Every year at this time we sing the same song. The new iPhones are coming on the market and people are amazed, not because of the features, but mainly because of the price. So before I dive into my first impressions of the new iPhone 13 Pro, let’s get the price out of the way so we can all gasp and swallow a big glass of water.
The new iPhones are premium and will likely cost you a vacation or even an EMI rate on your new car. The iPhone 13 Pro starts at Rs. 1.19.900 with 128GB of storage. Surprisingly, I’ve heard that this year people are willing to spend more money on storage, so you can also opt for the 256GB variant for Rs.139,900 and Rs.159,900 for 512GB. And if you really want to deny and ditch all storage problems for a lifetime, Apple also offers a whopping 1TB of storage at a price of Rs.179,900.
Okay, now that we’ve all been thinking about all of the things we could do instead of buying the iPhone 13, we can unwrap this beast.
Unpacking the iPhone
You know, when you’re spending more than a lakh rupees on a smartphone, expect the red carpet to be rolled out, people serenading you, or at least a box of all the trimmings. Well, that won’t happen here.
While the iPhone looks stunning in itself, the box is slimmer and more compact this year. All you get is, of course, the iPhone, a USB Type-C to Lightning cable, an Apple sticker and a pin to change SIM cards. For those upgrading after the iPhone 11, this could be a rude shock.
Design: first look
Apple introduces a new signature color this year: the elegant Sierra Blue. The popularity of this color is already evident as influencers, celebrities and India’s aspiring people vie for it and how. Apple claims to have developed a new nanometer-scale ceramic deposition process to create the Sierra Blue finish.
Some call it a marketing gimmick, but as always with Apple, the proof is in the pudding. Open your Instagram and you will see roles and videos of different ages drooling over this new color. Many have called their distant relatives in the US to get their hands on them in case Indian supplies run out!
What I personally love is the matte, frosted look that the phone has with gold accents on the sides. Apple says these bands are made from surgical grade stainless steel, so maybe make the iPhone 13 tougher? We’ll find out.
The golden band with the matte effects on the back ensures the perfect balance between subtle and bling and will appeal to most Apple users. The irony, however, is that most cover it with a protective leather sleeve, because God forbid it slips off nimble fingers!
But the big question is, is it different from the already popular iPhone 12 Pro? As always, the differences lie in the camera and the processor and are therefore difficult to see for the untrained eye.
Is it too heavy to use with one hand or to put in a pocket? The Pro Max weighs more than 235 grams and could take some getting used to, at least for the layman. I use the 13 Pro and it’s easy to use with one hand.
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Let’s talk about the “notch” as it still exists and is perhaps the biggest point of contention for most Apple users. The iPhone 13 comes with a narrower notch. I can see it, you can see it, we can all see it. Does it bother me No. It will probably not bother loyal Apple users. What I love is the 120Hz ProMotion display, which makes watching content on the iPhone a joy.
The Pro comes with a 6.1-inch OLED panel, while the bigger brother, Pro Max, comes with a 6.7-inch OLED display. Apple claims it’s the brightest display ever on the iPhone, with up to 25 percent higher external brightness at 1000 nits. We’ll analyze the full performance in our in-depth review shortly.
Performance and battery
The A15 Bionic chipset is a beast. In my three days with the iPhone 13 Pro, I hardly noticed any delays or compromises in performance. So with the iPhone 13 you have a faster iPhone in your hand, even if you are using the 12th generation.
Everything revolves around the camera
Everyone who invests in an iPhone does so because they’re invested in the Apple ecosystem. A new buyer spends a ton on Apple’s camera features. The iPhone 13 Pro introduces something known as “Photo Styles,” which essentially helps you adjust the colors and tones in a photo even before you click on it.
The “Cinematic Video” mode gives the video function its own portrait mode, which uses artificial intelligence to focus on a subject. I went into town and made videos of my hyperactive toddler and I have to say I was impressed with the results. Apple played a smart move here – in the age of social media, video newbies and influencers will love this feature.
Apple calls this iPhone’s cameras the most advanced of all time with new sensors and lenses for all three rear cameras. In my time with the phone, the images were lifelike, vivid, and rich in detail.
Everything comes together nicely with the new iOS 15 update. There’s a lot to be said about the night shots and we’ll examine all of that in our in-depth review, which will be released soon.
We’re going to try to answer the age old question, is the new iPhone worth the hype?
