Upgrade Showdown: iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro—What’s Changed?

Choosing between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro can be challenging because Apple continually improves its technology. This guide will help you understand the main differences between these two models and assist you in deciding if you should upgrade. Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

1. Design and Display
2. Performance and Battery
3. Cameras
4. Software and Special Features
5. Price and Availability
6. Conclusion: Should You Upgrade?

Design and Display - iPhone 13 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro

The main difference between iPhone 13 Pro and 15 Pro is their design and display.

Apple has changed the design of its iPhone 15 Pro series by using titanium instead of a stainless steel frame for the first time. The iPhone 15 Pro weighs 187 grams whereas the iPhone 13 Pro weighs 204 grams. And iPhone 15 Pro phone comes in a new lightweight titanium body. The titanium body is not just slimmer but it can also limit the probability of scratches or damage. Which in turn raises its durability. Furthermore, the safe and scratch-resistant titanium frame design slightly increases the user experience when holding it. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 Pro with a stainless steel frame is more secure but heavier.

Both have Super Retina XDR, ProMotion, and a variable refresh rate of 120 Hz which means much smoother scrolling and better performance. This means that the performance in games, animations, and general navigation feels smoother on both phones. The display of the iPhone is also slightly brighter which improves daylight visibility.

The iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch display while the iPhone 15 Pro has the same size but has better color accuracy. This means the iPhone 15 Pro’s display can produce up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness compared to 1,200 nits of the iPhone 13 Pro. Thus, every picture displayed on its screen has a realistic color and is appropriately saturated with no fuzziness in text or issues when scrolling.

Performance and Battery - iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro

Performance is a big consideration if you are planning to move from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro.

The iPhone 13 Pro has a powerful A15 Bionic chip that's fast and efficient. But, the iPhone 15 Pro takes a step further with its newer Apple A17 Pro chip which provides even quicker performance and better energy efficiency. Using an advanced 3-nanometer processor, this chip boosts performance while cutting down power usage, making sure apps open up faster, multitasking is smoother, and games are more immersive. Also, this A17 chip has a strong neural engine, which makes machine learning tasks like recognizing images or augmented reality stuff smarter. So, the iPhone 15 Pro isn't just faster, it can also handle complex jobs more smartly.

Battery life has also improved. The iPhone 13 Pro has up to 22 hours of talk time, and the iPhone 15 Pro has 23 hours of talk time due to its more efficient processor and larger battery capacity. Both models have fast charging and MagSafe technology, but the iPhone 15 Pro charges slightly faster due to the improved power management. The iPhone 15 Pro has a 3,274 mAh battery compared to the 3,095 mAh on iPhone 13 Pro. With the more efficient A17 Bionic chip, you can expect slightly better battery life from the newer model.

Cameras - iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro

The camera is a big consideration for many when deciding to upgrade. 

The iPhone 13 Pro has a triple camera system with 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses. The iPhone 15 Pro has a 48MP main sensor, that captures better photos and video. The new sensor captures lighter and detailed photos, meaning sharper and more colorful images. Both phones have an optical zoom of 3x. So, these phones can capture more distant subjects without losing quality.

The front camera of the iPhone 15 Pro also has a 12 MP TrueDepth camera which can work in low light and has better video recording quality than the iPhone 13 Pro. The new front camera also has better facial recognition so Face ID is faster and more reliable. The A17 Pro chip of the iPhone 15 Pro supports Smart HDR10 which has more control over transitions, and contrast than Smart HDR 4 of the older models. So, it produces more accurate images and better color temperatures.

On the video side, the iPhone 15 Pro now allows you to record ProRes 4K 60 fps videos directly to an external storage device. Log encoding is added which preserves the color gamut while expanding the dynamic range and improving post-editing. The iPhone 15 Pro also supports the Academy Color Encoding System, an open color encoding standard developed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. When comparing the iPhone 13 Pro with the iPhone 15 Pro, you’ll experience design changes and display improvements.

Software and Special Features - iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro

Software and unique features play a significant role in the user experience. The iPhone 15 Pro has the latest iOS with new features and improvements to make the user experience and performance better. The new iOS has better privacy, customization options, and better integration. The iPhone 15 Pro also has a new feature: a function button that replaces the Ring/Silent switch previously found on the side of the device. The buttons work similarly to the Apple Watch Ultra series, giving you quick access to some of your favorite features. Press and hold the button to initiate the action.

The iPhone 15 Pro also features a second-generation U2 Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip that increases the connection range between two iPhones. It has improved the Find My ecosystem and the latest search feature. In addition, with Wi-Fi 6E, wireless data speed can be doubled if the device supports it. The iPhone 15 Pro is also the first Apple phone to support NavIC, a standalone navigation satellite system developed by the Indian Space Research Center to achieve better navigation and positioning.

Smart home users can benefit from the Thread support which comes with the iPhone 15 series. This open system allows all smart home devices, regardless of their type or function, to communicate with each other. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro support iOS 17 and have many new features built-in, including faster audio transmission, improved messaging, new functions, and more.

Apple has improved product safety features in recent years. Emergency SOS has been a feature of Apple phones for some time now, you can easily call emergency services when needed. Apple introduced a crash detection with the launch of the iPhone 14 series a few years ago. Starting with iOS 17, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series also have a new Roadside Assistance feature. 

Crash Detection is available on iPhone 14 and later models. It can detect a severe car crash and automatically call for help over an active cellular connection or Wi-Fi calling. Roadside Assistance is also available on iPhone 14 and later models, which lets you message emergency services and share your location with your family and friends via satellite even if you don’t have cellular or Wi-Fi. AAA offers 2 years of free service to iPhone owners even if you don’t have AAA. iPhone 13 Pro has collision or satellite coverage.

Price and Availability - iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro

Price is an important consideration in deciding whether to upgrade.

Now, the iPhone 13 Pro Price is cheaper; therefore, if you don’t need the latest features, it’s a more affordable option. Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also cheaper so if you need a bigger screen then go for it.

On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro is a new model so it’s more expensive. But some of its features are worth the extra cost. As for the iPhone 15 series, it has different designs that will help you make choices depending on your requirements and budgetary position. Right now, there are 4 colors of iPhone 15 Pro: Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. The base model starts at $1,129. The iPhone 15 Price are more affordable at our store. It comes with 4 storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB so you can choose what suits you at any time.

The iPhone 13 Pro was discontinued in September 2022, but can still be found through third-party sellers, often with a discount. The base model of iPhone 13 starts at $729 with 256GB storage capacity. It comes in four storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The iPhone 13 Pro comes in 5 colors: Alpine Green, Silver, Gold, Graphite, and Sierra Blue.

Conclusion: Should You Upgrade?

Whether you should upgrade from iPhone 13 Pro to 15 Pro depends on specific requirements and preferences. 

If you have planned to upgrade from an iPhone 14 Pro to an iPhone 15 Pro, now it’s not the time. On the other hand, if it's considering a move up from an older model like the iPhone 13 Pro then that's a different story altogether.

This would be particularly justifiable with the inclusion of the A17 pro chip, and additional camera functionalities in iPhone 15 Pro. The transition from stainless steel to a titanium body on the iPhone 15 Pro is also a big difference.

If you're looking for a balance between affordability and functionality, then thinking about getting a refurbished iPhone, that might be a great choice. These models offer strong value and performance without the premium price tags.

In conclusion, the decision to upgrade from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro should be based on your need for the latest technology and features against your budget considerations.

For the best deals on mobile phones, visit Phonebot to shop Apple iPhone 13 and iPhone 15 pro for competitive prices on refurbished iPhones.