With each new generation of phones from various manufacturers, we anticipate significant advancements. Our personal smartphones already handle text and video communication, music, movies, games, Web browsing, news, social networking, banking, health tracking, smart device management, and even the occasional phone call. The industry is at a point where there is not much more that a smartphone can do. We haven’t seen any significant new features or use cases that call for a performance boost. VR has limited appeal, foldables have not really taken off, and even though 5G is faster and better, it has not yet changed how people use it.
As a result, it should come as no surprise that upgrade cycles have gotten longer and more attention has been paid to lower-price segments, which are benefiting from feature improvements that trickle down. With the iPhone 13 family, Apple is delivering subtle refinements and quality enhancements in key areas rather than major overhauls for a year. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are aimed at mainstream buyers who want a brand new model but don’t need advanced camera capabilities or don’t want to spend quite as much. However, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max (Review) are the new top-end flagships that you would buy if you want the absolute latest and best.
The iPhone 12 (Review) and the iPhone 12 mini (Review) from last year are very similar to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. The good news is that you get Cinematic Mode and Photographic Styles, two of the most important features of the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, which are much more expensive. At the same starting price, you also get twice as much storage and a faster processor. On the other hand, you don’t get features like a 120Hz display refresh rate or a camera that can take macro photos, which are now pretty standard even on Android phones that cost a quarter as much. We’ll help you decide between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 mini if you’re not sure which is better for you.
There are five all-new colour options: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Pink, and (Product)Red. You don’t get a charger or headset in the box anymore, only a Type-C Lightning cable, a SIM eject pin, and an Apple logo sticker.
iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini design
The iPhone 13 and 13 mini are the same height and width as their iPhone 12 series predecessors, but are up to 0.25mm thicker and 11g heavier. The weight is slightly noticeable but doesn’t make too much of a difference. The main appeal of the smaller iPhone 13 mini is of course how convenient and easy it is to handle. At just 140g, it’s still one of the lightest premium smartphones you can buy today.
The notches on the front of each iPhone 13 model have been narrowed by about 20% by Apple, but they are also slightly taller than before. The power button on the right and the volume controls on the left are both slightly lower and easier to reach. The most noticeable change, though, is the new diagonal camera setup on the back. This is certainly eye-catching, unlike Apple’s usual minimalist approach, but not everyone will like it.
The iPhone 13 and 13 mini have aluminum flat frames with glass on the back and Apple’s own Ceramic Shield material on the front, which is said to be scratch and drop resistant. The dust and water resistance of these phones is IP68.
