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Apple iPhone 13 Pro Audio review

Posted on by DXOMARK, tested by DXOMARK Audio Team
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75
audio
How we test smartphone audio

The iPhone 13 Pro is the second model from the top of the top in Apple’s  2021 smartphone line-up.  The main difference to the top-of-the-line iPhone 13 Pro Max is the smaller 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, Both models are powered by the A15 Bionic chipset.

On the audio playback front, the iPhone 13 Pro shares the same audio specs as the other 13-series phones, including partnering with Dolby Labs to deliver an immersive stereo reproduction. As for recording, the audio zoom algorithm is still implemented when filming videos.

With the two devices sharing the same audio specs, one would expect the iPhone 13 Pro’s test results and scores to be identical to those of the iPhone 13 Pro Max. We have confirmed this by putting the iPhone 13 Pro through the DXOMARK Audio test suite.

Key audio specifications include:

  • Two speakers (up front-firing, and bottom side-firing)
  • Audio zoom
  • Dolby Atmos
  • Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes (for calls)
  • User‑configurable maximum volume limit

Test summary


Apple iPhone 13 Pro
75
audio
76
playback

70
recording
AUDIO
Position in Global Ranking #6
1. Black Shark 4 Pro
81
2. Xiaomi Mi 10S
80
3. Asus ROG Phone 5
79
4. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
77
5. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
76
6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
75
6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
75
6. Apple iPhone 13 mini
75
6. Apple iPhone 13
75
6. Asus ROG Phone 3
75
6. Huawei Mate 20 X
75
12. Apple iPhone XS Max
74
12. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
74
12. Oppo Find X2 Pro
74
15. Apple iPhone 12
73
15. Apple iPhone 12 mini
73
17. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
72
18. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
71
18. Apple iPhone 11
71
18. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro
71
18. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
71
18. Xiaomi 11T Pro
71
23. Apple iPhone SE
70
23. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
70
23. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
70
23. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)
70
23. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)
70
28. Asus ROG Phone 2
69
28. OnePlus 9 Pro
69
28. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
69
28. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
69
28. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
69
33. Google Pixel 5
68
33. Google Pixel 4
68
33. OnePlus 8
68
33. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
68
33. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
68
33. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Gaming
68
33. Xiaomi Mi 11
68
40. OnePlus 8 Pro
67
41. Asus Zenfone 8
66
41. Motorola Edge+
66
41. OnePlus 9
66
41. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
66
41. Samsung Galaxy S20+
66
41. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
66
41. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
66
41. Sony Xperia 1 III
66
41. Vivo iQOO 7 Legend
66
41. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+
66
41. Xiaomi Mi 11i
66
52. LG V60 ThinQ 5G
65
52. OnePlus 7 Pro
65
52. Samsung Galaxy S10+
65
55. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro
64
55. Nubia Red Magic 5S
64
57. POCO X3 NFC
63
57. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra
63
59. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G
62
59. Oppo Find X3 Pro
62
61. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
61
61. Oppo Find X3 Neo
61
63. Huawei Mate 30 Pro
60
64. Honor V30 Pro
59
64. Huawei P40 Pro
59
64. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro
59
64. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G
59
68. Realme X2 Pro
58
69. Motorola Razr
57
69. Realme GT 5G
57
69. Sony Xperia 1 II
57
72. Black Shark 3 Pro
55
72. Motorola Edge 20 Pro
55
74. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition
54
75. Honor 20 Pro
53
75. Oppo Find X3 Lite
53
75. Vivo X51 5G
53
78. LG G8 ThinQ
52
79. Black Shark 2 Pro
51
79. Vivo X60 Pro+
51
81. Nubia Red Magic 3S
50
82. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)
47
83. Sony Xperia 1
45
84. Nokia 7.2
41
AUDIO
Position in Ultra-Premium Ranking #3
1. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
77
2. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro
76
3. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
75
3. Apple iPhone 13 Pro
75
3. Asus ROG Phone 3
75
3. Huawei Mate 20 X
75
7. Apple iPhone XS Max
74
7. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
74
7. Oppo Find X2 Pro
74
10. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
72
11. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
71
11. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
71
13. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
70
13. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
70
15. Asus ROG Phone 2
69
15. OnePlus 9 Pro
69
15. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
69
18. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)
68
18. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)
68
20. OnePlus 8 Pro
67
21. Motorola Edge+
66
21. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
66
21. Samsung Galaxy S20+
66
21. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G
66
21. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
66
21. Sony Xperia 1 III
66
27. Samsung Galaxy S10+
65
28. Oppo Find X3 Pro
62
29. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G
61
30. Huawei Mate 30 Pro
60
31. Huawei P40 Pro
59
31. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro
59
33. Motorola Razr
57
33. Sony Xperia 1 II
57
35. Black Shark 3 Pro
55
36. LG G8 ThinQ
52
37. Vivo X60 Pro+
51
38. Sony Xperia 1
45

Playback

Pros

  • Very consistent performances among all attributes
  • Pleasant tonal balance, with added low mid warmth compared to previous iPhone generations
  • Precise localizability and very good wideness despite stereo being inverted

Cons

  • Stereo is still inverted in the Music app, as it is with all iPhones
  • Bass distortion at maximum volume

Recording

Pros

  • Natural Timbre, especially consistent in high-SPL scenarios
  • Accurate envelope rendition
  • Good localizability and impressive wideness even in portrait mode
  • Good recording loudness and excellent resilience to high pressure levels
  • Mostly artifacts-free

Cons

  • Dark Timbre, lacking brightness and clarity
  • Below average SNR and intelligibility
  • Impaired distance rendition

Given the identical results, we are posting only this short article on the iPhone 13 Pro. For the full set of measurements and the complete analysis, please click on the link below and read the full review of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Go to the audio review of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.

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