by Dan Barbera
It's iPhone 13 launch day, and customers around the world are receiving their iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max orders, plus the new devices are also in Apple retail locations. We picked up one of the new iPhone 13 models and both of the iPhone 13 Pro models for a quick unboxing and an honest overview of the feature set.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Apple's iPhone 13 models have more environmentally friendly packaging, so you just need to pop open the box and your iPhone is right there with no more protective plastic. There are a few papers, a SIM ejection tool, and a Lightning to USB-C cable. No charger or EarPods, of course, because Apple dropped those last year.
The iPhone 13 models are heavier than the iPhone 12 models, and it's definitely noticeable with the Pro Max. We have the Silver iPhone 13 Pro Max, and the Sierra Blue iPhone 13 Pro, which is a much lighter blue than last year.
As for the iPhone 13, we have the Starlight color, which is meant to be a silver/gold hybrid, and on the iPhone, it's nearly white. It's quite attractive. Unsurprisingly, the camera bumps are massive, and the notch is smaller, a feature that's mostly obvious when putting the iPhone 13 next to an iPhone 12.
Aside from the notch tweak and the camera bumps, the iPhone 13 design is on the boring side because it's basically identical to the iPhone 12 design.
The iPhone 13 Pro models have a ProMotion display, and that's definitely a noticeable improvement. Scrolling is super smooth, and it looks great. ProMotion will definitely be the standout feature for people who pick a Pro model.
There are new camera capabilities, including a Macro mode. It's fun to play around with, but will have limited use in the real world. As other reviews have pointed out, there's an irritating quirk with macro mode -- if you get too close to the subject, the camera switches to another lens, and you have to reset the shot to get back to macro mode.
Apple added a new Cinematic Mode, which is more or less Portrait Mode for video. It works okay, but it's a little bit buggy and it's not super fantastic. You're also getting Photographic Styles, which apply filters to just part of your image, which is kind of useful.
Make sure to check out our video to see all the camera features in action, and we'll have more in-depth camera coverage coming up next week.
Battery life should be significantly improved based on what Apple has boasted for the new iPhones, but we'll need some more time to test that out. In a nutshell, these are basically iPhone 12 models with a few new bells and whistles. There's nothing earth shattering here, so you don't need to upgrade if you've already got one an iPhone 12 or 12 Pro, but there are some solid features for those coming from an older device.
Let us know what you think of the new iPhone 13 models in the comments.
Related Forum: iPhone
[ 177 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
Adamhwi
33 months ago
If you want less than honest reviews, check out Apple’s fav iJustine. I’m pretty sure she’d be able to hype-up Tim’s turds if he let her.
“Look, there’s some corn… no freakin’ way! Look how amazing it looks with the new macro lens!”
Score: 50 Votes (Like | Disagree)
grassfeeder
33 months ago
Im so tired of people expecting a completely new and revolutionary product every 12 months. Advancements dont always move that fast.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dorv
33 months ago
iPhone 13 design is on the boring side because it's basically identical to the iPhone 12 design
Perfection is boring?
There are new camera capabilities, including a Macro mode. It's fun to play around with, but will have limited use in the real world.
Ok, I guess we have different real worlds :)
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sviato
33 months ago
lol somehow the smaller notch seems to take up more space
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme
33 months ago
I picked up my 13 mini this morning. There were only 7 people in line about a half-hour before the Apple Store opened, and I was number 4. I was ushered into the store right when it opened and got my phone within a few minutes. When I left the store, no one was in line. So although others apparently aren't excited about this release, I'm quite happy. My new mini has a bigger battery, smaller notch, better camera and better cellular radio. If it turns out to be true that Apple will be discontinuing the mini, this iPhone will have to tide me over for quite a while. If they do continue making the mini, the 13 should still last me for quite a while.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tgwaste
33 months ago
If you want less than honest reviews, check out Apple’s fav iJustine. I’m pretty sure she’d be able to hype-up Tim’s turds if he let her.
“Look, there’s some corn… no freakin’ way! Look how amazing it looks with the new macro lens!”
Ive said it a million times. iJustine and all of those like her are not reviewers, they are advertisers. They advertise for apple and then apple throws them crumbs like a 10 minute Cook interview.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Popular Stories
Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests
Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
Read Full Article • 148 comments
Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid
Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
Read Full Article • 171 comments
New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera
Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by Hartley Charlton
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
Read Full Article • 99 comments
Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14
Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
Read Full Article • 97 comments
Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug
Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
Read Full Article • 149 comments
Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18
Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by Aaron Perris
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
Read Full Article • 117 comments
iOS 18 Will Finally Bring This Android Feature to iPhone
Monday March 25, 2024 6:42 am PDT by MacRumors Staff
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18....
Read Full Article
iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History
Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
Read Full Article • 114 comments
