DECEMBER 2021 MACWORLD 79super high-end photogs. The
main feature I missed from the
iPhone 13 Pro is macro mode.
While there’s already a software
solution from Halide that mimics
it fairly well, it’s not as smooth
and automatic as it is on the
iPhone 13 Pro, nor can you get
nearly as close to your subject.
And when you get up close to
take a photo with the iPhone 13’s
stock camera app, pictures are a
blurry mess.
We outlined the advantages
of the iPhone 13 Pro camera in our
extensive review (fave.co/3w59OgJ), and it
brings an array of hardware and software
enhancements that you won’t get on the
iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 has a great
camera for sure, but it doesn’t feel like a
generational leap like the Pro
model does.
BOTTOM LINE
The iPhone 13 is an easy
phone to recommend. Even
with iPhone 12 looks, it doesn’t
feel like a stale design and it
has tremendous battery life. At
$799 ($829 unlocked), it’s the
same price as the iPhone 12
and you get a little more for
your money in 2021. There’s no
doubt that the iPhone 13 will be
a fantastic upgrade for anyone using an
iPhone 11, XR, or XS. And getting 128GB of
storage instead of 64GB is nice, too.
But if you already have an iPhone 12
and want one of the newer phones, the
iPhone 13 Pro is a better option. Yes, it’s
$200 more expensive, but
you’re getting a lot more for
the extra $200: a better
display (brighter and with
ProMotion), processor (five
GPU cores vs. four GPU
cores), camera system
(telephoto plus wide and
ultrawide improvements), and
longer battery life.
It’s not that you won’t be
happy with the iPhone 13, but
you’ll be happier with the
iPhone 13 Pro. ■mmmm
iPhone 13
PROS- Excellent battery life.
- Top-notch camera.
- Everything great about the
iPhone 12.
CONS - Missing many Pro features.
- Small upgrades over the
iPhone 12. - Few design changes.
PRICE
$799
COMPANY
Apple
The iPhone 13 (top) has a different camera layout and
shade of blue than the iPhone 12.