Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the flagship option here, and it crushes the Apple iPhone 13 in most areas. Battery life: Apple iPhone 17 Pro is rated for up to 33 hours. After testing both, the display is another game changer. The 6.3-inch screen on the iPhone 17 Pro not only offers higher resolution but also peaks at a dazzling 3000 nits outdoors, making it a no-brainer for anyone who loves vibrant visuals.
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 13
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Apple iPhone 13

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 13
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro | Apple iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(108)Best Buy | ★4.8(818)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | iOS |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | Typically 6+ years of OS updates from release (2021) |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Apple A15 Bionic (5nm) |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 4GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB NVMe |
Display Size | 6.3" (6.27" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.1" |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
Resolution | 2622 x 1206 pixels (460 ppi) | 2532 x 1170 pixels (460 ppi) |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | 60Hz |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 800 nits (Typical) / 1,200 nits (HDR Peak) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.6), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 12MP Wide, f/1.6, 26mm, 1.7µm, Sensor-shift OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 12MP Ultrawide, f/2.4, 13mm, 120-degree FOV |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, 4x, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | No (Not supported) |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | 2x Optical Zoom Out (0.5x to 1x) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 5x |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 4K @ 60fps (Dolby Vision HDR supported); Cinematic mode (1080p @ 30fps) |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 12MP TrueDepth, f/2.2, 23mm, SL 3D (Biometrics) |
Battery | 4252 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 33 hours video playback (30 hours streamed) | 3,240mAh (approximate) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | 20W+ Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) via Lightning |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | 15W MagSafe Wireless / 7.5W Qi Wireless |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub-6 GHz & mmWave), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, UWB |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | Lightning Connector (USB 2.0 speeds) |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP68 (Maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield front |
Dimensions | 5.89" x 2.81" x 0.32" (149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm) | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.30 in (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm) |
Weight | 7.27 oz (206 g) | 6.14 oz (174 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Face ID |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | MagSafe ecosystem support, Stereo speakers, Dual eSIM support |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro
✓ Pros:
- • Brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- • Triple 48MP camera system with new 4x tetraprism telephoto
- • A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM and vapor chamber cooling
- • Excellent battery life (up to 33 hours video playback)
- • Fast 40W wired charging and 25W wireless charging
✗ Cons:
- • Charging requires purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately for max speed
- • No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US models)
- • Telephoto aperture (f/2.8) is narrower than the main lens, impacting low-light zoom
- • Heavier than the standard iPhone 17
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Apple iPhone 13
✓ Pros:
- • Excellent build quality with Ceramic Shield and IP68 rating
- • Strong battery life for its size (beat many Android competitors at launch)
- • A15 Bionic chip remains highly capable for everyday tasks and gaming
- • High-quality video recording with Dolby Vision HDR
- • Compact and lightweight 6.1-inch form factor
✗ Cons:
- • Stuck on 60Hz refresh rate (Competitors offer 120Hz)
- • Uses proprietary Lightning port instead of universal USB-C
- • Charging speed is relatively slow (Max ~20-23W)
- • No telephoto lens for optical zoom
- • Cinematic Mode video is limited to 1080p (Pro models support 4K)
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Which one is better?
Battery life: Apple iPhone 17 Pro is rated for up to 33 hours. That said, grab the iPhone 13 if you want to save money and still get a solid device - it's lighter at 6.14 oz versus 7.27 oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro if: you want the best battery life for long trips, you need advanced camera features for photography, or you enjoy high-quality gaming. (6.3" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the Apple iPhone 13 if: you want a compact phone that's easy to handle, you need something budget-friendly without sacrificing too much, or you prefer a lighter device for daily use. (6.1" display, 60 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro excels if you value brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). Apple iPhone 13 is better if you prioritize excellent build quality with ceramic shield and ip68 rating. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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