It looks like an "S" year on paper, yet Apple jumped to 13 from 12 when naming its 2021 iPhone release. Save for the slightly smaller notch on the screen, none of the new features scream revolutionary at first glance.
The iPhone 13 series won't be available until Sept. 24 in the U.S., which means it could take up to October or November for Apple's latest to hit store shelves in the Philippines. Until that time, consumers will be pondering over an upgrade. It's an easy "yes" for Cupertino's faithful but for most of us, especially during the pandemic, it requires deeper thought.
Let's break down what Tim Cook said during the Sept. 14 iPhone 13 unveil and see how it stacks up against the iPhone 12 series.
Design: The same, save for a few tucks
The only design change is the smaller notch (by roughly 20%). While it was annoying when first introduced in 2017's iPhone X, the cutout that houses Face ID has faded into the background for iPhone users.
Elsewhere, it's the same iPhone 12 design on the 13 with flat sides and a camera module that looks like a trio of stovetop burners. On the 13, the lenses are stacked diagonally instead of vertically.
There's also a new color for the pro models, Sierra Blue, a softer blue that looks like the dawn sky during a slightly overcast day. It replaces the darker, Pacific Blue shade on the 12 Pro. The graphite, silver and gold options are retained.
On the vanilla 13 and 13 Mini, there's a new pink shade that looks like a light rose gold in photos and Starlight that looks silver. There's also Midnight Blue, red and black. It's a more muted color palette compared to the 12 that had green and purple
Expected features: What didn't happen?
The iPhone 13 still comes with a lightning port if you want to charge it or transfer data using a wire. Now, that's fine if you stocked up on wires and docks but if you're on a work desk, nothing beats the convenience of one USB-C port that charges and connects to all your devices -- laptop, tablet and phone.
New features: What are the improvements?
As expected from tech that aims to outdo the previous year's version, Apple is marketing the iPhone 13 better in every aspect.
The brighter screen now refreshes at 120hz instead of 60hz on the old models. This means that animations and app transitions will appear smoother. While new to the iPhone, a high refresh rate, or Pro Motion in Apple-speak, has long been available in pro iPads and in Samsung, Huawei and OnePlus phones.
High refresh rate screens eat up a fair amount of juice. Apple claims the batteries on the 13 last longer than the 12, despite this new feature. Take note, however, that Pro Motion is only available on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.
The A15 chip is also supposed to be faster and more power efficient than last year's A14
Cameras: Still, the best on a smartphone?
The cameras on the iPhone have always ranked among the best on any smartphone, and for the 13, Apple added two headline features -- portrait mode on video and macro.
If these deliver in real world use, it would be a step up from the 12, which shoots excellent stills and videos and has one of the best low-light modes.
The new Cinematic Mode allows users to blur the background while taking video and even after the clip is taken, according to Apple.
Price: Same hit to your wallet
The iPhone 13 Pro will start at P63,990 while the iPhone 13 Pro Max can be had for a minimum P70,990, both SIM-free and unlocked at base storage of 128GB. These prices are not too far off or roughly the same as the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, depending on where you buy it.
With no headline feature in the same shell, Apple held back on a big bump in the sticker price.
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini start at P50,990 and P44,990, respectively, both at 128GB storage with the option of up to 512GB.
Apple has yanked out the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max from its online store. However, the iPhone 12 and 12 mini are still there, priced at P38,990 and P44,990, for base storage of 64GB.
Is it worth the upgrade?
It depends on your need. If you are holding on to an iPhone XS or older, the new design, cameras and battery will be a solid step-up. However, if you're using an 11 or 12, it will be a tougher sell. It will depend on how much you want the latest tech, especially when we're still on home quarantine and wearing face shields when outdoors.
Reportr is now on Quento. Download the app or visit the Quento website for more articles and videos from Reportr and your favorite websites.
