The iPhone 13 doesn’t add many new features to the iPhone 12. Still, it does improve on the iPhone 12 in key categories — most notably battery life, power, display, and cameras – to make it one of Apple’s most stunning all-around devices.
On the surface, it’s difficult to see why Apple didn’t label this phone the iPhone 12S. The design remains virtually unchanged, the specifications aren’t much different, and there aren’t many noteworthy new features.
However, everything about the iPhone 13 is a little better than before, and some components are noticeably improved.
The iPhone 13’s battery life is its defining feature. Previously, iPhones were not known for their long battery life, but we were unable to run the iPhone 13 out of power on any of the days we tested it.
Apple has finally mastered it when it comes to battery life, and it’s now significantly superior to previous iPhone models.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 13’s new A15 Bionic engine is tremendously powerful, and when combined with 4GB of RAM, it’s capable of rapidly and efficiently executing several apps and tasks.
Design
If you have an iPhone 12, you won’t notice much of a change between it and the iPhone 13. You will notice certain variations if you have an older iPhone or an Android device.
The latest iPhone has a flat-edge design, which was first seen on the iPhone 12 series. That means the phone’s shape is a little more angular than previous models’ rounded finishes, but it’s still easy to use one-handed.
The phone’s front and back panels are both made of glass, but only the front panel features Apple’s trademarked Ceramic Shield technology, which was first debuted on the iPhone 12 last year. Apple claims that this glass is four times as resistant to drops as prior iPhone glass, although we wouldn’t recommend putting this claim to the test.
Display
The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch display with a 2532 x 1170 pixels resolution. The display is an Apple Super Retina XDR OLED, which produces a clean and brilliant image — the brightness has been improved on the iPhone 13, and it can compete with rival smartphones in direct sunlight.
That resolution translates to 460 pixels per inch, which isn’t the finest we’ve seen on the market but is plenty for regular use – we never felt the need for a higher resolution, even when viewing videos or playing games.
Narrow bezels surround the handset’s screen, and the notch at the top takes up a portion of the display. Yes, the iPhone 13 has a notch, but it’s 20% smaller than the one on the iPhone 12, giving you a little extra screen real estate.
Camera
The iPhone 13 camera configuration doesn’t look all that different from the one on last year’s model based on the headline specs, but there are some significant improvements here, including changes to the camera‘s hardware as well as a slew of software modifications.
On the back, there are two cameras: a 12MP wide-angle camera with an f/1.6 aperture and a 12MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. Because there is no telephoto lens and you must rely on digital zoom, this phone isn’t ideal for long-distance photography.
This is a terrific and varied experience when not shooting at a distance. The main camera has 1.7 million pixels (up from 1.4 million on the iPhone 12), which considerably increases image quality.
You’ll also get Apple’s Sensor-Shift OIS technology, which debuted in the iPhone 12 Pro Max last year and provides the finest image stabilization we’ve seen on an iPhone, allowing you to shoot sharp images even when the phone isn’t absolutely still.
Specifications and results
Apple’s iPhone 13 series includes the company’s new A15 Bionic chipset, which is the company’s next attempt to create the world’s most powerful smartphone chipset. Apple claims that its CPU is 50% quicker and its GPU is 30% faster than the competitors.
Whatever the veracity of such claims, Apple’s new phone is certainly powerful, and while everyday performance won’t differ significantly from that of the iPhone 12 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, it will be a significant upgrade for those with an iPhone 8 or lower.
During our testing, we discovered that the iPhone 13 could start apps in a matter of seconds and could easily switch between apps with only a short wait for each to load.
Gaming on the phone was also a breeze, with titles loading as swiftly as we’ve seen on other Apple devices like the iPad Pro (one of the company’s most powerful gadgets in 2021). On the OLED panel, the games looked amazing, with the GPU performance improvements standing out.
Software
The iPhone 13 ships with iOS 15 preinstalled, allowing you to make use of all of Apple’s latest software innovations.
The updates for 2021 aren’t as significant as the big revamp we saw with iOS 14, but the new features are intriguing, including a new Focus mode that can be accessed via a dropdown menu.
When you tap the Focus label, you’ll have quick access to the Do Not Disturb mode and options for when you’re at work or ready to sleep. You might want to turn off your Twitter notifications when you’re at your desk. This will make it possible for you to do so.
Other new features are small, but it’s a wonderful improvement from what we’ve already seen.
Life of the battery
Apple’s phones have never been known for their long battery life, and while the iPhone 13 doesn’t have the best battery life we’ve ever seen in a smartphone, it is a significant upgrade over previous models.
Although we haven’t confirmed whether Apple has increased the size of the cells within the iPhone 13, the increased battery life suggests that it has. Apple was rumored to be expanding the size of the batteries in all models ahead of the iPhone 13 debut.
According to Apple’s calculations, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max are expected to have the best battery life in the series. In comparison to the iPhone 12 and previous models, we found the battery life to be much enhanced.
The iPhone 13 got through every day with enough battery life to last at least another couple of hours during our testing period.
Is the iPhone 13 a good buy?
If you want to buy it, you should.
You have an old iPhone.
If you have an iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 is probably not for you because there isn’t enough new here to justify an upgrade – but if you have an older iPhone, like an iPhone 8 or iPhone XR, there’s plenty to be thrilled about.
You will require a long-lasting battery.
The iPhone 13’s battery life is a significant improvement over prior iPhone models. Choose this iPhone over previous and less expensive versions if you require a smartphone that can last a whole day on a single charge.
You desire a great deal of power.
The iPhone 13 is a capable smartphone and one of the best we’ve ever used. If you require a lot of power, you can get it without upgrading to the iPhone 13 Pro.
If you don’t want to buy it, don’t.
You have a 12-inch iPhone.
If you already have an iPhone 12, it’s doubtful that you’ll need the latest model’s enhancements. If you’re desperate for the latest handset, go for it; nonetheless, updates are few and far between here.
You want a phone with a small screen.
The iPhone 13 mini shares many of the same specifications as the iPhone 13, and it’s likely to be the best pick if you have smaller hands or simply prefer a smaller smartphone.
You’re looking for a low-cost phone.
The iPhone 13 is one of the most cost-effective models in this year’s lineup, but it isn’t inexpensive in the big scheme of things. Many more affordable Android phones are available, or if you want to continue with Apple, the iPhone SE is a good option.
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