 6.1-inch, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max is an absolute monster at 6.7-inch. I've become used to larger phones, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max certainly won't be for everyone. It's the kind of device you'll predominantly need two hands to use comfortably. The iPhone 13 Pro is less imposing; not to mention, more pocketable.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max have a few other advantages over the standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini - at least on paper. While all four are powered by the same processor, the Pro models benefit from an extra graphics core, giving it a total of five. From my experience, this won't make much of a difference for most. Rendering out a clip in iMovie took about the same time on both the standard iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro, and I didn't notice any difference in load times or performance on graphically demanding games from Apple Arcade.
In addition, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are now available in 1TB models, just in case 512GB wasn't enough for you. The standard models max out at 512GB. Of course, you'll pay handsomely if you want that much storage in your iPhone, with the 1TB iPhone 13 Pro retailing for $2,569 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max for $2,719.
Not new, but not not new
Naturally, most won't be upgrading directly from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, so it's worth mentioning a few of last year's more meaningful improvements.
As with the iPhone 12 family, every iPhone 13 has a Ceramic Shield display. Apple says this makes it four times more drop-resistant than an iPhone without the fancy tech. The back of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max is still regularly glass, however.
Naturally, the pair are both 5G devices. 5G is still very much a work in progress, and there aren't any major use cases that require the next-generation network. You shouldn't be rushing out to buy a phone just because it has 5G, but if you're going to buy a new iPhone anyway, 5G is a nice bonus.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also support MagSafe, Apple's wireless charging ecosystem. MagSafe is a puck-like charger that snaps to the back of your phone, which helps ensure a faster wireless charge and means you can still hold your phone, unlike with a traditional wireless charging pad. A MagSafe puck will set you back $65, however, and is slower than a wired charger. It's a fun little novelty, but most are better sticking with a cable. (I do love this Mophie magnetic car mount, though.)
Lastly, don't be surprised when you don't find a charger or headphones in the box. Instead, all you'll get is a Lighting to USB C cable. You'll need to spend an extra $29 for one of Apple's USB C wall plugs. If you don't have one, it's definitely worth the investment over the old brick with full-size USB, as it allows for much faster charging.
iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max - Final Thoughts
If you're after a full-fat flagship experience, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are two of the best handsets you can buy right now. It's easy to nit-pick and wish Apple added rumoured features like an always-on display or swapped over to USB C charging, but other than high price tags, the pair are hard to fault.
Starting at $1,699 and $1,849, respectively, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max sit at the top-end of town. That's in line with the competition, but it's still a lot of money to spend on a phone - especially when the standard iPhone 13 is more than enough iPhone for most.
While the ProMotion display is lovely and the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max technically have a faster processor than their siblings, cameras are the main reason to splash out more. If slightly sharper low light photos, a macro mode, and a zoom lens sound like perks you're interested in, you'll get value from opting from one of Apple's "professional" iPhones. Otherwise, you're almost certainly better off with the iPhone 13.
Of course, the ludicrous battery and the larger form factor of the iPhone 13 Pro Max are still great features, even if you're less interested in mobile photography. It may be expensive, but the iPhone 13 Pro Max succeeds at being a phone that doesn't make any compromises and is my pick of the bunch.
If you can justify the purchase, you won't be disappointed with either the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max.
iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max camera samples
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of mobile phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
