Scratching your head over which iPhone Pro to pick? Unsure whether the 13 Pro is worthy of its price tag? If so, fear not. This article will take you through the key differences between the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro. We’ll give you the lowdown on every crucial detail, including the 13 Pro’s A15 Bionic Chip and 3x optical zoom camera. Let’s get to it.

 

Design and size

 

Looks aren’t everything, but they certainly matter. Thankfully, then, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro are both beautiful. Each handset features sleek, angular curves and a smooth stainless-steel exterior that oozes class. It’s unmistakably Apple.

 

However, there are slight differences. For instance, the iPhone 13 Pro is marginally thicker and feels sturdier in hand, weighing 15g more than its predecessor. Its notch is also 20% smaller, offering more screen space for streaming, browsing, and gaming.

 

There’s a shake-up in the colour department, too. Silver, Gold, and Graphite are available across both handsets, but a lighter Sierra Blue replaces the 12 Pro’s Pacific Blue. The 13 Pro also throws a gorgeous Alpine Green into the mix.

 

iPhone 12 Pro vs 13 Pro dimensions:

 

	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 13 Pro
Height	146.7 mm (5.78 inches)	146.7 mm (5.78 inches)
Width	71.5 mm (2.82 inches	71.5 mm (2.82 inches)
Depth	7.4 mm (0.29 inch)	7.65 mm (0.30 inch)
Weight	189 grams (6.66 ounces)	204 grams (7.19 ounces)

 

Verdict: Draw.

 

Display and screen  

 

The two displays look similar side by side. Both handsets have a stunning 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a crystal-clear resolution set at 1170 x 2532. The pair also boasts a protective Ceramic Shield four times tougher than other glass covers, which may come in handy if you’re accident-prone.

 

But there are a few differences. Firstly, the 13 Pro’s boosted 120hz refresh rate (formerly 60Hz) makes scrolling smoother and has a ProMotion function that saves battery life. It can also reach 1,000 nits in outdoor lighting (previously 800 nits), making it easier to see the screen when the sun’s shining. 

iPhone 12 Pro Display:

• Super Retina XDR display
• 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display
• HDR display
• 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi
• 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)
• True Tone display
• Wide colour display (P3)
• Haptic Touch
• 800 nits max brightness (typical)
• 1200 nits max brightness (HDR)

iPhone 13 Pro Display:

• Super Retina XDR display
• 6.1-inch (diagonal) all-screen OLED display
• ProMotion technology with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz
• HDR display
• 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi
• 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)
• True Tone display
• Wide colour display (P3)
• Haptic Touch
• 1000 nits max brightness (typical)
• 1200 nits max brightness (HDR)

Verdict: It’s close, but a fine display by the iPhone 13 Pro clinches the victory.  

Camera and photography

 

Like the iPhone 12 Pro, you’ll find Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra-Wide camera lenses feature on its big brother. All lenses, including the selfie cam, are set at an impressive 12MP.

 

There are upgrades to the 13 Pro, though. Wider apertures produce crisper pictures in low light, while a new Macro Mode lets you take ultra-detailed snaps of subjects from just 2cm away.

 

The 12MP Telephoto lens is also superior. Previously set with 2x optical zoom, the 13 Pro reaches further with its 3x setting, while a new sensor-shift system provides more control when taking pics.  

 

The 13 Pro’s new Cinematic mode allows you to change focus and apply depth-of-field effects when it comes to videos. You can even alter the foreground and background. It also automatically selects depth and focus, resulting in more polished videos.

 

 

 

	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 13 Pro
Dual	12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6" TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)	12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Video	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10‑bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, Cinematic mode, stereo sound rec.

 

Verdict: The iPhone 13’s camera is the clear winner.

 

Performance and battery

 

Performance-wise, it’s tough to beat the iPhone 13 Pro. An upgraded A15 Bionic chip, 6GB of Ram, and 5-core GPU provide extra power when downloading, gaming, and multitasking. These updates also bolster battery life, with the 13 Pro reportedly outlasting the 12 Pro by up to 90 minutes.

 

Both handsets support fast charging, meaning you can boost your battery by up to 50 per cent in just 30 mins. Storage options remain the same, with both phones offering 128GB, 256GB, and 512GBs options. However, there is one change, as Apple introduces an enormous 1TB variant for the iPhone 13 Pro!

 

	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 13 Pro
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm	Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
CPU	Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)	Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
GPU	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)	Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
Battery type	Li-Ion 2815 mAh, non-removable (10.78 Wh)	Li-Ion 3095 mAh, non-removable (12.11 Wh
Charging	Fast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min (advertised)	Fast charging (23W, unofficial rating), 50% in 30 min (advertised)

 

Verdict: Superior battery and performance. The 13 Pro comes out on top again.

 

Conclusion: iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro

 

So, what’s it to be? It all boils down to what’s important to you. If you’re happy with a stylish handset that can compete with Apple’s flagship devices, the 12 Pro is up to the challenge. After all, let’s not forget those similarities, including that stunning 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. If, however, you need superior battery life and precise camera control, the 13 Pro is the clear winner.

 

Whichever you choose, refurbished iPhone Pro handsets are available from Envirofone for a fraction of retail prices. But it doesn’t stop there. You can save even more money by selling your iPhone to us and putting the cash towards an upgrade. You’ll get 12% more in Envirocash if you buy refurbished handsets with us after selling your old device.