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.

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 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

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 Apple iPhone 14 is no match for the just-released iPhone 14 Pro, but if you ignore that, it’s one of the most effective phones around.

Great cameras, front and back, Fast performance, Good battery life, Innovative safety features

Design too familiar, Some average features

Apple has given select media outlets and YouTubers access to the new iPhone 14 ahead of when it begins arriving in customers' hands on Friday, September 16. There are two models of the ‌iPhone‌ 14, the standard 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 14 and the larger 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus.

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;

Last year’s iPhone 12 Pro didn’t offer enough to make it worth the extra money over the excellent iPhone 12 , but Apple has significantly beefed up the iPhone 13 Pro. The super-slick 120Hz screen significantly improves the experience of using the phone, bringing it up to par with top Android phones.

Pros: better cameras, 3x optical zoom, Face ID, longer battery life, great performance, brilliant 120Hz screen with smaller notch, durable and easy to hold, 5G, long software support.

Cons: no USB-C, need your own charger, heavy, expensive, not cutting edge.

All things considered, is the iPhone 13 Pro worth it? On standalone terms, yes. Its cameras are definitely better than its predecessors, and so are its display, performance and battery life.

It seems likely that Apple expects at least a significant number of its customers to skip generations of its phones, given that upgrades each time are generally fairly modest. That means that from iPhone to iPhone the differences are somewhat minimal, but if you’ve missed a generation, you’ll notice...

Cheaper than last year’s iPhone 12 Pro, Excellent macro/close-up focusing, Same cameras on both Pro and Pro Max

No advanced controls in native app, Price still high, Relatively restricted zoom