With the shadow of the pandemic still chasing us, we're heading into the festive season albeit with caution and wariness. This is also the time when people in India upgrade their phones, especially iPhones. So the big question is, does the new iPhone 13 Pro live up to Apple's claim, of "The most advanced cameras ever on an iPhone"?

We'll try and answer that in this review because lets face it, there are three primary reasons why people spend well over Rs 100,000 on a smartphone. One, to stay within the Apple ecosystem. Two, for the premium brand value attached to Apple, especially in India. And three, for Apple's camera system which has always been lauded as true-to-life and great for content creation.

If you want to take a look at what all the iPhone 13 Pro offers in terms of design, battery and experience, take a look at our first impressions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/iphone-13-pro-first-impressions-417657">here</a>.

The new iPhone 13 Pro camera system promises a lot. Lets see if it delivers.

Here's a disclaimer -- if you have an iPhone 12 Pro, you possibly wouldn't notice any hardware changes in the new iPhone. The differences lie in the overall experience that Apple offers, a factor that has motivated people to upgrade phones year on year despite minor incremental changes. And the differentiator here is the camera and prolonged battery life.

ALL ABOUT THE CAMERA

<img alt="iPhone pro" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2596dfe1-60af-4ed5-ae07-46cf5757ab2f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/iphone%20pro%20camera.JPG" />

Here's the good news, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have identical camera systems so you'll be spending less for the same camera specifications if you buy the smaller sibling, the iPhone 13 Pro.

Flip your iPhone 13 Pro and you'll see bigger camera rings in the 12MP triple camera set-up. The wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens all get better when compared to their predecessors especially with the 3x optical zoom.&nbsp; 
The images are crisp, vibrant and yes, as true-to-life as a smartphone camera can capture. The new camera system doesn't miss anything -- tired eyes, dark circles, poorly blended makeup or even fine lines. The iPhone 13 Pro captures light better than its predecessor and focusses faster on a subject.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL

<img alt="Low light" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9e73861-be42-4a79-837d-8845d0db6dc2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Low%20light%20photography_0.JPG" />

If you click a photo with the iPhone 13 Pro, at first glance, you'd probably say any decent phone can capture the same. But it's the low-light photography which give the iPhone 13 Pro an edge. The rear camera captures all details in low light to great accuracy which is a testament to how much light the camera of the 13 Pro can capture in a shot. Very few smartphones in the market can boast of such exceptional low-light photography at the moment.

Another fun feature is the brand new macro mode. How do you use it? Well, there's no mode here. Simply go extremely close to an object and you'll see the macro mode in action. Apple has upped the ante here in a big way.

PORTRAIT SHOTS GET BETTER

<img alt="Portrait" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abb36de4-86d7-4506-a773-3a2aa14fddf0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_55.jpg" />

If you love clicking your children despite their protest, then Apple's Portrait mode gets better. I could see a visible improvement in how sharp the images were with crisper edges. Have no doubt, you'll be able to capture some beautiful moments that are frame-worthy to say the least. You may struggle to get good portrait shots in low light so keep that in mind.

CINEMATIC MODE: WORTH THE HYPE?

<img alt="Cinematic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7cb02823-80e5-47a2-b67d-f7d297ced7c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/cinematic%20mode.JPG" />

Even before the iPhones came to India in September, there was plenty of buzz surrounding the "Cinematic Mode" which is essentially a portrait mode in video.&nbsp;

So when you take a video using this mode, it blurs out the background and zooms into subjects. I used this to take videos of my overactive toddler and I have to say, the results were great. Also, for all those who love details, the Cinematic Mode only works in 1080p at 30FPS.

In the age of social media, this feature will be loved by influencers and content creators who are in the Apple ecosystem. Apple is clearly competing with smartphones from Google and Samsung so this feature has been a long time coming and adds to Apple's arsenal of great camera features.

CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE

For all those who love filters and yet want to look "natural", Apple now gives you Photographic Profiles in its camera system. It will allow you to set default options for clicking images in either Standard, Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm or Cool tones. You can tweak your image using the sliders and while Apple insists these modes are not filters, they are there to appeal to our vanity. I quite liked them as I am sure most who invest in a superior camera smartphone will!

BATTERY IS THE REAL DEAL CLINCHER

Click all the fantastic "true-to-life" images that you desire with Apple's fantastic camera system but if the phone will die on you in 8 hours, you're not going to be happy. Apple has finally given us an iPhone with major battery improvements along with a beast of a processor in the A15. Bigger batteries in the new iPhones mean that your iPhones will easily last you an entire day with functional use. And if you're shooting heavy-duty videos and watching content, I can still vouch for a 12-hour battery life.

THE BIG QUESTION: SHOULD YOU UPGRADE?

If you already have the iPhone 12 Pro, you can skip this one since the upgrades are incremental with battery and camera getting most of the exciting improvements. But for Apple loyalists who love to upgrade year on year, a major reason can be the stunning screen which gets a major facelift with its 120-Hz ProMotion display and a higher refresh rate.&nbsp;

This technology was previously only reserved for the high-end iPad Pro. Your iPhone 13 Pro will dynamically change the refresh rate depending on your usage. This has been a big gamechanger for me.

Another reason to upgrade is the camera system which gets better with its low-light photography and Cinematic Mode. This is a phone for video creators who don't want to lug heavy equipment everywhere.

And finally, with news of the chip shortage causing Apple to slow down production making headlines, you may get your iPhones much later. This factor in itself has sparked curiosity in the new iPhones with multiple people calling their relatives in other markets to get their hands on the new iPhones.

So if you've got the budget for it and want to upgrade from an iPhone 11, I suggest you place your orders quickly because you may in the queue for long.

With the shadow of the pandemic still chasing us, we're heading into the festive season albeit with caution and wariness. This is also the time when people in India upgrade their phones, especially iPhones.

With the shadow of the pandemic still chasing us, we're heading into the festive season albeit with caution and wariness. This is also the time when people in India upgrade their phones, especially iPhones. So the big question is, does the new iPhone 13 Pro live up to Apple's claim, of "The most advanced cameras ever on an iPhone"? We'll try and answer that in this review because lets face it, there are three primary reasons why people spend well over Rs 100,000 on a smartphone. One, to stay within the Apple ecosystem. Two, for the premium brand value attached to Apple, especially in India. And three, for Apple's camera system which has always been lauded as true-to-life and great for content creation. If you want to take a look at what all the iPhone 13 Pro offers in terms of design, battery and experience, take a look at our first impressions here. The new iPhone 13 Pro camera system promises a lot. Lets see if it delivers. Here's a disclaimer -- if you have an iPhone 12 Pro, you possibly wouldn't notice any hardware changes in the new iPhone. The differences lie in the overall experience that Apple offers, a factor that has motivated people to upgrade phones year on year despite minor incremental changes. And the differentiator here is the camera and prolonged battery life. ALL ABOUT THE CAMERA Here's the good news, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have identical camera systems so you'll be spending less for the same camera specifications if you buy the smaller sibling, the iPhone 13 Pro. Flip your iPhone 13 Pro and you'll see bigger camera rings in the 12MP triple camera set-up. The wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens all get better when compared to their predecessors especially with the 3x optical zoom. The images are crisp, vibrant and yes, as true-to-life as a smartphone camera can capture. The new camera system doesn't miss anything -- tired eyes, dark circles, poorly blended makeup or even fine lines. The iPhone 13 Pro captures light better than its predecessor and focusses faster on a subject. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL If you click a photo with the iPhone 13 Pro, at first glance, you'd probably say any decent phone can capture the same. But it's the low-light photography which give the iPhone 13 Pro an edge. The rear camera captures all details in low light to great accuracy which is a testament to how much light the camera of the 13 Pro can capture in a shot. Very few smartphones in the market can boast of such exceptional low-light photography at the moment. Another fun feature is the brand new macro mode. How do you use it? Well, there's no mode here. Simply go extremely close to an object and you'll see the macro mode in action. Apple has upped the ante here in a big way. PORTRAIT SHOTS GET BETTER If you love clicking your children despite their protest, then Apple's Portrait mode gets better. I could see a visible improvement in how sharp the images were with crisper edges. Have no doubt, you'll be able to capture some beautiful moments that are frame-worthy to say the least. You may struggle to get good portrait shots in low light so keep that in mind. CINEMATIC MODE: WORTH THE HYPE? Even before the iPhones came to India in September, there was plenty of buzz surrounding the "Cinematic Mode" which is essentially a portrait mode in video. So when you take a video using this mode, it blurs out the background and zooms into subjects. I used this to take videos of my overactive toddler and I have to say, the results were great. Also, for all those who love details, the Cinematic Mode only works in 1080p at 30FPS. In the age of social media, this feature will be loved by influencers and content creators who are in the Apple ecosystem. Apple is clearly competing with smartphones from Google and Samsung so this feature has been a long time coming and adds to Apple's arsenal of great camera features. CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE For all those who love filters and yet want to look "natural", Apple now gives you Photographic Profiles in its camera system. It will allow you to set default options for clicking images in either Standard, Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm or Cool tones. You can tweak your image using the sliders and while Apple insists these modes are not filters, they are there to appeal to our vanity. I quite liked them as I am sure most who invest in a superior camera smartphone will! BATTERY IS THE REAL DEAL CLINCHER Click all the fantastic "true-to-life" images that you desire with Apple's fantastic camera system but if the phone will die on you in 8 hours, you're not going to be happy. Apple has finally given us an iPhone with major battery improvements along with a beast of a processor in the A15. Bigger batteries in the new iPhones mean that your iPhones will easily last you an entire day with functional use. And if you're shooting heavy-duty videos and watching content, I can still vouch for a 12-hour battery life. THE BIG QUESTION: SHOULD YOU UPGRADE? If you already have the iPhone 12 Pro, you can skip this one since the upgrades are incremental with battery and camera getting most of the exciting improvements. But for Apple loyalists who love to upgrade year on year, a major reason can be the stunning screen which gets a major facelift with its 120-Hz ProMotion display and a higher refresh rate. This technology was previously only reserved for the high-end iPad Pro. Your iPhone 13 Pro will dynamically change the refresh rate depending on your usage. This has been a big gamechanger for me. Another reason to upgrade is the camera system which gets better with its low-light photography and Cinematic Mode. This is a phone for video creators who don't want to lug heavy equipment everywhere. And finally, with news of the chip shortage causing Apple to slow down production making headlines, you may get your iPhones much later. This factor in itself has sparked curiosity in the new iPhones with multiple people calling their relatives in other markets to get their hands on the new iPhones. So if you've got the budget for it and want to upgrade from an iPhone 11, I suggest you place your orders quickly because you may in the queue for long.

iPHONE 13 Pro: Should you upgrade?

Every year at this time, we sing the same song. The new iPhones hit the market and people gasp in amazement, not because of the features, but mostly because of the price tag. So before I dive into my first impressions of the new iPhone 13 Pro, lets get the price out of the way so we can all gasp and gulp down a big glass of water.

The new iPhones are premium and will probably cost you a holiday or even an EMI installment for your new car. The iPhone 13 Pro starts at Rs. 1,19,900 with 128GB of storage. Surprisingly, I have heard people willing to dole out more money for storage this year so you can also opt for the 256GB variant for Rs 1,39,900 and Rs 1,59,900 for 512GB. And if you really want to indulge and dismiss all storage concerns for a lifetime, Apple is also offering a whopping 1TB of storage at a price tag of Rs 1,79,900.

Alright, now that we've all pondered over all the things we could do INSTEAD of buying the iPhone 13, lets unbox this beast.

Unboxing the iPhone

You know when you spend more than a lakh of rupees on a smartphone, you expect for the red carpet to be rolled out, people to serenade you or at the very least, a box with all the bells and whistles. Well, that's not going to happen here.&nbsp;

While the iPhone looks stunning in itself, the box gets leaner and more compact this year. All you get is the iPhone of course, a USB Type-C to lightning cable, an Apple sticker and a pin to change sim cards. So those upgrading after the iPhone 11, this might come as a rude shock.

Design: First look

<img alt="iPhone 13 Pro" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3fadf08f-6740-4ace-8448-0cc731e17145" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-10-02T174524.824.jpg" />

Apple introduces a new signature colour this year: the elegant Sierra Blue. The popularity of this colour is evident already, with influencers, celebrities and India's upwardly mobile vying for it and how. Apple claims to have developed a new “nanometre-scale” ceramic deposition process to create the Sierra Blue finish.

Some are calling it a marketing gimmick but as always with Apple, the proof is in the pudding. Open your Instagram and you'll see reels and videos with different age groups salivating over this new colour. Many have dialled their distant relatives in the US to get their hands on it should the Indian stocks 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 surgical-grade stainless steel so perhaps makes the iPhone 13 more sturdy? We'll find out.

The gold band with the matte effects on the rear makes for the perfect balance of subtle and bling and will appeal to most Apple users. The irony though, is that most will cover it up with a protective leather cover because god forbid, it slips from nimble fingers!

But the big question is, is it any different from the already popular iPhone 12 Pro? The differences as always, are in the camera and processor so will be hard to catch by the untrained eye.

Is it too heavy for one-hand use or to stuff into a pocket? The Pro Max weighs more than 235 grams and could take a while to get used to, at least for the uninitiated. I have been using the 13 Pro and it's easy to use with one hand.

Display 
&nbsp; 
Lets talk about the "notch" because it still exists and that is perhaps the biggest bone of contention for most Apple users. The iPhone 13 comes with a narrower notch. I can see it, you can see it, we all can see it. Does it bother me? No. Will it bother loyal Apple users, probably not. What I am loving is the 120Hz ProMotion display which makes the iPhone a delight to watch content on.

The Pro comes with 6.1-inch OLED panel while the bigger sibling, Pro Max, comes with 6.7-inch OLED display. Apple claims it's the brightest display ever on the iPhone with up to 25 percent higher outdoor brightness, at 1000 nits. We'll analyse the full performance in our in-depth review coming soon.

Performance and battery

The A15 Bionic chipset is a beast. In my three days with the iPhone 13 Pro, I hardly noticed any lag or compromise in performance. So with the iPhone 13, what you have in your hands is a faster iPhone even if you are using the 12 generation.

It's all about camera

<img alt="iPhone " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b52cc2e7-610f-4d8e-859e-13e1f04e0108" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-10-02T174025.047.jpg" />

Anyone who invests in an iPhone does it because they are invested in the Apple ecosystem. A new buyer spends oodles for Apple's camera features. The iPhone 13 Pro introduces something known as "Photographic styles" which essentially helps you customise colours and tones in a photo even before clicking it.

The video feature gets its own portrait mode through the "Cinematic Video" mode which uses artificial intelligence to focus on a subject. I went to town taking videos of my hyper-active toddler and I have to say, was impressed with the results. Apple has played a smart move here -- in the age of social media, newbie video creators and influencers will love this feature.

Apple calls the cameras on this iPhone the most advanced ever with new sensors and lenses for all three rear cameras. In my time with the phone, the images have been true-to-life, vibrant with great detailing. 
With the new iOS 15 update, it all ties in nicely together. There's a lot to be said about the night shots and we'll explore all that in our detailed review coming up soon.

We'll try and answer the age-old question, is the new iPhone worth the hype?

Every year at this time, we sing the same song. The new iPhones hit the market and people gasp in amazement, not because of the features, but mostly because of the price tag.

Every year at this time, we sing the same song. The new iPhones hit the market and people gasp in amazement, not because of the features, but mostly because of the price tag. So before I dive into my first impressions of the new iPhone 13 Pro, lets get the price out of the way so we can all gasp and gulp down a big glass of water. The new iPhones are premium and will probably cost you a holiday or even an EMI installment for your new car. The iPhone 13 Pro starts at Rs. 1,19,900 with 128GB of storage. Surprisingly, I have heard people willing to dole out more money for storage this year so you can also opt for the 256GB variant for Rs 1,39,900 and Rs 1,59,900 for 512GB. And if you really want to indulge and dismiss all storage concerns for a lifetime, Apple is also offering a whopping 1TB of storage at a price tag of Rs 1,79,900. Alright, now that we've all pondered over all the things we could do INSTEAD of buying the iPhone 13, lets unbox this beast. Unboxing the iPhone You know when you spend more than a lakh of rupees on a smartphone, you expect for the red carpet to be rolled out, people to serenade you or at the very least, a box with all the bells and whistles. Well, that's not going to happen here. While the iPhone looks stunning in itself, the box gets leaner and more compact this year. All you get is the iPhone of course, a USB Type-C to lightning cable, an Apple sticker and a pin to change sim cards. So those upgrading after the iPhone 11, this might come as a rude shock. Design: First look Apple introduces a new signature colour this year: the elegant Sierra Blue. The popularity of this colour is evident already, with influencers, celebrities and India's upwardly mobile vying for it and how. Apple claims to have developed a new “nanometre-scale” ceramic deposition process to create the Sierra Blue finish. Some are calling it a marketing gimmick but as always with Apple, the proof is in the pudding. Open your Instagram and you'll see reels and videos with different age groups salivating over this new colour. Many have dialled their distant relatives in the US to get their hands on it should the Indian stocks 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 surgical-grade stainless steel so perhaps makes the iPhone 13 more sturdy? We'll find out. The gold band with the matte effects on the rear makes for the perfect balance of subtle and bling and will appeal to most Apple users. The irony though, is that most will cover it up with a protective leather cover because god forbid, it slips from nimble fingers! But the big question is, is it any different from the already popular iPhone 12 Pro? The differences as always, are in the camera and processor so will be hard to catch by the untrained eye. Is it too heavy for one-hand use or to stuff into a pocket? The Pro Max weighs more than 235 grams and could take a while to get used to, at least for the uninitiated. I have been using the 13 Pro and it's easy to use with one hand. Display Lets talk about the "notch" because it still exists and that is perhaps the biggest bone of contention for most Apple users. The iPhone 13 comes with a narrower notch. I can see it, you can see it, we all can see it. Does it bother me? No. Will it bother loyal Apple users, probably not. What I am loving is the 120Hz ProMotion display which makes the iPhone a delight to watch content on. The Pro comes with 6.1-inch OLED panel while the bigger sibling, Pro Max, comes with 6.7-inch OLED display. Apple claims it's the brightest display ever on the iPhone with up to 25 percent higher outdoor brightness, at 1000 nits. We'll analyse the full performance in our in-depth review coming soon. Performance and battery The A15 Bionic chipset is a beast. In my three days with the iPhone 13 Pro, I hardly noticed any lag or compromise in performance. So with the iPhone 13, what you have in your hands is a faster iPhone even if you are using the 12 generation. It's all about camera Anyone who invests in an iPhone does it because they are invested in the Apple ecosystem. A new buyer spends oodles for Apple's camera features. The iPhone 13 Pro introduces something known as "Photographic styles" which essentially helps you customise colours and tones in a photo even before clicking it. The video feature gets its own portrait mode through the "Cinematic Video" mode which uses artificial intelligence to focus on a subject. I went to town taking videos of my hyper-active toddler and I have to say, was impressed with the results. Apple has played a smart move here -- in the age of social media, newbie video creators and influencers will love this feature. Apple calls the cameras on this iPhone the most advanced ever with new sensors and lenses for all three rear cameras. In my time with the phone, the images have been true-to-life, vibrant with great detailing. With the new iOS 15 update, it all ties in nicely together. There's a lot to be said about the night shots and we'll explore all that in our detailed review coming up soon. We'll try and answer the age-old question, is the new iPhone worth the hype?

iPhone 13 Pro: First impressions

iphone-13-pro

Iphone 13 Pro, News on Iphone 13 Pro, stories on Iphone 13 Pro, articles on Iphone 13 Pro, Iphone 13 Pro stories at Wion, Iphone 13 Pro news, Iphone 13 Pro latest news

iphone 13-pro

iPHONE 13 Pro: Should you upgrade?

iPhone 13 Pro: First impressions