Every Wednesday, AppleUnboxed lands in subscribers’ mailboxes. It’s an all-things-Apple guide to what’s going on with the world’s most fascinating company. Each weekend, I’ll be publishing just one item from a previous newsletter.
AppleUnboxed has much more stuff, including exclusive interviews, reviews before you can read them anywhere else (no, I mean anywhere—and the review below is an example of that), long-read features, comparison pieces, news items and more. To see all that, you’ll need to subscribe—and you’ll get it sooner, too. Sign up here.
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The article first appeared in this week’s newsletter, sent to subscribers on Wednesday, October 5.
Apple Unboxed: iPhone 13 Or iPhone 12. Which Should You Choose?
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?
The Price
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.
Battery life
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.
Cameras
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.
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.
Even the colors are better this year, with Starlight my favorite iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini shade (though the pink is pretty gorgeous).
5G
There’s no denying the importance of the fastest connection yet on an iPhone and all but the iPhone 11 have it.
Verdict
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.
One More Thing
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.
This week’s photo
Today’s pic is a tribute to the brilliant iPad app Pixelmator. The dog may have sat quietly while I took the photo (though her facial expression reveals a hint of impatience, no?) but only after did I notice the metal struts of a standard lamp growing from her head.
One quick swipe with the Retouch tool designed to Repair, and they have gone. This photo is far from perfect, but the absence of vertical metal pipes from her head is a big improvement.
