Ultimately it feels like Apple's 2021 iPhones are all about refining rather than offering anything brand new. That's not going to be exciting for those eager to get new toys and tech, but the iPhone 13 Pro is as a refined an Apple phone as you can buy - so if you're in the market for an upgrade from an older generation then it'll still feel genuinely impressive.

ProMotion screen brings 120Hz smoothness; Better battery than predecessor; Easy-to-use and effective cameras;

A15 Processor isn't a huge leap forward compared to A14; No always-on display; Battery life challenged under heavy demands; Macro mode auto switching can get confused at times;

The iPhone 13 Pro represents a major improvement over the iPhone 12 Pro. Sure, it retains a similar design, but with improvements to the display, battery, and camera, the phone is better where it matters.

Apple's iPhone 13 Pro offers all the same great features for content creators as the larger Pro Max, its battery just doesn't last as long.

Excellent cameras, including improved zoom, Smooth 120Hz display, Long battery life

Shorter battery life than the iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro is another highly competent Apple phone, with the most notable improvements coming in the camera department

ProMotion 120Hz OLED display, Decent battery life, Excellent set of cameras

A bit boring, Lens flare still an issue

There are a lot of iPhones on the market right now, and they're pretty much all good. Apple currently sells a stunning eight models, from the $399 iPhone SE to the $1,099 iPhone 13 Pro Max. We're not going to recommend every one, because we're here to help you make buying decisions, and that means cutting down the choices. So the admirable iPhone 13 Pro (starting at $999) doesn't quite earn top honors this year. It's a perfectly good phone, particularly for content creators looking for a top-notch photo and video experience. But for most people, we more highly recommend the standard iPhone 13 (starting at $799) for its balance of performance and price, while professional users are better off spending the extra $100 on the Pro Max for its longer battery life. window.videoEmbeds = window.videoEmbeds || []; window.videoEmbeds.push({ elemId: 'video-container-gjnLMRgDl2', data: {"slug":"gjnLMRgDl2","url":"https:...

Apple's iPhone 13 Pro offers all the same great features for content creators as the larger Pro Max, its battery just doesn't last as long.

Excellent cameras, including improved zoom; Smooth 120Hz display; Long battery life

Shorter battery life than the iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro represents a major improvement over the iPhone 12 Pro. Sure, it retains a similar design, but with improvements to the display, battery, and camera, the phone is better where it matters.

“The iPhone 13 Pro packs plenty of power under the hood with a 120Hz display, excellent camera capabilities, tons of storage, and endless battery life.”

I’ll say it upfront; the iPhone 13 Pro is the new iPhone model you should buy if you can afford it. Unlike last year’s iPhone 12 Pro, it has all the same capabilities as the larger Pro Max model. You’ll remember that last year, the 12 Pro Max had bigger camera sensors, giving it better lowlight performance and 3x optical zoom, rather than 2x. Not so this year. The iPhone 13 Pro has all the guts of the 13 Pro Max (aside from battery capacity and screen size, of course) without busting your hand or your wallet. Add into the mix the powerful A15 Bionic processor, 120Hz ProMotion display, battery life that can last almost two days, and excellent camera performance, and you get the best iPhone 13 model in the entire lineup. The iPhone 13 Pro I reviewed came in gold, which isn’t my color of choice, but you work with what you have. Both the front and the back are protected by Ceramic Glass and there’s a squared-off stainless steel strip running along the sides, setting it apart in quality fro...

Packs lots of power into the size; Incredible camera and video performance; Very long-lasting battery; Smooth and responsive 120Hz screen; Comes with 1TB storage option;

No USB-C; Not all third-party apps are optimized for higher refresh screen;

The iPhone 13 Pro is one of 2021’s best smartphones, even if it doesn’t quite do enough to warrant upgrading from the 12 Pro. The battery life is the best we’ve seen in Apple’s Pro iPhone, and you’re also getting top-level performance, a great camera package and a super-smooth 120Hz screen. While on their own none of the upgrades for 2021 are huge, they add up to offer a fantastic smartphone experience.

Great performance; Strong battery life; Interesting macro photography mode;

Limited design changes; Very expensive; 4K ProRes limited in 128GB

The iPhone 13 Pro is Apple's most accomplished phone this year, with the Bionic 15 chip, 5G, a battery to last at least a full day and the best camera system on any smartphone. So yes, this is our pick from this year’s iPhone lineup. Since all phones have a bigger battery and the identical camera can be found on the 13 Pro, it’s harder to make a compelling argument from the iPhone 13 Pro Max, unless you’re a content creator glued to your iPhone. However, for £170 less, the iPhone 13 is a compelling alternative which offers an improved battery, the latest Bionic chip, 5G and an incredibly impressive camera powers. What it lacks is that third telephoto lens and the adaptive refresh rate, so it really boils down to your smartphone priorities. All the advancements you see here are incremental, but when you add them all up, it’s not insignificant. Some of the features seem a bit overkill, but a larger battery and boosted camera is exactly the kind of meaningful upgrade users so desperately wanted and now, with the iPhone 13 Pro, get.

Superb camera; All day battery;

Weighty;