Iphone 13 Pro Vs 12 Pro Did The Notch Change Really Make A Difference

The leap from the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 13 Pro wasn’t marked by a radical redesign, but subtle refinements that cumulatively shifted user experience. Among the most discussed changes was the reduction in the size of the notch. Apple marketed it as a meaningful upgrade—smaller cutout, more screen space—but did it actually matter in daily use? For many users, the answer isn’t just about millimeters; it’s about usability, aesthetics, and whether incremental improvements justify an upgrade.

This comparison dives deep into the evolution between these two flagship models, focusing on the notch, display quality, performance gains, camera advancements, and battery life—all while assessing whether the smaller notch truly enhances the overall experience or if it's merely a footnote in Apple’s iterative design philosophy.

Design Evolution: Subtle But Significant

The iPhone 12 Pro introduced Apple’s flat-edge stainless steel design language, a throwback to the iPhone 4 era. It was praised for its premium feel and sharp lines. The iPhone 13 Pro retained this same industrial design but made internal optimizations to accommodate larger batteries and improved thermal management.

The most visible external change? The notch. On the iPhone 13 Pro, Apple reduced the notch area by approximately 20% compared to the 12 Pro. This wasn't due to eliminating Face ID components but rather repositioning internal circuitry to allow for a tighter layout. While the notch is still present—and still houses the TrueDepth camera system—the visual footprint is slightly less intrusive.

Tip: The smaller notch doesn’t enable new features, but it does provide marginally more vertical screen space—especially noticeable when watching full-screen videos or using immersive apps.

Display and Screen Real Estate

Both phones feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with HDR support and excellent color accuracy. However, the iPhone 13 Pro introduced ProMotion technology—a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that dynamically scales between 10Hz and 120Hz based on content. This results in smoother scrolling, more responsive interactions, and better power efficiency than a fixed high refresh rate.

While the resolution remains identical (2532 x 1170 pixels), the smaller notch effectively increases usable screen area by about 0.5%. It’s not transformative, but in edge-to-edge scenarios—such as reading e-books, browsing web pages, or playing games—the reduced obstruction near the top center makes status icons and app UI elements feel slightly less cramped.

“The notch reduction may seem minor, but in interface design, every pixel counts—especially when balancing sensor functionality with screen immersion.” — David Kim, UX Designer at a leading mobile tech firm

Performance: A Noticeable Leap

Beneath the surface, the most impactful upgrade lies in the chipset. The iPhone 12 Pro runs the A14 Bionic chip, built on a 5nm process. The iPhone 13 Pro upgrades to the A15 Bionic, also 5nm but with refined architecture, including a 5-core GPU (vs. 4-core in non-Pro 13 models) and enhanced machine learning capabilities.

In real-world usage, this translates to faster app launches, improved multitasking, and better sustained performance during intensive tasks like video editing or gaming. Benchmark tests show the A15 delivering up to 20% higher CPU performance and nearly 30% better graphics efficiency than the A14 under load.

For photographers and videographers, this means quicker image processing, faster Smart HDR application, and smoother 4K Dolby Vision recording. The performance gap becomes especially evident when using professional-grade apps like LumaFusion or Affinity Photo.

Camera System: Refinement Over Revolution

Apple positioned the iPhone 13 Pro as a serious tool for mobile photography. While the 12 Pro already offered a capable triple-camera setup (wide, ultra-wide, telephoto), the 13 Pro brought meaningful upgrades:

• Larger sensors on wide and ultra-wide lenses for improved low-light capture
• Sensor-shift stabilization now standard across all rear cameras (previously only on main wide)
• Cinematic Mode, a new depth-control video feature leveraging AI to simulate focus transitions
• Photographic Styles, allowing non-destructive adjustments to color tone and contrast preferences

The front-facing TrueDepth camera also saw improvements. Despite the smaller notch, Apple managed to enhance the selfie camera with autofocus and Night mode support—features absent on the 12 Pro. This makes a tangible difference in low-light selfies and video calls.

Feature	iPhone 12 Pro	iPhone 13 Pro
Notch Size	Standard (larger)	Reduced (~20% smaller)
Display Refresh Rate	60Hz	Adaptive 120Hz (ProMotion)
Chipset	A14 Bionic	A15 Bionic (5-core GPU)
Battery Life (Video Playback)	17 hours	22 hours
Front Camera Features	No Night mode, no autofocus	Night mode + autofocus
Low-Light Performance	Good	Excellent (larger sensors)

Battery Life: Where the 13 Pro Pulls Ahead

One of the most practical differences between the two models is battery endurance. Thanks to the more efficient A15 chip and increased battery capacity (despite similar form factors), the iPhone 13 Pro delivers significantly longer usage time.

Apple claims up to 22 hours of video playback versus 17 on the 12 Pro. In real-world mixed usage—including browsing, messaging, streaming, and photography—the 13 Pro consistently lasts a full day and a half for moderate users, whereas the 12 Pro often requires midday charging.

Tip: Enable Auto-Brightness and Low Data Mode selectively to extend battery further, especially when traveling or working remotely.

Real-World Example: A Photographer’s Upgrade

Consider Sarah, a freelance travel photographer who relied on her iPhone 12 Pro for client work and social media content. After upgrading to the 13 Pro, she noticed immediate benefits:

• The 120Hz display made reviewing photos smoother and more precise during curation.
• Improved low-light performance allowed her to shoot in dim cafes without supplemental lighting.
• Extended battery life meant she could film 4K clips throughout the day without carrying a power bank.
• The smaller notch didn’t change her workflow, but she appreciated the cleaner look in portrait-mode selfies shared with clients.

For Sarah, the notch reduction was a minor aesthetic win, but the combined upgrades in camera, display, and battery transformed her mobile productivity.

Checklist: Should You Upgrade?

Use this checklist to determine if moving from iPhone 12 Pro to 13 Pro is worthwhile for you:

1. ✅ Do you value smoother scrolling and animations? → 13 Pro’s 120Hz display helps.
2. ✅ Are you frequently running out of battery before bedtime? → 13 Pro offers ~30% longer life.
3. ✅ Do you record video or edit photos on your phone? → A15 chip and improved cameras are major upgrades.
4. ✅ Is the look of the notch important to you? → Smaller notch may improve visual symmetry.
5. ✅ Are you still satisfied with your 12 Pro’s performance? → You might not need to upgrade yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Apple remove the notch in the iPhone 13 Pro?

No, the notch is still present but approximately 20% smaller due to internal component rearrangement. All Face ID and front camera systems remain housed within it.

Does the smaller notch give more screen space?

Technically yes, but only by about 0.5% in height. The practical benefit is minimal, though some users report a slightly less obstructive experience in full-screen modes.

Is the iPhone 13 Pro worth upgrading from the 12 Pro?

If you prioritize battery life, display smoothness, and camera performance—yes. The smaller notch alone isn’t a compelling reason, but combined with ProMotion, A15, and better cameras, the package is significantly improved.

Final Verdict: Beyond the Notch

The smaller notch on the iPhone 13 Pro symbolizes Apple’s commitment to refining the user interface through engineering ingenuity—even when the change seems cosmetic. However, the real story isn’t the notch at all. It’s the convergence of technologies: a more efficient processor, adaptive refresh rate, superior cameras, and extended battery life that collectively define the upgrade experience.

For early adopters of the 12 Pro, the jump to the 13 Pro may feel incremental. But for those using older devices or prioritizing mobile creativity, the enhancements represent a meaningful step forward. The notch got smaller, yes—but what matters more is how much smarter and more capable the entire device became.

💬 Have you upgraded from iPhone 12 Pro to 13 Pro? What changed the most for you? Share your thoughts and help others decide whether the notch—and everything else—is worth it.