The iPhone 16 series is finally here, and if you're thinking about upgrading from one of the best iPhones to Apple's newest flagship, there's a lot to consider. Breaking down the biggest iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max differences and upgrades is important for those of you out there with a 13 Pro Max who may be coming to the end of a two-year contract. And we here at Tom's Guide are here to help you find answers.
Is the iPhone 16 Pro Max worth upgrading to? Here's how the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 13 Pro Max compare.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: Specs
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | iPhone 13 Pro Max | |
| Display | 6.9 inches with 120Hz refresh rate | 6.7 inches with 120Hz refresh rate |
| Chipset | A18 Pro | A15 Bionic |
| Storage options | 256GB, 512GB or 1TB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto | 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (3x optical zoom) |
| Front camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4,685 mAh | 4,352 mAh |
| Colors | Black, White, Desert and Natural Titanium | Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue |
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: Price and availability
While Apple no longer sells the iPhone 13 Pro Max (refurbished models excluded), you can still snag one from various third-party retailers and carriers. The iPhone 16 Pro Max was released on September 20, but like the rest of the iPhone 16 series, it's been hit with shipping delays. Most major retailers are estimating orders won't arrive until the middle or end of October.
Even if you bought the iPhone 13 Pro Max at its launch price of $1,099, you'll likely have bought it for less than the price tag of a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max. The starting price for the iPhone 16 Pro Max is $1,199, about $100 more, and that cost only goes up if you spring for a model with more storage or AppleCare Plus. Granted, it's worth noting that the base storage capacity for the iPhone 16 Pro Max has been bumped up to 256GB from the iPhone 13 Pro Max's 128GB, which combined with the big upgrades it comes with should help take the sting out of the extra cost a bit.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max: Design and display
It's surprising how much of a difference three years makes on iPhone designs. The iPhone 16 Pro Max got a small bump in screen size, up to 6.9 inches from the iPhone 13 Pro Max's 6.7 inches. And since Apple accomplished this by shaving down the bezels on the 16 Pro Max to its thinnest yet, this jump doesn't dramatically increase the handset's footprint. It's a win-win!
As for dimensions, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is slightly taller (163mm vs. 160.8 mm) and thicker (8.3mm vs 7.7mm), but Apple's shaved down the weight significantly (to 227g from 240g).
The iPhone 13 Pro Max's design is definitely starting to look dated at this point, with it still featuring many hallmarks of older iPhone models like the Lightning port, traditional notch, classic ring switch, and stainless-steel frame that's flat on all sides.
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