The spearhead of Apple’s mobile range, the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are now official. They include many small improvements, including the presence of a 120 Hz screen.
In addition to the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, Apple has unveiled (as is its custom now), an iPhone 13 Pro duo. True spearhead of the brand, these two mobiles represent all that Apple knows how to do best technologically in 2021.
A relatively unchanged design
As with the other 2021 iPhones, the Pro models don’t change their design much. The Pro and Pro Max still boast 6.1 and 6.7 inch screens respectively.
The notch at the top of the screen, on the other hand, has been shrunk by 20% and the phone should be a little thicker to make room for a bigger battery. The photo island on the back also takes up more space. Otherwise, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max looks pretty much like the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.
Make way for 120 Hz
If the design has not changed, the technical characteristics have evolved a lot.
The biggest change is the arrival of a 120 Hz screen on this “Pro” family. Using LTPO OLED display technology, iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max can vary their refresh rate. This allows these mobiles to offer unparalleled display fluidity on iPhone. Apple in fact uses its ProMotion technology inaugurated in 2017 on its iPad Pro. The animations, scrolling and responsiveness of these new iPhones should therefore be greatly improved compared to previous models.
The 120 Hz display is relatively energy intensive, the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max arrive with a larger battery than their predecessors. The Pro will offer 1.5 hours more battery life than the 12 Pro. The Pro Max 2.5 hours longer than the 12 Pro Max.
Obviously, this year’s Pro and Pro Max models are entitled to the Apple A15 chip, cut for AI and supposedly less energy-consuming than the A14. Storage capacities start at 128 GB and can go up to 1 TB. A first for iPhone. 5G compatibility is also part of the game, not surprisingly.
Improvements in photo
The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max arrive again this year with three photo modules (standard, ultra wide-angle and zoom). No recycling here, though. The modules have nevertheless been improved.
The ultra wide-angle now offers an aperture at f / 1.8 (compared to f / 2.4 on the 12 Pro) which should allow the modules to capture more light.
The standard sensor goes from an aperture to f / 1.5 (against f / 1.6 on the previous generation).
The zoom module gives it a focal length equivalent of 77 mm, ie a zoom of approximately 3x. The aperture points to f / 2.8.
Finally, on the video side, a new “Portrait” mode is emerging. This feature promises, as in photos, to create a harmonious bokeh (that background blur) behind the person you are filming. A “ProRes Video” mode will also make it possible to create videos that are easier to handle by image professionals.
Prices and availability
The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max will be available for pre-order starting Friday, September 17, 2021. The Pro starts at $ 999 and the Pro Max starts at $ 1,099. The models will be officially available for sale on Friday, September 24, 2021.
Photos of iPhone 13 Pro
