Kelvin Wetherill - Uploaded on October 14, 2021

Whenever a new iPhone is released, there is the inevitable question… ‘is it worth the upgrade?’. So, we’ve gone ahead and done the work for you to see how the new iPhone 13 stacks up to some of its predecessors. 

There are a few standout features for the new iPhone 13 Pro Max including improved battery life, a super-fast processor, and some seriously impressive video capabilities. 

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a battery life of over 12 hours compared with the iPhone 12 Pro, at just over 9 hours or the iPhone 12 at around 8.5hours and supports wireless Qi and MagSafe charging. In fact, Apple’s latest release set a new record for continuous usage of ten hours of screen-on time while playing games and watching YouTube videos. 

Outwardly, iPhone’s latest model looks almost identical to that of iPhone 12, and is slightly more compact and square than the iPhone 11. The screen remains the same size but now features a Ceramic Shield screen that offers 4x the protection compared to the iPhone 11. 
It also comes in some fun new shades including pink, blue, midnight, star light and ProductRED. 

On the back, you’ll notice the inevitable camera layout change with new Ultra Wide camera for more expansive shots and sensor-shift optical image stabilization. Camera buffs will also be excited about the Night Mode for dark settings, Portrait Mode, Deep Fusion for enhanced details and Photographic Styles – a setting that allows you to create live filters. 

Inside, Apple's latest processor, the A15 Bionic gives the iPhone 13 three times the processing power of its predecessor and way more powerful than the iPhone 11’s A13. 

Where Apple have really doubled up is the video, where you can now record 4K HDR Dolby Vision at 60 fps rather than the 30fps on the iPhone 12 models. The iPhone 13 Pro Max also includes Cinematic mode, which adds depth of field to videos while automatically shifting focus and Sensor-shift optical image stabilisation. 

A worthwhile investment for video and content creators but for others with more mundane needs, the iPhone 13 comes at a price. The 128GB minimum storage is available from £779/$799, the 256GB for £879/$899 and the 512GB for £1,079/$1,099. In comparison, you can currently pick up an iPhone 12 or iPhone 11 for around £500 - £600.