iPhone 13 Pro Max review
The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s stellar cameras, 120Hz ProMotion display and longer battery life add up to a practically perfect phone in our testing. The charging could be faster and Touch ID would be nice, but overall this is a beast that can’t be beat.
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Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: Price Comparison Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) $1,099 (opens in new tab) $999.99 (opens in new tab) View (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) $999.99 (opens in new tab) View (opens in new tab) Show More Deals
Update: The iPhone 14 Pro Max is now available, and it improves on the iPhone 13 Pro Max in a number of ways. Check out our iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max face-off for more.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max nails practically every aspect of what makes a smartphone great. This premium flagship (from $1,099) packs a 120Hz refresh rate display, the fastest performance of any handset and epic battery life.
But it’s the iPhone 13 Pro Max's cameras that put this phone over the top, as they're the best I've tested on a phone so far. You can shoot Cinematic mode videos with a compelling bokeh effect, choose your own Photographic styles and take super close-up shots with a new macro mode that leverages the ultra-wide camera.
iPhone 13 Pro Max specs Starting price: $1,099
Storage: 128, 256, 512, 1TB
Battery life (hrs:min): 12:16
Screen size: 6.7 inches
Resolution (ppi): 2778 x 1284 (458)
Adaptive refresh: Up to 120Hz
Processor: A15 Bionic
Rear cameras: Pro 12MP (Telephoto, Wide, Ultra Wide)
Zoom: 3x optical / 15x digital
Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
Colors: Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue
Size: 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 8.5 ounces
Water resistance: IP68
The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s camera bump is definitely more prominent this time around, thanks to the larger sensors, and the overall design is heftier than the iPhone 12 Pro Max . But I do like that the notch on the 6.7-inch display is smaller. Check out our iPhone 13 Pro review (opens in new tab) if you want all the same features in a more compact and slightly less expensive phone.
If you're looking for something more affordable and don't need a telephoto lens or 120Hz display, check out our iPhone 13 review (opens in new tab) and iPhone 13 mini (opens in new tab) review.
While I wish Apple offered faster charging and Touch ID, as you’ll see in my full iPhone 13 Pro Max review, this is the best iPhone — and best phone period.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is available to buy right now, starting at $1,099 for 128GB of storage. Going up to 256GB costs $1,199, 512GB is $1,399 and the whopping 1TB option is priced at a gulp-inducing $1,599. To save some money, make sure you check our Apple Store coupons page for the latest offers and discounts.
On the other side of the Atlantic in the U.K., the 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at £1,049, hitting £1,149 for the 265GB model and £1,349 for the 512GB version. If you have plenty of money to burn and want a lot of storage, then the 1TB iPhone 13 Pro will cost a wallet-walloping £1,549.
Note that you can save on the iPhone 13 Pro Max if you trade in your old iPhone or other phone. And we’re tracking the best iPhone 13 deals to help you save some money on this rather pricey Apple phone.
Note: As of the launch of the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is no longer on sale from Apple. You may need to look harder to find brand new models from third-party retailers or mobile carriers, or check out the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the replacement model, instead.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Design and colors
Smaller notch but a bit heavier than iPhone 12 Pro Max
Sierra blue is our favorite color
The iPhone 13 Pro Max retains the flat edges of the iPhone 12 Pro Max but looks a bit different. For one, the camera array is larger than before, so it takes up a bit more real estate on the back of the phone.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Weighing 8.46 ounces, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is also notably heavier than its 8.03-ounce predecessor. But I’ll allow that given the new iPhone Pro has a larger battery.
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On the plus side, the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s notch is a bit smaller on the display, as Apple shrunk it 20% while retaining the same key Face ID tech. It’s not a full-screen look, but it’s an improvement over recent iPhones.
iPhone 12 Pro Max (left) and iPhone 13 Pro Max (right) (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
My only real complaint with the iPhone 13’s design is that it doesn’t offer Touch ID, either in the power button or underneath the display. At a time many people are still wearing masks in public places, it would be nice to have an alternative way to easily unlock our iPhones.
Fortunately, the iOS 15.4 software update enables Face ID to work with masks. And we have tested the update and it works well.
iPhone 13 Pro Max in graphite (left) and iPhone 13 in blue (right) (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The iPhone 13 Pro Max comes in four colors: graphite, gold, silver and sierra blue. I would opt for the blue model if paying with my own money. The graphite model I tested has a sleek professional vibe, but it’s not as playful.
One thing to note, thanks to Apple's new iPhone Self Service Repair kits, you can now carry out your own repairs, but proceed with caution here as you'll need some technical skills.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Display
120Hz ProMotion display delivers smoother performance and animations
Brighter screen easier to read outdoors
The biggest upgrade to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s display — and biggest upgrade overall — is the new ProMotion display. This 6.7-inch panel can dynamically scale its refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz, which results in smoother overall performance and animations.
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For example, when scrolling on The New York Times homepage with the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max side by side, I could more easily read the text on Apple’s newer phone when quickly scrolling on both displays. It just feels more responsive.
iPhone 13 Pro Max (left) and iPhone 12 Pro Max (right) (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
These benefits carry over to other activities as well, such as swiping between apps or returning to the home screen. But I’m more excited by apps that take advantage of ProMotion. This includes Catalyst Black, a frenetic online battle game that had me shooting in all directions and transforming into monsters. And the whole experience was wonderfully fluid.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Max initially had an issue where certain apps did not support 120Hz, but the iOS 15.4 update enables 120Hz refresh rate for third-party apps.
Another plus for the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s screen is its increased brightness. We measured an average of 837 nits with the Adaptive setting off and 1,038 nits with with Adaptive on. The iPhone 12 Pro Max averaged 654 nits with Adaptive off. The Galaxy S21 Ultra maxes out at 821 nits.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s display delivers stunning detail even in low-light scenes. When watching the trailer for James Bond No Time to Die, I could make out every creepy crevice in Rami Malek’s transformed face.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Cameras
New sensors let in more light for brighter images
More powerful 3x optical/15x digital zoom
Compelling macro mode
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a bigger camera array for a reason. The main wide camera is Apple’s largest yet at 1.9μm pixels (up from 1.7μm) while offering a f/1.5 aperture, which is rated to deliver a 49% more light thant the iPhone 12 Pro Max. And the ultrawide camera offers a larger f/1.8 aperture (was f/2.4 for iPhone 13 Pro Max) for brighter pics while offering a wider field of view.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Zooming on the iPhone 13 Pro Max gets a boost as well, as the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s telephoto lens offers a 3x optical zoom, up from 2.5x on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Image 1 of 6 iPhone 13 Pro Max — Zoom 3x (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) Galaxy S21 Ultra — Zoom 3x (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) iPhone 13 Pro Max — Zoom 15x (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) Galaxy S21 Ultra — Zoom 15x (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) Galaxy S21 Ultra — Zoom 30x (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) Galaxy S21 Ultra — Zoom 100x (Image credit: Tom's Guide )
And there’s lots of camera upgrades beyond the hardware. For example, the iPhone 13 Pro Max leverages the ultrawide camera to capture images as close as 2 cm away. I really enjoyed getting up close with this piece of wood on a nearby beach. While the iPhone 12 Pro Max struggled to get close, I could capture every nook and cranny with the new iPhone.
Image 1 of 4 iPhone 13 Pro Max macro (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) iPhone 13 Pro Max macro (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) iPhone 13 Pro Max macro (Image credit: Tom's Guide ) iPhone 13 Pro Max macro (Image credit: Tom's Guide )
The iPhone 13 Pro Max also did a superb job capturing this purple pansy, with rich color and lots of details in the petals. And I got real close to this dreaded spotted lanternfly crawling in the rocks; I could even make out each of its legs and fine lines in its wings.
Just bear in mind, the macro mode can at times be fiddly to use, with it being fussy and jerky when triggering automatically, but Apple is working on a fix.
Another new iPhone 13 camera feature is Photographic styles, which lets you choose how you want your photos to look in terms of tone and warmth. Your options include standard, rich contrast, vibrant, warm, cool. And you can adjust these as you see fit.
In terms of overall image quality, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is a step ahead of the other best camera phones . Take this photo of pumpkins, which has the sun overhead and a fair amount of shadow. The iPhone 13 Pro Max captures a more vibrant sign in the foreground and the pumpkins themselves look more vibrant than in the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s shot. However, Samsung’s photo is a bit brighter overall.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max takes a more pleasing portrait of me standing in front of the Manasquan reservoir. My face and green shirt are both brighter. And if you’re hanging on to an older phone like the iPhone 11 Pro , you can see how much better the new iPhone is; I come out dark and fuzzy in this shot.
The more complex a photo is, the more the iPhone 13 Pro Max shines, as evidenced by this comparison shot taken near the edge of the water. The iPhone’s photo more accurately captures the translucence of the water while making the surrounding rocks pop, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s pic looks flat by comparison.
Despite a jump from 2.5 to 3x for the telephoto zoom on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it’s still behind Samsung’s best. Zooming in on some boats at 3x, I prefer the slightly brighter images from the S21 Ultra in this case. And at 15x digital zoom, the writing on the boat looks sharper in the Samsung shot. At least the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 15x zoom is better than the 12x max digital zoom on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s bigger sensor shines in this selfie comparison with the iPhone 12 Pro Max. My face and blue shirt look brighter with the new iPhone while I get a little bit lost in the shadows with last year’s camera.
When it comes to ultrawide photos, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is neck and neck with the Galaxy S21 Ultra here. But I give a slight edge to the new iPhone because of the detail in the rock and especially the ripples in the water.
To test the iPhone 13 Pro Max in low light I shot these hydrangea flowers at night in nearly complete darkness. Neither image looks very sharp, but the iPhone delivers a more accurate pink and brighter green leaves.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Video and Cinematic mode
Cinematic mode steals the show with automatic focus and bokeh
ProRes support for more creative control
The Cinematic video mode on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is so good that you’ll feel like a mini Spielberg. That’s certainly how I felt after shooting several clips that apply a bokeh effect to your footage and automatically switch the focus to multiple subjects depending on what’s going on in the frame.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
In one video I recorded of a German Shepherd and Shepherd-Rottweiler mix, I appreciated how the iPhone 13 Pro Max automatically blurred out the dog in the background, resulting in a sense of depth, and I could change the focus point on the fly just by pressing on the display.
I also had fun with the Cinematic mode by having my son capture me walking along a trail and attempting a layup playing basketball. In both cases, the iPhone 13 Pro Max delivered a convincing bokeh with the video. Check out the video below to see how iPhone 13 cinematic mode works.
Unfortunately, the resolution for Cinematic mode is capped at 1080p across the entire iPhone range, so you can’t have portrait mode videos and 4K quality at the same time.
If you want even more creative control, the iPhone 13 Pro Max supports ProRes video, a format preferred by video editors. You can record in ProRes up to 30 fps in 4K, but note that only the 256GB and higher models support 4K; the 128GB model is limited to 1080p in ProRes likely because these files take up so much storage. Check out our how to record ProRes video on the iPhone 13 Pro tutorial for more. info.
No matter what you shoot, you won’t be disappointed in the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s video quality. In this sweeping shot of the Manasquan river, everything from the sky trees and puffy clouds to the rippling water and swaying branches looks DSLR-like. However, I did notice a little noise as I zoomed in at 3x.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Performance
A15 Bionic blows the door off of Android phones
Sizable graphics improvement
Thanks to its new A15 Bionic chipset, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is ridiculously fast and grabs the title of world’s fastest phone. I got totally lost in the Warp Drive racing game, which delivers fast frame rates and silky smooth action even as you zoom (and sometimes teleport) around the track.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
And I also got a kick out of Seek, which flexes the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s machine learning muscles by instantly identifying several plants around my abode, from coleus to new guinea impatiens.
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
In terms of benchmarks, the iPhone 13 Pro Max once again destroys the Android competition. In Geekbench 5, which measures overall performance, the iPhone 13 Pro Max notched a multi-core score of 4,549 and a single-core score of 1,720. The Galaxy S21 Ultra hit 3,440 and 1,123, respectively, while the iPhone 12 Pro Max reached 4,111 and 1,603.
Interestingly, the iPhone 13 scored a slightly lower 4,436/1,668, which we think could be due to the Pro Max having more RAM. (Apple doesn’t reveal how much memory it puts into its different iPhone models.)
You should expect a graphics boost on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, as it vaulted ahead of the competition on the 3DMark Wild Life unlimited test. It registered a frame rate of 68.4 frames per second, compared to 54 fps for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 34 fps for the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Video editing should be quick work for this phone, too, as it took only 25 seconds for the iPhone 13 Pro Max to transcode a 4K file to 1080p in the Adobe Premiere Rush app. That’s only a little faster than the 28.5 seconds from the iPhone 12 Pro Max but way speedier than the Samsung’s 1:02 time.
Check out our iPhone 13 benchmarks page to see how the iPhone 13 Pro Max and all the new iPhones compare to each other and the Android phone competition.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Battery life and charging
12 hours and 16 minutes of battery life is among the longest lasting phones
Charging still stuck at 20W with no USB-C port
Now we come to one of the best parts of the iPhone 13 Pro Max review: battery life. Thanks to a larger battery and other enhancements, the iPhone 13 Pro Max lasted a fantastic 12 hours and 16 minutes on the Tom’s Guide battery test, which surfs the web over 5G continuously at 150 nits of screen brightness.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max last year lasted 10 hours and 53 minutes and Galaxy S21 Ultra endured for 11:25. Anything above 11 hours is great, so the iPhone 13 Pro Max earns a spot on our best phone battery life list.
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Head over to our iPhone 13 battery life results page to see how the iPhone 13 Pro Max compares to the other new iPhones and the best Android phones.
The news is not that great on the charging front, as the iPhone 13 Pro Max reaches just 50% capacity after 30 minutes using a 20W UBC-C charger, while other phones like the OnePlus 9 Pro and Xiaomi 11T Pro can get to 100% in 30 minutes or less. MagSafe charging, while convenient, is even slower at 15W.
There is some good news. The iPhone 13 Pro Max can get to 100% in a fairly brisk 90 minutes if you use a higher-power 30W charger. It costs $49 from Apple.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Software
SharePlay lets you watch videos and listen to music with friends
Focus cuts down on distractions
iOS 15 isn’t the leap iOS 14 was in terms of adding widgets, but it delivers some smart and fun upgrades. FaceTime gets some needed audio and video improvements and, as of iOS 15.1, you can use the new SharePlay feature to listen to music or watch movies or TV shows with friends or family. And the Messages app has a new Shared with You section for easier access to shared photos, articles and more.
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I especially like the new Focus feature in iOS 15, which lets you filter notifications based on what you’re doing. Notifications are also more streamlined, thanks with a new summary view so you don’t get overwhelmed.
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Other iOS 15 goodies include a redesigned Safari (I actually don’t like the address bar at the bottom, but you can change it), a more full-featured Weather app and an enhanced Maps app with more detail and better road views. Last but not least, Live Text gives you Google Lens-like powers by recognizing text in real time via the camera for looking up things.
Developers make great apps for Apple devices, and that hasn't slowed down with iOS 15's release. We'd suggest loading up on some of the best iPhone apps or, if you're new to the platform, grabbing the best apps for a new iPhone.
And now that iOS 16 is official, we have a lot more to look forward to. Apple announced a bunch of changes to things like the lock screen and Messages. There is even an update to allow Face ID to unlock your iPhone 13 Pro Max in landscape mode.
iPhone 13 Pro Max: iOS 16
Apple started releasing the iOS 16 betas over the summer, which you can test on an iPhone 13 Pro Max. The biggest updates coming later this year center around the lock screen. Apple will now let you customize it completely. It's really quite neat.
Other notable features include the ability to edit/undo send iMessages, some updates to the Home app, and much more. Be sure to check out our iOS 16 coverage for more.
iPhone 13 Pro Max problems and issues
Thus far iPhone 13 owners have encountered a few problems. For example, some iPhone 13 users are finding that the phone won't unlock with an Apple Watch, though a fix is on the way. In addition, some iPhone 13 owners are complaining about the touch display not being responsive enough in some cases, which could be an iOS 15 issue.
On the iPhone 13 Pros in particular, there are complaints that the cameras are automatically switching between lenses without warning, and Apple has rolled out an update that will enable users to turn this off. And the ProMotion displays on the iPhone 13 Pros are not running at 120Hz with some apps (opens in new tab), which Apple will be addressing in an update. Of course, developers need to optimize their apps as well.
See our iPhone 13 problems roundup for more info.
iPhone 13 Pro Max review: Verdict
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is that rare phone that gets a 5-star rating from us. You get superior cameras and video recording capabilities — including the very compelling Cinematic mode and macro mode — blistering performance and a very responsive 120Hz display. Plus, the battery life is even better this time around and among the best we’ve seen from a 5G flagship.
I also appreciate the slightly better 3x optical zoom and 15x digital zoom on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the brighter screen and the slightly smaller notch. But I wish Apple could deliver faster charging, and I’d like to see a sleeker design next time around with the iPhone 14 with less of a camera bump and perhaps full-screen look.
Some may simply prefer the iPhone 13 Pro because it’s smaller and lighter, as there are no other functional differences between the two handsets. But if you prefer a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the closest thing to perfect you can get in a phone.
Of course, you might want to also consider the new iPhone 14 before you decide upgrade from your current Apple phone.
Next: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 fixes the one thing I hate about foldables and has a great camera that compares to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You can also check out the results of our detailed iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max camera comparison.
The History of Every iPhone Model from 2007–2022 (Nov 2022)
What was the first iPhone to come out? When did the first iPhone come out? We have the full history of the iPhone, from the first series to the latest iPhone 14. This article will cover the evolution of iPhones over the years, and discuss the notable changes made with each release.
Related: What Kind of iPhone Do I Have? Find Your Model Number & Generation
How do you tell which iPhone model you have? We'll walk you through all the iPhone generations in order! For more great Apple device identification tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day.
iPhone Models in Order:
iPhone
The First iPhone Release Date: June 29, 2007
Can you believe 16 GB is all you could put on the first iPhone? Granted, there wasn't nearly as much data to put on the iPhone yet and certainly no App Store. But you had access to the internet on a screen you could actually see it on, unlike the flip and slider phones of the time. And it could only handle 128 MB of memory. The camera was 2.0 megapixels—so, terrible. But a phone with a camera! Holy moly!
As a fun aside, there actually isn't an iPhone 2. From the first iPhone, Apple leapfrogged right over this number to the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
iPhone 3G
Release Date: July 11, 2008
As far as internal specs go, the iPhone 3G wasn't much different than the original iPhone. But now there was an App Store! This iPhone got its moniker for its 3G connectivity, which meant access to internet you could actually use without wanting to throw the iPhone across the room.
iPhone 3GS
Release Date: June 19, 2009
Apple introduced the 32 GB storage option with the iPhone 3GS, doubling it from the first iPhone. Clearly, introducing the App Store changed things quickly. Between photos, music, and apps, 16 GB just wasn't going to cut it. The camera got an upgrade to 3 MP and added video recording. Apple also added Voice Control, although we’d have to wait a couple more years before the introduction of Siri.
iPhone 4
Release Date: June 24, 2010
Now we’re getting somewhere. The iPhone 4 was the first iPhone to have a front-facing camera. Little did Apple know, selfies would take over the world. The iPhone 4 also got a Retina display. With 512 MB memory, it was equipped to handle a lot more than even the iPhone 3GS, which only had 256 MB of memory. You can see the technology was beginning to look a little more familiar, but 32 GB was still the maximum amount of storage the iPhone could hold.
iPhone 4S
Release Date: October 14, 2011
Talk about a huge difference between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S: the camera went from 5 MP to a whopping 8 MP. Now, that’s an upgrade. Apple also introduced the 64 GB storage option but kept the memory at 512 MB. Video could then be recorded in 1080p. Oh, I can’t forget—hello, Siri! Apple sold four million units of the iPhone 4S in its first week.
iPhone 5
Release Date: September 21, 2012
Apple sold 5 million units of the iPhone 5 in its first week. The camera stayed the same but memory was boosted all the way up to 1 GB. You thought 3G was cool? Psh, the iPhone 5 had LTE connectivity. Hello, internet everywhere! Apple also introduced the Lightning connector with the iPhone 5. And for the first time, the screen got bigger! All previous generations' displays were 3.5 inches, but the iPhone 5 was 4 inches.
iPhone 5s & iPhone 5c
Release Date: September 20, 2013
Between the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, Apple sold nine million units in the first week of sales. The iPhone 5c was meant to be slightly more affordable and had a plastic shell. It was available in four different colors, but not too much else was different. The iPhone 5s, on the other hand, introduced Touch ID, dual flash, and slow-motion video. Plus, it included the M7 motion coprocessor, which opened a new realm of possibilities and also helped save battery life.
iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
Release Date: September 19, 2014
Apple tends to make larger leaps between the original model and the S edition than it does from the S edition to a new model. The iPhone 6's internal specs were very similar to those of the iPhone 5s. The biggest difference was having a significantly larger screen and offering an even larger size called 6 Plus. The Retina display became HD, and the option to get an iPhone with 128 GB of storage became available. But the amount of memory was the same, and the camera didn't see a megapixel upgrade. But it didn't matter—Apple sold 10 million units in the first week.
iPhone 6s & 6s Plus
Release Date: September 19, 2015
The 6s changed everything. Well, not everything, it basically looked the same. But inside, Apple upgraded the iPhone 6s quite a lot. The camera made a huge leap forward going from 8 MP to 12 MP. The memory was also doubled from 1 GB to 2 GB. After the iPhone 6 had some bending issues (#bendgate), Apple gave the iPhone 6s 7000 series aluminum to make sure that never happened again. Last but not least, 3D Touch was introduced.
iPhone SE
Release Date: March 31, 2016
Don’t think I’ve forgotten the iPhone SE. It had all the awesome internal specs of the iPhone 6s in a small package and without 3D Touch. But overall, the iPhone SE was introduced as a more affordable option that people really loved.
iPhone 7 & 7 Plus
Release Date: September 16, 2016
Apple finally dropped the 16 GB base model option, with iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus base models starting at 32 GB of storage and going up to 256 GB. Apple also introduced a new shiny Jet Black color. The iPhone 7 Plus proved to be more popular than previous Plus models due to its new dual camera, which made a significantly improved zoom feature possible, and Portrait mode, a software update that let iPhone 7 Plus users take impressive photos using Depth of Field. Perhaps the most controversial feature of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus was the one Apple removed: the headphone jack. The new iPhones shipped with EarPods that plugged into the Lightning port and an adaptor for traditional headphones. Apple introduced its wireless AirPods at the same event it announced it was eliminating the headphone jack. Apple will stop supporting updates for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus once iOS 16 launches in September 2022.
iPhone 8 & 8 Plus
Release Date: September 22, 2017
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus introduced us to wireless charging with the glass cover on the back on the iPhone. The camera was awesome, with upgraded tools for editing and filtering our images. The true-tone display improved the viewing experience by automatically reducing blue-light exposure. Users eventually (mostly) got used to not having a headphone jack and began adapting to the wireless lifestyle.
iPhone X
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Skipping right over the iPhone 9, the iPhone X was released 10 years after the original iPhone. The iPhone X included an extra front-facing camera that let us take amazing selfies in Portrait mode. Sure, other iPhones let us take cool-looking photos, but the iPhone X included Portrait mode for the front-facing camera, and we fell in love at first aperture.
iPhone XS & XS Max
Release Date: September 21, 2018
Apple announced the XS and XS Max at its September 2018 event in the Steve Jobs Theater. These models were well named, as they were definite upgrades along the lines of the iPhone X. Both models had the front-facing camera for Portrait-mode selfies. The displays were edge to edge, and it all looked great with the Super Retina HD display. The biggest upgrade might be the smallest; the A12 bionic chip increased the processing power while decreasing battery drain.
iPhone XR
Release Date: October 26, 2018
The iPhone XR was also announced at the September 2018 event, but wasn't available right away. Because it was the cheaper of the new models, quite a few people decided to wait for the XR to be available. These iPhones were smaller than the XS and XS Max (but still bigger than the 7 and 8 Plus). The display was not as crisp as the XS and XS Max, but with the Liquid Retina HD display, the difference wasn't too noticeable. This model also had a front-facing camera and came in way more colors than the XS or XS Max.
iPhone 11
Release Date: September 20, 2019
The iPhone 11 was the least expensive of Apple's annual line at the time, but still had enough new features to be in the running for 2019's most popular iPhone. The device features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display, and comes in six crisp colors. The most exciting addition may have been the second camera on the back of the 11, both 12 MP, and offering wide and ultra-wide lenses.
iPhone 11 Pro
Release Date: September 20, 2019
For Apple customers looking for a smaller phone with a top-of-the-line display, the iPhone 11 Pro was perfect. The 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR display was Apple's most crisp and clear to date. This phone featured not two, but three, 12 MP HDR camera lenses, offering wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses. The color options were more muted than the iPhone 11, but there was always the option to add a flashy case!
iPhone 11 Pro Max
Release Date: September 20, 2019
Apple's largest and most expensive phone of 2019 was the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The display was Apple's Super Retina XDR, as with the 11 Pro, but sized at 6.5-inches. The Pro Max featured the same, three-lens camera setup as the 11 Pro, as well as the same color choices, making size nearly the only difference between the devices.
iPhone SE (second-generation)
Release Date: April 24, 2020
The 2020 iPhone SE is the second of its kind, and was loved by those who prefer smaller iPhones. Apple took a few cues from the past with this throwback iPhone. The 4.7-inch Retina HD display and Home button with Touch ID harken back to the original iPhone SE, and with a similarly low price. The second-generation SE offered many of the features of Apple's most expensive iPhones, including an A13 Bionic chip, advanced camera system with Portrait mode and Depth Control, high-definition video, wireless charging capability, and long battery life.
iPhone 12 mini
Release Date: November 13, 2020
The iPhone 12 mini was a surprisingly small but still very powerful addition to the iPhone family. This thin and incredibly light smartphone measured just 5.4 inches and included the new, powerful A14 Bionic chip for a considerable boost in performance over previous models. It also featured Apple's latest Super Retina XDR OLED display and a host of camera upgrades, but still came with a dual-lens arrangement. The only notable differences between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 were that the mini was smaller and had an estimated battery life that's two hours shorter than that of the larger iPhone 12.
iPhone 12
Release Date: October 23, 2020
The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 had exactly the same features, camera specs, and processing capabilities as the 12 mini, except that it was estimated to have a 17-hour video playback compared to the iPhone 12 mini's 15 hours. This mid-range model also included the dual-lens camera, which was good enough for everyday users. However, Apple did include some impressive upgrades to their higher-end iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max phones for those who chose their iPhones for their camera capabilities,
iPhone 12 Pro
Release Date: October 23, 2020
The iPhone 12 Pro boasted some very fancy camera and color upgrades as compared to the 12 and the 12 mini, but came in the same 6.1-inch screen size as the iPhone 12 and included all of the baseline features present in the budget models. New camera features introduced in 2020 include a triple-lens arrangement like we saw with the iPhone 11 Pro models, but with LiDAR scanning, improved Night Mode, and enhanced zoom range and lens functions. Both iPhone 12 Pro models included the fastest aperture ever used in an iPhone. Apple added RAW photos for superior pro editing capability and included Dolby Vision up to 60 frames per second in the Pro models.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
Release Date: November 13, 2020
The iPhone 12 Pro Max, featured all of the benefits of the 12 Pro, but with some upgrades and a considerable size difference. The 6.7-inch Pro Max claimed an 87 percent improvement on the way it functions in low light over the iPhone 11 models and features 5x zoom, which was a big deal for those who use their iPhones for professional or near-professional photography projects. The most distinguishing characteristic of this iPhone was its screen size.
iPhone 13
Release Date: September 24, 2021
The iPhone 13 line's base model maintains many of the design features (re-)introduced in the iPhone 12 series, but it also comes with a 20 percent smaller notch, accommodated by a new camera layout. It runs on the A15 chip, which is an upgrade over the previous generation of iPhones, and the camera features some significant improvements, including Cinematic mode and Photographic Styles. Battery life is also improved for this model, and it comes in the following colors: pink, blue, midnight, starlight, and PRODUCT(RED). A big selling point for the iPhone 13 is the price point: it starts at the same price as the iPhone 12 did when released, but its base model offers double the storage space. The screen size remains the same at 6.1 inches.
iPhone 13 mini
Release Date: September 24, 2021
Like its bigger siblings, the iPhone 13 mini runs on Apple's A15 Bionic chip, making it a powerhouse in a small package. Its battery life has improved up to an hour and a half a day over the iPhone 12 mini. As with other iPhone 13 models, the mini features big camera improvements, and the most storage available of any mini model at a maximum storage capacity of 512 GB. Its design and physical size also largely mirror the iPhone 12 mini, clocking in with a screen size of 5.4 inches. It features the same color options as the iPhone 13 and a starting price of $699 for 128 GB.
iPhone 13 Pro
Release Date: September 24, 2021
The iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, but its big draw is the inclusion of a Telephoto camera, in addition to the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras that come with the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. It comes with a LiDAR scanner for Night Mode photography and offers a 1 TB model for more storage than any iPhone has ever offered before. It needs it, considering all the new camera features make for pretty bulky file sizes. It is also powered by the A15 chip and comes in silver, graphite, gold, and sierra blue.
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Release Date: September 24, 2021
The iPhone 13 Pro Max offers everything the Pro does, but bigger. Its screen is the same size as the iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7 inches diagonally. It, like the rest of the iPhone 13 line, is a bit heavier and thicker than its predecessor, despite sharing the same dimensions otherwise. In addition to getting a chip upgrade to the A15, the iPhone 13 Pro Max also gets an additional GPU, for a total of five. It, too, offers a 1 TB storage capacity option, and Apple says the battery is able to support up to 28 hours of non-stop video playback. With the heftiest price tag of any iPhone, the iPhone Pro Max is the ultimate top-of-the-line model available.
iPhone SE (third-generation)
Release Date: March 8, 2022
The 2022 iPhone SE 3 is the third of its kind, and maintains the 4.7-inch Retina HD display and Home button with Touch ID harken back to the original iPhone SE, and with a similarly low price. The third-generation SE offers many of the features of Apple's most expensive iPhones, including 5G, an A15 Bionic chip, advanced camera system with Portrait mode, Depth Control, high-definition video, Deep Fusion, wireless charging capability, and long battery life.
iPhone 14 & 14 Plus
Release Date: 14 - September 16, 14 Plus - October 7 2022
Instead of the iPhone mini, Apple brought the Plus back for iPhone 14, with the slightly larger display that had been restricted to the exclusive Pro and Pro Max models in recent years. The iPhone 14 models came with some impressive safety-focused features, including Crash Detection (which automatically detects a car wreck and contacts emergency services in the event of a crash) and Emergency SOS via satellite, a feature with the capability to connect to emergency services via satellite if you find yourself in distress while out of range of Wi-Fi or cellular. The Emergency SOS via satellite is a first in the smartphone arena, since connecting to a satellite was previously only possible through bulky expensive devices built specifically for this purpose. The iPhone 14 & 14 Plus also offers a new dual-camera system, designed to take low-light photography to the next level (goodbye, grainy nighttime photos!).
iPhone 14 Pro
Release Date: September 16, 2022
Similar to the iPhone 14 base model, the 6.1" iPhone 14 Pro debuted with the same Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite safety features. In addition to the new A16 Bionic chip, it also got a surprising upgrade, with a new "Dynamic Island" feature where the notch used to be. While the notch isn't gone, it now adapts to whatever you are doing to more seamlessly display notifications and background activities. It also featured an Always-On display, made possible by low-energy components, so that the time and widgets on your lock screen are always viewable. In perhaps the most impressive update, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max offer a 48 MP camera (a sharp jump from the 12 MP camera offered by the previous model). This translates to a more flexible camera, with more options for framing and cropping, as well as better low-light shots so you can worry less about the lighting and more about capturing the moment.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Release Date: September 16, 2022
Its screen is the same size as the previous Pro Max generation: 6.7 inches diagonally. As expected, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has the same upgrades the other iPhone 14 models had, including the Always-On display, Dynamic Island, A16 chip, Emergency SOS via Satellite, Crash Detection, and the impressive 48 MP camera. It also offered a staggering 29 hour video playback battery life and the brightest and clearest display of any iPhone ever. With the new 48 MP camera, you won't want to stop taking photos, as this camera helps you to capture more colors, textures, and detail than ever before!
iPhone Generations to Come
Apple has released a total of 34 iPhones over the years (38 if they release the four new iPhone 14 models). We've given you a complete look at each iPhone evolution, starting when Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPhone in 2007. As you can see, the iPhone has gone through a lot of changes, from a 16 GB web browser to a 1 TB all-in-one camera, workspace, and entertainment center.
In the early days, Apple released one iPhone per year. That gradually changed as the releases of new models got closer and closer together from 2010 to 2013. With the September rollout, though, Apple released both the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, ushering in an era of two iPhone releases per year. 2017, 2018, and 2019 each saw the release of three more iPhone models, and then in 2020 the tech giant shocked the world. Not only did it release the iPhone SE (second-generation) in April, the company also rolled out the four iPhones in the 12-series lineup in its delayed fall announcement. At its September 2021 event, Apple revealed the four new phones that comprise the iPhone 13 lineup, the latest phones available from Apple until the release of the iPhone SE (third-generation) in March 2022. We'll see if Apple unveils the iPhone 14 in September 2022!
Why Did Apple Skip Some iPhone Numbers?
Did you know that there isn't an iPhone 2? After Apple created the first generation iPhone, the one that came after that was all about 3G internet connectivity, so the iPhone 2 was skipped. Why did Apple skip iPhone 9? Well, there wasn't an iPhone 9 because Apple went straight to the iPhone X, a decision made based on it being released in the tenth year after the very first iPhone release. Apple is known for doing things its own way, so frankly we're not surprised.
We loved learning about the history of the iPhone over the years, and we hope you did too! Be sure to check back in and stay up-to-date with all the newest models as the iPhone continues to evolve and grow. If you think it might be time for you to upgrade your iPhone to a newer model, check out our article on how to know when to upgrade your phone.
The Evolution of the iPhone Camera
Did the first iPhone have a camera? It sure did, though not an especially powerful or clear one. Still, it was better than a disposable camera! The first iPhone also gave users access to just 16 GB of storage at most, and 4 GB on the low end. Can you imagine?
The cameras built into iPhones have always been a major draw for the devices, and Apple has shown a company initiative to continue improving upon iPhone cameras with each release. These days, you can enjoy incredible detail and professional-level finishing just with the stock camera and photo editing options included with your iPhone!
We hope this article answers any questions you have about the evolution of phones in Apple's lineup. This iPhone evolution chart will continue to grow over the years, and we'll be here to keep it updated: from the upcoming iPhone 14 to a hypothetical iPhone 15 and beyond. Maybe in 2027 we'll even get an iPhone XX! What do you think is coming in the Apple cell phone timeline? Let us know your thoughts and guesses below.
Image Credits: Apple and Youtube / Greg Wyatt
iPhone 14 and 14 Pro are all about bigger, crazier designs
Apple’s new iPhone 14 models are here, having been revealed on stage during the company’s “Far Out” event held in California. It’s set to be a big year for the iPhone, with not just the new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max ready to tempt you, but also a larger version of the normal iPhone 14 called the iPhone 14 Plus.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch screen while the iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen, but otherwise share basically the same design with flat sides and a dual camera on the back. Apple says the larger screen lets you read more text or view it in a larger font. The phones are made from aluminum and have Ceramic Shield protective glass over the screen.
Both use Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, the same that was used in the iPhone 13 Pro, while the cameras on the back have been updated. It’s a new 12-megapixel main camera with a larger sensor and pixels, along with an f/1.5 aperture. It’s joined by a 12MP wide-angle camera and a new 12MP front camera with autofocus and lowlight photography improvements.
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus also come with a new Emergency SOS Over Satellite feature, where the phone will be able to send emergency messages without a signal, using satellites in the sky. It’ll even let you share your location using the Find My app. The iPhone 14 will cost $799 and be available to pre-order on September 9, then released on September 16. The iPhone 14 Plus will be out a little later on October 7 and cost $899.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Like the iPhone 14 series, the iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen, but with thinner bezels and a more active screen too. The notch has been replaced with a pill-like shape that is part of a new feature called Dynamic Island, where the section holding the TrueDepth camera morphs using software to show additional information on the screen.
The iPhone 14 Pro models have an always-on screen, a first for the iPhone, and are powered by the new Apple A16 Bionic processor, which is built using a 4nm process. The triple camera on the back has a new 48MP main sensor that’s 65% larger than the one fitted to the iPhone 13 Pro. It’s joined by a new 12MP wide-angle camera, and each has upgraded lowlight performance, plus there’s an improved macro mode and a 12MP telephoto camera. Both phones also come with the SOS Emergency Satellite feature, plus crash detection seen on the new Apple Watch Series 8.
Prices remain the same as last year, with the iPhone 14 Pro starting at $999 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max at $1,099. You can pre-order them both on September 9 ready for release on September 16. For the rest of the new products revealed during the event, take a look at our full coverage here.
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