It was fall 2021 when we encountered the new iPhone 13, which was no more and no less than four new models.
On the one hand, the mini model, which is the smallest and cheapest option. On the other hand, the standard model, the iPhone 13. But then we have two Pro models, the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which makes our choice of new iPhone even more complicated.
Below, we compare the two models to help you choose the best option to buy: iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Design
As usual in the Pro models, both have a virtually identical design. The squarer edges that debuted on the iPhone 12 series have been retained, making the iPhone 13 Pro an ultra-modern take on the classic iPhone 5 form factor.
Both are obviously much larger than their august predecessor, with the following dimensions:
- iPhone 13 Pro: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm; 203g
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm; 238g
As you can see, the Max is a bigger and heavier unit, adding 35g to the weight, which makes it a bit heavy, at least in iPhone terms. The reason is to accommodate the 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel, which is wider than the 6.1-inch panel of the iPhone 13 Pro.
Apart from this obvious difference, there is little between the two devices. Either way, you’ll find a stainless steel chassis, Ceramic Shield protection on the display, IP68 water and dust protection, triple camera on the back, and Face ID on the back. front, Lightning connectors, MagSafe charging, stereo speakers, volume controls, side button and slide switch to mute.
Both are available in a range of colors including Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue and Alpine Green.
So they’re essentially the same, but the Pro Max is bigger, heavier, has a bigger screen, and costs a bit more.
Features and Specifications
As these carry the Pro name, you’ll see that Apple hasn’t held anything back when it comes to components or features. Each of these devices is the best iPhone you can get right now.
Filter
As we’ve already established, the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display, while the Pro has a more compact 6.1-inch panel. This means that the resolution and ppi (pixels per inch) scores of the two are slightly different:
- iPhone 13 Pro: 2532 x 1170 resolution, 460 ppi
- iPhone 13 Pro Max: 2778 x 1284 resolution; 458 dpi
On top of that, you’ll find some of the best displays available today, with Super Retina XDR panels that deliver HDR, ProMotion for ultra-smooth scrolling enabled by 120Hz refresh rates, True Tone technology that adjusts the screen color temperature to match your surroundings, plus a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits in normal use (1,200 in HDR) which will make it easier to read the panels when you’re outside in direct sunlight.
However, all that extra space wasn’t enough to remove the infamous notch. If you’re not a fan, prepare for the news that 2022 won’t be the year you get that coveted edge-to-edge screen. (In fact, it probably won’t happen until 2024.)
Processor
Again, Apple is packing its most powerful A-series processor into the Pro and Pro Max (as well as the standard iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini), which this year is the A15 Bionic.
It’s a 6-core processor with 4 efficiency cores and 2 performance cores, so the iPhone juggles less demanding tasks on the former to save battery life.
There’s also a 5-core GPU that handles the heavy lifting for graphics, along with a 16-core Neural Engine that enables some of the more advanced camera features we’ll describe below.
It’s a very powerful SoC (System on a Chip) that introduces the yearly improvements over its predecessor that we’ve come to expect from new iPhones.
cameras
One of the main reasons people opt for an iPhone Pro is the additional camera capabilities that are often offered. This remains the same on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, as you get a triple camera array on the back consisting of the following:
- 12Mp telephoto lens: f/2.8
- 12 MP Gran angle: f/1.5
- 12 MP ultrawide: f/1.8
The difference between this range and the standard iPhone 13 is the telephoto lens, but the Pros can also capture footage in Apple ProRAW, as well as record Apple ProRes video at up to 4K/30fps.
These formats are reserved for those serious about photography and videography, so if you don’t like to pixelate or get into editing, the iPhone 13 will probably be the more sensible option.
For the Pros, you also get an additional night mode, plus 3x optical zoom, 2x optical zoom and 6x optical zoom range, not to mention the 15x digital zoom you get, which slightly embarrasses the 5x magnification offered by the iPhone 13.
But other than that, it’s a very similar set of features to those found across the entire iPhone 13 line.
This includes shift sensor stabilization for rock solid recording, portrait mode, portrait lighting, night mode, photo styles, 4K/60fps video recording, audio zoom, time lapse with stabilization (and night mode now), plus a new cinematic mode for video that allows you to have a shallow depth of field so you can blur the foreground or background and give your footage a professional look.
The 12 MP f/2.2 TrueDepth front camera is no slouch, with Smart HDR 4 that makes photos rich and colorful, Portrait Modes and Photo Styles that let you create great selfies, plus Cinematic Mode for video, night mode, slow motion (1080p) and 4K/60fps capabilities.
Storage
You can get any of the two models in any of these four storage capacities
battery and power supply
The larger frame of the iPhone 13 Pro Max means that Apple was able to include a larger battery than the iPhone 13 Pro. The former gets a 4,352mAh cell, while the Pro comes with a battery of 3095 mAh. Apple says these will offer 28 hours and 22 hours of video playback respectively.
If you ever run out of battery, the quick-charging capability of both will get you back to 50 per cent in 30 minutes, although you’ll have to buy the charger yourself, of course, as Apple doesn’t include one in the box. If you have a Qi charger or a MagSafe charger, both should work fine on either Pro device.
connectivity
Apple introduced 5G to iPhone with the iPhone 12 lineup, and it’s now standard on all iPhone 13 models. You’ll also find Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, GPS, and NFC for payments with Apple Pay.
Prices
The name Pro already tells you that you are going to pay a good amount of money for one of these models. We explain the prize breakdown below:
iPhone 13 Pro:
iPhone 13 Pro Max:
You can buy it directly from Apple, at any consumer technology store, or with a contract with your mobile service provider. Be sure to check out our guide to the best iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max deals to see if there are any deals available right now.
verdict
Apple has made it very easy to choose between its current iPhone 13 Pro models. It more or less comes down to the size of the device. If you want the biggest screen and longest battery life, the Pro Max is the obvious choice. But those who prefer a more compact device will be happy with the Pro. Otherwise, they are virtually identical and packed with all the latest features and components the company has to offer.
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