Since its inaugural launch of the iPhone in 2007, Apple has dominated the smartphone market. Cited by Fortunly, over 1.3 billion units have been sold up to this point. The most recent top-tier model from Apple, the iPhone 13, was released in September 2021.

Upon initial observation, the iPhone 13 may appear quite similar to the iPhone 12. However, deeper examination reveals significant enhancements, including a superior camera setup, improved battery endurance, and enhanced performance capabilities, all delivering a remarkable impact.

To assist you in navigating the updates, here’s all the information you require on the iPhone 13.

Models and Prices

Following the pattern set by the iPhone 12, the latest flagship introduces two versions – the standard iPhone 13 and the more compact iPhone 13 mini. Both variants possess similar hardware and functionalities. The primary distinctions between the two lie in their battery duration, display dimensions, and mass.

The starting price for the entry-level iPhone 13 mini is listed at $699, and the price for the regular iPhone 13 model is at $799. However, significant discounts may be available if you buy via your cellphone carrier or by trading in an older iPhone model.

Every model provides three pricing tiers based on memory capacity:

1. $699 or $799 for 128GB;
2. $799 or $899 for 256GB, and;
3. $999 or $1,099 for 512GB.

In addition to various memory size choices, the iPhone13 is offered in five distinct colors:

1. Starlight;
2. Midnight;
3. Blue;
4. Pink, and;
5. (Product) Red.

Apple provides a Professional series that includes the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The starting price for the iPhone 13 Pro is $999, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max is priced at $1,099.

Although the Pro versions maintain the same three memory size choices as the other versions, they introduce a 1TB storage option. The Pro series is available in four colors: Silver, Graphite, Gold, and Sierra Blue.

Design

To an untrained eye, the iPhone 13 might appear nearly identical to the iPhone 12. This latest version continues to embrace the flat-edge design approach of its predecessor, which makes it comfortable to grip. Nevertheless, Apple has introduced several modifications.

The most significant change involves the layout of the two camera lenses on the phone's rear, now positioned diagonally instead of vertically. In the Pro versions, the trio of camera lenses is organized in a triangle pattern.

Apple has reduced the dimensions of the notch for the front-facing camera by 20 percent without compromising the Face ID or the TrueDepth selfie camera features. There have been minor adjustments to the positioning of the side buttons as well. The power button on the right side of the phone is now positioned a bit lower, as are the volume buttons on the left side.

Build Quality

iPhones consistently exude a luxurious quality, and the iPhone 13 series certainly upholds this standard.

The phone’s body utilizes aluminum for its frame and glass for its back cover. Its display is shielded by a robust Ceramic Shield glass, initially launched with the iPhone 12. TechRadar reports that Apple advertises this new tech as offering four times more resistance to accidental falls compared to the previous glass.

The iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 mini possess an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, offering secure sealing against water up to a depth of six meters for roughly 30 minutes.

Screen and Display

The iPhone 13 lineup includes a Super Retina XDR OLED display on both models. The iPhone 13 mini is equipped with a 5.4-inch display, whereas the standard iPhone 13 features a 6.1-inch display. According to Apple, the brightness of these screens has been enhanced by 28 percent compared to the iPhone 12.

The screen appears crisp and vivid under various lighting situations, largely due to its resolution. The iPhone 13 mini features a 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution at 476 ppi, while the iPhone 13 offers a 2532 x 1170 resolution at 460 ppi. Additionally, the display continues to perform excellently during the playback of intensive graphics mobile games.

The iPhone 13 Pro series offers larger screen sizes across its models. The standard iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1-inch display, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen. These Pro variants are equipped with a remarkably swift 120Hz refresh rate, effectively twice the 60Hz refresh rate found in the regular iPhone 13 lineup.

Performance

The iPhone 13 series features the advanced, high-speed A15 Bionic chip. This component ensures that Apple continues to hold the title for the quickest chipset available in any smartphone currently on the market.

Similar to the iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13 is equipped with a four-core GPU and a six-core CPU. These components are enhanced by a larger 16-core Neural Engine that drives the AI interface. The iPhone 13 Pro versions also feature comparable hardware but incorporate a more robust five-core GPU.

Each iPhone 13 variant is equipped with 4GB of RAM, whereas both Pro models feature 6GB. Performance benchmarks aggregated by PCMag reveal that the iPhone 13 lineup significantly outperformed its main competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Specifically, Apple's latest premier device achieved web browsing speeds nearly double that of its rival.

Similar to other premium smartphones available today, the iPhone 13 versions additionally offer 5G network compatibility, contingent upon regional availability.

Operating System

Every iPhone 13 variant is equipped with iOS 15 as the default operating system. Unlike the transformative changes seen with iOS 14, the enhancements in the newest system are modest. The modifications could aptly be termed as "refinements".

A recent feature, Focus mode, has been incorporated into the primary dropdown menu. Are you attempting to work from home and need to stay away from sites like Instagram and Twitter? Focus mode offers an efficient method to block notifications and enable your phone's Do Not Disturb functions.

As the latest operating system from Apple, iOS 15 is certainly expected to receive updates for many years, thus enhancing the lifespan of the iPhone 13.

Cameras

While the twin camera setup on the latest iPhone 13 looks much like that on the iPhone 12, significant enhancements have been made.

Adopting a diagonal configuration, Apple's developers have managed to incorporate a bigger 12-megapixel Wide camera, which captures 47 percent more light due to its enhanced f/1.6 aperture. This results in more distinct and crisp images. Additionally, the 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide camera received an upgrade, featuring an f/2.4 aperture and a new sensor that enhances detail capture in dim lighting conditions.

By reconfiguring the arrangement of the lenses, Apple has managed to integrate a superior image stabilizer. This improvement is due to the Sensor-Shift Optical Image Stabilization, which was first launched in the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The iPhone 13 Pro versions enhance camera capabilities significantly. Beyond the dual cameras featured on the standard iPhone 13, the Pro edition incorporates an additional third lens. This encompasses a 12-megapixel Telephoto lens with an f/2.8 aperture and a 3x optical zoom capability. Additionally, the Pro variants are equipped with an improved Night Mode supported by LiDAR technology and an exclusive Macro photography mode.

Regarding personalizing images, the iPhone 13 series is equipped with Apple’s Photographic Styles feature. This feature offers easy accessibility to configurations that modify the color temperature and tone of your pictures. Generally, the iPhone 13 delivers images that are more vivid and colorful compared to its primary competitors.

Additionally, the indent at the front of the phone includes a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera that possesses an f/2.2 aperture, ensuring excellent selfies and clear video conversations.

Video

Have you ever dreamed of directing like a Hollywood filmmaker? Now, you can achieve that with the innovative Cinematic Mode.

This remarkable functionality introduces a lifelike and dynamic bokeh effect to your video recordings. It modifies the video camera's focus among various subjects within the view based on the direction you aim the lens. Generally, the effect is effective with most subjects; however, if the subjects are moving quite rapidly, the feature struggles to maintain focus.

In Cinematic Mode, the highest video resolution is restricted to 1080p. Regrettably, 4K video is not accessible when utilizing this function.

Under standard settings, the iPhone 13 can capture video in 4K with various frame rates from 24 up to 60 fps. Additionally, it allows for shooting HDR video at 60 fps and can record slow-motion footage at 1080p resolution and 120 fps.

The Pro series additionally introduces the ProRes high-quality format. This enables filmmakers to manipulate their recordings just like skilled editors, without requiring a larger device for editing tasks. Nevertheless, this feature is not accessible on the entry-level 128 GB Pro models.

Battery Life

One significant enhancement in the iPhone 13 compared to its predecessors is the extended battery duration. Historically, battery longevity has been a consistent issue for iPhones, prompting Apple to address this concern directly with the iPhone 13.

The latest series features enlarged batteries, which work synergistically with the exceptionally efficient A15 Bionic processor to minimize energy usage. CNET reports that Apple indicates the iPhone 13 has a 2.5 hours longer battery life than the iPhone 12, and the iPhone 13 mini manages to extend battery life by an additional 1.5 hours over its predecessor. In the case of the iPhone 13 Pro models, the standard Pro garners an additional 1.5 hours of battery life compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max benefits from an increased 2.5 hours of battery life compared to the earlier Pro Max version.

Even though Apple has enhanced the battery duration in their latest devices, the charging rates have not seen any significant upgrades, especially when compared to competitors such as OnePlus or Samsung.

Pros

When contemplating an upgrade from an iPhone 12 or switching from another smartphone brand, it's advisable to carefully evaluate all the enhancements and ongoing limitations of the iPhone 13. Let's begin by examining the advantages, detailed below:

• Better Battery Life: You could get nearly 2.5 extra hours of charge out of the iPhone 13. In fact, the handset can last a full day with average use.
• Camera Improvements: Apple hasn’t reinvented the dual cameras on the iPhone 13, but they’ve managed to pack more performance into the unit thanks to some clever design tweaks. Moreover, Cinematic Mode is a game-changer when it comes to shooting video.
• Unrivaled Performance: By beefing out the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine on the iPhone 13 and adding the A15 Bionic chipset, Apple has built one of the fastest smartphones on the market.

Cons

While the iPhone 13 appears quite remarkable, it does come with several drawbacks:

• Cinema Mode Limitations: Despite how well the Cinematic Mode performs, it’s only limited to recording in 1080p. It also struggles to adjust quickly enough when capturing faster moving objects.
• ProRes Handicap: If you choose the basic 128GB version of the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max, you won’t be able to use the ProRes video mode. It’s only available on the more expensive models with bigger memory.
• Sluggish Charging: Compared to rival phones, all models of the iPhone 13 has a slower charging speed.
• You’ll Need to Re-accessorize: Because of its design tweaks, the iPhone 13 range isn’t compatible with cases made for the iPhone 12.

The Bottomline

The iPhone 13 series sets a new standard for Apple smartphones, offering powerful performance, an impressive camera setup, and superior battery longevity in a design that is both appropriately scaled and affordably priced.

The addition of Cinematic Mode is particularly exceptional — ideal for TikTok enthusiasts or those interested in smartphone-based filmmaking. For those aiming to become professional smartphone photographers, the iPhone 13 Pro models' triple camera system renders these devices a valuable asset.

If you continue to use your iPhone 11 or iPhone SE, upgrading to the latest models is certainly advisable. Yet, the performance increase from the iPhone 13 compared to its preceding model, the iPhone 12, does not require an urgent upgrade.