Apple’s new iPhone 13 lineup may not be a significant upgrade from last year’s iPhone 12 models, but there are some exciting new features. And with four phones that are all just a little different, you may have some questions. If you’re debating which iPhone 13 to buy, we’re here to help break things down.
iPhone 13 Price
The iPhone 13 mini is the least expensive of Apple’s new iPhones. The 128GB version sells for $699; 256GB of storage comes in at $799. The 512GB version will cost you a cool $999.
At $799, the 128GB iPhone 13 hits a sweet spot for people who want a good phone without spending a thousand bucks. The 256GB version comes in at $899, and if you want to max out your storage at 512GB, you’ll need to pay $1,099.
If you want to upgrade to Apple’s Pro lineup, the iPhone 13 Pro is your least expensive bet. The 128GB version sells for $999; double the storage for an additional $100. The 512GB model will set you back $1,299, and a terabyte of storage will cost you $1,499.
At the top end of the lineup is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, starting at $1,099 for the 128GB version. Double the storage and it’ll cost you $100 more. For 512GB of storage, you’ll have to cough up $1,399, and if you need a terabyte of storage, expect to pay a jaw-dropping $1,599.
People who store most of their content in the cloud will probably be happy with the 128GB iPhone 13. People who take lots of photos and videos will probably want a 256GB iPhone.
iPhone 13 Size: Mini to Max
Apple’s iPhone 13 lineup has a size for everyone. If you like pint-size phones, the iPhone 13 mini is the way to go. It measures 5.18-by-2.53-by-0.30 inches and weighs 4.97 ounces.
Next up are the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Both phones measure 5.78-by-2.82-by-0.30 inches. At 6.14 ounces, however, the iPhone 13 is the lighter of the two, thanks to its aluminum chassis. The iPhone 13 Pro clocks in at 7.19 ounces, due to its stainless-steel rails.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the biggest and bulkiest of the bunch. It measures 6.33-by-3.07-by-0.30 inches and weighs 8.46 ounces.
Size is a subjective choice, but we think the iPhone 13 is probably the best for most people. If you’re a creative professional, your best bet is probably the iPhone 13 Pro.
iPhone 13 Display: Crank It Up to 120Hz
Although the new iPhone 13 lineup sports the same sized displays as its predecessors, that’s where the similarities end. All four models are brighter and have a smaller notch, but if you splurge for one of the Pro models you’ll get a few added benefits.
The iPhone 13 mini is the smallest of the pack with a 5.4-inch, 2,340-by-1,080 OLED display. The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch, 2,532-by-1,170 OLED display. Both models have 800 nits maximum brightness and 1,200 nits maximum brightness when viewing HDR content.
Although the iPhone 13 Pro’s display is the same size as the less expensive iPhone 13, it’s the least expensive model with Apple’s ProMotion technology. ProMotion offers a variable refresh rate that dynamically adjusts between 10Hz and 120Hz. Maximum brightness is jacked up to 1,000 nits on the iPhone 13 Pro’s display and HDR content maxes out at 1,200 nits.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a massive 6.7-inch, 2,778-by-1,284 OLED display that’s great for streaming video or gaming. It’s just as bright as the less expensive iPhone 13 Pro and has ProMotion as well.
People who use their phones to stream video or do basic tasks should find the iPhone 13 more than capable. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is probably worth the splurge for gamers and creative professionals.
iPhone 13 Cameras: Ready to Go Pro?
Every year, Apple makes massive updates to its camera hardware and software, and this year is no exception. All four iPhone models can create some of the best photos available on a smartphone, but there are some major differences between the regular and Pro models.
For starters, the iPhone 13 models now have the same sensor-shift stabilization technology that was previously limited to the iPhone 12 Pro models. Sensor-shift stabilization physically moves camera sensors to remove vibrations that blur or distort photos. Night mode is also available on all the lenses.
There’s also an improved 12MP primary lens with an f/1.6 aperture for better low-light photos. The 12MP ultrawide lens has an f/2.4 aperture. Apple has also made updates to the ISP and its computational photography software for the best images ever on an iPhone.
This year, the cameras on the iPhone 13 Pro models are the same. The rear module has a 12MP primary lens with an f/1.5 aperture, large 1.9-micron pixels, and is capable of macro photography. The telephoto lens clocks in at 12MP with an f/2.8 aperture. The 12MP ultrawide lens has a large f/1.8 aperture for improved low-light performance. There’s also a LiDAR scanner for Night Mode portraits and AR experiences.
Both models support 3x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, 15x digital zoom, and Apple Pro Raw. Pro Res Video will make an appearance later this year.
The iPhone 13 Pro is the best bet for smartphone shutterbugs who want to save a little money. If you’re the type who relies on Auto mode and takes photos primarily for social media, the iPhone 13 should be just fine.
iPhone 13 Battery Life
All four iPhone 13 models have larger batteries this year, which means you should easily be able to get through a full day of moderate use without much problem.
The iPhone 13 mini has a 2,406mAh battery. While that’s an improvement over the 2,227mAh battery on the iPhone 12 mini, it’s still pretty small. Apple claims you should get an additional hour and a half of battery life with its latest entry-level flagship.
Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have a 3,095mAh battery. That’s a boost from them 2,815mAh batteries found on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, but there’s a big difference. Apple says you’ll get an extra 2.5 hours of battery life on the iPhone 13, but only 1.5 hours more on the iPhone 13 Pro.
Finally, the iPhone 13 Pro Max sports a massive 4,352mAh battery compared with the 3,687mAh battery found on last year’s model. It should also give you an extra 2.5 hours of juice throughout the day.
With the exception of the iPhone 13 mini, we think all of Apple’s latest flagships should get you through the day without much trouble. All things compared, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max will have similar battery drain profiles.
Verdict
So which iPhone 13 should you choose? Well, that’s your decision to make, but most people will be very happy with the iPhone 13. It has a great balance of power, features, and battery life for the price. Gamers will probably want to go for the iPhone 13 Pro Max since it has a more powerful GPU and large display with ProMotion. And if you’re a creative professional, we think the iPhone 13 Pro is probably the best bet for the money. But we’ll put them through their paces for our final reviews; look out for those in the coming weeks.
Until then, check out this video for a full rundown of what Apple announced at its 9/14 event:
