Apple iPhone 13 Pro 256 GB

Golden mean

The Pro version usually unfairly pales in the shadow of its older brother, the king of all iPhones — Pro Maximum But we are for justice, so we included the iPhone 13 Pro in the selection: they have the same cameras, DxOMark scores, respectively, too — so why pay more? The main difference is in size — the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a larger diagonal screen and is larger in size, but for many this is more of a minus than a plus, since a large gadget is less convenient to use. What can not be said about the usual "firmware" with a 6.1-inch display, dimensions 146.7x71.5x7.65 mm and weighing just over 200 g — the golden mean in the iPhone 13 family. It uses a Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2532x1170 pixels and all the necessary goodies like True Tone technology, HDR10 support, and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. But the main innovation was the refresh rate, increased to 120 Hz, and with ProMotion technology, which changes the frequency depending on the content.

Tactilely, it's a pleasing machine with a surgical stainless steel frame, a glass back and a durable Ceramic Shield on the front. The case is protected from water and dust, which confirms the IP68 rating, which means that the smartphone will withstand immersion in water to a depth of 6 metres for up to 30 minutes. Although we do not recommend doing this — the official guarantee does not apply to "drowned people". Apple also seems to have decided that users have not yet become bored with the design, so the 13th series is like two peas in a pod similar to the 12th: the same flat edges, the same design of the rear camera, the same boring notch cutout. The only minor difference is a cutout reduced by 20%, but it would be better if it were removed altogether — Apple, it's time to keep up with the times. This also applies to the fingerprint scanner, which is still missing, but we would like to. Instead, the traditional FaceID face scanner is responsible for security.

To the max

As befits a top-end "apple" smartphone, in terms of performance it is a serious competitor to Android devices and, like seeds, easily "clicks" any complex tasks. And it's all thanks to the A15 Bionic chip, Apple's most powerful processor for 2021, which works in tandem with the iOS operating system. But battery life has remained a weak point: although it is stated that the operating time from a single charge has been increased by 1.5 hours, the battery capacity is a modest 3095 mAh. 20W fast charging is supported, but the charger must be purchased separately and is not included for environmental reasons. Wireless charging power reaches 20W when using MagSafe magnetic charging and 7.5W with a Qi charger.

Apple's special pride is a camera with three 12 MP modules and an additional LiDAR sensor to determine the distance to objects. The camera includes a telephoto camera with optical stabilization and 3x zoom, an ultra-wide-angle camera and a regular "wide" camera with sensor-shift image stabilization and a record-breaking f / 1.5 aperture. As you can see, the emphasis is not on numbers, but on quality: both photos and videos are excellent in any conditions and in any light, using a smartphone you can no longer just take pictures for a personal archive, but also shoot films, blog and promote their social networks, especially if it brings income. Including if you are a layman in this matter: various modes and settings will help you feel like a pro — there are plenty of them here. As a result, with a score of 137 points, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max are tied for fourth place in the DxOMark ranking — of course, until more advanced competitors push them. But there is the same fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey, namely the size of the camera. Its block has become larger and noticeably sticks out above the body, so using the device without a case is not always convenient.

To sum up, without a doubt, this is one of the most powerful flagships on the market. If you, of course, can afford it — by tradition, Apple smartphones are expensive. Very expensive.