Apple released the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026, five years after the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The 2021 models introduced ProMotion displays, macro photography, a 3x Telephoto camera, and substantially longer battery life than their predecessors. They remain capable phones and support iOS 27, but owners now have five generations of upgrades to consider.
The iPhone 14 Pro brought the Dynamic Island, an Always-On display, a 48-megapixel Main camera, and Emergency SOS via satellite. The iPhone 15 Pro introduced the Action button and USB-C. The iPhone 16 Pro added larger displays, the Camera Control, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, and expanded video capabilities.
The iPhone 17 Pro adopted an aluminum unibody with vapor chamber cooling and upgraded the Telephoto and front-facing cameras. This year's iPhone 18 Pro adds the A20 Pro chip, a variable-aperture Main camera, a smaller Dynamic Island, and further gains in battery life and charging speed. For an iPhone 13 Pro owner, these changes accumulate across nearly every part of the phone.
In the United States, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299, each with 256GB of storage. That is $200 more than the corresponding iPhone 13 Pro model's 2021 starting price, although the older phones started with 128GB. Apple no longer sells the iPhone 13 Pro, so anyone buying one now will be looking at a used or refurbished device. Here are the key differences:### Design and DisplayiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)Stainless steel frameAluminum unibodyTextured matte glass backCeramic Shield backCeramic Shield frontCeramic Shield 2 frontiPhone 13 Pro: 6.1-inch display
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6.7-inch displayiPhone 18 Pro: 6.3-inch display
iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayiPhone 13 Pro: 2,532-by-1,170-pixel resolution
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 2,778-by-1,284-pixel resolutioniPhone 18 Pro: 2,622-by-1,206-pixel resolution
iPhone 18 Pro Max: 2,868-by-1,320-pixel resolutionAlways-On displayUp to 1,200 nits peak HDR brightnessUp to 1,600 nits peak HDR brightnessUp to 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightnessNotch housing the TrueDepth cameraSmaller Dynamic IslandDynamic Island can show up to three Live Activities at onceAnti-reflective display coatingRing/Silent switchCustomizable Action buttonCamera ControlGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, and Alpine GreenBlack, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy### Dimensions and WeightiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)HeightPro: 146.7mm
Pro Max: 160.8mmPro: 150.0mm
Pro Max: 163.4mmWidthPro: 71.5mm
Pro Max: 78.1mmPro: 71.9mm
Pro Max: 78.0mmThickness7.65mm8.75mmWeightPro: 204 grams
Pro Max: 240 gramsPro: 211 grams
Pro Max: 249 grams### Chip, Software, and ConnectivityiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)A15 Bionic chipA20 Pro chipMade with TSMC's 5nm processMade with TSMC's 2nm process6-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores6-core CPU with two super cores and four efficiency cores5-core GPU7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators16-core Neural EngineDual 16-core Neural EngineHardware-accelerated ray tracingPassive coolingVapor chamber cooling for improved sustained performanceApple Intelligence and Siri AI supportLightning connectorUSB-C connectorUSB 2 transfer speeds up to 480 MbpsUSB 3 transfer speeds up to 10Gb/sVideo output up to 1080p using a Lightning adapterDisplayPort video output up to 4K HDR over USB-CWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 7Bluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 6Thread networkingFirst-generation Ultra Wideband chipSecond-generation Ultra Wideband chipEmergency SOS via satelliteMessages via satelliteFind My via satelliteCrash Detection### Rear CamerasiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)12-megapixel Wide camera48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with a new sensor and computational imaging pipelineFixed ƒ/1.5 Main camera apertureVariable Main camera aperture with ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, and ƒ/4.0 settingsManual aperture control in the Camera app and support for aperture control in third-party appsNight modeNight mode with faster capture enabled by the variable-aperture Main camera12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide cameraƒ/1.8 Ultra Wide apertureƒ/2.2 Ultra Wide aperture12-megapixel Telephoto camera48-megapixel Fusion Telephoto camera3x Telephoto camera with 77mm focal length4x Telephoto camera with 100mm focal length12-megapixel optical-quality 2x photos derived from the Main camera12-megapixel optical-quality 8x photos derived from the Telephoto camera6x optical zoom range16x optical-quality zoom rangeDigital zoom up to 15xDigital zoom up to 40xSensor-shift optical image stabilization on the Wide cameraSecond-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization on the Main cameraOptical image stabilization on the Telephoto camera3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization on the Telephoto camera12-megapixel photos from all three rear cameras24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos from all three rear camerasFixed default Main camera viewCustomizable default lens for the Fusion Main cameraMacro photography48-megapixel macro photographyPhotonic EngineSmart HDR 4Smart HDR 5Portrait mode with Depth ControlNext-generation portraits with Focus and Depth ControlPhotographic StylesPhotographic Styles 3, with additional tone, color, texture, and grain controlsPro controls for shutter speed, white balance, and a live histogramSmart focus trackingSpatial photo captureApple Reference Image capture using the Main cameraTrue Tone flash with Slow SyncAdaptive True Tone flash### Camera Control
The iPhone 18 Pro adds a dedicated Camera Control that the iPhone 13 Pro lacks. It can be used to:
- Open the Camera app, take a photo, or press and hold to record video
- Lock focus and exposure with a light press and hold before reframing
- Slide to adjust exposure, depth, zoom, camera selection, Photographic Styles, and tone
- Open Visual Intelligence by pressing and holding, where the feature is available### Front CameraiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)12-megapixel TrueDepth camera18-megapixel Center Stage camera with TrueDepth technologyƒ/2.2 apertureƒ/1.9 apertureAutofocusCenter StagePortrait and landscape framing without rotating the iPhoneSmart HDR 4Smart HDR 5Photographic StylesPhotographic Styles 3### Video RecordingiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)Rear-camera 4K Dolby Vision recording up to 60 fpsRear-camera 4K Dolby Vision recording up to 120 fpsRear-camera Cinematic mode up to 1080p at 30 fpsRear-camera Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fpsFront-camera Cinematic mode up to 1080p at 30 fpsFront-camera Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fpsProRes recording up to 4K at 30 fps, or 1080p at 30 fps on the 128GB modelProRes recording up to 4K at 120 fps with external storageVideo recording directly to external storage over USB-CAction mode up to 2.8K Dolby Vision at 60 fpsSpatial video recording at 1080p and 30 fpsDual Capture using the front and rear cameras simultaneouslyProRes RAW supportApple Log 2 supportGenlock support### Audio RecordingiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)Stereo recordingSpatial Audio and stereo recordingFour studio-quality microphonesWind noise reductionAudio Mix### Battery and ChargingiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)iPhone 13 Pro: Up to 22 hours of video playbackiPhone 18 Pro: Up to 36 hours of video playbackiPhone 13 Pro Max: Up to 28 hours of video playbackiPhone 18 Pro Max: Up to 45 hours of video playbackiPhone 13 Pro: Up to 20 hours of streamed video playbackiPhone 18 Pro: Up to 33 hours of streamed video playbackiPhone 13 Pro Max: Up to 25 hours of streamed video playbackiPhone 18 Pro Max: Up to 40 hours of streamed video playbackUp to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higherUp to 50% charge in around 15 minutes with a compatible 60W adapter or higherMagSafe wireless charging up to 15WMagSafe wireless charging up to 25WQi wireless charging up to 7.5WQi2 wireless charging up to 25WUp to 50% charge in around 30 minutes using MagSafe with a compatible 35W adapter or higher### Storage and PricingiPhone 13 Pro (2021)iPhone 18 Pro (2026)128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TBiPhone 13 Pro: Launched at $999 in the U.S. with 128GBiPhone 18 Pro: Starts at $1,199 in the U.S. with 256GBiPhone 13 Pro Max: Launched at $1,099 in the U.S. with 128GBiPhone 18 Pro Max: Starts at $1,299 in the U.S. with 256GBNow discontinuedSold directly by Apple### Is It Worth Upgrading From an iPhone 13 Pro?
For most iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max owners ready to replace their phone, the iPhone 18 Pro is a very worthwhile upgrade. Five years of changes bring noticeable improvements to battery life, charging, outdoor display visibility, photography, and connectivity. The iPhone 13 Pro already has ProMotion and a capable three-camera system, but those strengths do not erase the breadth of the newer model's improvements.
Battery life may be the most immediate benefit, especially for an iPhone 13 Pro whose original battery has aged. Faster wired charging and USB-C also make the newer phone easier to live with, particularly if your other devices already use USB-C.
The camera upgrade is substantial across the whole system. All three rear cameras move from 12 to 48 megapixels, while the variable-aperture Main camera adds creative control and the Telephoto camera extends from 3x to 4x, with an additional optical-quality 8x option. The higher-resolution front camera, autofocus, and Center Stage are useful for group photos and video calls. Video creators gain considerably more through higher frame rates, improved Cinematic mode, external recording, and professional formats.
The A20 Pro and vapor chamber make the strongest performance case for demanding games, long recording sessions, and other sustained work. The iPhone 18 Pro also supports Apple Intelligence, while the iPhone 13 Pro does not, even though both run iOS 27.
The main physical trade-offs are size and weight: both iPhone 18 Pro models are taller, thicker, and slightly heavier. Some users may find the iPhone 18 Pro's aluminum chassis to be more vulnerable to dents and damage, even though the front and rear glass is stronger. U.S. buyers who rely on a physical SIM must also move to eSIM.
If you need to delay a new purchase, replacing an iPhone 13 Pro's battery can extend its usefulness. For owners prepared to buy now, however, the accumulated improvements make upgrading easy to justify.Related Roundup: iPhone 18 ProBuyer's Guide: iPhone 18 Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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