LOOKING for a new Apple device? Then the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro should be on your radar; both are excellent options for those looking to upgrade.
To assist you in making your decision, we’ve pitted the sibling devices against one another, comparing everything from design to price so you can determine which is the best fit for you.
The Apple iPhone 13 series is only a generation old, having been replaced by the iPhone 14 last year, but it is still an excellent choice for those looking to upgrade.
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro were released in September 2021 and retained Apple’s new squared-off bezel finish.
The iPhone 13 series included some noticeable improvements over the iPhone 12, but should you go with the base model or its Pro sibling?
We’ll go over all the important details and compare these two former flagships in terms of design, features, cameras, and price. Continue reading to find out which is best for you.
If you want to go deeper, check out our tech editor Sean Keach’s iPhone 13 review and iPhone 13 Pro review, where he gives an in-depth breakdown of both devices as well as his expert verdict.
We’ve also scoured the market for the best iPhone deals, so you can be confident that whatever you choose will be a steal.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: at a glance
Similarities:
As we would expect from Apple devices in the same series, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro share many features, with the iPhone 13 Pro receiving some Pro perks.
Both devices have the same A15 Bionic chip and have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, True Tone, and Haptic Touch.
The notch on the devices, which houses the front-facing camera and speaker, is also 20% smaller than on the previous iPhone 12 series.
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have a Ceramic Shield glass front and IP68 dust and water resistance for up to 30 minutes at a depth of six metres.
Both devices, like all recent Apple releases, are compatible with MagSafe accessories and wireless chargers.
Differences:
These two handsets may appear similar, but there are some significant differences, with the iPhone 13 Pro gaining features exclusive to the premium device.
To begin, the iPhone 13 Pro is made of Surgical-grade stainless steel, whereas the iPhone 13 is made of Aerospace-grade aluminium.
The Pro model also comes with an extra 2GB of memory, with the iPhone 13 having 4GB and the iPhone 13 Pro having 6GB.
The main difference between the base iPhone 13 model and its Pro counterpart is, as expected, the camera.
The iPhone 13 Pro not only gets better optical and digital zoom, but it also gets a 2.8 Telephoto camera lens that isn’t available on the base model.
The iPhone 13 Pro also includes the new Apple ProRAW and Night mode portraits, as well as up to 4K ProRes video recording – all of which are exclusive to the Pro model.
The upgrades and extra features on the iPhone 13 Pro are impressive, but unless you really want to push the Pro camera to its limits, the average user will be just fine with the base iPhone 13 model.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Camera
The iPhone 13 series all had spec upgrades, and the cameras received some significant upgrades over the previous iPhone 12 series.
The iPhone 13 has a new sensor in its 12MP main camera that lets in 47% more light than its predecessor, and it is now set up in a diagonal line rather than the vertical configuration seen on the iPhone 11 and 12.
The iPhone 13 has its own set of upgrades that you won’t find on its sibling, the iPhone 13 – but they’re great if you want top photography specs on your everyday device.
To begin, you will receive Apple ProRAW for photo editing, ProRes for 4K video recording, and a LiDAR Scanner for improved Night mode portraits.
That being said, those features are not important to the majority and the Duel 12MP camera on the iPhone 13 is a step up from the iPhone 12 series and is leagues above any older models you may be upgrading from.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Design
In terms of design, Apple hasn’t made any drastic changes since the release of the iPhone 12 – we still have the new squared edge design, which you’ll either love or despise, but both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have a premium feel.
However, the iPhone 13 does include some welcome changes, such as a smaller notch for more screen space, which has been reduced by 20% across the lineup.
The rear camera has also received a slight redesign, with the Duel camera on the iPhone 13 now positioned diagonally rather than vertically, as seen on the iPhone 11 and 12.
Aside from these minor changes, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro are nearly identical to their predecessors, with the Pro’s camera being significantly larger than the base models.
Of course, these design elements are unimportant to the phone itself and are a matter of personal preference when purchasing.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Features
When it comes to features, it all comes down to your preferences and what you need your phone to do – both have excellent features, but the iPhone 13 Pro excels in storage and camera.
If you’re into photography and need a lot of storage and processing power, the iPhone 13 Pro shines, while the base model has some great options for the average user.
Following its debut on the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple’s ProRAW is now only available on the Pro model. The new technology retains the RAW file format, allowing you to be more creative in the editing process.
But that doesn’t mean the base model isn’t worth considering.
The iPhone 13 also includes the ability to pre-set all of your shots in a specific portrait mode, such as Vivid Cool or Dramatic, to save editing time.
We always recommend that you consider whether you will use these extra camera features, as the premium price of the device is due to these extra perks, which the average user could save by opting for the base model.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Battery
While the battery life on the iPhone 13 series will vary depending on the device, all of the devices in the series received an upgrade over the previous iPhone 12 range.
The iPhone 13 has a 3,227 mAh battery, while the iPhone 13 Pro has a 3,095 mAh battery – but the iPhone 13 Pro has an advantage over the base model.
Apple is notoriously tight-lipped about its devices’ battery life, but the iPhone 13 has a battery life of around 19 hours, compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 13 Pro.
Video playback on the Pro model can last three hours longer than on the iPhone 13, and video streaming on the Pro model can last an extra hour.
Video playback on the Pro model can last three hours longer than on the iPhone 13, and video streaming on the Pro can last five hours longer.
So the iPhone 13 Pro has the advantage over the iPhone 13, and it may be worth considering if you need a device that can be pushed to its limits before needing to be recharged.
However, it will depend on your own usage, and these benchmark figures will vary from person to person, but both devices support MagSafe and Qi wireless charging, giving you more charging options than ever before.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Price
When the iPhone 13 series first hit the market, the base model cost £779 with 128GB of storage, while the same storage on the iPhone 13 Pro cost £949.
While older generations are less expensive, the iPhone 13 is the more affordable of the two, costing £350 less.
Apple has phased out the iPhone 13 Pro device since the release of the iPhone 14 Pro, so while you can find deals on the iPhone 13, it is more difficult to find deals on the iPhone 13 Pro.
If you want to pay monthly, the iPhone 13 is available on O2 with 250GB of data for £38 per month, while the iPhone 13 Pro is available on Sky Mobile with 75GB of data for £67 per month.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 Pro: Which to choose
When deciding between the base and Pro models in any series, it comes down to what features you truly want and need, as well as what your budget allows.
This guide should have answered your questions and helped you decide, but whichever you choose, the iPhone 13 series is a great option for those looking to upgrade.
Choose the iPhone 13:
- You are on a tighter budget
- You want the aluminium finish
- You still want a top-range 5G device
Choose the iPhone 13 Pro:
- Your budget allows
- You prefer the surgical steel finish
- You want the new photo features
