Apple just pulled the new iPhone 13 series out of its wrapper, promising the fastest performance on an iPhone yet, up to two and a half hours more battery life, new cinematic video options and a screen twice as long. smooth on Pro models. But as someone who just spent a ton of cash on last year's iPhone 12 Pro, those updates aren't enough for me to make the switch just yet.
Here's why I'm skipping the iPhone 13 and why the iPhone 12 series is still worth a year later.
What's new in the iPhone 13 series and why it's not enough for me
A display with 120 Hz
Don't get me wrong: the iPhone 13 isn't without exciting new updates, especially when you take a look at the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.
I'm especially intrigued by the new Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, which has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. That means the screen can move twice as smoothly as recent iPhones with 60Hz displays. Everyday use, we've found 120Hz displays to be an immediately noticeable upgrade - scrolling through web pages and photos feels faster and smoother, and games and movies can look smoother and more similar to what you'd see on a TV. .
It's a feature that competing Android phones have had for a long time and we've really enjoyed using on devices like the Galaxy S21.
But while I'm slowly becoming a high-refresh rate convert, getting an iPhone screen feels more like a nice bonus than something that solves an actual problem with my iPhone 12 Pro.
The promise of better battery life and performance
The entire iPhone 13 lineup promises better battery life, which Apple says is possible in part thanks to the phone's efficient new A15 Bionic processor.
These phones are supposed to last up to two and a half hours longer than their counterparts in the iPhone 12 series.
A compelling camera update
Thanks to some bigger sensors, improved aperture and zoom, and the aforementioned A15 processor, the iPhone 13 Pro is set to be the best iPhone yet for taking photos.
Without listing every piece of tech jargon packed into these cameras.
It's designed to stand out in low light, allowing you to zoom further without sacrificing detail, and create your own photo presets.
The iPhone 13's cinematic mode lets you shoot video and then adjust depth and focus, allowing you to create dramatic moments just like you would see in movies and shows.
All of that is compelling, but not enough to make me ditch the great cameras on my iPhone 12 Pro. As well as allowing me to post a plethora of highly detailed food and pet photos to Instagram, the iPhone 12 Pro's triple-camera setup follows. being so impressive that I use it as my main camera to take high quality photos for my product reviews.
Colors are nice, but not much new
My iPhone 12 Pro in blue was a refreshing change from the space gray iPhones I had been buying for years.
And if I were just going for aesthetics, there isn't much in this year's lineup that appeals to me.
And while there are a few design changes this time around, including a smaller notch in the display, you'd be forgiven for confusing the two models at a quick glance.
The updates I want are not here yet
Aside from being a compelling but not essential update for me, the iPhone 13 also doesn't address some of my biggest issues with my current iPhone 12 Pro.
I've previously written about my issues with the iPhone 12's lack of Touch ID in an era of face masks and I'm disappointed that the feature hasn't returned for the 13 series yet.
But what's getting even more frustrating is the fact that the iPhone 13 hasn't embraced USB-C yet - the now ubiquitous charging standard used with just about everything.
The iPhone 12 is cheaper than ever
Not only is it a good time to hold onto your iPhone 12, but it is also a better time to buy one.
iPhone 12 Mini:
Buy it on Amazon
MX $ 19,999
USD $ 729
iPhone 12:
MX $ 23,999
USD $ 999
iPhone 12 Pro:
MX $ 29,999
USD $ 1,249
iPhone 12 Pro Max:
MX $ 29,999
Not available
In conclusion
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have a lot going for them, including better processors and some especially important screen and camera updates.
We'll have to test the latest Apple phones ourselves to make a final verdict, but if you haven't updated your iPhone in a few years they are shaping up to be a compelling purchase on paper.