Apple unveiled its much-awaited iPhone 13 in September 2021 after months of speculation. The new line of iPhones includes four new devices: iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The all-new iPhones are powered by the company’s new A15 Bionic processor chip, which uses 5-nanometer technology to better handle tasks quickly and efficiently. The iPhone 13 models will be available for pre-order on September 17th and will ship on September 24th. New iPhone models launched alongside other new devices, such as the new Apple Watch Series 7 and the new iPad and iPad mini.
Apple’s announcement comes just a day after the company advised all users to update their devices upon discovering a flaw that would allow Israeli spyware company NSO Group to control almost any computer, watch or iPhone. On September 10, a US judge ruled against the company in Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit, saying that Apple cannot prevent developers from directing customers to payment methods outside of Apple’s in-app purchase system.
In 2020, Apple launched several new products amid the pandemic. In September, the company released its Apple Watch Series 6, and in October, it introduced the iPhone 12 with 5G. This year, the company has already released updates to several products, as well as introduced an all-new tracking tag called AirTag.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini both have the same flat-edge design as the iPhone 12. Both have new Ceramic Shield front covers designed to withstand wear and tear, as well as the same IP68 water resistance rating as the iPhone 12 models.
The dual camera system has two lenses arranged diagonally, and the new Wide Camera takes in 47 percent more light than its predecessor. Meanwhile, the Ultra Wide lens has a new sensor that can detect more detail in darker areas of photos and videos. According to Apple, both phones now feature Super Retina XDR displays that “allow you to see deep true blacks and pure bright whites, while maintaining the dramatic nuances in between.” There’s also sensor shift optical image stabilization across the entire iPhone 13 lineup, which was previously limited to the Pro models in the iPhone 12 lineup.
For capturing video, Apple also introduced a new Cinematic Mode that shoots in Dolby Vision HDR and automatically changes the focus of the video when a subject looks away from the camera. With one click, you can choose which subject to focus on, and with a second tap you can lock that focus so the camera continues to track that person.
Battery life is often a problem for iPhone users. According to Apple, the new iPhone 13 has two and a half hours longer battery life than the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 13 Mini has one and a half hours longer battery life than the iPhone 12 Mini. With Smart Data Mode, the phone automatically converts from 5G to LTE even when 5G isn’t necessary to save battery life.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini are available in several new colors, including Pink, Blue, and Midnight. Entry-level storage has now doubled to 128GB. They start at $699 for the iPhone 13 Mini and $799 for the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are designed with stainless steel bands and rings around the phones and cameras. The back of the device is matte glass, while the front display has a ceramic shield similar to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini.
Like the iPhone 12 Pro model, the iPhone 13 Pro device has three camera sensors on the back of the phone instead of two: a wide camera with a larger sensor and 2.2x better low-light performance than the iPhone 12 Pro. Ultra-wide camera with new autofocus system and 77-millimeter telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. For FaceTime calls and selfies, there is also a redesigned front camera that is 20 percent smaller than the previous model.
The iPhone 13 Pro devices also include Super Retina XDR display. However, unlike the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini, it also includes ProMotion with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz for faster response times. Apple claims that the iPhone 13 Pro Max offers “the longest battery life ever in an iPhone,” with up to two and a half hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the iPhone 13 Pro has one and a half hours more battery life than the iPhone 12 Pro. The iPhone 13 Pro model also has a slightly more powerful A15 Bionic processor with a 5-core GPU as compared to the 4-core GPU.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are available in four finishes, including a new Sierra Blue. Entry-level storage starts at 128GB, and Apple now offers a new 1TB option. Pro models start at $999 and $1,099 respectively.