In Pictures: With iPhone 13, Apple does give a compelling reason to upgrade

Apple unveiled the iPhone 13, in what is one of the most anticipated models from the US tech giant in recent years. It retained the look and feel of it previous model , but has outdone with improvements to the camera and processor in lieu of major design changes.

The new models - iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max include a smaller display cutout at the top of the screen, faster chips and a major upgraded camera systems.

The new phones will run iOS 15, with improvements to home screen widgets, new features in the Maps and Messages apps, updated privacy controls, and enhancements to the web browser, FaceTime, Wallet app and health tracking. iOS 15 will be available as a free software update on Monday, September 20.

Apple launched a slew of other upgraded devices - including bigger watches, speedier iPads an its own the first fitness service, Apple Fitness+, to fuel growth this holiday season.

This year Apple introduced a 5G upgrade cycle, giving customers and additional advantage to choose iPhone over others. The iPhone, the company's flagship product, accounts for about half of the company's revenue. “iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max make up our most pro iPhone lineup ever with the biggest advancement for our camera system, the best battery life ever in an iPhone, and the fastest performance of any smartphone,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

The new models include the A15 Bionic processor, which Apple says is 50 per cent faster than its rivals, and new features to enhance AI tasks. The cameras on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, meanwhile, capture improved photos in low light and wide-angle shots, Apple said during the event.

In a major push on the camera, the new iPhone features include Cinematic Mode (Portrait mode for video). The feature sharpens subjects in the foreground, but blurs backgrounds. “The iPhone 13 Pro lineup features the best camera system ever on iPhone,” said Apple during the product launch.

On the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple is adding a feature called ‘Macro Photography’ that allows for sharper closeup shots. Additionally, there will be a ‘Photographic Styles’ option to enhance colors and tones in photos using AI. The Pro models will be able to take ProRes video, a far higher-quality compared to the previous model.

The iPhone's screen sizes remain the same - 5.4 inches (mini), 6.1 inches (standard) and 6.7 inches (Pro Max). The display, however, on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are 20 percent brighter and include ProMotion, a new system that allows smoother scrolling and improved gaming experience.

The latest model’s batteries just got better, with 1.5 hours of extra charge coming to the iPhone 13 mini and 2.5 hours of more battery life coming to the standard iPhone 13.

The iPhone 13 Pro will cost Dh 4,199, with iPhone 13 Pro Max priced at Dh 4,699. Apple also is doubling the entry-level storage capacity to 128GB and adding a new 512GB configuration. There is also a new 1TB storage options for the Pro models.

UAE will be able to pre-order iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max beginning on Friday, September 17, with availability beginning Friday, September 24.