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iPhone 13 Pro Vs iPhone 16 Plus
- 1-year minimum warranty
- Free delivery on all items
- Free 30-day returns
Differences at a glance
The iPhone 13 Pro, released in 2021, and the iPhone 16 Plus, launched in 2024, represent two distinct philosophies within the smartphone market. While the iPhone 13 Pro was originally designed as a high-end, compact flagship with advanced photography tools, the iPhone 16 Plus focuses on providing a larger display area and modern hardware efficiencies. Both devices operate on the iOS platform, ensuring a familiar and consistent user interface, though the newer model naturally benefits from a longer projected software support window and updated connectivity standards.
Choosing between these two involves deciding between the specialized features of an older professional-grade model and the general advancements of a newer, larger standard model. This comparison explores how these differences manifest in daily use, from screen fluidity to battery endurance, helping you determine which device aligns best with your personal priorities and lifestyle.
Available Models
Colour
Storage (GB)
Scores
Durability
The three-year gap between these devices significantly impacts their long-term software viability and physical design. While the iPhone 13 Pro is built with heavy-duty materials, the iPhone 16 Plus benefits from more recent engineering standards that prioritize internal accessibility.
- Software Support: The iPhone 16 Plus is expected to receive official iOS updates for approximately three years longer than the iPhone 13 Pro, making it a more future-ready choice for users who intend to keep their phone for half a decade or more.
- Build Materials: The iPhone 13 Pro features a stainless steel frame that offers high scratch resistance and a dense feel, whereas the iPhone 16 Plus uses a lighter aluminum frame and a newer generation of glass that is designed to be more resilient against cracks.
- Repairability: The internal architecture of the iPhone 16 Plus has been updated to be more modular, which generally allows for more straightforward battery and screen replacements compared to the more tightly integrated design of the 13 Pro.
Year of Release
2021
2024
Compatible with latest Update
Yes
Yes
Foldable
No
No
Performance
Performance differences between these generations are most noticeable during intensive multitasking and high-demand applications. The iPhone 16 Plus utilizes more modern internal hardware that manages heat more effectively and supports the latest system features with greater ease.
- System Responsiveness: Users will notice that the iPhone 16 Plus handles heavy apps and complex tasks more smoothly, as its updated internal components provide more performance headroom for modern software demands.
- Battery Endurance: The iPhone 16 Plus offers significantly longer usage times on a single charge, thanks to its larger physical battery size and more energy-efficient hardware compared to the smaller iPhone 13 Pro.
- Multitasking Capability: With more system memory, the iPhone 16 Plus is better equipped to keep multiple apps open in the background without needing to refresh them, providing a more seamless experience for power users.
Screen quality
The display experience is one of the most significant points of divergence between these two models, centering on the trade-off between screen size and motion smoothness.
- Motion and Fluidity: The iPhone 13 Pro features a high refresh rate that makes scrolling through text and navigating the interface appear very fluid, a feature that is absent on the standard iPhone 16 Plus.
- Display Size: The iPhone 16 Plus provides a much larger 6.7-inch screen, which is ideal for watching videos or reading, while the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro is more compact and easier to operate with one hand.
- Outdoor Visibility: The iPhone 16 Plus screen can reach much higher brightness levels, making it significantly easier to view content clearly when used in direct sunlight or bright outdoor environments.
Resolution
1170 x 2532
1290 x 2796
Screen type
Super Retina XDR OLED
Super Retina XDR OLED
Audiovisual
Both smartphones are capable of capturing high-quality images and video, but they offer different hardware configurations that suit different styles of photography.
- Lens Versatility: The iPhone 13 Pro includes a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zooming and a macro mode for extreme close-ups, providing more flexibility for specialized photography than the dual-lens system on the 16 Plus.
- Image Processing: The iPhone 16 Plus benefits from newer computational photography techniques, resulting in more accurate skin tones, better detail in shadows, and improved performance in challenging lighting conditions.
- Video Features: While both record excellent video, the iPhone 16 Plus introduces improved stabilization and better wind noise reduction for its microphones, enhancing the quality of recordings made on the go.
Main camera
12 megapixels
48 megapixels
Front camera
12 megapixels
12 megapixels
Miscellaneous
Practical daily usage is often defined by the physical ports and buttons that facilitate how you interact with the device and its accessories.
- Connectivity and Ports: The iPhone 16 Plus features a universal USB-C port, allowing for easier compatibility with modern charging cables, while the iPhone 13 Pro uses the older, proprietary Lightning connector.
- Physical Controls: The iPhone 16 Plus replaces the traditional mute switch with a customisable Action Button and adds a dedicated Camera Control button for faster access to photo and video settings.
- Weight and Handling: Despite its larger dimensions, the aluminum construction of the 16 Plus keeps it relatively light, whereas the smaller 13 Pro feels heavier and more substantial due to its stainless steel frame.
Weight
203 g
199 g
Screen size (in)
6.1
6.7
Mobile network
5G
5G
SIM card
Physical SIM + eSIM
Physical SIM + eSIM
Carrier compatibility
Unlocked
Unlocked
Connector
Lightning
USB-C (USB 2)
What the community thinks
Deciding between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 16 Plus depends largely on whether you value specialized "Pro" features or modern hardware standards. Based on user discussions and community feedback, the iPhone 13 Pro remains highly regarded for its fluid 120Hz display and its dedicated zoom lens, which many users still find essential for creative photography. On the other hand, users of the iPhone 16 Plus frequently praise the exceptional battery life and the convenience of the larger screen for media consumption and gaming. Some note that the 13 Pro feels more "premium" due to its weight, while others prefer the lighter, more ergonomic feel and the modern USB-C port of the 16 Plus.
Users who prioritize a compact design, optical zoom, and a high-refresh-rate screen for smooth scrolling will likely find the iPhone 13 Pro better suited to their needs. Conversely, those who value maximum battery life, a large screen for videos, and the latest connectivity standards should lean toward the iPhone 16 Plus. For those seeking a sustainable choice, opting for a quality-assured refurbished option allows users to access these high-performance devices while reducing environmental impact. Ultimately, both smartphones offer a reliable experience, and selecting a refurbished device from a trusted source is an eco-friendly alternative that ensures the hardware has been thoroughly tested for continued performance.








