The iPhone 15 Pro packs significant upgrades over its immediate predecessor, like a titanium body, a brighter display, a faster processor and better cameras. But are these changes enough to warrant an upgrade from your 2-year-old iPhone 13 Pro? Find out in this comparison.
Apple starts selling refurbished iPhone 13 in the US with big discounts
Apple has started selling the iPhone 13 series through its Certified Refurbished store in the US. This comes a month after the company listed refurbished iPhone 13 units for sale in Europe.
Unlike the EU, though, Apple is currently not selling refurbished iPhone 13 mini in the US.
iPhone 14 review roundup: Deja vu all over again
Early reviews of the new iPhone 14 are rolling in. The consensus? It’s a capable iPhone — basically an iPhone 13 with minimal improvements (and nowhere near as cool as the feature-rich iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max).
So it’s not quite worth an upgrade from an iPhone 13, or maybe even the fairly similar iPhone 12. Only people holding iPhone 11 and older have something to get excited about.
But for some who want the big screen of the iPhone 14 Plus — not yet in the hands of reviewers — an upgrade from a recent handset may be worth it.
iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Should you upgrade?
Apple’s newest iPhone is here. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max represent the best of what the company has to offer customers this year.
But if you already own the iPhone 13 Pro, should you upgrade to the iPhone 14 Pro? Or is it better to save your money for next year’s model? Find out in this comparison.
iOS 16 will improve the iPhone 13 camera
iOS 16 will improve photos and videos shot with iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro via computational photography tweaks.
The software update will add foreground blur in Portrait photos and improve videos shot in Cinematic mode. However, these enhancements will be exclusive to Apple’s 2021 iPhone lineup due to hardware limitations.
See a stunning afterlife in Park Chan-wook’s ‘Shot on iPhone 13 Pro’ short
Most people use the awesome filmmaking potential of iPhone 13’s Cinematic Mode to shoot vids of their cats. But not South Korean director Park Chan-wook. In the latest in Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” series, he takes you into afterlife in a short film packed with martial arts wizardry and dream-like sequences. It’s called Life is But a Dream, and it’s shot entirely on an iPhone 13 Pro.
Even if you and your cat had a famous director’s resources — the cast, the sets, the costumes, the rich folklore — you still probably couldn’t come up with anything like this. But thanks to the technology in your iPhone, you can try.
Apple TV+ directors and producers pile up 9 award nominations
This week the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America recognized Apple TV+ content with a pile of award nominations — five in the DGA Awards and four in the PGA Awards, both set to take place in March.
Have some laughs with videos showcasing iPhone 13 Pro camera capabilities
Apple proves that demo videos don’t have to be dry and boring. It premiered a trio of short videos Sunday that show off the capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro camera — and they’re actually fun to watch.
Plus, if you were just gifted Apple’s latest handset, watch all three and you might be inspired to go make a movie with it.
Hollywood at Home video demonstrates filming big scenes with tiny props and iPhone 13
Anyone dreaming of being a director doesn’t have wait until they have a million-dollar budget to start shooting impressive-looking movies. The new Hollywood at Home video shows how to use everyday objects and an iPhone 13 to film action scenes and create otherworldly landscapes or monster movies.
Watch the amazing video now:
iOS 15.1 adds SharePlay, iPhone 13 Pro camera options and more
Apple rolled out iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 on Monday with the anticipated inclusion of SharePlay, a feature missing from the recent iOS 15 release. Today’s update also brings camera improvements for iPhone 13 Pro models, enables adding COVID-19 vaccination records to Wallet, and includes a bunch of other features.
If you’re in the upgrading mood, you can download iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 now. (Note for Mac owners: macOS Monterey is now available as well.)
Alto offers launch discount on new iPhone 13 cases
Alto, which specializes in leather accessories for Apple products, offers a 10% launch discount and extra rewards points for purchases of its new iPhone 13 cases through the end of the month.
The Taiwan-based company launched four leather phone case series for Apple’s latest handsets. Each series offers products fitting iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Halide camera app improves iPhone 13 Pro macro shots
A just-released update to Halide helps iPhone and iPad owners take better close-up images. The iOS application works with the macro camera in the iPhone 13 Pro series, but also offers tools that can help any phone or tablet user with close-in pictures.
This is in addition to Halide Mark II 2.5’s many other features that give more control over the cameras built into iPhone and iPad than are available in Apple’s own application.
Apple swallows iPhone 13 Pro’s higher production cost
About 60% of the price of an iPhone 13 Pro goes into producing it, according to a analysts’ estimate. That figure comes from examining the cost of each component in Apple’s new high-end smartphone. It’s much more than Apple used have to pay.
And note that the rest of the selling price isn’t pure profit.
iPhone 13 component shortage lengthens wait times
Production of the new iPhone 13 series isn’t catching up to demand. A shortage of a critical component is keeping wait times long for many versions of the handset.
But heavy demand is also reportedly adding to the delays.
iPhone 13 Pro truly is the Goldilocks phone [Review]
Is there such a thing as the fabled Goldilocks phone? You know, a phone that is just right? Not too big. Not too small. Great camera and screen. Amazing battery life.
Well, the new iPhone 13 Pro is that “just right” phone.
Apple plans iPhone features 3 years ahead
When supposed features of the iPhone 14 leaked out in early September, some complained that the iPhone 13 wasn’t even out at the time. But an Apple VP revealed that the company starts deciding on new iPhone features a full three years before launch.
Which means Apple is probably already at work on iPhone 18. And most features of the 2022 model are almost certainly fixed.
These stunning macro photos will sell you on iPhone 13 Pro
Among the many new camera features in the iPhone 13 Pro is Macro mode. This allows the user to take very close-up images, putting the focus on tiny objects.
Many users of Apple’s latest top-tier handsets have been quick to try out this new capability. And some of the results are spectacular. Check them out now, and be prepared to be wowed.
iPhone 13 series increases battery sizes by up to 18%
Apple beefed up the batteries in all four models in the new iPhone 13 series. There are significant increases in capacity in all of them, especially the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Teardowns of the iPhone 13 models are starting to appear, including ones from iFixit, revealing these battery sizes.
PSA: iPhone 13 series is incompatible with most earlier cases
While the iPhone 13 has drawn some criticism for being a minor update, improvements to the cameras mean that none of the new handsets are compatible with tight-fitting cases designed for earlier models.
This is not unusual. But Apple’s 2021 models look so much like their iPhone 12 equivalents that it might be easy to think the exteriors are identical when they are not.
iPhone 13 demand pushes wait times out weeks
If you want an iPhone 13 in the next few weeks, you’d probably better order it soon. And for some variations, it’s already too late to have it delivered before October.
And an analyst says the wait times indicate that Apple’s latest is selling better than its predecessor.
Speck unveils an array of new iPhone 13 MagSafe cases
On Tuesday Speck Products unveiled its latest line of slim, durable, MagSafe-compatible cases for the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, as well as some iPad cases.
How to get ready to pre-order iPhone 13 with the iPhone Upgrade Program
The iPhone Upgrade Program is Apple’s equivalent of a carrier’s monthly contract. You can upgrade your iPhone every year, and pay a monthly fee instead of buying the handset outright. The upgrade path is simple — there’s a new iPhone every year, and you can upgrade every year.
Here’s how to get ready so you can be ready for iPhone 13 preorders this Friday. Don’t wait until the last minute.
iPhone 13 didn’t get a bump in RAM
Apple thinks the RAM in the iPhone 12 series is enough because it reportedly didn’t include any more in the just-launched iPhone 13 models.
But this is another feature that might tempt buyers to pay extra for one of the Pro models — they sport 50% more than the cheaper versions.
Why you should go Pro with iPhone 13
If you’re planning to upgrade to iPhone 13 this year, you should probably spend the extra cash on iPhone 13 Pro. This year’s refresh widens the gap between the different iPhone models on offer — and makes going Pro an even better decision than in previous generations.
It’s not just new camera tricks and a nicer design you get for your money, like with iPhone 12 Pro last year. With iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max, you’ll also enjoy a smoother-than-butter ProMotion display, and an even more powerful A15 Bionic processor.
iPhone 13 Pro’s 4K ProRes video mode not available on 128GB models
Those planning to buy an iPhone 13 Pro for its ProRes video recording feature should be aware that the new codec only works in 1080p on 128GB models. You’ll need at least 256GB of storage to use it in 4K.