iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Should you upgrade to Apple’s latest model?

Apple has launched iPhone 16 Pro with impression hardware improvements return at the end of September. Like all annual releases, pumping out the latest and greatest is tempting but can be expensive. If you’re like me and own an iPhone 13 Pro, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth upgrading.

Also: Everything Apple announced at the iPhone 16 event: AirPods, Apple Watch Series 10, AI, more

The answer depends on what you need from your phone and the condition of your iPhone 13 Pro. Assuming it’s still in good shape, the main difference between the two comes down to the hardware leap you’ll get with the iPhone 16 Pro.

That means more memory, a significantly faster processor, a larger battery, and a much better camera. Oh, and Apple is smart. Let’s look at these two devices side by side.

Specifications

	iPhone 13 Pro	iPhone 16 Pro
Display	6.1 inches	6.3 inches
Brightness	Peak 1,200 nit	2,000 nit peak
Color	Alpine Blue, Silver, Gold, Graphite, Sierra Blue	Desert Titan, Natural Titan, White Titan, Black Titan
Processor	A15 Bionic with five-core GPU	A18 Pro with six-core GPU
Warehouse	128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB
Construction	Stainless steel with frosted glass back	Titanium with frosted glass back
Battery	Up to 22 hours of video playback	Up to 27 hours of video playback
Camera	12MP Front Camera, 12MP Wide Angle, 12MP Ultra Wide Angle, Telephoto Lens,	12MP Front Camera, 48MP Fusion Camera, 48MP Ultra Wide Angle, 12MP Telephoto Lens
Weight	7.20 ounces (204 grams)	7.03 ounces (199 grams)
Price	Starting at $639	Starting at $999

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You should buy iPhone 16 Pro if…

1. You want a better camera

To put it bluntly, the camera on the iPhone 16 Pro blows the camera of the iPhone 13 Pro out of the water. The 48MP composite camera on the iPhone 16 Pro is capable of producing high-resolution photos and videos, which, along with the 5x tetra prism zoom lens and 25x digital zoom, are capable of producing some truly exceptional images. special.

The iPhone 16 series also introduces a new Camera Control button, bringing a physical element to photography that is sure to resonate with some. A light press on the button will focus on the subject, a firm press will take a photo, and a long press will record video.

Also: We tested the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera system and it’s very underrated – with one tragic flaw

The iPhone 13 Pro’s camera is no slouch, but it can’t compete with the top-notch hardware Apple put in the iPhone 16 Pro. Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera is identical to the camera on the 16 Pro Max, making the Pro a good choice if your main motivation for buying a new phone is a camera upgrade.

2. You came here because of AI (and you use Siri)

Apple is about to release some new AI features with Apple is smartfirst time Creative artificial intelligence (gen AI) technology but it is only available on iPhone 15 Pro and above. If you use Siri and want to take advantage of all the new features, you’ll have to upgrade.

Also: You can download iOS 18.1 with Apple AI now. Here’s how to do it (and which iPhone models support it)

The improved Siri is now more aware of on-screen content and can communicate much easier with more complex voice commands. It can even respond to physical gestures like nodding and switching between text and voice input, a first for a virtual assistant. apple also recently integrated ChatGPT into iOSprovides users with an alternative to Siri in case it cannot handle a certain request.

A similar iOS update was also introduced Visual intelligence exclusive to the iPhone 16 series. Think of it as Apple’s version of Google Lens: You can take a photo of an object via Camera Control, and in response, the smartphone will look it up on the search engine and provide detailed information.

3. You want better performance

The iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro processor delivers a big jump in raw power and battery efficiency compared to previous models, and those numbers get bigger the further you go. For example, the A18 Pro is 30% faster than the A15 Bionic chip on the iPhone 13 Pro, and despite being lighter, has more power and lasts longer.

If your iPhone 13 Pro is running out of space or starting to perform slowly, the upgrade will feel like a big step, especially since all the new features launching with Apple Intelligence will require additional power due to A18 Pro chip provided.

Also, Apple tried positioning the iPhone as a serious gaming deviceand the new chip’s ray tracing support, better frame rates, and more sophisticated heatsink support actually. If you love mobile gaming, the iPhone 16 Pro is a beast.

You should stick with the iPhone 13 Pro if…

1. Your phone will still last in 2024

Don’t misunderstand; The iPhone 13 Pro is still a great phone. It’s not even that old — this model was released in 2021. If you’re like me and you care about your tech, there’s no reason to upgrade your phone if it’s current. Yours is still working fine. While it’s true that the iPhone 16 Pro is powerful, premium hardware doesn’t always mean longevity.

Also: Why I recommend the standard iPhone 16 over the iPhone Pro this year (and I’m not alone)

Apple is smart is now available on the iPhone 16 series, introducing features like Smart Reply to respond to messages promptly, Writing Tools to help you proofread text, and Siri upgrades, among others. If you want synthetic AI to power your daily work, buying an iPhone 16 Pro is your way to tap into this ecosystem. However, if you don’t care, the device won’t be worth the price, which brings us to the next point.

2. You are on a tight budget

The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $1,000 for the lowest-end storage configuration and goes up to $1,500 for the most expensive 1TB version. These aren’t cheap phones, and most people will want to justify the purchase before they buy.

There are some good trade-in deals this year, but if you’ve just paid off your old phone, it might be smarter to wait until the next line of devices comes out. The iPhone 13 Pro still has a solid hardware package, with the A15 Bionic chip’s six-core CPU strong enough to compete with even newer smartphones on the market.

Alternatives to consider