Apple iPhone 13 Review, Price, Design, Camera, Battery Life
iPhone 13: Everything on the iPhone 13 is just a bit better
The iPhone 13 isn't a game-changer for Apple's series of smartphones, but it is a significant iteration that offers better battery life, a better processor, and an upgraded camera setup than the iPhones that went before it. If you're looking for a fast and capable smartphone, and you don't need the extra features of the more expensive Pro models, this is a top choice.
Pros
- Fast, smooth performance
- Strong battery life
- Great design
- Powerful internals
- Great cameras
Cons
- No 120Hz screen
- Minimal design changes
- Cinematic mode capped at 1080p
iPhone 13 Review
The iPhone 13 doesn't bring with it a huge number of new features, but it does improve on the iPhone 12 in several areas—primarily battery life, power, performance, and cameras—to make it one of the most impressive handsets around we've seen from Apple.
On paper, you'd be hard-pressed to find a reason why Apple didn't call this phone the iPhone 12S. The design is largely the same, the specs don't look much different, and there aren't many that are grabbing new features.
However, everything is better than ever on the iPhone 13 - and some elements are much better.
The biggest highlight of the iPhone 13 is its battery life. Previously, iPhones haven't been synonymous with strong battery life, but during every day of our testing, we've been working hard to keep the iPhone 13 running out of juice.
Apple has finally broken it down when it comes to battery life, and it's now far better than previous iPhone iterations.
Meanwhile, the new A15 Bionic chipset of the iPhone 13 is incredibly powerful and paired with 4GB of RAM is capable of running multiple apps and tasks quickly and efficiently.
A new Duo camera for the iPhone 13 improves clarity in images, while the introduction of the company's sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) technology, previously only available on Apple's Pro Max handsets, is a big plus for those who don't know how to use them. The thing is those who want to shoot quickly. Without losing your subject in the haze.
Even the iPhone 13's screen is better than previous 'standard' iPhones, and that's a big deal if you're upgrading from an iPhone XS or older. The OLED technology here enables a brighter picture than ever before, and the picture quality is simply superb.
One disappointment, however, is that Apple hasn't included a 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 13, so you're not getting the same smooth experience as the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max.
As always, Apple's new iPhone will cost you the iPhone 13 starting at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349 - although this year you get 128GB of storage instead of the base-model iPhone 12's 64GB.
While at first glance the iPhone 13 might not seem like a huge leap forward for Apple, the improved battery life, performance, screen, and camera all make for a worthwhile upgrade for anyone coming from an older iPhone or looking to make a difference. Huh. Switch from Android.
Read our hands-on iPhone 13 mini-review
Read our hands-on iPhone 13 review
Read our hands-on iPhone 13 Pro review
Read our hands-on iPhone 13 Pro Max review
| iPhone 13 Specification | |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $799 |
| Storage | 128, 256, 512 GB |
| Screen size | 6.1 inches |
| Resolution/PPI | 2532 x 1170/460 |
| Adaptive refresh | No |
| Processor | A15 Bionic |
| Rear cameras | Dual 12MP (Wide, ultrawide) |
| Zoom | None / 5x digital |
| Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Colors | Red, Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink |
| Size | 5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches |
| Weight | 6.14 ounces |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
| Battery life | 15 hours |
iPhone 13 Price and release date
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick  | Apple iPhone 13 Mini | Apple iPhone 13 Mini (128GB, Pink) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription | Check On Amazon |
 | Apple iPhone 13 | Apple iPhone 13 (128GB, Pink) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription | Check On Amazon |
 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro | Apple iPhone 13 Pro (128GB, Sierra Blue) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription | Check On Amazon |
 | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB, Gold) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription | Check On Amazon |
The iPhone 13 series was announced on September 14 at the company's annual launch event, with pre-orders starting on September 17. The release date of the iPhone 13 was September 24, and it was possible to buy an all-new one, unlike the 2020 iPhone 12 series. Same day handset.
The iPhone 13 starts at $799 / £779 / AU$1,349, which is the same price as the iPhone 12 in the US and Australia, and a touch cheaper in the UK. The iPhone 12 was priced at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 at launch.
You'll get 128GB of storage for that price—Apple dropped its 64GB model this year, and not just prematurely. If you need more storage, the 256GB iPhone 13 costs $899 / £879 / AU$1,519, while the 512GB model costs $1,099 / £1,079 / AU$1,869.
If those prices are a bit of a stretch, the iPhone 13 Mini has similar features, but it's a negligible amount, starting at $699 / £679 / AU$1,199 while going the other direction you got the iPhone 13 Pro Is. and iPhone 13 Pro Max if you are looking for higher specs and in the case of the latter phone, a bigger screen.
iPhone 13 Design
If you own an iPhone 12, you are unlikely to notice a huge difference between that handset and the iPhone 13. If, however, you own an older iPhone, or an Android device, you're going to see some difference.
The new iPhone features a flat-edge design, which debuted with the iPhone 12 range. This means the design is a touch more angular than the rounded finish of previous iterations, but the phone is still comfortable to use one-handed.
The front and back of the handset are glass, but only the front panel has Apple's patented Ceramic Shield technology, which was introduced in last year's iPhone 12. Apple says it has four times the drop resistance of glass on older iPhones, but we still will. Do not recommend testing this claim.
We haven't given up on this handset yet, but it's comforting to know that the Ceramic Shield technology is there as a safety net - although we would have been more at ease if it were on the back of the phone as well.
On the subject of durability, the iPhone 13 series is IP68 dust and water-resistant, which means it can survive in six meters of water for up to 30 minutes. Don't expect this handset to be completely waterproof, but it will survive awkward drownings.
On the left edge of the phone are the silence switch, volume buttons, and SIM tray. The right edge just hosts the power button, so it's easy to find with your thumb or finger when you're trying to wake the handset.
On the bottom edge are the speakers and Lightning port connectors for charging and data transfer.
We found the iPhone 13 to be easier to use one-handed – it measures 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7mm – although if you want a one-handed device, or you have smaller hands, the iPhone 13 Mini is a better fit. could be an option.
The iPhone 13 weighs in at 164g compared to the iPhone 12 at 174g, but that's not something you'll see in everyday use, and it's almost ideal for this type of phone.
The back of the iPhone 13 is plain but looks refined, with the Apple logo taking center stage and the camera module at the top-left. One minor change this year is that the company has opted to arrange the main lens diagonally across the camera array, instead of vertically as on previous iPhones.
There are five color options for the iPhone 13: Blue, Midnight, Starlight (a cream color), Product Red, and Pink — the color you pictured during this review.
These shades are rather muted, and if you're not a fan of any of them, you might want to hang around and see if Apple introduces more colors at a later date—about six months after the company launched that phone. Introduced a purple iPhone 12. was launched.
If you have an iPhone 12, you should note that cases for that handset will not fit the new model.
iPhone 13 Display
The display on the iPhone 13 is 6.1 inches, with a resolution of 2532 x 1170. This is a Super Retina XDR OLED display made by Apple, and it produces a clear and bright image – brightness has been improved on the iPhone 13, and it can hold its own against other smartphones in direct sunlight.
That resolution equates to 460 pixels per inch, which isn't the best we've seen on the market, but perfectly suited for everyday use - we didn't find that we ever got to watch videos or play games. High resolution was not required.
There are thin bezels all around the screen of the handset, and some displays have also been taken with the notch at the top. Yes, there's still a notch on the iPhone 13, but it's 20% smaller than the iPhone 12's notch, which gives you more screen real estate.
It's not a huge change, but it's noticeable when you compare the handset with the iPhone 12. This is something you will develop quickly.
An important note here is that the iPhone 13 display doesn't get the new 120Hz refresh rate that Apple debuted on the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max - the displays on those phones are twice as fast as the standard 60Hz screen for a smoother experience. Refreshes fast. While scrolling web pages or playing games.
If you've experienced this technology before - it's common on a lot of Android phones now - you'll notice the difference here, although it's a feature that's nice rather than mandatory.
iPhone 13 Camera
Going to the headline specs, the iPhone 13 camera setup doesn't look that different from last year's model array, but you're getting some worthwhile upgrades here, including the cameras themselves, as well as a variety of software updates.
You've got two cameras on the back: a 12MP wide camera with an aperture of f/1.6, and a 12MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.4 aperture and 120-degree field of view. There's no telephoto shooter where - you're relying on digital zoom, so this phone won't be the best for grabbing long-range shots.
When not shooting at a distance, it's a great and versatile experience. The main camera uses 1.7μm pixels (up from 1.4μm on the iPhone 12) which make for a noticeable difference in picture quality here.
You're also getting Apple's Sensor-Shift OIS technology, which debuted in last year's iPhone 12 Pro Max, and which offers some of the best image stabilization we've seen on an iPhone, allowing you to sharpen even when you're not able to. can get the shot. To keep the phone completely stable.
There's less noise in images taken in most scenarios than comparable shots from the iPhone 12, and there were a few situations where the camera didn't perform at the level we'd expect—making it a great point-and-shoot experience.
The ultra-wide camera's 120-degree field of view is useful when you want to get more of your subject or scene, but we mostly found ourselves stuck with the main camera.
There's a digital zoom of up to 5x, but the results aren't very impressive, and you'll find that many other smartphones are more capable in this area, though it's not a necessary feature by any means.
Another new feature here is the photographic style, which you can access through the camera app. These enable you to apply custom looks to your images like Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm and Cool.
These are useful if you have a particular style of shooting, and the idea is that as opposed to a simple filter they will allow the phone to apply adjustments to different elements of an image. We didn't find that it made a big difference to our shooting, but it's another tool to have in your photography arsenal.
There is a 12MP f/2.2 wide camera on the front of the phone which we found works well for selfies and video calls. iPhones' front cameras have been impressive for some time now, and although there aren't any major improvements here, you'll be happy with the results you get.
You can shoot video at 4K at 24, 30, and 60 frames per second on the iPhone 13, as well as Full HD at 30, 60, 120, and 240fps.
The big video recording upgrade is the introduction of Cinematic Mode which allows you to film with a bokeh effect where the background of your shot is blurry. The effect also follows faces that are in the frame, so it will switch between subjects.
We've found it to work well, but it takes a while to get used to and you may need to play around with it a few times to get the absolute perfect shot. It's a fun tool though, and you might enjoy it if you like playing around with the video mode.
iPhone 13 Specs and Performance
Apple's iPhone 13 series features the company's new A15 Bionic chipset, the latest attempt to make it the world's most powerful smartphone chipset. Apple says it has a 50% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU than the competition.
Whatever the accuracy of those claims, Apple's new handset is undeniably powerful, and while everyday performance won't detract from the performance you'd get from an iPhone 12 or Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, it will be a huge step forward for those in the know. . Using iPhone 8 or below.
During our testing, we found that the iPhone 13 could launch apps in a jiffy, and was easily able to swap between apps with a limited wait for each one to load.
Gaming on the handset was also a breeze, as we loaded titles on other products like the iPad Pro (one of Apple's most powerful devices in 2021). Games looked great on the OLED display, with the GPU performance upgrade particularly noticeable.
The Geekbench 5 score matches our testing with the phone having an average multi-core score of 4688. The iPhone 12 scored 3859 in the same test, while the Samsung Galaxy S21 scored 3367 and the OnePlus 9 Pro scored 3630.
Apple has taken another big step here, but it's one of the most noticeable in the benchmarking results. The everyday experience is largely the same, but it will be a notable step up from the much older iPhone models.
The A15 Bionic chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM, and that's enough to keep it running perfectly. That's less RAM than you'll see on most equivalent Android phones, but Apple doesn't need a lot of RAM to get the most out of its A15 Bionic.
Your storage options are 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, and if you're planning on loading your phone with media in a few years, we'd recommend opting for the 256GB or 512GB variant; Even with iCloud support, filling up 128GB can prove to be easy.
Apple has, at least, abandoned the ridiculously low 64GB storage option that has been its base offering for the past few years.
The iPhone 13 series is ready for 5G, and it's nice to know you're future-safe thanks to next-generation technology, even if you don't need it now or it's not available where you are — it's becoming increasingly widespread. going, and the iPhone 13 will be compatible with any 5G carrier.
iPhone 13 Software
The iPhone 13 out-of-the-box runs on iOS 15, so you can enjoy all the latest software features from the company.
The upgrades for 2021 are smaller than the major overhauls seen with iOS 14, but the new additions are interesting and include a new focus mode that's easy to enable via a dropdown menu.
Tapping the focus label gives you easy access to Do Not Disturb mode as well as settings you can enable when you're at work or ready to go to sleep. Want to block your Twitter notifications when you're at your desk? This will allow you to do this.
The other new features are more modest, but overall it's a nice refinement that we've seen before.
A major advantage of a new iPhone is that Apple is likely to support it with software updates for many years to come; Even the iPhone 6S is compatible with iOS 15, so if Apple continues to offer that depth of software support, you can expect the iPhone 13 to continue receiving the update until around 2027.
iPhone 13 Battery life
Apple's handsets have never been known for strong battery life, and while the iPhone 13 doesn't offer the best stamina we've ever seen in a smartphone, it's a clear improvement over previous iPhones.
We have yet to find out whether Apple has increased the size of the cells inside the iPhone 13, but the increase in battery life here suggests so. Ahead of the iPhone 13 launch, rumors suggested that Apple would increase the battery size in every model.
As per Apple's estimates, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max are set to offer better battery life in the series. We have found a significant improvement in battery life compared to the iPhone 12 and earlier.
During our testing time, the iPhone 13 made it through every day with enough charge in the tank to keep it running for at least a few more hours.
One day, we pushed the phone to its full limits by making sure to keep the screen on for all-day streaming videos from YouTube and other services from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. We couldn't finish the phone, and it kept up with 20% battery life. That was for eight hours and 48 minutes with the screen at full brightness.
As we've said, it's not the best battery life you'll find in a smartphone — many Android options will be able to last longer — but it's a big step forward for Apple, and it's going to make the iPhone one of the many potential buyers. More compelling options.
The iPhone 13 is compatible with a 20-watt charger, which we found offered decent fast charging, but not the best we've seen. With zero, the phone gets charged 26% in 15 minutes and 51% in 30 minutes.
Wireless charging makes a comeback here, and you'll be able to hit 15W of charging if you have a compatible charger. It's far from the fastest wireless charging on the market, but it's still useful when you don't feel like leaving your phone plugged in, or you're low on battery and find yourself with a Qi charger on hand.
Like the iPhone 12 series, you won't get a charger in the box with the iPhone 13. The aim here is to cut down on e-waste, and Apple reasons that you likely have a Lightning charger from a previous iPhone purchase.
If you don't, you can buy a charger from Apple for $19 / £19 / AU$29, while there are third-party options that may cost less. You may want to upgrade your charger to get the most out of that 20W charging, which many older iPhone chargers aren't capable of.
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