iPhone 13 Pro for Musicians – Is It Worth It?

Last week I bought an iPhone 13 Pro, and I’m really loving it! Today I’m looking at the features and functions you might use as a musician to see if it’s worth it.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

iPhone 13 Pro Camera

One of the biggest reasons why I bought this phone was for the great cameras. It has three lenses: the main camera, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses. The pictures and videos I’ve taken so far are absolutely fantastic!

Videos

There are a few different filming options for regular videos on the iPhone 13 Pro: 1080p or 4k, and 24, 30, or 60 frames per second.

For the purposes of this video, I recorded each clip in 1080p 60fps, because that’s how I export all my Youtube videos. (Exporting in 4k is really hard on my computer, so I just film and export in 1080p so I don’t run my laptop too hard.)

Cinematic Mode

New in iOS 15 is Cinematic Mode. This focuses on faces (or an object of your choice) and blurs out the background. It automatically detects the face or object closes to the camera, and changes focus as needed when things move.

This feature can be kind of hit or miss, but you are able to adjust the blur and focus afterwards straight in the Photos app.

The blurred background looks super cool in the video I took of myself playing the viola, but it really blurred the edges of my viola and bow. This mode is really geared toward faces and not objects, but hopefully future updates will improve this mode!

iPhone 13 Pro Microphone

I was pleasantly surprised with the microphone in this phone–usually phone microphones get rid of all dynamics, but I was able to hear a wide range in my sound!

In my Youtube video, I compared this microphone against my Shure SM57–go take a listen to hear how they sound against each other!

Focus Mode

I created a custom focus mode for practicing, and I really love it! Focus mode is a new feature on iOS 15 where you can basically create custom do not disturb modes for specific occasions.

When I put my phone in practice mode, I only have access to one home page: my page of music apps. I only receive calls and notifications from family members, and so far, it has really helped me stay focused while practicing!

Watch my Youtube video to see exactly how I created this focus mode.

Apps for Musicians

I was able to download all my favorite music apps. Want to know what they are? Head on over to Five of My Favorite Apps for Musicians!

Is the iPhone 13 Pro worth it for musicians?

As much as I love the camera and functions of the phone, my answer is that it completely depends on what you’re coming from. If you currently have an iPhone 11 or 12, this won’t be too much of an upgrade. If you’re mostly interested in Focus Mode, then all you need is iOS 15, which can be downloaded on an iPhone from iPhone 6-on.

I came from a OnePlus 6 from 2018, and this was a huge, exciting upgrade for me. I’m so happy I bought this, and don’t regret it at all!

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Are you thinking of upgrading your phone? Do you think the iPhone 13 Pro is a worthwhile investment for musicians? Let me know in the comments!