The iPhone 13 vs iPhone 13 mini
On September 14, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 as the successors of the popular iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 feature a 20% smaller notch, the A15 Bionic chip, improved cameras, longer battery life, and other features. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 offer plenty of versatile features aiming at the mainstream consumer as Apple’s entry-level iPhone 13 offerings.
The iPhone 13 mini costs $699, while the iPhone 13 costs $799. The two phones share most features, but there are few differences between the devices aside from screen size. Our guide examines the differences between the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 13.
-Display and Design:
It’s all about refinement with the iPhone 13 series. Apart from a smaller notch and the fact that the two cameras on the back will no longer be in a vertical line but on a diagonal, there are no major design changes.
The screen size difference between the iPhone 13 mini and the regular iPhone 13 remains unchanged. The mini is 5.4 inches long, whereas the regular iPhone 13 is 6.1 inches long. The most extensive exclusion is the ProMotion technology from the older versions. While the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max can fulfill display refresh rates ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz, the iPhone 13 mini and regular iPhone 13 are limited to a 60Hz refresh rate.
Both displays’ brightness has been increased from 625 nits (iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12) to 800 nits, while the HDR brightness remains the same – 1200 nits on both the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13. The only difference between the two phones is the size of the display. So, if you go with the iPhone 13 mini, you won’t be sacrificing anything other than screen space.
-Cameras:
The majority of the improvements to the iPhone 13 and 13 mini revolve around photography and video. Apple improved both rear sensors in this model, and the ultrawide lens is more light than before. Unfortunately, many of the notable additions are dependent on A15 chipsets, which means that features like Cinematic Mode will not be available on older iPhones.
The faster image signal processor (ISP) on the chip, for example, means that nighttime photos will take less time.
Moreover, the company updated its HDR algorithm to better accommodate everyone in the scene. It also improved video quality, promising better dynamic range, details, and highlights. In addition, you can now record in Dolby Vision at up to 60 frames per second in 4K resolution.
Cinematic Mode, however, is the most intriguing new video feature (and arguably the most interesting of all the camera updates). The iPhone 13 can create a Portrait mode-like effect in your clips by using the A15 chip’s neural engine, keeping your selected subjects in focus while blurring out the rest of the scene. You can change the focal point of your camera by tapping on different parts of the viewfinder as you shoot, or you can let the iPhone decide for you by analyzing who and what is in the scene.
-Performance and features:
The A15 Bionic is the fastest CPU in any smartphone, performing graphics-intensive tasks up to 50% faster. The four core GPU provides up to 30% faster graphics, and a new 16 core neural engine is included. The chipset is manufactured using a 5 nm process, and Apple claims it contains nearly 15 billion transistors.
It’s not surprising; the performance difference with the A14 isn’t all that significant either – the A15 is only about 7% faster than the A14. This is another simple choice: the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 13 have the same internals, including the same performance A15 Bionic processor.
The memory configuration is also the same; the base storage has been increased from 64GB to 128GB, with the option of going up to 512GB. There is no official information about the RAM inside, but it’s safe to assume both phones have roughly the same amount.
-Battery and charging:
The battery life of the iPhone 12 series, especially the iPhone 12 mini, has been heavily criticized. Apple has responded by increasing the battery capacity in both the iPhone 13 mini and its larger versions.
Apple did not reveal exact battery capacity numbers during the official announcement. Still, the company stated that overall battery life had been improved in both the iPhone 13 mini and the regular iPhone 13 compared to the previous generation (1.5 hours and 2.5 hours longer, respectively).
The battery life on both phones is comparable, with the iPhone 13 having a slight advantage over the mini. The MagSafe technology is present on both phones, with stronger magnets and wireless charging, so there isn’t much difference. On the other hand, fast charging is still limited to 20W on the iPhone 13 mini and the regular iPhone 12.
