Apple has unveiled its new iPhone 13 range set to release in Aotearoa on September 24 with prices starting at NZ$1249 and the most expensive model costing NZ$2999.
The updated phones were revealed during a 'California Streaming' livestream that also featured the company's latest iPads and Apple Watches, also set for release in New Zealand later this year.
While there are significant upgrades to the whole phone range - the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max - not all the rumoured advancements proved true.
The much-discussed always-on mode was missing from the announcement, while only the Pro models will introduce 120Hz dynamic refresh rates - the non-Pro models are confined to 60Hz. This means rivals such as Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi and Huawei still offer display advantages over some of Apple's latest smartphone range.
All devices in the iPhone 13 range will have the rumoured smaller notch on the front with a 20 percent reduction in screen real estate needed to host the front-facing camera and earpiece.
A faster new A15 Bionic chip powers the entire range, offering a significant upgrade in graphics and CPU processing power, Apple says.
The biggest upgrades to the basic iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini models are their Super Retina XDR OLED screens as well as camera and battery improvements.
Apple claims battery life will be 1.5 hours longer on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone Mini compared to last year's edition, and 2.5 hours longer on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max models. It didn't qualify this by revealing the increase in mAH.
The iPhone 13 range's rear features a new look, Y-shaped camera system, with a new image sensor allowing for 47 percent more light from the main camera and a new ultra-wide 12MP camera.
The iPhone Pro and Pro Max range get upgrades including a larger 5-core GPU offering much faster graphics and Super Retina XDR display OLED screens that will offer 1000 nits of brightness outdoors, a 25 percent increase from last year's models.
A feature entitled 'ProMotion' will adapt the screen refresh rates as the phone is used up to a maximum of 120Hz.
The Pro models' cameras were also upgraded in what Apple calls its "biggest camera advancement ever".
There's a total of 6x optical zoom across its telephoto, wide and ultra-wide lenses with a new cinematic video recording mode that helps create videos with depth effects and automatic focus changes, which can be adjusted on the fly or after recording.
A larger 1TB storage option has been introduced.
The trend Apple controversially started last year of not including a wall charger or headphones with iPhone purchases is being continued. All of the iPhone 13 models will ship with only the handset and a USB-C to Lightning cable.
iPhone 13 NZ pricing and availability:
- The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini will be available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB models with prices starting at $1249 and $1429 respectively.
- The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB models, with prices starting at $1799 and $1999 respectively. The 1TB Pro Max costs $2999.
The new range will be available to pre-order from 12am Saturday before they're made available on September 24.
