Apple iPhone 13
Verdict
While it’s a questionable upgrade over the already-impressive iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 brings better battery life, improved cameras, a great display, and Apple’s premium build quality to yet another generation of iPhones. As with past years, it’s only real competition (for the price) are other iPhones.
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Apple's iPhone 13 delivers the best blend of performance, camera quality, and battery life at the right price for most people.”
“Better battery life, better cameras, and big, beautiful screens. Here you go. Sometimes, opinionated denizens of the Internet complain that Apple doesn't innovate and that new iPhones aren't exciting anymore. It would seem that the iPhone 13 lineup is ripe for that sort of criticism, right? Other than a screen feature that plenty of competing phones already had, there aren't any flashy new additions to the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max. But sometimes exciting isn't what you want or need the most. You might just want something that makes your day to day a little better. With these phones, you'll take better photos, and you'll make it all the way to bedtime with less anxiety about your battery running out, even on a busy airport travel day.”
“This year's iPhone comes with numerous welcome upgrades: Better battery life, a brighter screen, slightly better speakers, a slightly smaller notch. Of course, there are also new iOS features as well as a new, more powerful CPU. The design of the case still follows a sleek and fairly rectangular approach, while offering a great build quality, an IP certification and a robust display to meet the current standards. There is also fast Wi-Fi and support for all current mobile communications standards.”
“The Apple iPhone 13 is a very capable smartphone - it has one of the fastest chipsets and one of the best camera kits - that's why it is ideal for photography and video capturing on the go, great for bloggers and vloggers on a budget. It also does a brilliant job at streaming your favorite shows and playing demanding games. Its speakers are surprisingly nice, too.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
Probably the most stand-out thing about the new cast of iPhones is implementing a cinematic camera mode that brings a bokeh-like effect to video, but with Apple sitting at the top of so many charts already with the iPhone 12, does the iPhone 13 offer enough to be worth the additional price?
Design
There’s not a lot to parse here. It looks just like last year’s iPhone and features Apple’s premium metal and glass build. The only actual change may be the camera notch on the phone’s front being about 20% smaller than before.
The iPhone 13 comes in different colors this year if you like a little flair. Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight and Red offer a bit more personality than Apple’s usual lineup.
Display
The lack of a 120Hz display disappointed some reviewers, noting that even the more budget phones had the option available.
They didn’t feel it was fair to lock this increasingly common feature behind the iPhone Pro price tier.
It is still an excellent display, though. It is now 28% brighter than the iPhone 12, too — a big perk for anyone who uses their phone outdoors frequently.
Performance
It seems like we’ll never see a day when Apple isn’t the front runner when it comes to performance, and once again, they’ve knocked it out of the park.
While everyday scrolling and social media may not be too noticeable, the difference comes in when you’re playing games and multitasking. The iPhone 13’s chipset is the very best in the business.
Software & Storage
You’ll find the usual 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage offerings. Also, as usual, there’s no option for microSD card expansion, so it’s probably best to overestimate slightly unless you want to store things predominantly in the cloud.
The iPhone 13 ships with iOS 15 — Apple’s latest software. But that’s available on many older (and more affordable) iPhones as well.
Cameras
The cameras are probably the most improved feature overall when comparing the older iPhones to the iPhone 13.
The bigger lens draws in up to 47% more light, providing much better low-light photography without going into night mode.
The next change is the option to change color temperatures and other details within the camera app. If you’d rather have something more subdued or more vibrant, you can switch between modes instantly.
Perhaps the most anticipated feature is the Cinematic mode, which allows you to feel like a movie magician. It automatically changes focal points as things happen with your video and allows you to adjust them after recording manually.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 13 easily beats the iPhone 12 with two whole extra hours of battery life, according to most reviewer’s tests.
That’s 10 hours and 33 minutes of live battery life at full brightness with constant web surfing.
Apple claims this is due to a larger battery, the A15 Bionic chip, and better screen regulation.
Wireless charging is available as well. But you won’t find a charger included in the box, as Apple has removed them to reduce waste.
Audio
With no real mention of audio quality from reviewers. Where the speakers are positioned on the iPhone 13, one can assume that nothing has changed there.
If you really want to enjoy your audio, headphones are recommended.
Specs at a Glance
- Aluminum and glass chassis
- 6.1-inch Super RetinaXDR display
- A15 Bionic processor
- 4GB of RAM
- iOS 15
- 128/256/512GB of storage
- 12MP front and rear camera
- 3095mAh battery
Bottom Line
While the gap between iPhones gets smaller in terms of improvements, Apple still pulls some strings and makes each version better.
The iPhone 13 base model is just that — the baseline experience in this year’s lineup. However, if you simply want the size of the Pro or Pro Max but none of the features (or extra cost), it’s an interesting value.
Tom’s Guide states, “The iPhone 13 improves on what was already the best iPhone for most people by introducing a bunch of welcome enhancements. I especially like the longer battery life, as the iPhone 12’s endurance was underwhelming even for a 5G phone. I wouldn’t recommend that iPhone 12 owners upgrade to the new iPhone, but the iPhone 13 is worth it if you own an iPhone 11 or older device.”
Tech Radar says, “If you own an iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 likely isn’t for you, as there’s not enough that’s new here to merit the upgrade – but if you own an older iPhone, such as an iPhone 8 or iPhone XR, there’s plenty to be excited about.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Apple iPhone 13 released?
The Apple iPhone 13 was released on September 24, 2021.
How long does the battery last on the Apple iPhone 13?
The Apple iPhone 13 has a 3,095 mAh battery.
Is the Apple iPhone 13 water resistant?
The Apple iPhone 13 carries an IP68 rating.
Note: water resistance degrades over time and manufacturer warranties typically don't cover liquid damage.
Does the Apple iPhone 13 support wireless charging?
Yes, the Apple iPhone 13 supports wireless charging.
Does the Apple iPhone 13 have a headphone jack?
No, the Apple iPhone 13 does not have a headphone jack. You'll need wireless headphones or a USB-C adapter.
Does the Apple iPhone 13 support 5G?
Yes, the Apple iPhone 13 supports 5G connectivity.
Does the Apple iPhone 13 have NFC?
Yes, the Apple iPhone 13 has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Questions & answers
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