New iPad, new iPad mini, new Apple Watch, new iPhone… Apple’s back-to-school press conference was full of surprises… many of which were expected. Broadcast online, regulated like music paper and subtitled for the first time, this keynote led by Tim Cook, CEO of the Apple brand, and his teams looked like a California blockbuster.
Four new iPhones
At the heart of the event, “The next big thing” is therefore number 13. Faithful to the metronomy of its timing, Apple has therefore announced the launch of its new iPhone, thirteenth of the name. It will be 5G and available in four versions: iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max * What changes compared to the iPhone 12?
5 billion transistors
Aesthetically, there is hardly any, except with new colors. Up front, Apple has reduced the size of its “notch” by 20%, as predicted by many. The small black band housing some sensors is therefore less troublesome. But still exists. Waterproof (IP68 standard), with its screen covered with Ceramic Shield glass, the iPhone 13 also highlights its resistance. Its structure is made of 100% recycled aluminum. Apple aims for carbon neutrality by 2030 …
All models are powered by the manufacturer’s fastest A15 Bionic chip. With its 5 billion transistors, it authorizes up to 1.580 billion operations per second, a figure that makes you dizzy. Among the promised improvements, an improved photo mode.
A pro cinema mode
With its two 12-megapixel rear cameras (wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle), the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 (5.4 and 6.1 inches respectively) promise to capture 47% more light. Apple announces an even more relevant night mode, but also in video a new function called Cinematic Mode.
Shared with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max which integrate a third rear camera, it is to video what Portrait mode is to photos. Thus, it will be possible during filming to take stock of different parts of the image, to guide the viewer’s gaze, “like in the cinema”, specifies Apple.
Filmed in Dolby Vision, the examples projected during the keynote are impressive, this function can be automated thanks to artificial intelligence. So when a subject facing the camera looks away, the iPhone 13 will automatically focus on what it is looking at. This Cinematic Mode can also be manual (by focusing on the screen with the tip of the index finger) or locked (by a double tap, to decide where the focus should be).
Advanced photo functions
For their part, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max (respectively in 6.1 and 6.7 inches) will push performance even further. Their screen will be adaptive, passing their refreshment from 10 Hz to 120 Hz depending on usage: rather 10 Hz to check emails; rather 120 Hz for compatible video games.
These two terminals will also integrate a function called Photographic Styles. Thanks to it, the most seasoned photographers will be able to pre-register their photo settings so that they are applied in real time to each shot. The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max will have a macro video function at 2 cm from the subject.
Apple is increasing the capacities of its four iPhone 13s to 128 GB minimum. All models are thus available in 128, 256 and 512 GB of storage. But the Apple brand introduced on its iPhone 13 Pro a capacity of 1 TB, a real delirium on a smartphone (but well suited to storing videos in 4K). With the prices going well: 1739 euros and 1839 euros. At this rate, the 2000 euros milestone for a non-foldable smartphone could well be crossed next year …
iPhone 13 mini: 809 euros (128 GB), 929 euros (256 GB), 1159 euros (512 GB). iPhone 13: 909 euros (128 GB), 1029 euros (256 GB), 1259 euros (512 GB). iPhone 13 Pro: 1159 euros (128 GB), 1279 euros (256 GB), 1509 euros (512 GB), 1739 euros (1 TB). iPhone 13 Pro Max: 1159 euros (128 GB), 1379 euros (256 GB), 1609 euros (512 GB), 1839 euros (1 TB).