iPhone 13 Pro after a month
After one month of use, how does Apple’s Flagship hold up?
I’ve been using the new iPhone 13 Pro now for a bit over a month. After my initial impressions after a week, the additional three weeks gave me more insights on the questions that were still open.
The Design
Before diving into the questions that I couldn’t answer a few weeks ago, I want to revisit the iPhone 13 Pro’s design. As pointed out in my first impressions, I was unsure whether the flat edges made the iPhone look more futuristic or less futuristic than the iPhone 11 Pro. However, using the phone for a month changed my opinion. Even though the boxy design is thicker, it also has a more industrial feel and seems like less of a designer product.
Also, the fact that the notch is smaller is still noticeable after a month of use. However, despite the lack of use for the extra screen real-estate, it is nice to have the extra space, especially when viewing full-screen videos.
Overall, the design is oriented to put function over form, a much welcomed recent trend with Apple’s products, as this was not always the case.
Cameras
The cameras are one of the most significant selling points of the new iPhone.
I mentioned that they produce the best pictures I’ve ever seen on a smartphone during my first impressions. After a month, this thesis has been proven right. I find myself regularly reviewing my photos and being in awe of the quality.
But what makes the pictures stand out?
The first thing I realized is that the pictures seem to be more detailed. Even though the resolution did not change (12MP), it somehow seems that the images from the iPhone 13 Pro provide much more detail than the ones from the iPhone 11 Pro. Of course, to be honest, this could be a placebo effect, but my subjective impression is that the new camera system retains more details in its pictures.
Where I can confidently say that the pictures stand out is in low-light and nigh-mode. The difference is literally “night and day.” Excuse the pun. But, the low-light performance of the new phone is simply excellent. It is so good that I feel more comfortable taking a low-light picture with my iPhone than with my mirrorless camera, the Panasonic GH5 (there are a few caveats here, but what I refer to is the point and shoot experience).
Another neat feature of the new camera system is its macro capabilities. Even though this is nothing new for the smartphone world, it is new for iPhones. The photos are taken with the ultra-wide lens, not the big primary sensor, which somewhat reduces image quality. This reduction is not noticeable most of the time, though, as the macro aspect is what amazes you. The pictures you can take simply make up for the minor downgrade in quality compared to the main sensor.
One final point that could also be a reason that makes the photos look better is the photographic profiles. These aren’t filters. They are baked in adaptions to the picture, leading to a slightly altered image. I fine-tuned a preexisting profile, and now the colors are even more to my liking. Hence this small detail could have a more significant impact than many may think, as it allows you to fine-tune the look of the pictures without layering a ton of filters over it.
While the photo-taking capability is definitely improved, I experienced even more significant advancements in video recording. First and foremost, I immediately noticed the sensor-shift stabilization method. As a result, the videos I take with the iPhone are really a lot less wobbly, and even while walking, they are stabilized quite well.
IPhone 13 Pro cameras: superb photos, outstanding videos
Of course, I also have to mention cinematic mode. While I haven’t filmed a ton with it, it is a fun mode to try out and play around with. Especially for gatherings with some people, it can give a very cinematic touch to the videos and make them seem more professional than just a quick iPhone shot. However, I also found that once you start to edit the focus racking afterward, it can get very time-consuming, which is something most people won’t do. Hence, if the mode does not immediately properly detect what to focus on, I believe that most people will just revert to taking a regular video in addition to the cinematic mode.
So my final verdict concerning the camera system on the iPhone 13 Pro is that it is simply amazing. I have never seen better-looking smartphone pictures. What is even more stunning than the pictures is the ease with which they are produced. Just point and shoot, and you’ll be good.
Battery
While the in-depth camera testing just further solidified my belief in this camera system, I pointed out in my impressions that I needed to test the battery more. However, after a month, I can say the battery life of the new iPhone is also great.
After a full day (6am-10pm) of use, the phone still has about 10% battery left. While this may seem decent but not great, this time usually includes anywhere from 3.5–5.5 hours of screen on time, around 40 minutes of a hotspot, and a lot of music listening with the screen off. The cherry on top is the location services, mainly used by my Oura app. So, I require a lot of juice to get through a day. Hence the 10% when I go to sleep is impressive.
However, it really showed that the iPhone 13 Pro has a great battery life when I don’t use it that much, for example, when I have a match or when I am out hiking. For example, I managed to return from a day-long hike with about 50% battery left because many of the more battery-intensive tasks the phone has to perform during a regular day weren’t used while being outside.
The battery life is impressive
So, my initial impression of having complete confidence in leaving the house without a power bank was accurate. I feel totally comfortable venturing out for 4 hours with 30% percent left.
Overall, I am very impressed with that performance and more than content with it. That is not to say, though, that you can’t drain the battery in a day. It is possible, but you’ll have to use your phone a ton to do so.
Display (and Notch)
With the iPhone 13 Pro (and Pro Max), Apple finally brought a 120hz refresh rate display to the iPhone. I used a 2018 11 inch iPad Pro and the new M1 12.9 iPad Pro, which both also featured the ProMotion technology and appreciated their smoothness but never was actually aware of the higher refresh rate. However, with the iPhone 13 Pro, I can sometimes notice the higher refresh rate. Everything just feels a tad smoother. But there is not much more than the higher refresh rate brings. Still, when I compare the iPhone 11 Pro (my previous phone) and the iPhone 13 Pro, it’s a minute difference, and if you’re not looking for it, you’ll never notice it. While that might seem like a harsh verdict for such a hyped feature, it is not to say that the 120hz are not a welcomed change.
While you’re not likely to immediately be amazed like from the camera, you are also for sure not going to be disappointed by the technology. IOS runs exceptionally smoothly on 60hz devices, making the 120hz refresh rate simply a bit less impressive to the eye than on other devices that do not benefit from the smoothness of Apple’s operating system.
The 120hz refresh rate and a smaller notch are welcomed improvements
Despite that, I maintain my opinion that 120hz is a welcomed addition that puts the iPhone’s display back into the same league as competitors but is not something that brings an enormous change to how you experience using the phone.
I also have a similar sentiment about the smaller notch. It is nice that it is a bit less intrusive, but because nothing is being done with the extra screen real-estate, it is also a minor improvement for the user. I believe that it wasn’t easy from an engineering perspective to shrink down the whole FaceID suite, so it fits into the smaller notch, but in the end, the notch is still there. However, I also never had an issue with the notch because you’ll just become oblivious to the thing after using the phone for a day. So, like I pointed out previously; a nice change with very minor actual implications.
The A15 chip
A new feature that has significant implications, on the other hand, is the new A15 chip. Each year, the iPhone’s processors get even more powerful, and this year is no different. I put the processor through its paces, and it didn’t even break a sweat.
From a bit of mobile gaming to light photo editing in the Photos app and testing out the cinematic mode, the A15 never showed the slightest signs of problems. There is no lagginess to be found, barely any loading times for apps, and everything feels highly responsive.
Yet, similar to the 120hz display, there aren’t many real-world cases where you’ll directly notice that you’re using the new chip, especially if you are coming from a relatively new (iPhone Xs and newer) iPhone. Of course, it is a huge advantage to have the extra headroom in computing power, especially considering the future-proofing of the phone. Yet, at the moment, there are not many times when you’ll actually feel the extra power in your wrists. This may sound rather unimpressive, but two reasons that make it quite logical.
The A15 is a very capable processor
On the one hand, Apple’s operating systems have long been very smooth. Hence, the new chip cannot really shine in a way that is visible to the user all the time. On the other hand, among from an iPhone 11 Pro isn’t the most significant jump. The iPhone 11 Pro’s A13 chip still was very powerful, and therefore, I did not necessarily experience a huge leap forward.
All of this is not to say that the A15 is somehow underperforming or falls short of any expectations. It did everything I asked it to with ease and generated a lot less heat while doing so compared to the A13. However, it is similar to the 120hz display during daily use, a noticeable improvement that makes everything feel a tad smoother but not a quantum leap.
Creature comfort features
Like pointed out in my first impressions, the speakers are great. They sound clear at almost all volume levels and get decently loud. They are a clear improvement over the iPhone 11 Pro’s speakers, which were also good in their own right.
Also, in my first impressions, I specifically mentioned the enhanced creature comfort features of the iPhone 13 Pro. After a month of using the phone, those still make a big difference daily, which is not something I would’ve expected.
Personally, my favorite addition to the iPhone is MagSafe. I was skeptical of its usefulness when it was introduced with the iPhone 12 series, but after using it for a month, I am delighted it exists. I use the MagSafe wallet by Apple to carry my drivers’ license, student ID, and debit card, which is all I ever need during the day. Hence I can leave my wallet in my bag or even at home when I leave the house and still have everything I need with me.
The fact that MagSafe allows me to leave the house with just my iPhone and have everything I need with me is fantastic and something I use daily. I also use the MagSafe charger, which is also very convenient.
While the wallet brings an enormous convenience boost when I am out and about, the Magsafe charger makes late-night Netflix sessions on the iPhone more comfortable. You don’t have to fiddle around with the charging cable anymore because the MagSafe puck can rotate, so the cord always goes directly pointing towards the charger.
One thing I did not mention during my first impressions is the durability of the phone. After a month of using the phone (with Apple’s clear case and a screen protector), there are no signs of any wear and tear. Overall, the phone also seems highly durable, and it did survive a few drops.
Another thing that influences creature comfort, but not in the good sense, is the lighting port. Personally, I do not really mind the lightning port that much. Still, I notice that I have to carry the lighting cable or a wireless charger with me in addition to the USB-C cables I carry anyway because of my Laptop and the iPad. This is a small problem but something that Apple could change nevertheless.
Verdict
Apple’s latest flagship phone has it all. Fantastic cameras that take amazing pictures and even better Videos, a powerful processor, superb display, and excellent battery life. The phone ticks almost every box for a modern flagship phone, so using it daily is a joy. There are only minor inconveniences like the lightning port, but many convenient features like MagSafe make up for that.
If you’re thinking about upgrading, I can recommend it for anyone coming from an iPhone X or older. For those coming from newer iPhones (Xs to 11 series), there are also noticeable improvements. However, if you’re coming from an iPhone 11 Pro or alike, you may also be fine waiting one more year if the iPhone does not fit your current budget.
People who chose to upgrade last year to the iPhone 12 series should think twice about going out to get the new iPhone, as they already have many similar features, and spending that much money for a 120hz display and better cameras may not be worth it.
All in all, though, the iPhone 13 Pro is the best iPhone yet and won’t disappoint you if you get it.
As always, stay safe
Raffael
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