iPhone 16 Pro vs 13 Pro: What’s Changed in a 3-Year Leap?

Apple’s latest flagship devices, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, have arrived. But how much have they evolved compared to their counterparts from 2021? In this detailed comparison, we’ll dive into what’s new and different between the iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 13 Pro, offering insights that could help potential buyers decide whether to upgrade.

iPhone 16 Pro vs 13 Pro: Display and Screen Changes

One of the most noticeable differences between the iPhone 16 Pro and the 13 Pro lies in their display sizes. The iPhone 16 Pro features a larger 6.3-inch screen, and the 16 Pro Max boasts a massive 6.9-inch display. In contrast, the iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch display, while the 13 Pro Max comes with a 6.7-inch screen.

But the differences don’t end with size. The iPhone 16 series offers brighter displays for HDR content and outdoor usage, with maximum brightness reaching 2000 nits— a significant improvement over the 13 Pro’s 1200 nits. The newer models also introduce Dynamic Island and always-on display, features that were absent from the 13 Pro series. For pixel lovers, the iPhone 16 Pro provides nearly 200,000 more pixels than the iPhone 13 Pro, while the 16 Pro Max packs in more than 218,000 extra pixels compared to its predecessor.

Comparison Table: Display

Size, Weight, and Design

While the design of the iPhone 16 Pro is quite similar to the 13 Pro, the materials used in the build have been upgraded. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max now come with a titanium frame, making them both lighter and stronger compared to the stainless steel used in the iPhone 13 series. Despite the larger screens, the newer models are lighter than their predecessors.

The iPhone 16 series also features a new Camera Control button/sensor, which wasn’t available on the 13 Pro models.

Comparison Table: Size and Weight

Performance: A18 Pro vs A15 Bionic

Apple’s A18 Pro chip is at the heart of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, offering significant improvements over the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro series. With a faster CPU and GPU, better power efficiency, and advanced ray-tracing capabilities, the A18 Pro is built for top-tier performance, particularly in demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing.

Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro comes with 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB in the 13 Pro series, making multitasking smoother and faster.

Key Performance Stats:

• A18 Pro CPU: Up to 15% faster than the A17 Pro, and 45% faster than A15 Bionic in single-core performance.
• A18 Pro GPU: Up to 20% faster than A17 Pro with 2x faster ray tracing.
• Power Efficiency: A18 Pro uses up to 20% less power compared to the A17 Pro.

Comparison Table: Chip and Performance

Battery Life: More Hours, More Fun

Battery life sees a solid improvement in the iPhone 16 Pro series. The iPhone 16 Pro offers up to 27 hours of video playback compared to 22 hours on the iPhone 13 Pro. For the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the battery lasts up to 33 hours, which is a notable upgrade from the 28-hour battery life of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Camera: 48MP vs 12MP

One of the biggest leaps in the iPhone 16 Pro is its camera system. Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max now feature a 48MP main camera, compared to the 12MP camera in the iPhone 13 Pro series. This new sensor is capable of capturing more detail, especially in low light, while the 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens offers better zoom capabilities compared to the 3x zoom on the 13 Pro.

Other camera enhancements include second-gen sensor-shift stabilization, a Camera Control button, and log video recording, providing pro-level video capture capabilities.

iPhone 16 Pro vs 13 Pro I/O and Connectivity

A major change in the iPhone 16 Pro is the switch from Lightning to USB-C, offering faster transfer speeds (up to 10Gbps) and the ability to shoot video and photos directly to external storage devices. The iPhone 16 Pro series also supports WiFi 7, while the 13 Pro remains on WiFi 6.

Comparison Table: I/O and Connectivity

iPhone 16 Pro vs 13 Pro: Final Thoughts

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max represent significant upgrades over the iPhone 13 Pro models, particularly in terms of display quality, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life. Whether or not you should upgrade depends on how much you value these enhancements.

Reasons to Upgrade:

• Larger, higher-res display with Dynamic Island and always-on capabilities.
• New 48MP camera system with 5x optical zoom.
• Titanium build for added durability and reduced weight.
• Faster, more powerful A18 Pro chip with advanced GPU features.
• USB-C and WiFi 7 for faster data transfers and better connectivity.

Reasons to Hold Off:

• If you’re not interested in the latest camera features or Dynamic Island, the iPhone 13 Pro may still serve your needs perfectly well.