By Tomi, Mozillion Team
The ‘Pro’ version of the iPhone was introduced with the launch of the iPhone 11 and every time a new iPhone series has been announced since then, we’re asked for our advice on whether to go for the Pro or stick with the standard, lower cost iPhone model.
What does the bigger price tag actually get you when you opt for the Pro over the standard version? In summary, it’s usually a more powerful version, particularly when it comes to camera power and features.
In this article we’re going to be using the iPhone 13 Pro model for comparison with the standard iPhone 13 and take a look at the design, performance and camera.
Design | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
As far as design goes, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are very similar with the same flat-edge design and the same proportions.
The Pro model feels heavier and more substantial than the standard one due to the stainless steel rim which adds more weight to the design overall.
On the back of the phones, there is a difference in camera module design too with the Pro version giving you an extra camera lens and therefore more camera features. Meanwhile the standard iPhone 13 comes in more interesting colours, like the funky pink version.
Display | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
Whether you go for the standard or the Pro iPhone 13 model, the display sizes are the same at 6.1 inch. However, the Pro’s display will give you a smoother 120 Hertz refresh rate meaning, when gaming for example, it will be a lot smoother in motion. You’ll also notice this difference when you’re browsing around your device menus and using the web. Gamers will appreciate this but for anyone else, it may not make much a difference – granted 120Hz does look super-smooth when you’re scrolling through apps, but how important this is will be down to the individual user (we do love it here though).
The Pro model also gives you a brighter display at up to 1000 nits which means that when you are using your phone outside and it is sunny, you won’t need to squint as much.
Camera | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
Both the standard and the Pro models feature the same 12 megapixel main camera but the 13 Pro has a larger pixel density meaning it offers better low light performance and sharper videos. You do, however, get sensor-shift OIS on both devices meaning fewer blurry photos when you have shaky hands.
The 13 Pro also adds an extra 12 megapixel 3x telephoto lens for zoomed-in shots so instead of having to ‘crop in’ or digitally zoom in – which can affect the image quality – you’ll be able to actually physically zoom in on your subject compared to the standard one. This is a great feature if you are by the window on a flight, for example, as you can zoom in and take some great photos from afar.
Video | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
When shooting videos, the iPhone 13 Pro offers a pro feature called ProRes. If you’re a content creator or you like to edit your videos on a computer as well as on your smartphone, this is a useful tool because it gives you more detail to work with.
For example, you’ll be able to adjust the brightness after the event and also tweak elements like colour without losing the actual video quality.
One thing to bear in mind though is that this feature is limited to 1080p when using it on the 128 gigabyte version of the 13 Pro. It is worth noting however that, when sharing content on social media such as TikTok or Instagram, 1080p HD is more than enough. Save the 4K for your big budget YouTube videos or TV.
Performance | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
When it comes to performance, a clear comparison gets a bit trickier. Both the 13 and the 13 Pro use the same A15 Bionic processor chip. However, when you start to dig deeper into the Pro version, you notice that it has one extra GPU core which means that when it comes to gaming, everything feels a lot smoother and there’s more power there to play with.
Not only can the Pro model handle graphics-intensive applications, it can also sustain use of them at full speed for longer. This may not be hugely noticeable to everyone but if you are technical enough to want the Pro for it’s camera and video features, it is definitely worth noting.
Battery | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
Whether you go for the standard or the Pro model of the iPhone 13, you can rest assured that you’re getting a good battery life. Both processors are very efficient and manage the smartphone well to make sure that one app won’t drain your battery.
The Pro has a 120 Hertz refresh rate which technically uses more power but to counter that, Apple offers an impressive feature which, when the phone doesn’t need the full 120Hz refresh, allows it to drop right down to 10Hz. This means that when you’re embarking on low energy activities such as looking at photos, the smartphone doesn’t need the full whack of energy from the battery so it drops it right down to save battery life.
The Pro version also gives you a faster wire charging speed which means, even if you drain the battery quicker running higher energy burning apps such as video editors, you can charge back up faster and get back to shooting your next Spielberg production.
Conclusion | iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro
So going back to our original question – whether to go Pro or not to go Pro – there are several things to consider.
If you need that extra video and camera capability, 3x optical zoom, faster charging, a bit more grunt for running demanding apps and a smoother display, then definitely get the Pro version. But if all that doesn’t matter to you and you just want a decent all-rounder iPhone, then save some money and get the non-Pro model.
If you’re still in doubt then check out the links below for some great iPhone deals on the Mozillion marketplace. Perhaps you can bag a refurbished Pro model for the price of a brand new non-Pro model and save some money that way?