Okay, let's dive into a detailed comparison of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and the Motorola Moto G35. I'll break down the specs, highlight the key differences, and help you figure out which phone might be the better fit for you.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the key specifications, along with the real-world implications:
Feature | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | Motorola Moto G35 | Real-World Implications |
---|---|---|---|
Design | |||
Launch Date | 2021-09-24 | 2024-09-25 | The Moto G35 is significantly newer, potentially benefiting from more recent software and hardware advancements. |
Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones, meaning no folding designs. |
Dimensions (mm) | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.7 | 166.3 × 76 × 7.8 | The Moto G35 is larger and a bit wider, which might be less comfortable for one-handed use but offers more screen real estate. |
Weight (g) | 204g | 188g | The Moto G35 is lighter, which is great for extended holding. |
Display | |||
Size (inches) | 6.1" | 6.72" | The Moto G35 has a larger display which is better for media consumption, gaming and productivity. |
Resolution | 1170x2532 | 1080x2400 | The iPhone 13 Pro has a sharper display due to the higher pixel density, with a difference of 14.3% more pixels. |
Pixel Density (PPI) | 460 | 392 | The iPhone 13 Pro has significantly sharper text and images. |
Technology | OLED | IPS LCD | The iPhone 13 Pro's OLED offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the Moto G35's IPS LCD. |
Refresh Rate (Hz) | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1000 | The iPhone 13 Pro is slightly better outdoors in bright sunlight due to the increased brightness. |
Performance | |||
Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Unisoc T760 (6 nm) | The Apple A15 Bionic is much more powerful, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance, its significantly faster (213% in tests) |
AnTuTu Score | 1,325,768 | 423,297 | The iPhone 13 Pro is substantially faster and more responsive in general use and demanding tasks. |
GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Mali-G57 (ARM Mali-G57 MP4) | The Apple GPU is significantly more powerful and offers enhanced gaming and graphic rendering capabilities. |
Battery | |||
Capacity (mAh) | 3125 | 5000 | The Moto G35 has a much larger battery, meaning longer usage time without needing a recharge, though software optimization is a factor. |
Charging | 20W fast charging | 18W fast charging | The iPhone 13 Pro charges slightly faster. |
Features | 15W MagSafe Wireless, 7.5W Qi wireless | Non-removable | iPhone 13 Pro offers advanced wireless charging options. |
Camera | |||
Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | The Moto G35 has higher resolution for more detailed images, but other sensor and lens aspects are critical too. |
Main Camera Aperture | f/1.5 | f/1.8 | The iPhone 13 Pro's wider aperture captures more light, which is better for low-light shots. |
Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.66" | 1/2.76" | The iPhone 13 Pro’s larger sensor captures more light, typically resulting in better image quality. |
Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 16MP | The Moto G35 has higher resolution selfie camera. |
Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.45 | The iPhone 13 Pro captures more light and is better in low-light. |
Telephoto Lens | Yes | No | The iPhone 13 Pro offers better zoom capabilities. |
Wide Angle Lens Res | 12MP | 8MP | The iPhone 13 Pro has higher resolution. |
Wide Angle Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.2 | The iPhone 13 Pro captures more light and is better in low-light. |
ToF 3D sensor | Yes | No | iPhone 13 Pro offers 3D depth mapping. |
Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps HDR | Up to 4K@30fps | The iPhone 13 Pro offers higher framerates and advanced video features. |
Camera DXOMark score (Mobile) | 141 | - | The iPhone 13 Pro has a high camera score, showing it's performance. |
Camera DXOMark score (Selfie) | 134 | - | The iPhone 13 Pro has a good score for its selfie camera. |
Camera Features | Many extra features (Optical zoom, OIS, RAW, Night Mode) | Fewer features (Digital Stabilization) | The iPhone 13 Pro has advanced camera features for better results, whilst the Moto G35 does have basic camera features. |
Software | |||
Operating System | iOS 15, upgradeable to 18 | Android 14 | Different OS's will be down to preference, the iPhone does have more years of software updates. |
Connectivity | |||
Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | 802.11ac | iPhone 13 Pro supports faster and more efficient Wi-Fi. |
Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.0 LE | Both have similar Bluetooth versions, with minor codec differences. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | The Moto G35 supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
SIM | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | Dual SIM (Nano SIM + eSIM) | Both support dual SIM and eSIM functionality. |
Storage | |||
Internal | Up to 1TB | Up to 256GB | The iPhone 13 Pro offers significantly more storage, with a 1TB variant available. |
RAM | 6GB | 4GB or 8GB | The Moto G35 has an 8 GB option offering better multitasking. |
Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage via microSD. |
Audio | |||
Quality | Dolby Atmos, DD+, DTS/X, Noise Cancelling, Stereo Speakers, 3 Mics | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 2 Mics | iPhone 13 Pro audio capabilities are generally richer with more advanced audio features and better call quality. |
Security | |||
Features | Basic security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Moto G35 offers the convenience of a physical fingerprint sensor. |
Build Quality | |||
Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | The Moto G35 offers known screen protection via Gorilla Glass. |
Sensors | |||
Sensors | Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | The iPhone 13 Pro has an barometer and the Moto G35 has additional biometric and compass sensors. |
2. Key Insights
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Strengths:
- Superior Performance: The A15 Bionic chip provides unmatched speed and responsiveness.
- Premium Display: The OLED screen with higher pixel density and brightness offers a superior visual experience.
- Professional Camera System: The triple-camera system with a telephoto lens, larger sensors, wider apertures, and advanced features offers superior image and video quality.
- Advanced Features: Wireless charging and MagSafe support, and better audio capabilities.
- Software Updates: Guaranteed long-term software updates from Apple, it has been released and supported longer than the G35.
Motorola Moto G35 Strengths:
- Larger Display: More screen real estate for media and gaming.
- Longer Battery Life: The larger battery offers more usage time between charges.
- Lighter Build: More comfortable for long periods of use.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Newer Software: Comes with Android 14.
- Lower Price: The main advantage, this phone would be much more affordable.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- iPhone 13 Pro: Smaller battery, higher price, not the newest OS.
- Moto G35: Less powerful chipset, lower display quality, an inferior camera, less expandable storage.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Apple iPhone 13 Pro is best for:
- Power Users: Users who need top-tier performance for demanding apps, multitasking, and gaming.
- Photography and Videography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize image quality, video capabilities, and advanced camera features.
- Content Creators: Users who need accurate colors, a sharp display, and advanced video features for creative work.
- Eco-System Users: Users who have bought into the Apple ecosystem, and like the interface.
Motorola Moto G35 is best for:
- Casual Users: Users who need a reliable phone for everyday tasks, browsing, and social media.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who want a good-sized phone with a large screen and long battery life at a more affordable price.
- Media Consumers: Users who watch a lot of videos and prefer a larger display.
- Practical Users: Users who prefer the fingerprint sensor.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to help you decide:
- What is my main use case?
- Heavy Use (Gaming, content creation, photography, video): iPhone 13 Pro.
- General Use (Social media, browsing, media consumption): Motorola Moto G35.
- How important is display and camera quality?
- Very important: iPhone 13 Pro.
- Good Enough: Motorola Moto G35.
- What is my budget?
- Top Tier Performance and Features (No Budget): iPhone 13 Pro.
- Budget Conscious: Motorola Moto G35.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Professional Photographer: iPhone 13 Pro is the clear choice for advanced camera features and superior image quality.
- Scenario 2: Student on a Budget: Motorola Moto G35 offers a good experience for the price, it has good battery life, and a large display.
- Scenario 3: Avid Mobile Gamer: iPhone 13 Pro is better due to the powerful chip and superior display.
- Scenario 4: Everyday Casual User: Motorola Moto G35 will suit day-to-day needs and offers the most value.
What I Would Choose
If I were making the choice, I would choose the Apple iPhone 13 Pro. While the Motorola Moto G35 offers a compelling set of features at a lower price point, my priorities are centered on performance and features.
I'm a heavy user and appreciate the incredible speed and fluidity of the A15 Bionic chip. The difference in app loading times, multitasking, and graphics is significant. Additionally, as someone who cares about image quality, the superior camera system, particularly the telephoto zoom and night mode, would be important to me. The display quality is also a big factor, as a sharper and brighter OLED panel would enhance my experience when working on content and editing images. While the battery isn't the largest on the market, it's more than sufficient to get me through the day, the additional wireless features are a great added benefit,
The Moto G35 excels in affordability and battery life but doesn’t compete in the camera and processing department. Ultimately, for my use, the iPhone 13 Pro would provide a better experience.