iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Should you upgrade to Apple's latest model?

Apple launched the iPhone 16 Pro with impressive hardware improvements back in late September. Like with every annual release, springing for the latest and greatest is tempting, but it can be costly. If you're like me and have an iPhone 13 Pro, you've probably wondered if it's worth upgrading.

Also: Everything Apple announced at iPhone 16 event: AirPods, Apple Watch Series 10, AI, more

The answer depends on what you need from your phone and what condition your iPhone 13 Pro is in. Assuming it's still in good shape, the major differences between the two come down to the massive jump in hardware you would get with the iPhone 16 Pro.

That means more memory, a significantly faster processor, a bigger battery, and a much better camera. Oh, and Apple Intelligence. Let's take a look at these two devices side by side.

Specifications

You should buy the iPhone 16 Pro if...

1. You want a better camera 

To put it bluntly, the camera on the iPhone 16 Pro blows the iPhone 13 Pro's camera out of the water. The 48MP fusion camera on the iPhone 16 Pro is capable of producing high-resolution photos and videos, which, along with the 5x tetra prism zoom lens and 25x digital zoom, has the potential to create some truly exceptional images. 

The iPhone 16 series also introduces a new Camera Control button, bringing a physical element to photography that will certainly resonate with some. A light press on the button focuses on the subject, a hard press snaps the shot, and pressing and holding shoots video.

Also: We tested the iPhone 16 Pro camera system, and it's highly underrated - with one tragic flaw

The iPhone 13 Pro camera is no slouch, but it just doesn't compete with the top-tier hardware Apple included on the iPhone 16 Pro. Also, the iPhone 16 Pro's camera is identical to the one on the 16 Pro Max, making the Pro a good option if your main motivation for getting a new phone is to upgrade your camera. 

2. You're here for the AI (and you use Siri)

Apple is releasing a handful of new AI features with Apple Intelligence, its first generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) technology, but it is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and up. If you use Siri and you want to take advantage of all the new features, you'll have to upgrade.

Also: You can download iOS 18.1 with Apple AI now. Here's how (and which iPhone models support it)

The improved Siri is now more aware of on-screen content and can communicate far more easily with more complex voice commands. It can even respond to physical gestures like nodding your head and switch between text and voice inputs, which is a first for the virtual assistant. Apple also recently integrated ChatGPT into iOS, giving users an alternative to Siri in case it can't handle a certain request.

That same iOS update also introduced Visual Intelligence exclusively to the iPhone 16 series. Think of it as Apple's version of Google Lens: You can take a photo of a subject via Camera Control, and in response, the smartphone will look it up on a search engine and provide details.

3. You want better performance 

The iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro processor offers a big jump in raw power and battery efficiency compared to previous models, and those numbers get bigger the further back you go. For example, the A18 Pro is 30% faster than the A15 Bionic chip on the iPhone 13 Pro and, despite being lighter, has more power and lasts longer. 

If your iPhone 13 Pro is running out of space or starting to feel sluggish, the upgrade will feel like a big leap forward, especially because all the new features rolling out with Apple Intelligence will need the extra power supplied by the A18 Pro chip. 

Additionally, Apple has been trying to position the iPhone as a serious gaming device, and the new chip's ray-tracing support, better frame rates, and more sophisticated heat dissipation support that fact. If you are into mobile gaming, the iPhone 16 Pro is a beast.

You should stick with the iPhone 13 Pro if...

1. Your phone is still holding up in 2024

Don't get it twisted; the iPhone 13 Pro is still a great phone. It's not even that old -- this model was released in 2021. If you're like me, and you make it a point to take care of your tech, there's no reason to upgrade your phone if your current one is still doing just fine. While it's true that the iPhone 16 Pro is powerful, high-end hardware doesn't always equate to longevity.

Also: Why I'm recommending the standard iPhone 16 over the Pro this year (and I'm not alone)

Apple Intelligence is currently available on the iPhone 16 series, introducing features like Smart Replies for replying to texts in a timely fashion, Writing Tools to help you proofread text, and the Siri upgrade, among other things. If you want generative AI to help with your day-to-day, purchasing an iPhone 16 Pro is your entryway to this ecosystem. If, however, you're not interested, the device won't be worth the cost, which brings us to our next point.

2. You're on a budget

The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $1,000 for the lowest-tier memory configuration and goes up to $1,500 for the most expensive 1TB version. These are not cheap phones by any stretch, and most people will want to justify the purchase before making the purchase.

There are some good trade-in deals this year, but if you've just finished paying off your old phone, it might be smarter to wait until the next line of devices comes out. The iPhone 13 Pro still has a solid hardware package, with the A15 Bionic chip's six-core CPU competitive enough to compete against even newer smartphones on the market. 

Alternatives to consider