Exploring the Different iPhone 13 Models

In 2021, Apple sold approximately 242 million iPhones. These sales don't consist of just one model of iPhone. There are several different iPhones to choose from, all varying in price and specifications.

If you’re wanting to join the Apple ecosystem, choosing between the different iPhone models can be tough. There are currently quite a few to opt for. You can opt for the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and the latest iPhone 13 lineup.

Making it tougher is the fact that there are different iPhone 13 models within the lineup, from standard iPhones to iPhone Pros.

When it comes to the iPhone, choosing the right one for you can be a bit of a challenge. Keep reading to learn all about the different iPhone 13 models, and how to pick the right one for you.

The iPhone 13

September is Apple Month. Perhaps not to everyone, but to most who love the brand. It’s the month that Apple announces its range of best-selling products, from new Macs to iPads and even new accessories. 

Every September, one product steals the spotlight: the iPhone.

In 2021, Apple announced the new iPhone 13 lineup. As with most iPhone announcements in recent years, Apple ensured there were a few variations of the iPhone 13 to choose from. 

How many iPhone 13 models are there?

Don’t worry, unlike other smartphone brands, there are only four iPhone 13 models on the market: the iPhone 13 Mini, the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. 

Each iPhone 13 model runs the latest software – now iOS 15.5 – and comes in an array of colors. The 2021 iPhone models also sport the hyper-advanced A15 Bionic chip, better batteries, and upgraded cameras.

Apple has also adjusted the storage in these phones so users can take advantage of the great camera features. The base storage of the range is now 128GB, instead of 64GB. And customers can buy the higher-end models with 1TB of storage – the first iPhone to ever offer this much onboard storage.

The iPhone 13 also received a slight design refresh. Each iPhone 13 now has a smaller notch. It’s only about 20% smaller than the previous models.

And the cameras now sit in different positions for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. The powerful new lenses now sit diagonally from each other, instead of one atop the other as seen with the older iPhones.

These updates to the iPhone also don’t jump in price much. The iPhone 13 lineup is only slightly more expensive than the iPhone 12 models.

Comparing the Different iPhone 13 Models

Those looking to buy a new iPhone are always faced with the conundrum: Which iPhone does one buy? The choice can be tough, especially considering that each model is great for what it is. Each one has a place on the market. 

Apple did away with the rounded edge iPhone with the release of the iPhone 12, which has flat sides and squared edges. This major shift in design hasn’t been seen since the iPhone 5s and the first-generation iPhone SE.

The iPhone 13 lineup still boasts this new design, with these new phones looking very similar to their predecessors. But the previously mentioned smaller notch and camera layout lets the world know you’re holding an iPhone 13 in your hand.

This sharp-edged design is also filtering through most of Apple’s product lineup. The new M1 iPad Pros, iPad Air, and the small, but mighty iPad Mini 6, all sport this flat, sharp-edged design. The majority of MacBooks now also have this refreshed look, including a notch, apart from the recently announced M2 13-inch MacBook Pro. 

Each iPhone 13 also comes with an OLED display, a major upgrade from the previous generations, where only the high-end iPhones had this. They also come with 5G connectivity.

Unfortunately, this refreshed iPhone still comes with a lightning port, despite the call for a USB-C charging port.

Despite all these similarities between the iPhone 13 models, there are some major differences to consider. When choosing which iPhone is best suited to you, it’s always best to compare them.

iPhone 13 Mini

In this corner, weighing in at a whopping 4.97 ounces, the smallest phone in Apple’s iPhone 13 lineup - the iPhone 13 Mini. 

While it may be small, the Mini shouldn’t be overlooked. With its squared edges and flat sides, it does give off iPhone 5s and iPhone SE vibes – both very popular iPhone models. But, with its stunning array of cameras and powerful A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13 Mini is a phone to seriously consider.

When we say this phone is small, we really do mean it. It’s only 5.18 inches tall and has a width of 2.53 inches. It’s also super thin, with a depth of 0.3 inches. The iPhone 13 also sports a small, 5.4-inch screen. 

While it may be small, the screen is stunning. The iPhone 13 Mini has an HDR OLED Super Retina XDR display that can reach up to 800 nits of brightness. OLED displays have become the standard for most smartphones, as they offer true deep blacks, and pure, bright whites.

Thanks to this stunning display, the iPhone 13 Mini has True Tone, which is easy on the eyes. It also has a wide color (P3), which means the screen can show a wide range of colors, so you’ll never have a dull, washed-out moment again.

What About Battery Life?

So, the iPhone 13 Mini has a stunning display and can fit into the palm of your hand. But what about the battery life? Understandably, most people would be skeptical about picking up a small phone, thinking it to have a tiny battery.

While it may have a small battery to fit into its small form factor, the iPhone 13 Mini’s battery life is impressive.

The iPhone 13 Mini lasts up to 17 hours of video playback and up to 55 hours of audio playback. Overall, the 13 Mini lasts up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Mini. This is all thanks to the super-efficient A15 bionic chip and the bigger batteries in the iPhone 13 lineup. 

The Cameras

As with all iPhones these days, their cameras are a major selling point. While the iPhone 13 Mini is small, its cameras are super impressive.

The 13 Mini sports a dual 12MP camera system, made up of Wide and Ultra Wide cameras. The latter has a 120-degree field of view and an f/2.4 aperture. The Wide lens has an aperture of f/1.6. Thanks to these upgrades, nighttime photography has also improved dramatically. 

These cameras also record great videos. Thanks to this advanced camera system, and the bionic chip, the iPhone 13 Mini can record videos in 4K at 60 fps. It also records these high-res videos in Dolby Vision HDR.

Another feature that has come with the iPhone is Cinematic Mode. In their keynote, Apple displayed this feature brilliantly. It’s essentially a video mode that automatically shifts focus from one subject to the next – seamlessly.

With this mode, your home videos will look like they were shot by a professional. The only downside of this mode is that it only records video in 1080p at 30 fps.  

The front camera also gets a slight bump. While it has a 12MP TrueDepth Camera like the iPhone 12 Mini, it does offer a few more features. For example, it now takes photos in Smart HDR 4 instead of Smart HDR 3.

Thanks to the upgraded chip and software, you can also take full advantage of Photographic Styles. This allows you to customize how your camera takes photos.

Usually, Apple saves some of these high-end features for the higher-end iPhones. But when it comes to the iPhone 13 Mini, you’re not missing out on much. 

Who Is the iPhone 13 Mini For?

In a world where phones seemingly keep getting bigger, why would you want such a small phone? Who could this tiny iPhone possibly be for?

Well, the vague answer is that it’s for anyone who likes small phones. Or perhaps it’s the perfect first phone for children. And with Apple’s new Parental Controls in iOS 15, the iPhone 13 Mini does make the perfect phone for your kids.

But despite its small, toy-like size, the iPhone 13 Mini is a tiny powerhouse. Thanks to all of its high-end features, it’s a phone for the professional, working person. It has base storage of 128 GB, high-end cameras all around, and a strikingly bright screen. 

It’s also the most affordable iPhone in the line-up, making it a great buy for people on a budget.

The iPhone 13 Mini is the perfect, compact phone that won’t let you down.

iPhone 13

Our next contender is the iPhone 13. It is essentially the bigger version of the iPhone 13 Mini, but there are a few differences to consider. The most obvious is that the iPhone 13 is much bigger than the Mini.

It has a height of 5.78 inches, and a width of 2.83 inches. Luckily, the iPhone 13 is just as thin as its Mini sibling, with a depth of 0.30 inches.  It’s also quite a bit heavier than the Mini, weighing 6.14 ounces.

While it may not sit in the palm of your hand like the Mini, the squared edges and flat sides of the iPhone 13 design make it easy to hold. 

The iPhone 13 also sports a 6.1-inch HDR OLED Super Retina XDR display. Like the Mini, this display reaches 800 nits of brightness, and it has haptic touch and True Tone. With the bigger size, you can better appreciate this amazing iPhone display.

One of the most interesting things about the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Mini is that they share internal specs. While the whole range of iPhone 13s has the A15 Bionic chip, there are some major spec differences that you need to consider when comparing these phones.

The non-pro iPhone 13s both get major upgrades from their predecessors, with Apple’s new CPUs. The iPhone 13 and 13 Mini both have the new 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores. They also have Apple’s new 4-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. 

This is why these phones feel so snappy and fast when swiping through apps.

Bigger Phone, Bigger Battery?

Another big difference between the iPhone 13 and the Mini is the battery. With the standard iPhone being bigger, it can hold a bigger battery and have better battery life than its competition.

The iPhone 13 has a 3,227 mAh battery. This is not only much bigger than the Mini’s battery, but it’s also bigger than the iPhone 12, which has a 2,815 mAh battery.

With this increased capacity, the iPhone 13 has some pretty impressive battery life. It lasts up to 19 hours with video playback (15 hours of streaming) and up to 75 hours of audio playback.

The Cameras

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini share the same cameras. On this bigger phone, you’ll also get two incredible 12MP lenses, an Ultra Wide and a Wide. As mentioned, the Wide lens has an aperture of f/1.6, with the Ultra Wide having an f/2.4 aperture.

While they have no telephoto lens, these cameras still have an impressive zoom. The iPhone 13 has a 2x optical zoom and a 5x digital zoom.  

The cameras on the iPhone 13 are an upgrade from previous models and are great for low-light photography. Thanks to the aperture of the Ultra Wide Lens, it offers incredible low-light performance. The Wide lens also lets in a whopping 47% more light. 

But this doesn’t only allow for better nighttime photography. Thanks to these lenses letting in more light, you’ll find your photos will be much sharper. If you’re a lover of photography on a budget, you can still take some amazing photos with the iPhone 13. 

With the iPhone 13, you can also take advantage of some of iPhones best photographic features. From Portrait Mode to Photographic styles, you know that your photos will always look fantastic.

Of course, the iPhone 13 also records amazing videos. Like the Mini, the 13 can record videos in HDR with Dolby Vision at 4K 60 fps. You can also take advantage of Cinematic Mode.

The iPhone 13’s front camera is quite impressive. It has a 12 MP True Depth lens with an aperture of f/2.2. It shares many of the same features as the rear cameras, including Night Mode, Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Dolby Vision HDR video recording.

Who Is the iPhone 13 For?

With the separation of iPhone models, plenty of people wonder which might suit them best. The iPhone 13 is the perfect phone for absolutely everyone. While it may be missing some features from the Pro models, it’s still a major upgrade from previous generations. 

And with impressive performance, the new OLED XDR display, and great camera systems, this wallet-friendly iPhone definitely doesn’t feel like a budget option at all.

iPhone 13 Pro

While it is nearly identical to the iPhone 12 Pro, there are a few differences that could persuade you to choose the newest Pro. 

Like the rest of the line-up, the iPhone 13 Pro has flat sides and squared edges. But, unlike the standard models, the Pro has a stunning stainless-steel body and a frosted glass back. The 13 and 13 Mini are aluminum, and the glass back is shiny.

Like the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR Display. But the biggest difference between these models is the ProMotion that is available on the Pro iPhones.

ProMotion technology is Apple’s answer to higher refresh rates on their high-end iPhones. It allows for an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. 

What About the Battery?

With the Pro name, Pro features, and higher price tag, you’d expect a Pro battery life. Luckily, as with these phones in general, they deliver. 

The iPhone 13 Pro has a 3,095 mAh battery that allows it to have incredible battery life. This iPhone supports up to 22 hours of video playback, 20 hours of streaming video playback, and 75 hours of audio playback. Overall, the 13 Pro lasts an hour and a half longer than the iPhone 12 Pro.

Pro Phone = Pro Cameras

The cameras of the Pro iPhone are of course the main draw. These phones sport three 12 MP lenses instead of two, situated in a type of triangle. Many have likened the design to a stove plate.

You’ve got your standard Ultra-Wide and Wide lenses, but alongside them is the Telephoto lens. The Ultra Wide and Wide lenses aren’t exactly the same as the iPhone 13 and Mini either.

The Ultra Wide has an aperture of f/1.8, with the Wide having an aperture of f/2.8. The Telephoto lens has an aperture of f/2.8. 

Thanks to these cameras, the iPhone Pro is the perfect photographic companion. You can shoot in Apple ProRaw – which essentially has DSLR-level photographic capabilities.

You can also take Night Mode Portraits with the Pro iPhone thanks to these cameras that let in plenty of light. 

Thanks to the telephoto lens, you can also dabble in macro photography, as it has a 6x optical zoom.

In addition to filming in Cinematic Mode, you can record videos on ProRes. This allows you to film videos in 4K at 30 fps. For the 128 GB iPhone Pros, this is limited to filming in 1080p at 30 fps.

The front camera is essentially the same as the standard iPhone's. But you can also film in ProRes on the iPhone Pro.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Weighing 8.46 ounces, it’s the heaviest phone in the lineup. Compared to the Pro, which weighs 7.19 ounces, it’s pretty darn heavy.

It’s not only heavy but also the biggest phone in the lineup, earning its Max title. The Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR Display. While it’s just as thin as the rest of the lineup at 0.30 inches deep, it’s got a height of 6.33 inches and a width of 3.07 inches.

Bigger iPhone, Bigger Battery?

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has the best battery when compared to the rest of the lineup. It has a 4,352 mAh battery that allows it to last two and half hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

With this battery, the iPhone 13 Pro Max supports almost 30 hours of video playback, 25 hours of streaming video playback, and a whopping 95 hours of audio playback.

Both Pro iPhones support fast charging, with the ability to charge to 50% in half an hour when using a 20W power adapter.  But the Pro Max can be charged using a 30W power adapter. This allows it to charge up even faster.

The Cameras

The iPhone Pro Max’s cameras are the same as the normal iPhone Pro. For a quick recap, the three 12MP camera system is comprised of:

• • Telephoto Lens with an aperture of f/2.8
• • Wide Lens with an aperture of f/1.5
• • Ultra Wide Lens with an aperture of/1.8

These lenses support a 6x optical and digital zoom of up to 15x. 

Some Pro Camera features include:

• • ProRes video recording
• • Apple ProRAW photo format
• • Night Mode Portraits

What About the Colors?

The iPhone 13 lineup comes with a host of new features and upgrades. And of course, it wouldn’t be an iPhone if it weren’t for the stunning colors. 

The iPhone 13 and 13 Mini come in several new colors:

• • Green – the newest ‘special’ edition
• • Pink
• • Blue
• • PRODUCT Red
• • Starlight
• • Midnight

The Pro iPhones, of course, come in different colors to help them stand out: 

• • Alpine Green – the newest ‘special’ edition
• • Silver
• • Gold
• • Graphite
• • Sierra Blue

Best iPhone 13 Model

Because there are different iPhone 13 models to choose from, many debate about which iPhone is the best.

On paper, the best iPhone 13 model is the iPhone 13 Pro Max. But it’s not necessarily the right phone for everyone. It’s big and heavy and comes with a hefty price tag.

And thanks to the incredible upgrades of the standard iPhones, the new iPhone 13 and 13 Mini are great phones in their own right. Sure, they may be missing a few “pro” features, like the 120Hz refresh rate and the telephoto lens, but they’re still very capable phones.

At the end of the day, the best iPhone 13 model is the iPhone that suits you the best. 

When you choose an iPhone 13, it’s always best to protect it. Check out our range of covers for the entire iPhone 13 lineup. Whatever iPhone 13 you choose, we’ve got your back.