Like last year, Apple released four iPhones on September 14—the iPhone 13, the 13 Mini, the 13 Pro and the 13 Pro Max. They look the same as the respective versions last year with the exception of a few new colours, a slightly smaller notch, some tweaks on the camera systems and a few added milligrams owing to larger batteries.
In addition to the incremental changes—faster processor, brighter screen, among others—the most noticeable improvements in the iPhone 13 and the 13 Mini are the better battery life and the camera systems. A slightly bigger battery and more efficient processor have improved the battery life of the iPhone 13 by two and a half hours in comparison with the iPhone 12.
The Mini
The battery life could be crucial for the iPhone 13 Mini (one and a half hours longer than the iPhone 12 Mini). While everyone loved a small phone that did not compromise on features and performance, the inadequate battery life was seen as a bummer when the Mini was released last year. There might be many takers for the new Mini with improved battery, as it costs a good Rs 10,000 less than the iPhone 13 while offering the same features and performance.
Pros
The ProMotion display on the iPhone 13 Pro and the 13 Pro Max can refresh at 10Hz to 120Hz, depending on the requirement. That is, if you are just looking at a photo on the phone, the screen would be refreshing at a lower rate, but it would jump to a higher rate if you start scrolling or watching a video or playing a game. It is good, but Apple was just playing catchup here. 120Hz butter-smooth displays are available even on mid-range Android phones these days.
The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have been the undisputed kings in mobile videography. The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have just inherited the crown. And they have got some new tricks as well, like the ProRes video. A video codec Apple made years ago, ProRes can compress video into a small file without losing image clarity or colour. It is widely used for video editing on Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro.
The Pro and the Pro Max also offer better battery life than the last year models and both offer up to 1TB storage.
Should you buy one?
If you are upgrading from an older model, say the iPhone 6S or the iPhone 7, there is a strong case for upgrading to the latest one. But if you have an iPhone 12 or the 12 Pro, it is not as compelling. In fact, it is a good time to buy the last year's iPhones. Apple has officially dropped the price of iPhone 12 to Rs 65,900 (64GB). The iPhone 13 starts at Rs 79,900 (128GB).