iPhone 13 Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max Camera Comparison | Should you upgrade?

Curious about the camera differences between the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max? Watch this comparison to see if it's worth upgrading!

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Timecodes:
00:00 Rear camera video (4K 30fps, indoors)
00:36 Rear camera video (Cinematic video, indoors)
01:09 Rear camera photos (Daytime)
05:40 Rear camera video (Daytime)
07:30 Front camera photos (Daytime)
08:01 Front camera video (Daytime)
08:54 Rear camera photos (Low light)
10:43 Rear camera video (Low light)
12:22 Front camera photos (Low light)
12:53 Front camera video (Low light)

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[travisbloomfield]

Wait can the 13 pro max shoot 4k cinematic? I thought it topped out at 1080p

[frenchfries]

Not as drastic difference as i saw in other comparisons especially in low light. Much love man

[travisbloomfield]

13 pro max was great overall but pics were horrible to me. Apple used a very oil paintingy type of processing for fine details and it looked quite unnatural. The 15 plus that I had took way better pics with more maturely rendered fine details.

[pntx]

It seems the iPhone 13 Pro camera sensors are better than iPhone 16 Pro. More megapixels doesn't mean better photos.
The iPhone 16 Pro's photos looks better because of better HDR(light handling), not because of the sensors.

[leoslash]

I'm almost 100% certain that the sensor on the 13 Pro Max is far superior. Amazing video, I won't be upgrading yet.

[VladimirPukin]

Oh my gosh, I’m actually using an iPhone 13 Pro right now! What an unexpected and pleasant comparison!

From a hardware, display, and camera perspective, the iPhone 13 Pro strikes the perfect balance at a relatively low cost, especially if you're looking for an iOS device.

In my opinion, the ideal choice at the moment is the iPhone 15 Pro Max, while the iPhone 16 Pro is probably the least successful model in recent years.

[joelmatos]

Congratulations on the comparisons!
Very good!!

[iTrensharo]

I really dislike the audio from the 16 FFC footage. I’m just starting, and this is really standing out to me. It sounds like you’re speaking into a tin can. I still feel like the USB-C port is the only reason to upgrade, but $1, 399 is a lot to pay for a port. Going to keep my 13 Pro Max this year, again…

[AXYZE]

Nah, just skip 16.
Most technology companies are doing '4 generation' release cycle. That includes Apple starting from iPhone X.
You should always get the first one in cycle, last one is always least exciting and upgraded.

iPhone X (first OLED, brand new design, major battery improvement, Face ID)
iPhone XS
iPhone 11 Pro Max (addition of UWA, new selfie camera)
iPhone 12 Pro Max (basically no change)

iPhone 13 Pro Max (first 120Hz, all cameras replaced including addition of 3x zoom, autofocus on UWA, huge battery improvement 3687mAh vs 4352mAh)
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15 Pro Max (titanium frame, USB-C, 5x zoom)
iPhone 16 Pro Max (basically no change)

So first one has always the most changes, second has some refinements, third is based on lessons gathered from first one and add new features, fourth has almost no changes.
This is also why both 'mini' and 'plus' lived for 2 generations, as third one is cancelled after sales info from first gen.

iPhone 17 Pro Max should be again a huge improvement in display, cameras and battery life.
I think we'll see:
48MPx 3x zoom (12MPx 6x)
24MPx+ front camera
This will allow them for consistency with their 24MPx default output that they have in UWA + main camera, instead of current jumping between resolutions, this problem arised mid-cycle.
In terms of display I think they will introduce anti-glare like on S24 Ultra. Maybe smaller dynamic island.

[rur]

Thanks for this. Going to keep my 13 pro max for one more year. Also to note the 26mm f/1.5 primary lens on the 13 pro max lets in 42.4% more light than 24mm f/1.79 on the 16 pro max. From the test you did this more than makes up for the bigger/newer Sony sensor on the 16 pro max.

[nakpvp]

Were the names flipped? Because on the pictures you showed i can clearly see that 13 pro max is on the right and 16 pro to the left? And also the macro shot seems ro be completly messed up on the right.

[jpac]

13 pro max still a solid phone, can still hold up to 2 years i think. you're just missing dynamic island, action button, camera control key and AI but for the price, it's still a good buy in used market.

[robertclarkguitar]

Not sure if it's where you were at positioned behind the camera or phone but the 16 sounds way right side focused and 13 more balanced ?

[vietha]

i think 16 pro is slightly better, more detailed, better dynamic range, sharper in some conditions and for low light picture how they handle light and balance. Maybe it is software improvement that apple can do an upgrade on older version. we only see big gap when only use tele camera. The main camera is not much different. From X to 14 pro much is a big changes, so someone can wait that on the next gen.

[gshockstyles]

the 16pro is really better but not by much to warrant an upgrade. iphone 13pro max is still capable, and I can still say wait for another year.

[bzlotrg]

Thanks for video, I have iPhone 13 Pro max and unbelievable how oldi but Goldie iPhone 13pro max good ist, Upgrade from 13 to 15 or 16 series ist just West Money.

[robertclarkguitar]

I am watching on s22 base. Cranked to 1440 for best res at 1080plus. I often like the 13 pro max pics. Just me? Many seem crisper or more in focus with detail. Not all but most of the flowers for sure.

[christianf]

For me this video is just an observation of failure for Apple which 3 generations later offers us the minimum of improvement in terms of camera but still the maximum in terms of nonsense.

[telomnisi]

The 13PM only support cinematic video up to 1080p30, not 4k30

[hnwalkingtours]

IPHONE ĐANG HÚT MÁU NGƯỜI TIÊU DÙNG. CHẤT LƯỢNG KHÔNG THẤY KHÁC BIỆT