Our guide to the Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro covers the main differences between the two, to help you make the best choice for you.
Which iPhone should you buy – the iPhone 13 Pro or the iPhone 12 Pro? The newer model is only slightly different than the older model, so is it worth the extra cost? We put both phones through their paces, and in this article, we’ll show you how each phone measures up.
As we wait for the next generation of iPhone, let’s take a look at all the differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and the previous model, the iPhone 12 Pro. Although the design remains mostly the same, there are substantial changes under the hood. The iPhone 13 lineup is powered by the all-new A15 Bionic chipset, which brings substantial gains in graphics performance and significantly improved battery life.
The iPhone 13 Pro’s camera sensors have been upgraded, and you can tell by the size of the cameras. The bigger sensors for the main and ultra-wide cameras promise better light sensitivity, and the 3X telephoto lens can zoom further than the 2X zoom you have on the 12 Pro.
The iPhone 13 Pro’s camera sensors have been upgraded, and you can tell by the size of the cameras. The bigger sensors for the main and ultra-wide cameras promise better light sensitivity, and the 3X telephoto lens can zoom further than the 2X zoom you have on the 12 Pro.
So, what are the differences between them? We take a look at the specs, design, features, and more to help you decide which one is right for you.
Design
If you were expecting a revolutionary design with the iPhone 13 Pro, you might be a little disappointed. The iPhone 13 Pro is almost identical to its predecessor, except for the narrower notch and the camera bump.
Although the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro have the same display size, the iPhone 13 Pro is a bit thicker to accommodate the bigger battery. The camera bump on the iPhone 13 Pro is more flush to the body.
iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro: colors
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max come in five colors:
- Graphite
- Gold ( My favorite color is gold iPhone 13 pro)
- Silver
- Sierra Blue
- Alpine Green
There were three different colors of iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max available last year: graphite, gold, and silver. The only new option initially was Sierra Blue, which replaced last year’s Pacific Blue. Sierra Blue is much lighter and brighter, more akin to a baby blue shade.
If you’re looking for a new and different iPhone, the Pacific Blue iPhone 12 Pro is the one to pick. It’s nearly as dark as the graphite version, but this one is the head-turning model of the year.
Display
The iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1-inch display with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels (460 PPI) and 120Hz ProMotion. The iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display with a resolution of 2532-by-1170-pixel at 460 PPI.
Samsung’s LTPO display technology made headlines with the Galaxy S21 lineup – and rightly so. The variable display refresh rate is great, giving you the smoothest scrolling experience when you need it while saving energy when the image is static.
The iPhone 13 Pro brings the ProMotion display technology from the iPad Pro to the party. This display can refresh at 10Hz or 120Hz, depending on the situation.
Both phones boast 6.1-inch OLED panels with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels, but the iPhone 13 Pro’s narrower notch results in a slightly better viewing experience. The iPhone 13 Pro also ups the brightness of the display, offering 1000 nits of outdoor brightness and up to 1200 nits of HDR brightness. The iPhone 12 Pro can only go up to 800 nits (typical), whereas the other hand can go up to 1200 nits (peak).
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro: hardware and performance
- The iPhone 13 Pro will come with 6GB of RAM and a 1TB storage option.
- A15 Bionic vs A14 Bionic: which is better?
Apple’s next-generation Bionic processor is the fastest CPU in any smartphone, up to 50% faster than the leading competition for graphics-intensive tasks. The four-core GPU delivers up to 30% faster graphics and there’s also a new 16-core neural engine. This maintains Apple’s lead over its competitors in mobile chipset speed.
The iPhone 13 Pro comes equipped with the same 6GB of RAM as the iPhone 12 Pro, but the top storage capacity for this year’s iPhone Pro line doubles from 512GB to 1TB. If you want the absolute best in performance, you should get the iPhone 13 Pro with the 1TB storage option. It’s also a nice thing to have if you’re trigger happy with your 4K videos.
Camera system
12MP camera system with Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide cameras.
The iPhone 13 line features an improved Ultra-wide camera with an aperture of f/1.8, offering 92% better low-light performance. There’s also a new 77-millimeter telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a new wide camera with a larger f/1.5 aperture and 1.9-micron pixels.
The iPhone 12 Pro might have the same camera system configuration, but it falls short in comparison to the new iPhone 13 Pro. The latter’s aperture, sensor and pixel size, optical zoom, and low light capabilities are all better, and it also has features like Cinematic mode and macro photography.
iPhone 13 pro battery life and iPhone 12 pro battery life
The iPhone 13 Pro is 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12.
Apple didn’t disclose the exact battery capacity of the new iPhone 13 Pro but said that you can get an hour and a half more battery life on a daily basis compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. Now, if we factor in the A15 Bionic chipset as well as the ProMotion variable refresh rate display of the iPhone 13 Pro, this 1.5 hours increase is still pretty good.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro are very similar phones, with the main differences being in their battery life and charging speeds. The iPhone 13 Pro can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher, while the iPhone 12 Pro can only charge up to 30% in the same amount of time. Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro has a slightly better battery life, with up to 17 hours of video playback compared to the iPhone 12 Pro’s 16 hours.
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro: price
The iPhone 13 Pro is the latest release from Apple and it has a starting price of $999. The iPhone 12 Pro was released last year and it has a starting price of $999.
Even though the iPhone 13 Pro has a new ProMotion display, improved battery, and new camera features, Apple has managed to keep the price the same as the iPhone 12 Pro. If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 11 or older, there’s no reason not to go for the latest generation and grab an iPhone 13 Pro. The previous generation will certainly depreciate in value, but the latest generation is always the best option.
Conclusion:
The iPhone 13 Pro is the clear choice if you’re upgrading from an older iPhone – it’s faster, has a bigger battery and better display, and there are improvements all around. If you own the iPhone 12 Pro, there’s no need to spend more money on the 13 Pro. Both phones offer great performance and will satisfy your smartphone needs for years to come.
