Thirteen things you need to know about Apple's iPhone 13 line-up

Longer battery life, enhanced cameras and 1TB of storage – are these enough to keep Apple's momentum going?

iPhone 13 units on display at the Apple Store in Dubai's Mall of the Emirates. Pawan Singh / The National

Apple's roll out of the iPhone 13 series after months of speculation will help boost sales during the coming holiday season where smartphones are among the hottest gift items.

The four models – the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max – come with a number of interesting features that have enticed crowds to queue for hours.

The threat of iPhone 13 production stalling because of persisting supply shortages in the chip industry looms, and could be a reason why sales of the new devices continue to grow.

Here's a review of some of the features on the iPhone 13.

Teeny-weeny design changes

The iPhone 13 Pro's camera block and lenses are a tad bigger. Photo: Apple

Not since the iPhone 5 have we seen this flat and curved form. The design is similar to the iPhone 12 except for the smaller notch and bigger cameras.

Ever since 2017’s iPhone X, the notch (a trend that Apple started and others followed) has divided opinion, drawing favour and fire alike. The notch is 20 per cent smaller on the iPhone 13, allowing for more screen space.

Meanwhile, the camera block and lenses are slightly bigger. On the iPhone 13 and mini, the placement is now diagonal, against the 12’s straight stacking. On the Pro versions, they remain in the distinguishable triangle format.

Cinematic mode

The iPhone 13's Cinematic mode allows you to edit bokeh effects after recording video. Photo: Apple

Apple's Cinematic mode on the iPhone 13 adds Hollywood-level video creation capability.

You can now shoot videos on the iPhone 13 with bokeh, or blur effects, and it can identify when a new subject enters the frame, to which it will automatically shift focus. Most importantly, you can edit the subjects and the blur effects after recording the video – making it the only smartphone to have this capability.

As iPhone 13 saves videos in the RAW format, this means they are saved in layers, letting you edit the focus even on other devices.

The ‘dark’ side

The iPhone 13 Pro can capture up to 92 per cent more light. Photo: Apple

Like their predecessor, the iPhone 13 and 13 mini have dual 12MP cameras and reveal more detail in the dark and capture 47 per cent more light. Meanwhile, the Pro collects 92 per cent more light and, for good measure, each of the three lenses now has night mode.

As an added bonus, night mode is now also on portrait mode.

Shoppers flocked to the Apple store at Mall of the Emirates to pick up the new iPhone 13. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

Many customers got to the Mall of Emirates early to purchase a new phone.

The iPhone 13 is set to be a big seller.

Customers check out the new range of phones from Apple.

iPhone 13 phones on display at the Apple store in the Mall of the Emirates.

Technology lovers get their hands on the Apple iPhone 13.

A staff member explains the latest upgrade available on the most recent iPhone offering.

The launch of a new iPhone is always an eagerly awaited date on the calendar.

Friday was the first day of sales in the UAE for the new batch of iPhones.

A trip to the Apple Store was etched in the diary for many phone fans.

Zoom further

Specific to the Pro models, the iPhone 13’s telephoto camera now has 3x optical zoom and 6x optical zoom range, up from the previous 2x and 5x, respectively. This will be a big advantage, especially when taking shots in portrait mode and for subjects that are farther away.

With 25 per cent brighter colours and peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits, Apple promises that content will be more vivid than ever.

Up close and personal

The iPhone 13's macro mode is for subjects as close as 2cm. Photo: Apple

Believe it or not, iPhones did not have macro mode – close-up shots – until the iPhone 13. When the device detects something within the 2-centimetre detection zone needed for macro mode to activate, it immediately switches to the wide-angle lens and you’re ready for those really close shots, which results in images with excellent detail.

Here’s the problem: since it’s there by default just waiting to be triggered, using this in video mode (yes, it’s also available for video) means your recording will also capture the transition to the wide-angle lens, potentially ruining your video. Apple has said it will roll out a software update in the autumn that will automatically turn off this automatic switching to macro mode.

Durability, take two

Normally, iPhone iterations feature increased durability. The iPhone 13, however, retains the features found on the iPhone 12, including an IP68 rating (maximum depth of six metres up to 30 minutes) and a Ceramic Shield front, developed with Corning.

Apple says this is still the most durable combination of materials on an iPhone, but note that it isn’t swim-proof like the Watch Series 7. And please keep it out of saltwater.

A15 Bionic

Apple's A15 Bionic features. Photo: Apple

Any futuristic-sounding gadget should have the wares to back it up. Apple’s A15 Bionic chip has 15 billion transistors, can crunch 15.8 trillion operations a second and has a CPU and GPU that are 50 per cent and 30 per cent faster than the competition, respectively. It also has a faster Neural Engine, and new video encoder and decoder.

To put it simply: it’s fast.

It won’t be that obvious, but long-time iPhone users will immediately notice the smoother feel upon swiping up to unlock the device and the apps slide into their place. This is a major advantage for those who rely on the smartphone to perform tasks, particularly for work.

Longer-lasting

The iPhone 13 line-up. Photo: Apple

In recent years, batteries on the new iterations of iPhones practically remained the same, but this time around we’re getting a significant boost.

According to Apple’s listing for streamed video: for the mini, it lasts up to 13 hours, while on the 13 it’s at 15 hours – both a couple of hours longer than their 12 counterparts. The 12 Pro and Pro Max, meanwhile, clocked in at 11 hours and 12 hours, respectively. On the 13 Pro and Pro Max, these go up a whopping 20 and 25 hours, respectively. At official listings, the 13 Pro and 13 mini lasts up to 1.5 hours longer, while the 13 and 13 Pro Max can stay alive for up to 2.5 hours more.

Naturally, we put it to the test. With minimal use – and by that we mean using it only to respond to messages, take calls and play games sparingly, take photos and check emails – the iPhone 13 Pro Max conked out late at night of the second day. Decrease its use further and it has a good chance to spill over into a third day. As for the rest of the iPhone 13 units, they had no problem hitting over a day-and-a-half, with still lots to spare despite heavy use.

1TB of storage

As usual, Apple really doesn’t care if it’s late in offering something that's already been in the market for a long time. Count internal storage into that category, as the company decided eventually to release an iPhone with 1TB of storage. Some would argue that 512GB is already huge – Apple has a very good file compression system – but given the explosion of content and the growing appetite to save more on your device, 1TB seems a viable option nowadays.

Of course, Samsung did that trick before with 2018’s Galaxy S10+; add in its 512GB capacity for a microSD card and that’s a whopping 1.5TB of storage. But Samsung wasn’t the first to launch a 1TB phone – that title belongs to China’s little-known Smartisan with their Nut R1. Smartisan, however, didn’t last long, selling off some assets to TikTok parent ByteDance, which said the move was made with the intent of making its own smartphones. Unfortunately, that “dream of beating Apple” is dead after ByteDance suspended its device business.

FaceTime makeover

People using an Android device can now join FaceTime calls. Photo: Apple

With the popularity of conferencing and collaboration apps like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, Apple decided to join in the fun by giving FaceTime a major upgrade. There’s now a grid view for chats with several people, and spatial audio makes it seem all of you are in the same room. And those you invite can join even if they are using an Android or Windows device, and even via Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

You’ll need to upgrade to iOS 15 to enjoy this feature.

Wild Safari

Another iOS 15 feature, Apple’s web browser Safari now has the tab below the screen, which makes it definitely easier to reach and type out URLs. Swiping left or right on the address bar will let you switch between tabs, while swiping up reveals all open tabs. If you wish to go back to the classic single-tab format, head over to the Safari wing in settings and select it.

The iPhone through the ages: Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone to the world in San Francisco, California, on January 9, 2007. It had a 3.5-inch screen and 2MP camera. Reuters

The iPhone 3G was launched in 2008 with a faster 3G connection. It also added location services. Reuters

The iPhone 3GS was released on June 19, 2009. It was twice as fast as its previous version. AFP

The iPhone 4 was released on June 24, 2010. It featured FaceTime for the first occasion as well as a retina screen. Reuters

A later release, this time on October 14, 2011, the iPhone 4S had a new dual-core processor. Reuters

Apple CEO Tim Cook takes to the stage following the reveal of the iPhone 5 in San Francisco, California, on September 12, 2012. This was the first 4-inch screen and the phone was faster and slimmer. Reuters

The iPhone 5C arrived on September 20, 2013 and was less expensive and very similar to the iPhone 5 except it came with colourful casing. Getty Images

The iPhone 5s came at the same time as the 5C and introduced touch ID and a motion data processor as health and fitness apps started to come to the fore. Getty Images

The iPhone 6 marked another double launch when unveiled on September 9, 2014. The 6 had a 4.7-inch screen, faster processor and improved camera. AFP

The iPhone 6 Plus had a 5.5-inch screen and was $100 more expensive. Reuters

The iPhone 6s came on September 25, 2015 with 3D touch and a camera that could shoot 4K video. EPA

The iPhone 6s Plus is displayed at Tokyo's flagship store on September 25, 2015. Both new phones came in a new colour - rose gold. AFP

Unveiled on March 21, 2016, the iPhone SE had the same design as the iPhone 5 and saw a return to the 4-inch screen which was preferred by some users. It was more affordable and hence lacked features such as Touch ID. AFP

The iPhone 7 announced on September 7, 2016, said somewhat controversially goodbye to the audio jack. Reuters

The iPhone 7 Plus had a dual camera added. AFP

The iPhone 8 was released on September 22, 2017 and had a new glass and aluminium design, retina HD screen. Reuters

A customer gets his hands on an iPhone 8 Plus on launch day in Tokyo on September 22, 2017. The launches also saw speakers that were 25% louder and the most powerful and smartest chip in a smartphone (according to Apple). AFP

The iPhone X marked a decade of iPhones on September 12, 2017. It's main changes were an edge-to-edge super retina screen. Touch ID was removed with Face ID introduced. Reuters

The iPhone XS was released on September 21, 2018 and had a Super Retina OLED screen with improved scratch and water resistance. Face ID was faster. Reuters

The iPhone XS Max had the largest iPhone screen to date at 6.5 inches. It could handle 3 million pixels. Reuters

The iPhone XR was slightly cheaper than the XS and came with a 6.1-inch screen. AFP

A customer looks at the iPhone 11 at an Apple store in Dubai Mall on September 20, 2019. EPA

A man tries out the iPhone 11 Pro in Cupertino, California, on September 10, 2019. AFP

Midnight Green was introduced for the iPhone 11 Pro Max, while there was also a new three-camera system. Reuters

Arriving on April 15, 2020, the iPhone SE was for budget-minded customers and was pretty much a replica of the iPhone 8. Its 4.7-inch screen felt rather on the small side compared to the big screens of its big brothers. Apple Inc. / AFP

The iPhone 12 on October 13, 2020 introduced a new processor and a screen that offered four times better protection if dropped. Apple / AFP

The iPhone 12 mini offered a 5.4-inch screen. Getty Images

Mr Cook showcases the iPhone 12 Pro during an event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on October 13, 2020. This upgrade saw a faster chip, 5G speed, a "camera system that’s killer in low light. A LiDAR Scanner for more realistic AR. And two great sizes to choose from — including our largest display ever". Apple / EPA

The iPhone 12 Pro Max was categorised as a 'legacy phone'. Reuters

The new iPhone 13 was unveiled on September 14, 2021. It has a smart data mode which helps battery life, more 5G bands and antenna lines that use material made from recycled plastic water bottles. AFP

Apple CEO Tim Cook showcasing the third generation iPhone SE featuring 5G and the A15 Bionic chip on March 8, 2022. EPA

The Apple iPhone 14, 14 Plus, Pro Max and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro were unveiled during an event on September 7, 2022. It didn’t raise its US prices during one of the worst years for inflation in decades. The biggest addition was emergency calling after a car crash. Bloomberg

Hearing aid compatibility

While this feature isn’t new, it does fly under the radar. All iPhones, way back to the iPhone 4s and iOS 6, work with compatible hearing aids. The feature allows people with hearing difficulties to stream and enjoy sound and content, as well as use it in cases of emergencies.

Value for money?

This question is more specific to the iPhone 13 Pro Max: it’s priced at an eye-watering Dh6,819 ($1,856). It can be argued that all the new features – longer battery life, Cinematic Mode, 1TB storage – may well justify the price tag.

But consider this: the 512GB variant’s price remains at Dh5,969, on par with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 Pro’s 1TB option, with all the same good features but in a smaller frame, will set you back “just” Dh6,319.

At this rate, the only other device we can say rivals this price-point level is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, although that has a unique proposition.

Remember when everyone was up in arms when the iPhone X launched at $999 in 2017? Guess what, folks – we’re nearing the $2,000 level.