iPhone 13 Pro Review: 4 Years Later — Still Good in 2026?

I bought my Apple iPhone 13 Pro 256GB in Graphite on August 27, 2022 for 9,854 DKK (about US$1,321 at the August 2022 exchange rate). I used it extensively before moving to an iPhone 17 as my primary phone in March 2026. I still own the iPhone 13 Pro; my comments on its condition and battery refer to that particular device.

It has never been repaired. The battery has never been replaced. The display is still intact, the cameras are undamaged, Face ID still works properly, and the phone still feels fast enough that I do not feel forced to upgrade.

That is probably the strongest argument for the iPhone 13 Pro in 2026: it is old by flagship-phone standards, but in daily use it still does almost everything I need.

Affiliate disclosure: This review contains a paid Amazon link. If you buy through it, Jon Tests may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I bought my iPhone new in Denmark in 2022 and received no free product, discount or compensation. The Amazon listing is for a renewed U.S.-market/carrier version of the same iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Graphite hardware configuration, so condition, battery health, carrier status and warranty may differ from my phone. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.

How I tested it

This is a first-hand long-term review rather than a laboratory benchmark. Battery runtime, GPS behavior and outdoor visibility are based on my own use, not controlled measurements.

Performance is still surprisingly good

This is one of the most impressive things about the phone after more than four years.

It still feels fast. Apps open quickly, iOS is responsive, and I do not generally sit waiting for things to load.

I have not experienced meaningful lag, recurring crashes or the feeling that newer iOS versions have made the phone noticeably slower.

Apple equipped the iPhone 13 Pro with the A15 Bionic chip. My experience is that it has aged very well for normal daily use. Apple’s technical specifications list the A15 Bionic alongside the phone’s original hardware details.

The original battery is still at 84%

My battery has never been replaced, and Battery Health currently shows 84% maximum capacity.

Considering how heavily I have used the phone, I think that is pretty good.

With lighter use — checking email, Facebook, messaging and occasional browsing — it can still last from morning until evening.

If I use it continuously for something demanding such as Google Maps, I would roughly estimate around six hours. That is not a controlled battery test; I have never timed a full 100%-to-0% discharge.

Battery life was somewhat better when the phone was new, but I do not remember the difference being dramatic. I have also never experienced sudden shutdowns or strange battery-percentage drops.

Battery life is good, but it is also one reason I may upgrade

There is a slightly contradictory point here.

Battery longevity has been good, but current endurance is still one of the things I would most like to improve.

I use Google Maps a lot while out driving, so battery life matters more to me than it probably does to someone who spends most of the day near a charger.

The display still looks excellent

The OLED display still looks very good. I have no dead pixels, discoloration or obvious display defects.

Apple specifies a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion and adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz. Apple lists those original specifications here.

I have not done a proper side-by-side comparison with a 60 Hz iPhone, so I would not personally claim how much difference ProMotion makes. I can simply say that scrolling and general use still feel smooth.

Outdoor visibility could be better

If I am using Google Maps in strong sunlight, especially on a mostly white screen, it can be difficult to see everything clearly even at maximum brightness.

Sometimes I physically shade the display with my hand.

This may be made slightly worse by my privacy screen protector, so I would not attribute all of it to the phone itself.

My PanzerGlass privacy screen has protected the display

I have used a PanzerGlass privacy screen protector for essentially my entire ownership.

The privacy effect works: when viewed from the side, the display becomes difficult to read.

There are trade-offs. The protector makes the screen slightly harder to see, feels more prone to looking greasy, and mine has developed visible air gaps.

Those are screen-protector issues rather than problems with the iPhone display. The underlying screen appears to be essentially flawless despite years of heavy use and repeated drops.

The cameras are still good enough for me

I am still happy with the main camera. Photos generally look good, and camera quality alone is not enough to make me replace the phone.

The iPhone 13 Pro has a triple 12 MP Pro camera system with telephoto, wide and ultra-wide cameras, including 3× optical zoom in. Apple’s specification page documents the original camera system.

I occasionally use the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, but most of my photos are taken with the main camera.

I have not seriously tested Night Mode, so I am not rating low-light photography from first-hand experience.

Newer iPhones clearly take better photos

Compared with a much newer iPhone in my household, the newer phone produces noticeably better photos to my eyes.

So while the 13 Pro camera is still good, it no longer feels cutting-edge.

I would still happily use it for normal photos, social media and everyday memories. If camera quality is one of your highest priorities, though, a newer Pro model makes more sense.

Video still looks very good

I have recorded in 4K and think the results look very good.

The reason I do not use 4K more often is storage: the files become large quickly, so I usually choose lower settings for casual recording.

Face ID, speakers and calls are still reliable

Face ID remains fast and stable. It can even recognize me with sunglasses in some situations.

The speakers still sound good with solid volume, and I have no complaints about microphone quality or phone calls.

The buttons and mute switch also remain firm and responsive, with no problems with vibration or haptics.

The Lightning port is my biggest complaint

This is probably the single most annoying long-term issue.

The Lightning port collects lint and debris. Several times, cable charging has become unreliable enough that I could barely get the phone to charge through the port.

For a period I switched primarily to magnetic/wireless charging. After accumulated debris is removed from the port, cable charging works normally again.

So the port itself has not actually failed, but it has been more maintenance-heavy than I would like.

I really wish it had USB-C

This is one of the biggest reasons a newer iPhone appeals to me.

Using Lightning means I need a separate cable for this phone instead of simply using USB-C like many newer devices.

The phone itself still works well, but Lightning feels outdated in 2026.

GPS is good, but not perfect for my use

5G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have all been reliable.

GPS also works, but because I use Google Maps so much, I notice its limitations more.

Sometimes it seems slow to determine whether I am travelling forward, turning left/right or facing the opposite direction.

It does not happen constantly, but it is enough that better navigation performance is one of the things I would look for in my next phone.

256 GB was the right choice

I am currently using roughly 139 GB of the 256 GB.

That has been close to ideal.

Every six months or so, I clear out old photos and unnecessary files, but I have never felt seriously constrained by storage.

The size is almost perfect for me

I really like the physical size of the iPhone 13 Pro. It fits comfortably in my pocket and works well with the phone mounts I use.

I do not find it excessively heavy. Apple lists the iPhone 13 Pro at 204 grams, but in actual use I think the balance feels good. Apple’s original specifications list the weight and dimensions.

I also like the flat stainless-steel sides, although I usually use a protective case so I rarely hold the bare phone for long periods.

Durability has been exceptional in my case

I estimate that I have dropped this phone around 20 times.

It has survived without cracked glass or major visible damage.

That is partly because I have always protected it with a strong case and screen protector, so I would not attribute all of that durability to the phone itself.

Still, after about three years and seven months of intensive primary-phone use, it is striking how close to new the phone still looks. That has surprised me positively.

The water-detection warning has been useful

I have used the phone in wet conditions multiple times.

On some occasions the Lightning port became wet, and the phone warned me not to charge it until the connector had dried.

Apple originally rated the iPhone 13 Pro IP68 under controlled laboratory conditions and also notes that splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions. See Apple’s specification and resistance notes.

I therefore do not treat my own wet-weather experience as proof that an older iPhone remains waterproof.

iOS is still one of the main reasons I enjoy the phone

I still like iOS. The system feels familiar, reliable and easy to use.

The App Store selection is also one of the biggest positives for me.

I am heavily used to Apple’s ecosystem and do not have much interest in moving to Android and relearning how everything works.

Software support is not specifically why I kept the phone this long. I kept it because the hardware and software combination still works well.

What I miss from newer iPhones

• USB-C
• longer battery life
• better cameras
• better GPS/navigation performance

Those are also the features I would focus on if I replaced the phone.

Was 9,854 DKK (about US$1,321 at the August 2022 exchange rate) worth it?

After more than four years, I would say yes.

9,854 DKK (about US$1,321 at the August 2022 exchange rate) was a lot of money. But spread across about three years and seven months as my primary phone, I think I got good value from it.

If I could go back, though, I might buy a previous-generation Pro model instead if the discount were large enough. That has changed how I think about buying my next iPhone: I may be more willing to buy one generation behind rather than automatically buying the newest Pro model.

What would I pay for one today?

Personally, I would think roughly 3,000–4,000 DKK is where an iPhone 13 Pro 256GB becomes interesting to me today, depending heavily on condition, battery health and warranty.

For a renewed phone, battery condition matters a lot. A heavily degraded battery would reduce the value substantially for me.

Is the iPhone 13 Pro still worth buying in 2026?

For many people, yes.

You do not necessarily need a newer flagship unless you specifically want the best current camera system, the longest possible battery life, USB-C, improved navigation/GPS behavior, the newest flagship features, or you use your phone so heavily that it effectively replaces a computer.

For normal messaging, social media, music, photos, browsing, calls and everyday apps, my own iPhone 13 Pro still feels more than capable.

Why I rate the iPhone 13 Pro 4.5/5

My overall rating is 4.5/5. I use the public Jon Tests rating method: relevant criteria total 100%, each is scored from 1.0 to 5.0 from the first-hand evidence, and the weighted result is rounded to one decimal place.

Who should buy it?

I think the iPhone 13 Pro still makes sense for a very wide range of people.

It is especially attractive if you want a premium iPhone experience without paying current flagship prices.

A newer iPhone makes more sense if you depend heavily on navigation/GPS, need maximum battery life, want the best current camera system, specifically want USB-C, or use your phone so heavily that it replaces a laptop or desktop.

Would I buy another iPhone?

Yes.

If mine broke tomorrow, I would compare the current iPhone generations available at the time and focus mainly on battery life, camera performance, GPS/navigation and price.

I would not automatically buy the newest model. I would buy whichever generation gave me the best overall value.

The biggest positive surprise

The phone still looks remarkably close to new.

It saw heavy primary-phone use for about three years and seven months, exposed to rain, carried around constantly and dropped many times.

Yet cosmetically and functionally it has aged extremely well.

The fact that the original battery still shows 84% maximum capacity also feels impressive considering how much I have used it.

Amazon Renewed model note

The Amazon listing linked on this page is for an iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Graphite Renewed unit rather than a brand-new phone like the one I bought in 2022.

It is also a U.S.-market/carrier listing, so I would verify carrier lock status, condition grade, battery condition, included accessories and warranty before buying.

See iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Graphite Renewed on Amazon (paid link) →

Frequently asked questions

Sources and review method

• My August 27, 2022 purchase, about three years and seven months of primary-phone use, current 84% Battery Health reading and the original photos shown throughout this review.
• Apple — iPhone 13 Pro Technical Specifications for original hardware specifications such as display, A15 Bionic, cameras, weight and IP68 rating.
• The Amazon link is presented only as a clearly labeled renewed U.S.-market/carrier option for the same iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Graphite hardware configuration, not as the exact condition/market unit I originally bought.
• Jon Tests — How I Test for the public rating methodology.