iPhone 13 series: Which new iPhone should you buy?

This year Apple isn’t making it easy for you to choose one of the four new iPhone 13 models: Should you choose the small 5.4in iPhone 13 mini? Or would you rather use a 6.1in iPhone – in which case do you pick the iPhone 13 or the iPhone 13 Pro? Or is the iPhone 13 Pro Max perhaps the right choice? In this article, we will tell you what you should pay attention to while making your decision about which device suits you best.

Before we look at the differences between the four models, let’s first take a look at some of the most important features that all four devices have in common.

For more information about the new iPhones read: Complete guide to iPhone 13.

Similarities: iPhone 13, mini, Pro and Pro Max

• 20% narrower notch
• A15 Bionic Chip
• Super Retina XDR display
• 5G
• Wide angle and ultra wide angle camera
• Cinematic mode
• HDR video recordings with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
• Improved Night mode
• Improved battery life
• Face ID
• Ceramic Shield on the front
• Water protected up to a depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes
• MagSafe

Price and Colour

If you have set a certain budget limit or know from the outset which colour you want and the technical frills do not interest you at all, the decision will certainly be easier for you. Let’s start with the price. The price varies depending on which model you choose and how much memory you need.

The advantage is Apple now delivers all models with 128GB as standard. This should be sufficient for most users. In addition there is also the possibility to increase the memory to 256GB or 512GB. The Pro models even come with 1TB of memory, which in our opinion should only be interesting for a fairly small target group. 128GB of standard memory should be sufficient for most, in this case you pay:

• iPhone 13 mini, from £679/$699
• iPhone 13, from £779/$799
• iPhone 13 Pro, from £949/$999
• iPhone 13 Pro Max, from £1,049/$1,099

You can pre-order your iPhone from Apple from Friday 17 September, with delivery after 24 September. Here’s the link to Apple’s store: Phone 13 or 13 mini and iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max. We also advise you to take a look at: Where to buy the iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max and 13 Mini in the UK & US.

With iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13, you can choose five different colours:

• Pink
• Blue
• Midnight (black)
• Starlight (white)
• (PRODUCT)RED

With the Pro models, you can choose four different colours:

• Sierra Blue (new)
• Silver
• Gold
• Graphite (black)

Camera

For many users the camera plays an important role in the purchase decision. Here, too, you can make a decision quickly: Do you take a snapshot from time to time and do not attach too much importance to zoom or macro shots? Then the iPhone 13 mini or iPhone 13 will be completely sufficient. By the way, even the non-Pro models also support the new cinematic mode, where you can achieve great blur effects. Occasional photographers are on the safe side.

However, if you often use the iPhone camera and like to edit the photos or videos, it is worth buying a Pro model, because it offers:

• A brighter ultra-wide angle lens (ƒ/1.8 aperture)
• A brighter wide-angle lens (ƒ/1.5 aperture)
• 3x optical zoom
• 6x optical zoom
• Up to 15x digital zoom
• Night mode in Portraits
• Apple ProRAW
• ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30fps (1080p at 30fps for 128GB memory)

Display

The display could also provide you with a good reason to choose for or against a Pro model.

The screens of all iPhone 13 models are all eye-catchers thanks to Super Retina XDR. Compared to the previous models, the iPhone 13 and 13 mini are slightly brighter with a maximum brightness of 800 nits, but the Pro models trump this delivering 1,000 nits.

Much more important, however, is the new ProMotion feature, which you will only find on the Pro models. For years, we have been calling for such a feature and finally Apple has heard our prayers and provided the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max with a 120Hz display. This means that the content on the display is now displayed even smoother. The iPhone 13 and 13 mini have to do with the standard 60Hz. Believe me: Once you have used a 120Hz display you won’t want to go back to 60Hz.

Battery

As usual, Apple does not reveal how much capacity each battery has in the iPhone 13 devices. The company only reveals that the iPhone 13 mini and 13 Pro should each last 1.5 hours longer than their predecessors. And iPhone 13 and 13 Pro Max should run 2.5 hours longer.

This would give the Pro Max the best iPhone runtime there has been so far. And this despite the fact that the display brightness has increased, the processor is stronger and the devices offer faster 5G. However, the A15 chip, which has become even more energy efficient and the system regulates power consumption even better, is not entirely uninvolved. For example, the mobile phone automatically switches to LTE when 5G is not needed.

From my experience, I can say that the battery performance of the iPhone 12 mini was disappointing. Perhaps this was one factor affecting its popularity. It remains to be seen whether the 1.5 hours longer battery life is enough for the iPhone 13 mini to become a sales hit.

Judge for yourself whether you are a hardcore user and therefore need the longest possible battery life. If longevity is important then the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max are recommended.

Conclusion

Without having tested the devices, we can only make a recommendation based on the known specs. The 6.1in iPhone 13 and 13 Pro are probably the most attractive for most users, as they are neither too big nor too small. The storage capacity of 128GB should also be sufficient for the majority of users, so that you can safely choose the smallest amount of storage.

The only question is whether you want the new features, such as 120Hz display and the better camera. If they aren’t important to you then you can settle for the iPhone 13. If they have your attention then the Pro models are the way to go.

The price difference between iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro is around £170/$200, but if you value the new features, it is always worth the extra money.

Best Prices

iPhone 13 (RRP £749/$799)