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Apple’s latest iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are packed with new features, but there’s one model in particular with an important missing feature that may well catch you by surprise.
Apple's new iPhone 13 Pro comes with several improvements, but some models miss out on one important ... [+]
One of several impressive upgrades introduced with Apple’s latest iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models is Apple’s professional, and award-winning, ProRes video codec. Unfortunately, not all iPhone 13 smartphones will be getting the same level of ProRes support.
With the camera hardware remaining identical across all iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models, all of them get to enjoy the improved editing speed and output quality that ProRes provides. However, if you opt for the least expensive storage option, you may be in for a shock.
As Apple’s official iPhone 13 Pro specs reveal: ProRes is available all the way up to 4K at 30fps. However, those with the lowest-capacity 128GB model, will find ProRes recording artificially limited to 1080p at 30fps.
No reason has been given for the limit, but smaller solid-state drives typically offer lower transfer rates than larger ones, so this could be one reason why Apple has decided to remove the more demanding 4K ProRes mode from the 128GB model. It could also prevent 128GB-model owners from filling up their storage too quickly, but that’s a decision I feel is best left down to the user.
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models are set to receive ProRes support in an update later this fall, so benchmarks may then reveal the real reason behind this unexpected limitation for the lowest-capacity model.
For now, just be careful which iPhone 13 Pro model you buy if you’re planning on making full use of ProRes.
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