iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12: Comparisons & Which You Should Buy?

Apple's 2020 iPhone 12 is still a great phone, but does the 2021 iPhone 13 have it beat? Here's how the iPhones compare iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12.

Apple's new iPhone 13 line is filled with upgrades across the lineup, consisting of the iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max The new phones show off a new camera system, a tweaked design with a smaller notch, longer battery life and a variety of colors. And the entire iPhone 13 line starts with 128GB of storage, meaning that the phone will likely have plenty of space for your photos, apps, music and so on for the price of $729 (£679, AU$1,199) for the Mini and $829 (£779, AU$1,349) for the base iPhone 13. Although if you did want to step up, you can now get an iPhone 13 Pro with as much as 1TB of storage.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini aren't going anywhere. Both phones' prices dropped, so they now start at $599 for the 64GB iPhone 12 Mini and $699 for the 64GB iPhone 12. If you can make do with less storage space, the iPhone 12 models are still great phones that run plenty fast, support 5G and are powered by Apple's A14 Bionic chip. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, however, have been discontinued to make room for the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max.

Let's go over a few key differences between the 13 line and the 12 line, to help determine whether you might want to spring for a 2021 iPhone or stick to a 2020 iPhone.

iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12: Comparisons, Which should you buy in 2021?

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The new iPhones have landed. But Apple cannily keeps earlier iPhones in its range as well. So, you could choose the iPhone SE, iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 as well as the all-new 13 range. So, what are the key differences between last year’s iPhone 12 and the new iPhone 13?

iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12 the Price

At first look, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini's starting prices are a full $100 cheaper than the corresponding iPhone 13 models, but that's before you take storage space into consideration. Both iPhone 12 models start at 64GB, which several years ago used to be plenty of room. Now with apps getting larger and cameras taking even more detailed photos along with video, you could run up against that storage limit over the course of your time with the phone. The iPhone 13 starts at 128GB, so if you compare that with a 128GB iPhone 12, now you're looking at only a $50 price difference.

Actually, the story is more complicated than last year. The iPhone 11 was replaced by two phones, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. To many people’s surprise, both models are still in the current range. So, here’s the price of admission to a Face ID iPhone right now.

$499 buys you the iPhone 11: frankly, this phone is a steal at the price.

$599 will snag you Apple’s first mini iPhone, the iPhone 12 mini. It’s a great phone, a spectacular fit for smaller hands, with 5G, the A14 Bionic processor and two cameras. But, be warned, battery life was the disappointment in this handset so it’ll only just get you through a day.

$699: if you have this amount to spend, you intriguingly get two different phones to choose from. There’s the iPhone 12 and the new iPhone 13 mini. It’s a tricky choice. If you like a small phone, the iPhone 13 mini is a brilliant choice. It overcomes the issues of the iPhone 12 mini because the battery life is significantly improved. And there’s the new A15 Bionic processor which is faster and more capable than the A14 Bionic. Plus, there’s a great uptick in camera capabilities and a smaller notch on the iPhone 13 mini. If you like small phones, let’s be clear, this is the phone for you. It’s the most powerful compact from any manufacturer, by a country mile.

But the same cash also buys you the iPhone 12. If the appeal of a 6.1-inch display wins out over 5.4-inch, then this is the one for you. You don’t get the latest processor or the biggest snappers, but the iPhone 12 is a strong choice. Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini have a similar design and the same ground-breaking Ceramic Shield protecting the front of the phone plus, of course, 5G connectivity.

$799 That’s the price for the iPhone 13. That’s Apple’s latest regular-size iPhone, with the same cameras and processor as the iPhone 13 mini but that much more real estate. So, here are the key differences between the phones.

For that $50 difference, you do get a lot for your money by going with the iPhone 13, which we will go over in later sections. But if all you want is a 5G iPhone and you're unlikely to install a ton of apps on it, the iPhone 12 is indeed cheaper while still having most of same features as the iPhone 13 Pro max cases.

Battery life: iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12

While we're still conducting battery tests on the iPhone 13 line, initial stats provided by Apple are quite promising. The iPhone 13 is estimated to run for 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 13 Mini is estimated to run 1.5 hours longer than the 12 Mini. In the bananas phone case editor Patrick Holland's iPhone 13 and 13 Mini review, he notes that both phones easily make it through a day on a single charge. This was particularly notable since his personal iPhone 12 Mini usually requires a 3 p.m. recharge to make it through the day.

Normally, I’d put this at the end, but it’s become a big thing with iPhones in recent years. The iPhone 11 battery was unbelievable, lasting a full day and more with ease. So, when the iPhone 12 merely matched this, and the 12 mini fell below it, it was kind of a disappointment.

However, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini show that Apple is paying attention to the basics, putting increased battery life to the fore. Both phones last easily long enough, however hard you push them. For this reason alone, I’d say the iPhone 13 or 13 mini should be the iPhone you choose.

iPhone 12:

• Video playback: Up to 17 hours
• Video playback (streamed): Up to 11 hours
• Audio playback: Up to 65 hours

iPhone 13:

• Video playback: Up to 19 hours
• Video playback (streamed): Up to 15 hours
• Audio playback: Up to 75 hours

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are both fast-charge capable and can add up to 50% charge in 30 minutes.

iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12: A15 Bionic vs. A14 Bionic

For most tasks, the A14 Bionic and A15 Bionic chips will both likely breezily handle your FaceTime calls, texts, apps, games and streaming videos with little discernible difference. However, the iPhone 13's A15 Bionic may already be designed to be compatible with new devices and software in the works by Apple. Recent reports suggest that Apple could be working on an augmented reality and VR headset that could use the iPhone 13 and future iPhone models as a host device.

Currently, the iPhone 13's chip does power the Cinematic video recording mode on the 2021 phones. In this mode the phone can automatically focus on subjects as they enter the frame while unfocusing on others, giving your videos a movielike look. These videos can also be edited after the fact should you want more control over who is in focus.

Performance

Actually, this is less of a difference than you’d think. Apple puts the performance capabilities into the new features. On the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12, chip performance exactly matches the needs of the phone so all of these phones are fast, fierce, powerful performers.

Design

Personally, I loved the iPhone 11 design, but there’s no denying the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series, which share the same overall design is more striking and elegant. Plus, that smaller notch on the iPhone 13 and 13 mini make a neat difference.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are very similar in terms of design. Both devices feature flat edges similar to the iPad Pro with a nearly edge-to-edge display and support for Face ID. On the back, you’ll find a glossy finish in the color of your choosing.

Speaking of Face ID, the notch cutout that houses the Face ID sensors is slightly smaller on the iPhone 13 than on the iPhone 12. Apple says that the iPhone 13 notch is around 20% smaller in width, but also slightly taller in terms of height. In real-world use, this is a very minor change and Apple hasn’t made any changes to the iOS experience to take advantage of the slight increase in usable screen space.

Even the colors are better this year, with Starlight my favorite iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini shade (though the pink is pretty gorgeous).

The iPhone 13 is slightly thicker and heavier than the iPhone 12 to accommodate a larger battery (more on that later).

iPhone 12 dimensions:

• Height: 5.78 inches (146.7 mm)
• Width: 2.82 inches (71.5 mm)
• Depth: 0.29 inch (7.4 mm)
• Weight: 5.78 ounces (164 grams)

iPhone 13 dimensions:

• Height: 5.78 inches (146.7 mm)
• Width: 2.82 inches (71.5 mm)
• Depth: 0.30 inch (7.65 mm)
• Weight: 6.14 ounces (174 grams)

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are made from what Apple calls “aero-grade aluminum” and feature a Ceramic Shield front to protect the display. The phones are both water resistant to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12: 5G

There’s no denying the importance of the fastest connection yet on an iPhone and all but the iPhone 11 have it.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12: Verdict

You expect phones to improve from one generation to the next, but the differences in our iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12 comparison are quite stark. The better storage options, faster processor and camera improvements would be enough to make this a significant upgrade. Throw in improved battery life and — in the case of the iPhone 13 Pro models — fast-refreshing displays, and this is a big step up from last year.

If your budget can stretch to the iPhone 13, then the benefits are definitely worth it. The iPhone 13 mini is easily the best compact phone around but, unless you crave lots of real estate, it’s also a highly capable handset of any size. And it’s $100 less than the iPhone 13. That said, all these phones are powerful, great-looking twin-camera devices with lots going for them.

iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13: Display

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 both feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display that uses OLED technology with a resolution of 2532 x 1770. This equates to 460 pixels per inch. One upgrade with the iPhone 13, however, is that max brightness of the display 800 nits, up from the 625 nits of the iPhone 12. The actual max brightness of the displays is the same at 1200 nits, thanks to universal support for HDR.

Note that unlike the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, neither the iPhone 12 nor the iPhone 13 feature a ProMotion display. Instead, you’ll get a 60Hz refresh rate.

Other display features on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro include:

• 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
• True Tone display
• Wide color gamut (P3)
• Haptic Touch
• HDR display

Cameras: iPhone 13 Vs iPhone 12

There is no more important feature after battery life than a phone’s camera, I’d say. It’s the snapper you always have with you in your pocket or bag, the one that takes nearly all your photos, no matter how much you love your DSLR. And the iPhone 13 cameras are sensational. Actually, the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 cameras were brilliant, too, but the addition of the breathtaking Cinematic mode for video, photographic styles for stills and improved quality photographs in low light make the iPhone 13/iPhone 13 mini cameras worth having.

The camera specs of the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 12 are identical. Both phones include 12-megapixel sensors on the front and the back cameras. But that doesn't tell the whole story about the photo processing differences between the phones. 

On the iPhone 13, the new camera layout gives the wide-angle camera a larger sensor with sensor-based stabilization. The new diagonal layout of the iPhone 13's cameras allows for that larger sensor, while the ultrawide camera's new sensor helps it gather more light. On the software side, the iPhone 13 also includes Photographic Styles, which allow you to customize the way your camera develops your photos. These styles are not like Instagram filters, as they analyze the subject of your photo and apply the selected style as needed.

Here are the full specifications of the features that are shared between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13:

• Dual 12MP camera system: Ultra Wide and Wide cameras
• Ultra Wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view
• Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture
• 2x optical zoom out
• Digital zoom up to 5x
• Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control
• Portrait Lighting with six effects (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High‑Key Mono)
• Five‑element lens (Ultra Wide); seven‑element lens (Wide)
• Brighter True Tone flash with Slow Sync
• Panorama (up to 63MP)
• Sapphire crystal lens cover
• 100% Focus Pixels (Wide)
• Night mode (Ultra Wide, Wide)
• Deep Fusion (Ultra Wide, Wide)
• Smart HDR 3 with Scene Detection
• Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos
• Lens correction (Ultra Wide)
• Advanced red‑eye correction
• Auto image stabilization
• Burst mode
• Photo geotagging
• Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG
• 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
• 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps

The iPhone 13 has multiple features that aren’t available on the iPhone 12:

• HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
• Limited to 30 fps on the iPhon e12
• Sensor-shift optical image stabilization
• Photographic Styles for personalizing the look of your images
• Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field

iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13 features

	iPhone 12	iPhone 13
Display	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
ProMotion Display
Finish	Aluminum	Aluminum
Processor	A14 Bionic	A15 Bionic
RAM	4GB	4GB
CPU cores	6 cores	6 cores
GPU cores	4 core	5 core
Durability	IP68	IP68
Battery life	Up to 17 hours video	Up to 19 hours video
Camera	Dual-lens 12MP	Dual-lens 12MP
Optical zoom range	2x	2x
Video	Dolby Vision HDR up to 4K at 30 fps	Dolby Vision HDR up to 4K at 60 fps
Optical Image Stabilization
Photographic Styles
Cinematic mode
Dual eSIM support
5G
Weight	5.78 ounces (164 grams)	6.14 ounces (174 grams)
Storage	64GB, 128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Pricing	From $699	From $799

One More Thing

The iPhone 13 is officially here, and while the early reviews are very positive, there are some reasons you might want to buy an iPhone 12 — or stick with an existing iPhone instead of upgrading. Head below as we detail the differences and similarities between the iPhone 12 vs. the iPhone 13.

In this comparison, we focus specifically on the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 vs the 6.1-inch iPhone 13. There are many similarities between the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but there are also some key differences. Stay tuned to 9to5Mac over the coming days and weeks for additional comparisons between Apple’s iPhone lineup as it stands today.

This is your weekly pet photo treat. The excuse is to show off smartphone photography, though it’s just as much a moment of triumph if I’ve managed to encourage my dog to sit still long enough.