Apple iPhone 13 Pro Review: Macro Mode But Micro Changes

POSITIVES

✓ Macro mode on camera app

A fruitful addition but not an essential gamechanger

✓ Face ID, Qi charging and MagSafe compatible

All bonuses for using with the iPhone

✓ Same consistent experience

There's always a lot more to like than there is to dislike

NEGATIVES

✘ Maybe not worth the upgrade

Especially if you have a 12 or 11 lineup

✘ Lightning USB 2.0

Ludicrous and frustrating to deal with

✘ No major design hauls

Not much has changed year to year

Retail Price: $999.00

Buy on Amazon

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees and support our channel by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

---

Product Specs +

• 6.1 inch 1170x2532p OLED display (460 ppi)
• 120 Hz Refresh Rate
• Wireless Charging
• Face ID
• Apple A15 Bionic chip
• 6 GB ram/ 128 GB storage
• 3,095 mAh battery
• iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 15.1

Camera Specs +

Rear Cameras

• 12 MP, f/1.5, (wide)
• 12 MP, f/2.8, (telephoto)
• 12 MP, f/1.8, (ultrawide)
• 4k @60fps Video Recording

Selfie Cameras

• 12 MP, f/2.2 (wide)

When you buy an Apple iPhone, there used to be off-years with minimal exterior differences, but enough internal upgrades to be considered a new generation of phone. Apple used to distinguish these years with an S letter after the number, but that naming scheme has since been retired and we’re just going up the number ladder. The iPhone 13 Pro is a mighty serviceable phone in its own right, but if you’re comparing it to an iPhone 12 Pro, it may not be such an exciting year to year upgrade Apple fans are known to do.

A Lot of the Same

From a design standpoint, not much has changed year to year. There’s a new Sierra Blue color for the Pro line and a narrower notch on the front display. We’ll talk about the processing power bump in the next section, but the main reason I wanted to get an iPhone 13 Pro was for the ability to explore the Macro Mode on the camera app. We film and take photos of a lot of gadgets here at The Sypnotix and while a DSLR or mirrorless camera is the right way to go, there are situations where an even more portable solution would be quite convenient. A triple 12 MP camera setup that covers wide, ultrawide and telephoto sensors holdover their previous location on the rear of the iPhone. Apple rarely if ever lets users down in the photo department and we have more of the same this year. Photos in well lit environments are crisp, well exposed and offer accurate color reproduction. I’m still impressed with the AI’s ability to distinguish what to focus and expose. Apple really does do a terrific job that requires minimal effort from the user. You can easily take a photo on the iPhone 13 Pro that looks great on the first attempt no matter how experienced you are at framing a shot. That isn’t always the case even on many other flagship priced phones. 

Taken on Apple iPhone 13 Pro

So was the Macro Mode, which was the prime reason I bought the phone, really worth the $999 price tag? Of course not, but as far as mobile phone macro picture taking is concerned, I was relatively satisfied with what Apple has given us here. I wouldn’t rely on using the Macro Mode for video as at that focal range, any slight movement even with Apple’s dual optical image stabilization will define what you shoot. Photo results fare better as with the auto-macro enabled, the iPhone automatically switches into a digital zoom of the ultrawide lens 10 cm away from an object. When you artificially imitate a len’s function, you’ll inevitably encounter some noise that a real lens of that type wouldn’t pick up. That’s what keeps actual cameras in our bags to this day. 

Consistent Performance

While the Macro Mode was a fruitful addition but not an essential gamechanger, the iPhone 13 Pro then needs to rely on a high level from other functions of the phone to make it worth the high price tag. Fortunately, Apple has consistently given us all-around performers over the years and that trend continues with the Apple A15 Bionic chip. Smooth effortless navigation of iOS 15 is evident with the 6 GB of Ram and 128 GB of storage on my model. I haven’t come across an app that has throttled my user experience nor did I honestly expect to see that on here. You’re getting top of the line performance here that is supported by tremendous longevity in the battery life department. It always amazes me what Apple can do with such mediocre spec numbers, but they’ve pulled a rabbit out of a hat once again with this 3,095 mAh battery. Even with my above average heavy usage, I can stretch out nearly two days on one charge. I’ve reviewed my abundant share of phones over the years with a strict grading curve using the same app library and even I have to admit this phone is amazing for its size.      

Speaking of size, the iPhone 13 Pro has essentially the same 6.1 inch 1170 x 2532p OLED display as the 12 Pro. There’s a little more real estate thanks to the tighter notch, but the 19.5:9 aspect ratio is good for 460 ppi. There isn’t much that needs to be talked about with this Super Retina XDR screen as it holds the same quality viewing experience as the previous generation of Apple iPhones. The same quality applies to the stereo speakers that utilizes the earpiece and a bottom firing speaker. It’s clear and distinctive audio that just sounds natural. The phone fits quite comfortably in my hands and that’s also one of the reasons why I always get the regular or mini sized iPhones over the Max. I think Apple has settled into a good middle ground between comfortability and viewing space with the regular size iPhone here.   

Face ID, 7.5W Qi charging and the MagSafe magnetic system that debuted last year all retain their spots on the newest iPhones. One horribly frustrating spot that made its unwanted continued presence is Lightning USB 2.0 as the charging port. I just can’t explain how ludicrous it is to continue using a Lightning cable in 2021, when literally every other tech product including basically everything else Apple makes is on USB-C. The fact that you can use one cable and charging brick for any and every piece of tech in your everyday carry except for your iPhone is just unacceptable. Sure, good Qi charging like that on the iPhone 13 Pro does help offset the inconveniences, but there has to be a point where the general public just stops listening to the propaganda from Apple of why USB-C isn’t ready for iPhones. 

What’s Not to Like?

As with every iPhone, there’s always a lot more to like than there is to dislike. As iPhone sales continue to climb year in and year out, these former “S” years are less exciting on the exterior, but actually more refined than often given credit for. The iPhone 13 Pro is a terrific device for anybody out there looking for a smartphone that requires minimal effort to use. Where the difficult question comes into play is if it's worth an upgrade from the 12 or even 11 families. This phone is for sure the cream of the crop of 2021 devices, but after using all three of the recent generations, I can honestly say that people like my parents or sister won’t even be able to notice the processing speed upgrades. Some of them might not even be able to recognize the slight bump in camera technology. For all they’re concerned, the 13 lineup physically looks like the 12 and 11 lineups and if those phones are cheaper and they look the same, they must not be that different. Competitors like Samsung with the Z Flip 3 can get away with slight physical changes year to year due to a form factor that doesn’t yet occupy a vast majority of pockets. 

There once was a time where iPhone launches were the most exciting smartphone products to look forward to in a calendar year. While I do love the all-around goodness of the iPhone 13 Pro and would even consider this to be a contender for my phone of the year, is it the most exciting phone I’ve used this year? No, and that’s where we're at with Apple in 2021.  

---

---

Related