iPhone 13 Pro (Max) review: your very best option in detail

The iPhone 13 Pro (Max) was announced during the California Streaming event. The smartphone does not seem to have changed much on paper compared to its predecessor, but in practice the fork is slightly different.

For the past ten days, I’ve been able to use the iPhone 13 Pro as my default smartphone. In this review, I’ll explain what exactly you need with the smartphone and I’ll tell you why the upgrade is bigger than it looks.

iPhone 13 Pro (Max): a very big upgrade

At first glance, the iPhone 13 Pro (Max) does not appear to be a major upgrade. Theoretically, a first impression that is in line with reality. After all, the new smartphone only has three new things: a new camera system, more advanced display and an improved battery. But how many consumers are switching from the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 13 Pro? Right, damn little.

This upgrade should therefore be seen with the target group in mind for which it is intended. So it’s not wrong at all to include the improvements from last year and conclude that this can really be called a major upgrade. The iPhone 13 Pro (Max) is a smartphone that will serve the consumer in detail. Why? I’ll explain that to you!

What does the smartphone have to offer you?

To give you a good idea of ​​the iPhone 13 Pro (Max), I have listed the most important specifications for you. The iPhone 13 Pro features the following:

• Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion (120Hz)
• Processor: Apple A15 Bionic processor
• Random access memory 6GB
• Storage capacity: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
• Battery: 3095mAh
• Payload: 20W
• Camera system type: triple camera system
• Cam 1: 12 megapixel main camera (f/1.5)
• 2: 12 megapixel telephoto lens (f/2.8)
• 3: 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera (f/1.8)
• selfie camera: 12 megapixels (f/2.2)
• Size: 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.7mm
• Weight: 204 grams

The Pro Max offers consumers:

• Display: 7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion (120Hz)
• Processor: Apple A15 Bionic processor
• Random access memory 6GB
• Storage capacity: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
• Battery: 4373mAh
• Payload: 20W
• Camera system type: triple camera system
• Cam 1: 12 megapixel main camera (f/1.5)
• 2: 12 megapixel telephoto lens (f/2.8)
• 3: 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera (f/1.8)
• selfie camera: 12 megapixels (f/2.2)
• Size: 160.8mm x 78.1mm x 7.7mm
• Weight: 240 grams

The iPhone 13 Pro is available in Sierra Blue, Silver, Gold, and Graphite. You buy the device with 128GB (€1159), 256GB (€1279), 512GB (€1509) or 1TB (€1739) of storage capacity.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is available in the same color options, but is obviously slightly more expensive. The smartphone is for sale for €1259 (128GB), €1379 (256GB), €1609 (512Gb) or €1839 (1TB).

iPhone 13 Pro (Max): three major improvements

As mentioned, there are three major improvements this year when you put the iPhone 13 Pro next to the iPhone 12 Pro. These are the camera system, the improved battery life and a screen with ProMotion technology. But do these changes also take everyday iPhone use to the next level? I’ve been paying extra attention to this lately:

#1 ProMotion makes the difference

The ProMotion technology is not new, but will make its debut on the iPhone this year. That’s nice, because it makes it possible to use a variable refresh rate of 120Hz. In practice, this simply results in smoother animations when scrolling, making the phone feel faster. In my opinion, this greatly improves the user experience.

The variable part is also very nice for the next point in my review: the battery. Due to this functionality, your iPhone 13 Pro does not always use the maximum refresh rate and it is therefore possible to save battery. So you will be able to have a refresh rate of 10Hz at some times, where at other times you will be using the full 120Hz. Your iPhone optimizes the display for every situation and does it just right.

#2 An improved battery life

The battery life of the iPhone 13 Pro certainly does not deteriorate, despite the addition of 120Hz. Considering the functionality is a real power guzzler, this is not so bad. In fact, the battery life has really impressed me in the past ten days.

Whether we’re really dealing with an average improvement of an hour and a half, as Apple promises, I don’t know. However, there is definitely an improvement. I’ve averaged three hours of screen time in the past ten days and averaged about a day and a half with the battery.

On the calmest day, I achieved a screen time of one hour and 31 minutes. In fact, on the busiest day, I achieved a screen time of five hours and had 20% battery left at the end of the day. With the addition of the ProMotion display in mind, I can’t help but commend Apple for this impressive improvement.

#3 The camera system is next-level

I can also compliment enough about the camera system. I can hardly remember that I have looked at the result so often during a review with open mouth. The iPhone 13 Pro has nothing less than the Pro Max in this area and that means that every photo enthusiast can also completely lose their egg with this model.

At least, if that egg ’em mainly in the details. This smartphone offers, in its own way, the ultimate user experience for photographers and filmmakers. This simply means that the smartphone not only shines during the day, but also knows how to distinguish itself in the evenings.

I would almost call scary how strong this iPhone 13 Pro is in poor lighting situations. Photos come out with not too much noise and accurate colors. Something that is thanks to the new ultra-wide camera.

When you hold the iPhone 13 Pro (Max) about 10 cm away from an object, the camera system automatically shoots into macro mode. That is very nice, although Apple will come with a software update that makes it possible to disable the functionality. I understand that, because the shift between “normal” photography and macro is very clear to see.

The result is in line with the other qualities of the camera system, but I don’t see myself using the feature on a daily basis.

This also applies to the Cinematic Mode of the iPhone 13 Pro (Max). The functionality really takes smartphone video to a higher level. It takes some effort to understand when exactly the system automatically focuses on objects, but once you get the hang of that, it’s a lot of fun.

The images are of really high quality, partly thanks to the excellent stabilization. Apple says every year that its camera is better than ever before, but I can say that the company really doesn’t say too much about that this year.

iPhone 13 Pro: last year’s benefits

Most of the consumers looking to buy the iPhone 13 Pro probably come from an iPhone 11 Pro or older. Logical, because an annual upgrade is no longer something that is really worth it in 2021.

The step from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 12 series was a big one. This is mainly due to the new design, which this year is accompanied by a number of pleasant internal improvements. For example, last year the battery life was scaled back slightly compared to the iPhone 11 Pro, but Apple is fixing that with the iPhone 13 Pro. The camera system is a bigger step compared to last year and the ProMotion technology is also a nice addition.

The iPhone 13 Pro also has a smaller notch, which I personally don’t think is worth discussing. It’s a 20% improvement that Apple has waited far, far too long. But hey, if you still take that upgrade from last year, that smaller notch is of course also nice.

If you want to know what the iPhone 12 Pro really has to offer you, be sure to read the review I wrote about it last year.

No beauty prize

Okay, on to the things that the iPhone 13 Pro (Max) doesn’t really do very well at all. To be quite honest, a part that I have more trouble with this year than usual. Yes, the iPhone 13 Pro is anything but affordable and the “smaller” notch is a real joke after years of waiting. But this smartphone does not entail any major drawbacks. Although there is something that Apple really needs to do something about.

The iPhone 13 Pro (Max) itself hasn’t gotten a whole lot thicker, but the camera system is really starting to get too big to the point of embarrassment. The lenses are gigantic and the block itself makes the phone look anything but sleek. Especially when the phone is on your table on the camera system. The design didn’t score well in 2019, but compared to this current model, I’m really starting to get homesick for it.

Time to put the camera system back in the housing next year and stop with the large camera block. Because despite the beautiful color options, the stainless steel edges and a smaller notch, this iPhone 13 Pro does not deserve a beauty prize.

iPhone 13 Pro (Max): your very best option down to the last detail

Do you really need a beauty prize if you do the rest very well? Not really for me. The iPhone 13 Pro (Max) looks like a significantly smaller update than it actually is. The smartphone offers the consumer a lot and that is mainly in the details. The powerful camera options, the improved battery life and the variable display.

If you want to get the most out of your smartphone and are crazy about photography, the iPhone 13 Pro (Max) is really your very best option down to the last detail. It doesn’t matter which smartphone you put in front of it.