Choosing between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 involves considering improvements in camera technology, display smoothness, and battery life. While the iPhone 12 remains a capable phone, the iPhone 13 Pro offers several upgrades that might appeal to users looking for a more advanced experience. Let's delve into their key differences to help you decide.
Here's a look at the core specifications of both the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12:
Feature |
iPhone 13 Pro |
iPhone 12 |
Display |
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion |
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) |
Processor |
A15 Bionic |
A14 Bionic |
Rear Cameras |
Triple 12MP (Wide, Ultra Wide, Telephoto) |
Dual 12MP (Wide, Ultra Wide) |
Front Camera |
12MP TrueDepth |
12MP TrueDepth |
Storage Options |
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Battery Life |
Up to 22 hours video playback |
Up to 17 hours video playback |
Water Resistance |
IP68 |
IP68 |
5G Support |
Yes |
Yes |
Operating System |
iOS 15 (at launch) |
iOS 14 (at launch) |
Both the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 share a similar flat-edged design with premium materials. However, the iPhone 13 Pro features a textured matte glass back and a stainless steel frame, giving it a slightly more premium feel compared to the iPhone 12's glossy glass back and aluminum frame.
Feature |
iPhone 13 Pro |
iPhone 12 |
Materials |
Stainless steel frame, textured matte glass back |
Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, glass back |
Front Design |
Ceramic Shield front cover, smaller notch |
Super Retina XDR display, notch |
Size |
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm |
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm |
Weight |
203 grams |
164 grams |
Color Options |
Sierra Blue, Graphite, Gold, Silver, Alpine Green |
Black, White, Red, Green, Blue, Purple |
The camera system is a significant upgrade in the iPhone 13 Pro. It adds a Telephoto lens for better optical zoom and introduces new photographic styles and video recording features not available on the iPhone 12.
Feature |
iPhone 13 Pro |
iPhone 12 |
Main Camera |
12MP Wide (ƒ/1.5) |
12MP Wide (ƒ/1.6) |
Ultra Wide |
12MP Ultra Wide (ƒ/1.8) |
12MP Ultra Wide (ƒ/2.4) |
Telephoto |
12MP Telephoto (ƒ/2.8), 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 6x optical zoom range |
Not Available |
Front Camera |
12MP TrueDepth (ƒ/2.2) |
12MP TrueDepth (ƒ/2.2) |
Photographic Styles |
Yes |
No |
Cinematic Mode |
Yes (up to 1080p at 30 fps) |
No |
ProRes Video |
Yes (up to 4K at 30 fps) |
No |
Night Mode |
Yes (All Cameras) |
Yes (Wide and Ultra Wide) |
The iPhone 13 Pro features the newer and more powerful A15 Bionic chip, offering a slight performance advantage over the iPhone 12's A14 Bionic. Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro generally provides significantly better battery life.
Feature |
iPhone 13 Pro |
iPhone 12 |
Chip |
A15 Bionic |
A14 Bionic |
CPU |
6-core |
6-core |
GPU |
5-core |
4-core |
RAM |
6GB |
4GB |
Battery Life |
Excellent |
Good |
Both iPhones run on the same iOS software and receive the latest updates. However, the iPhone 13 Pro benefits from hardware-dependent features like ProMotion technology for a smoother display and advanced camera capabilities.
Feature |
iPhone 13 Pro |
iPhone 12 |
Operating System |
Latest iOS Updates |
Latest iOS Updates |
ProMotion |
Yes (Adaptive Refresh Rate up to 120Hz) |
No |
Night Mode on all Cameras |
Yes |
Yes (Wide and Ultra Wide) |
Photographic Styles |
Yes |
No |
Cinematic Mode |
Yes |
No |
ProRes Video |
Yes |
No |
Spatial Audio |
Yes |
Yes |
The iPhone 13 Pro was launched at a higher price point than the iPhone 12. While prices may have shifted over time, generally, the iPhone 13 Pro remains a more expensive option due to its advanced features and newer technology.
Choose the iPhone 13 Pro if: You prioritize a smoother display with ProMotion, a more versatile and advanced camera system with a Telephoto lens and features like Cinematic mode and Photographic Styles, and longer battery life. You are willing to invest more for these upgrades.
Choose the iPhone 12 if: You are looking for a capable iPhone with a great OLED display and a dual-camera system at a potentially more accessible price point. It still offers excellent performance for everyday tasks and photography.
Purchasing either the iPhone 13 Pro or the iPhone 12 can be made easier with the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card, offering benefits such as:
Easy EMIs: Pay for your chosen iPhone in easy, interest-free installments.
Flexible Repayment Tenor: Choose a repayment period of up to 60 months that suits your budget.
Wide Network: Use your card at numerous retailers and online platforms.
Quick Approval: Get instant approval and bring home your new iPhone without delay.
The major differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 include the iPhone 13 Pro's ProMotion display (120Hz refresh rate), its triple-lens camera system with a Telephoto lens and advanced video features like Cinematic mode and ProRes, its longer battery life, and the newer A15 Bionic chip.
Yes, the iPhone 13 Pro generally commands a higher price than the iPhone 12 due to its advanced features, including the ProMotion display, the more versatile camera system, and the improved battery life. Whether it's worth the extra cost depends on individual needs and priorities.
Yes, the iPhone 13 Pro typically offers a noticeable improvement in battery life compared to the iPhone 12, allowing for more usage time on a single charge.
Both iPhones feature excellent Super Retina XDR OLED displays. However, the iPhone 13 Pro has the added advantage of ProMotion technology with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, resulting in significantly smoother scrolling and more fluid visuals compared to the standard 60Hz refresh rate of the iPhone 12.
Yes, several features are exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro, including the ProMotion display, the Telephoto camera lens, Photographic Styles, Cinematic mode for video recording, ProRes video recording, and a slightly smaller notch.
Upgrading from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13 Pro can be worthwhile if you highly value a smoother display, a more versatile camera system with better zoom capabilities and advanced video features, and longer battery life. If these aspects are less critical for you, the iPhone 12 remains a very capable phone.