iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 50+ Differences Compared

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 15 Pro brings over 50 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, which was released two years prior. This buyer's guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations and helps you to decide whether it's worth upgrading.

The iPhone 13 Pro debuted in 2021, introducing a brighter display with ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz, the A15 Bionic chip, a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, Macro photography and photographic styles, Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field, ProRes video recording, a 1TB storage option, and five hours of additional battery life. The iPhone 13 Pro was discontinued upon the announcement of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, but it is still possible to get hold of it second-hand.

Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you and serves as a way to clearly see the all of the differences that the iPhone 15 Pro brings to the table. This article focuses on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, but to understand the differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, see our other buyer's guide:

• iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 30+ Upgrades Compared

Although the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro share most of their basic features, the iPhone 15 Pro offers a large number of notable upgrades, such as a titanium design, 48-megapixel main camera, always-on display, Action button, USB-C port, and A17 Bionic chip... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 50+ Differences Compared

 

[Tovenaar]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

 

[steve09090]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

Did you not see the list?

 

[nvmls]

Did you not see the list?

[tr]
[th]This[/th]
[th]one?[/th]
[/tr]

 

[Tovenaar]

Did you not see the list?

I did. Where's the significant upgrade?

Photos are very marginally better.

Screen was already great. iPhone 13 remains very fast.

Why aren't I able to dock my iPhone for a monitor, mouse and keyboard experience yet? It's certainly fast enough. That's a significant upgrade.

Why isn't Siri a serious AI assistant yet? The technology exists. That's a significant upgrade.

I think we need to hold Apple to a higher standard than these tiny incremental changes they make every year.

 

[oasis]

Having gone from a 13 Pro Max to the 15 Pro Max, the battery life doesn’t compare.

The 15 is significantly worse. At least 2 hours of screen on time less.

Now the battery is the 15 is good, with a normal use id still have 20% or so remaining but the 13 was a battery champ for me, I never once killed it. Even after 2 years.

 

[chfilm]

I am deeply worried that the battery on the 15 pro will be worse than my 13 pro after all that I’m reading here.. :/

 

[thegerman]

Upgrading every three years is the best decision i have ever made.
16 ultra I wait.
I think the regular 16 get ProMotion for the first TIMe, because the next generation gets the 17 pro chip, and 17Pro = Promotion
Finger crossed.

 

[coso]

My iOS17 13 Pro doesn't have 2x, only 0.5x 1x 3x (2x would have been awesome)

 

[winxmac]

If you are using iPhone 12 series and older, then you should upgrade... Unless you have money to spare, stick with your current device [iPhone 13 series and newer]

 

[peteintas]

Sure, the 15 pro is a nice phone, but for 99% of the time, you will be fine with the 13 pro for more than two years. We have hit peak smartphone, the last few generations are just minor revisions and marketing hype.

 

[Jmausmuc]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

Agreed. I upgraded from 13 Pro to 15 Pro because my Gfs iPhone X was failing and I gave her my 13 Pro.

Honestly, for me it is basically the same phone. There are some nice improvements but really nothing to write home about.

Most is hardware which was plenty fast on the 13 Pro and camera where I don’t see the difference. We compared pictures side by side, I can’t tell which one looks better, maybe more talented photographers can.

 

[1278701]

Love my 13 Pro. It's fast, the battery life lasts me all day with % to spare and just got a brand new Leather case for it 😎. All my peripherals (AirPods, Keyboard, Trackpad) have lightening so I don't need two different cables.

As an aside, knowing that I can tell if my phone is on silent without taking it out of my pocket is quite a useful thing. Not sure I’m ready to lose the mute / silence switch. Seems like the removal of a useful feature.

 

[oasis]

I am deeply worried that the battery on the 15 pro will be worse than my 13 pro after all that I’m reading here.. :/

It will be. Its still good battery life, but nowhere near as good as the 13.

 

[Aggamemnon]

The specs say the f stops are *worse* on the 15 Pro for the main and ultra-wide cameras.

 

[MiamiFL]

The use of "quality-of-life" is incredibly strained and laughable. That's even more sensationalism than Apple dare spout.

 

[kelemor88]

Think they went with two much power for this chipset. Little more power greater efficiency should always be the mantra when it comes to phones. Also a great power saver on the 13 is not having the display always on. Even on my ultra watch I turned that function off first thing. My 13 pro max still plays the games and does the video editing I need it to. I been telling my wife since the M1 series chips have come out that I was getting a new Mac. But I’ve have kept waiting hoping the M3 chip is what I’ve been waiting for. Until then my m1 iPad Pro still does the video editing I need it to for larger projects.
Titanium don’t care
Usbc might care down the road
4k 60 don’t care right now
Wi-Fi 6e only have 6 in the house
Battery life really no change
Always on display pfffft
Dynamic island eh
8gigs of ram prolly use it.
1 extra gpu core nice
Newer 5g band would be great but still get 400down and 50up on the 13s 5g
Will wait till the 16 and maybe the A18 ultra chip in the iPhone 16 ultra

 

[BannerManCan]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

I see your points but nobody would be spending 1100 when your phone is worth 600-850. You would be spending around $400 if you took take of your 13PM. The question is whether it's worth that.

 

[dsr1122]

I own a 13 Pro Max, no intention of upgrading. Photos are great, battery life is great, and I just completed a 24 month payment plan so this phone is now “free” aside from monthly carrier fees. Why bother upgrading now? I’ve been on a 3 yr upgrade cycle for some time, for the average person, we’ve reached “good enough” iphone.

 

[kelemor88]

I am deeply worried that the battery on the 15 pro will be worse than my 13 pro after all that I’m reading here.. :/

Turn off the always on display that will help and your not used to it anyways on the 13

 

[Guacamole]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

I don't think the action button is a benefit after all... I'd rather have the mute button as it is

 

[unfunfionn]

I made the switch from 13 Pro Max to 15 Pro Max as my partner needed a new phone and wanted my 13 PM. Otherwise I wouldn't have upgraded. I do really like the 15 PM, but I wouldn't in any way call it a meaningful or necessary upgrade. I would really question the financial priorities of people who do. That statement completely lacks credibility. With some differences, they are very close to being the same phone.

 

[Oscar_440]

My iOS17 13 Pro doesn't have 2x, only 0.5x 1x 3x (2x would have been awesome)

Any iPhone 15 has 2x camera. Just 0,6x, 1x, 3x or 5x.
The other focal lens it’s just a crop of an image taken by any of that lenses I mentioned. That means it’s Digital Zoom, not optical (the “good one”)

 

[gpat]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

I'd say that 3 years qualifies as the bare minimum to justify an upgrade, as things stay right now.

 

[elimporta2]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

Agree! I switched from the 11 pro to the 13 pro just because I got a good deal with T-mobile and to have 5G.