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iPhone 13 Batteries Positively Excel at Video Streaming Compared to iPhone 12

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Apple has made much of its iPhone 13 battery life improvements, noting for example that the 13 Pro Max offers the longest battery life ever in an iPhone. However, when you look at Apple's own battery comparisons versus the iPhone 12 lineup, it's the streaming video performance that the company has eked out of its new smartphones that really stands out.

iphone-13-display.jpg
  • iPhone 12 mini: 10 hours
  • iPhone 12: 11 hours
  • iPhone 12 Pro: 11 hours
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max: 12 hours

  • iPhone 13 Mini: 13 hours
  • iPhone 13: 19 hours
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 20 hours
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: 25 hours
The iPhone 13 lineup features new low-power displays, a more efficient A15 chip, larger batteries, and more power-efficient components, all of which make for dramatic improvements when streaming, as the numbers above show.

For example, Apple claims that when streaming video, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max last nine hours and 13 hours longer than last year's equivalent models, respectively. Taking the same metric, the battery in the iPhone 13 mini manages 13 hours, which is longer than even the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

With video streaming services so ubiquitous these days, not to mention Apple TV+ (and obliquely, Fitness+), Apple has clearly factored the computations involved into the power optimizations that it has achieved through the tight integration of its hardware and software.

Of course, battery life varies by use case and many other factors, so actual results will vary, but if they're anything near what Apple is claiming, binge-watching your favorite show should be a cinch on these latest devices.

(H/T to Jack for pointing this out!)

Article Link: iPhone 13 Batteries Positively Excel at Video Streaming Compared to iPhone 12
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/17/iphone-13-battery-excels-video-streaming/
Last edited:
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acorntoy said:
I suspect a lot is due to promotion limiting display power consumption.
Click to expand...

Sure, and it depends what video Apple is watching. If it's regular 60hz video, there shouldn't be any difference from last year's phones in terms of ProMotion's effect. If it's 24p movies, then it certainly will. I'll be interested in seeing reviewer tests in this regard.
 
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forums.macrumors.com

iPhone 12 Pro battery health

Update: I called Apple about my 12 pro with 89% battery life and got my call escalated to a senior tech. They said that shouldn’t be the case with a phone that isn’t a year old and booked an appointment at the apple store for me. Hopefully they replace my battery or give me an express...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

Given that some of us had horrible experience with our iPhone 12 Pro Max batteries, I honestly hope that they have rectified and improved them in the 13 series. :confused:

9 months old, 128 cycle, 89% battery health. Went from amazing 2 day battery life, to needing to use low power mode just to make it through the day on a same usage pattern. As it's not 80% or below, Apple Support Rep said nothing is wrong with my battery and can't (won't) replace it under warranty. Sigh.
 
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Oh well there's always something new and improved every year. But I'm already satisfied with my 12 Pro Max battery, which lasts about 1.5-2 days and still at 100% health after a year. When it's time for my upgrade, most of these new features will also be available on my next iPhone. I prefer giant leap over baby steps.
 
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Serban55 said:
of course, that is what promotion is all about
watching video at 24hz will save battery a lot more than stuck on 60hz like all other iphone had it
Click to expand...

acorntoy said:
I suspect a lot is due to promotion limiting display power consumption.
Click to expand...
But the iPhone 13 doesn't have promotion and has 19 hours listed over the 11 hours from the iPhone 12.
 
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I just really hope that the 13 Pro Max has similar battery life to the 11 Pro Max. For me it is the most important feature of the 11 Pro Max.
 
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Oblivious.Robot said:
forums.macrumors.com

iPhone 12 Pro battery health

Update: I called Apple about my 12 pro with 89% battery life and got my call escalated to a senior tech. They said that shouldn’t be the case with a phone that isn’t a year old and booked an appointment at the apple store for me. Hopefully they replace my battery or give me an express...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

Given that some of us had horrible experience with our iPhone 12 Pro Max batteries, I honestly hope that they have rectified and improved them in the 13 series. :confused:

9 months old, 128 cycle, 89% battery health. Went from amazing 2 day battery life, to needing to use low power mode just to make it through the day on a same usage pattern. As it's not 80% or below, Apple Support Rep said nothing is wrong with my battery and can't (won't) replace it under warranty. Sigh.
Click to expand...
iPhone 12 Pro with same exact stats and issues.
 
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