In September 2025, Apple officially released iOS 26. For iPhone 13 Pro users, the best news is that your device remains on the supported list. According to Apple's official compatibility roster, iOS 26 supports iPhone 11 and newer models, as well as iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer—meaning the iPhone 13 Pro is definitely included.
What does this mean for you? Following Apple's typical practice of providing 5-6 years of major iOS updates for iPhones, the iPhone 13 Pro (released in 2021) can expect at least another 1-2 years of major version updates. By the time iOS 27 arrives in 2027, the iPhone 13 Pro will likely still be eligible for support. In other words, after installing a new iPhone 13 Pro battery, your device is fully qualified to continue enjoying the latest system features and security updates.
Will the new system drain more battery? This is the question every user considering an upgrade asks. According to user feedback data compiled from Zhihu columns, after upgrading to iOS 26.3 official release, 49.4% of users felt battery life improved, 37.4% noticed no change, and only 13.2% experienced worse battery drain.
Looking at specific device models, the iPhone 13 Pro is listed among the versions that saw battery life improvements. This aligns with Apple's official statements: iOS 17 introduced a "performance degradation compensation algorithm" that extended iPhone 13 series battery life by 23%. iOS 26 further optimized background process management efficiency. For iPhone 13 Pro users with a fresh battery, upgrading to iOS 26 can deliver even better battery performance.
Of course, some users have commented that "the phone feels noticeably slower after updating." This is likely related to the device's existing iPhone 13 Pro battery health—if it's already below 80%, the system may throttle performance to maintain stability, creating the perception of slowdown. And this reinforces the point made in our earlier articles: replace the battery first, then consider the OS update.
The core factors determining whether a phone can "last several more years" are not just system support, but chip performance. How does the A15 chip inside the iPhone 13 Pro hold up in 2026?
According to UL Benchmarks data, the A15 scores 2949 points in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, with Wild Life stability reaching 70%. In Geekbench benchmarks, the A15 achieves approximately 1733 points for single-core and 4716 points for multi-core performance. Where does this stand in 2026? While it has been surpassed by the A17 and A18, it still outperforms many mid-range Android chips. Counterpoint Research data shows that after 24 months of continuous use, the A15's single-core performance degrades by about 12%, but multi-core performance maintains 98% of its original level.
What this means for daily use—scrolling through social media, watching videos, editing documents, playing mainstream games—is that the A15 is absolutely not a bottleneck. Only when running the most demanding 3D games or performing heavy tasks like video rendering will you notice a gap compared to the newest flagship devices.
Synthesizing all the analysis above, the decision path for iPhone 13 Pro users in 2026 is actually quite clear:
If your battery health is below 80%: Prioritize battery replacement. With Apple's 399 RMB half-price promotion, investing less than 400 RMB buys you at least two more years of smooth usage. The combination of A15 chip + iOS 26 is more than sufficient for the vast majority of daily needs.
If your battery health is still acceptable (above 85%): You can hold off on replacement for now. However, keep an eye on battery health trends and plan ahead. Stay current with system updates to enjoy the new features and optimizations iOS 26 brings.
If you have a strong need for Apple Intelligence features: This is a reason to upgrade. The AI capabilities in iOS 26 (such as on-device intelligence) are limited to iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. If these features are critical to your workflow, you may need to consider moving to a newer iPhone.
In 2026, the iPhone 13 Pro finds itself at an interesting juncture: system support continues, the chip remains capable, and the battery can be replaced at a low cost. Spending 399 RMB on a new iPhone 13 Pro battery, then upgrading to iOS 26, gives you a reliable device that can easily accompany you into 2028. In an era where smartphone performance has long exceeded everyday needs, this might just be the most rational choice.
Want to know how much battery life can be improved after replacing the battery? Click here to read:
→ "Test: iPhone 13 Pro Battery Life Before and After Replacement - Surprising Results"
Still struggling to choose between an original battery and a third-party battery? Take a look:
→ "iPhone 13 Pro Battery Replacement Guide: Original, Third-Party, and DIY Battery Comparison"