Phones · 2021 · Apple

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

The iPhone 13 Pro is Apple’s 6.1-inch Pro phone from 2021. It brought the adaptive ProMotion display (up to 120 Hz) to the iPhone for the first time and offers the 5-core-GPU version of the A15 Bionic, three 12 MP cameras including a 3x telephoto, a LiDAR Scanner, ProRes video and up to 1 TB of storage. The port is still Lightning.

iPhone 13 Pro, 6.1-inch; 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB. Regional model numbers A2483, A2636, A2638, A2639, A2640; band support varies by model. The larger iPhone 13 Pro Max and the 60 Hz iPhone 13 are separate models.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro — Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro image; Sierra Blue, graphite, gold, silver and Alpine Green.
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro image; Sierra Blue, graphite, gold, silver and Alpine Green.

Specifications

SpecificationValue
Display6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with ProMotion (adaptive up to 120 Hz); 2532 × 1170 pixels, 460 ppi; HDR, True Tone, wide colour (P3)

ProMotion changes the refresh rate with content: it rises to 120 Hz for scrolling and supported games for smoother motion and drops for static content to save battery. Typical maximum brightness is 1000 nits, with 1200 nits peak for HDR; typical contrast is 2,000,000:1. With the rounded corners the rectangle measures 6.06 inches and the viewable area is slightly less.

BuildCeramic Shield front, textured matte glass back, stainless steel band
Water and dust resistanceIP68 (IEC 60529; maximum depth of 6 metres up to 30 minutes)

Apple notes this resistance is not permanent and may decrease with normal wear; liquid damage is not covered by warranty.

ChipA15 Bionic: 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

The A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 has a 4-core GPU; the Pro version has one more core.

Storage128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB

Capacity is chosen at purchase; there is no memory card slot. On the 128 GB model ProRes video is limited to 1080p at 30 fps.

Rear cameras12 MP Telephoto (ƒ/2.8), 12 MP Wide (ƒ/1.5, sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels) and 12 MP Ultra Wide (ƒ/1.8, 120°); 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, up to 15x digital; LiDAR Scanner

The telephoto gives a 6x optical zoom range in total. The ultra-wide camera handles macro photos and video. The LiDAR Scanner measures depth to help low-light focus and Night mode portraits. Apple ProRAW is a photo format that keeps raw data for editing.

VideoDolby Vision HDR up to 4K at 24/25/30/60 fps; ProRes up to 4K at 30 fps; Cinematic mode 1080p at 30 fps; 1080p slo-mo at 120/240 fps; macro video

ProRes is a professional video format with lighter compression for editing; files are very large. Cinematic mode blurs the background and can shift focus between people.

Front camera and Face ID12 MP TrueDepth, ƒ/2.2; Face ID

The front camera also records 4K Dolby Vision, ProRes and Cinematic mode.

Cellular and wireless5G (sub-6 GHz; mmWave as well on the US model), Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO, Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, Ultra Wideband chip, NFC with reader mode

Model numbers vary by region: A2483 (US), A2636 (Canada, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia), A2639 (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), A2640 and A2638 (other countries). Band support differs by model number.

SIMNano-SIM + eSIM (physical SIM tray on these models)

Apple says the SIM tray is on the left side and the IMEI is etched on it.

LocationGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou; digital compass; iBeacon
Battery and chargingUp to 22 hours video (20 hours streamed), up to 75 hours audio; built-in lithium-ion battery; 15 W MagSafe and 7.5 W Qi wireless charging; about 50% in 30 minutes with a 20 W or higher adapter

The fast-charge figure comes from Apple’s test with a 20 W adapter, sold separately. MagSafe uses a magnet array on the back to align chargers and accessories.

Port and video outLightning; up to 1080p video via Lightning Digital AV Adapter; up to 4K HDR over AirPlay

Adapters are sold separately.

Audio formatsAAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos; spatial audio playback
SensorsFace ID, LiDAR Scanner, barometer, three-axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Operating systemiOS 15 at launch
Size and weight146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65 mm; 204 g

From the manufacturer

Apple markets the iPhone 13 Pro with its ProMotion display, upgraded camera system and longer battery life than earlier Pro models. Apple Support

Strengths and limitations

  • TechRadar found battery life clearly better than earlier Pro models: the phone lasted a full day of normal use, with 10–20% left in the evening on lighter days, while heavier days could need a top-up. Charging reached 25% in 15 minutes and 53% in 30 minutes. The 120 Hz screen was noticeable in Apple’s apps and menus, but many third-party apps did not support 120 Hz at the time of testing. Zoomed shots from the 3x telephoto were very good, the main camera and Night mode strong, and macro mode an interesting addition. Downsides: a design very close to the iPhone 12 Pro, a protruding camera bump that makes the phone rock on a table, and no 4K ProRes on the 128 GB model.

    TechRadar review (James Peckham, October 2021; updated September 2022); single gold review unit.

    TechRadar: iPhone 13 Pro review

Tags

2021APPLEIPHONEIOS5GMAGSAFEOLEDLIGHTNINGPROMOTION

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Sources

  1. Apple Support: iPhone 13 Pro technical specifications
  2. Apple Support: Identify your iPhone model
  3. TechRadar: iPhone 13 Pro review