Apple Touts Photo, Video, Editing Capabilities of iPhone 13 Series

Macro photography, new photo editing features, Dolby Vision video recording and longer battery life lead highlights of the virtual iPhone 13 series unveiled Tuesday. The iPhone 13 series uses the Apple-designed A15 Bionic chip, which CEO Tim Cook called the fastest chip available in a smartphone.

The more-powerful chip enables advanced photo features, said the company. Cinematic mode records a depth effect with automatic focus changes that can be modified during and after capture; it anticipates when a subject is about to enter the frame and “intelligently racks focus to them when they do,” said a spokesperson. Users can also adjust the bokeh level in the Photos app after the video is taken.

The Pro models have the ProRes video codec, said to improve color fidelity and reduce compression. Video recording, with Dolby Vision, starts at 1080p 30 frames per second with the 128-GB storage phone and up to 4K 30 fps with 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB models. Also in the Pro series, a new ultrawide camera enables macro photography to a minimum focus distance of 0.8-inch. The wide camera is said to have 2.2x improved low-light performance. All cameras have night mode for better color, contrast and subject lighting in low-light environments, said the company.

Battery life of the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the longest ever in an iPhone, said the company, lasting for up to 90 minutes longer than the iPhone 12 Pro and 150 minutes longer than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Presenters credited tight integration of hardware and software, a larger battery and more power-efficient components.

The 13 Pro models have more 5G bands for improved coverage and performance, Apple said. Support for 5G on iPhone will reach 200 carriers in 60 countries by year-end for higher quality streaming, multiplayer gaming and faster download and upload speeds. SharePlay in iOS 15 on 5G will enable users to watch Dolby Vision, HDR10 or hybrid log gamma movies or TV shows in sync with friends on a FaceTime call, it said. Smart Data mode conserves battery life by automatically shifting to LTE when 5G speeds aren’t needed.

The iPhone 13 goes on preorder Friday with availability Sept. 24, four days after release of iOS 15. Cook noted the price breadth of the iPhone lineup, starting at $399 for the SE, followed by the 11 ($499), 12 ($599), 5.4-inch 13 mini ($699), 6.1-inch 13 ($799), 13 Pro ($999) and 13 Pro Max ($1,099). Pro models are available in 6.1- and 6.7-inch sizes.

Apple also refreshed the iPad mini with a larger 8.3-inch liquid retina display and A15 Bionic chip, which delivers 80% faster performance than the previous generation tablet, said the company. The mini has upgraded cameras, including a 12-megapixel front camera; Center Stage, which pans the camera to keep users in view as they move around in a videoconferencing session; and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. It’s available for preorder with a starting price of $499 and availability Sept. 24. A new 10.2-inch iPad, with an A13 Bionic chip, adds Center Stage, doubles starting storage to 64 GB and starts at $329, also with Sept. 24 availability, said the company.

Apple Watch, now in the seventh edition, has 33% faster charging, new case colors, 20% more screen area, a more durable build and is dust- and water-resistant, said the company. Starting price is $399 when Apple Watch Series 7 ships this fall. Apple Watch SE starts at $279, it said.