iPhone 13 Pro in Sierra Blue unboxing: my first impressions

I bought the iPhone 13 Pro in Sierra Blue with 128 GB and I’m unpacking it here. The regular iPhone 13 hadn’t convinced me so much, because the step from the iPhone 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max was very small. With the Pro, I wanted to see whether the step forward is bigger. This is a first impression, not a review.

Bought used

This time I bought the device used. I believe it doesn’t always have to be a new device. In very good condition, buying used usually saves a few hundred euros. That’s why there is also no seal on the back anymore. As always, I paid for the device myself, so you get an independent opinion.

Sierra Blue and build quality

I hadn’t seen the color in person before, and I like it a lot. Sierra Blue is a gray-blue, almost a little baby blue, but quickly turns toward gray. I find it chic and elegant.

The design has stayed largely the same. What stands out is that the camera elements on the back are much bigger than on the iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max. With a glass back and stainless steel frame, the device is relatively heavy for its size but looks very high-quality. Design and build quality are always top class at Apple, and the competition has a hard time getting close. I’m a big Samsung fan, and the Google Pixel 6 Pro is also the most high-quality Pixel so far for me. Compared with iPhones, headphones, MacBooks, or iPads, though, Apple stays ahead. That’s what you’re paying for as well: you don’t always pay for the best technology, but also for design, looks, and the little apple.

The unboxing itself is about as exciting as watching a potato grow. In the box are a cable and some paperwork.

Specs

	iPhone 13 Pro
Dimensions	140.7 mm height, 71.5 mm width, 7.65 mm depth
Weight	203 g
Display	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion, 15.4 cm diagonal
Chip	Apple A15 Bionic
Camera	12 megapixels, telephoto, wide-angle, and ultrawide
Port	Lightning

For the first time, an iPhone has a 120 Hertz panel, which makes gestures and movements look much smoother. Macro photos are new too. I find Cinematic mode the most interesting, which creates depth of field when recording video. Otherwise, to be honest, there isn’t that much that’s new. I think it’s a pity that the iPhone 13 Pro still has a Lightning port.

Will it become my daily driver?

Right now I use the Galaxy Z Flip 3 as my daily driver. I like its overall concept and its handiness, and I think the camera is good. I had big problems with the battery at first, but by now I get through a whole day with it.

That’s why it’s a little hard for me, but I’m switching to the iPhone 13 Pro for the next few weeks. I want to give you a hands-on report later and I’m curious what the new camera can do, because I take a lot of pictures for Instagram and videos for my channel. I’ll skip the setup here: with Apple devices, you sign in with your Apple ID and transfer the data from the old iPhone. That’s reliable and convenient, but unspectacular.

Verdict on the first impression

I like the color, design, and build quality a lot. Technically, the leap from the iPhone 12 Pro is rather small. Whether the camera convinces in everyday use will be shown by my later hands-on report.