iPhone 13 Reviews: Excellent Cameras, Speedy Performance, and Improved Battery Make for Worthy Upgrade

[MacRumors]

A few days before they start arriving at customers, Apple has provided select media outlets and reviewers with models of the new iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13, giving us a closer look at this year's new iPhone update.

Compared to their predecessors, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini feature a smaller notch, improved cameras, longer battery life, and better performance. Here's a brief summary of some of the reviews for this year's new handset.

Photo via The Verge​

Battery Life

Thanks to the efficiency of the new A15 Bionic chip and physically larger batteries, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini featured improved battery life. The Verge's Dieter Bohn says that battery life this year is "excellent," pointing to his real-world tests.

On one day of my testing, the regular iPhone 13 made it from 7am to midnight before it tuckered out. That was with some camera testing, watching some video, the usual doomscrolling, emails, work, and some games. It was an intense set of work for the five hours of screentime that day, so that's impressive. On another day with lighter usage, I didn't see the battery warning until the following morning. But the iPhone 13's battery isn't magic. When we had a day of a lot more 4K video testing, I was looking for a charger by 7 or 8.

On the smaller iPhone 13 mini, Engadget says that while it is improved, it is "still shorter than the average smartphone." Generally speaking, CNET says that so far performance and battery life have been solid and that the iPhone 13 will be a reliable option for the majority of people.

In terms of the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, it's been a good start but we have more in-depth testing to do with the batteries, durability and comparing its cameras against other phones. But right now, the iPhone 13 will be the reliable phone that most people will be more than happy to use for the next few years.

Cameras

Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini feature the same camera setup, meaning performance on both devices will be the same. Both models feature a larger camera sensor allowing more light to pass through into photos, improving low-light performance. The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern says that while the improvements are welcomed, they alone are not sufficient enough to convince an iPhone 12 user to upgrade.

Photo via Engadget​

"Details are sharp and accurate, colors are rich without being oversaturated, focusing is fast and reliable, portrait mode is good enough to use day to day, and low light and night sight are both exceptional," says The Verge's Dieter Bohn.

Across the entire lineup of iPhone 13 models, Apple is introducing Cinematic Mode, or portrait mode for videos, and we'll have more to share on that in our upcoming hands-on videos. Results in early reviews are mixed, however, with The Verge noting that it's "nowhere near as good as Apple’s own commercials would have you believe" and particularly struggles in low-light situations.

Design

Compared to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini feature very similar designs. Both handsets are thicker and slightly heavier to accommodate larger batteries, and they both have slightly larger camera bumps on the back. The Verge's Dieter Bohn writes, however, that the design is "still beautiful and modern," and the changes are unlikely to be noticeable in day-to-day use.

Video Reviews

Alongside written reviews, there are a number of video hands-ons and reviews for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, which we shared in a separate article. Note that some reviews of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are conjoined with the larger iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Article Link: iPhone 13 Reviews: Excellent Cameras, Speedy Performance, and Improved Battery Make for Worthy Upgrade

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Seems like solid reviews. Sounds like Apple nailed it this year again.

 

[NIKKG]

If you already have a 12, your just buying the same phone twice.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I'll stick with my XS Max for 1 more year.

 

[GIZBUG]

Seems like Apple has a ways to go until we have a good decent battery that will last more than a day…… had a feeling of this when they were hyping improved battery (like they do every year).

 

[AhRiHmAn]

If you already have a 12, your just buying the same phone twice.

It’s not what the reviews say

 

[STC1709]

I'll stick with my XS Max for 1 more year.

same. im on the X, still runs the same with ios14

 

[Wags]

If you already have a 12, your just buying the same phone twice.

As always, will be best selling iPhone ever.😉

 

[dannyyankou]

If you have an iPhone 11, it's a no brainer IMO

Base storage is up by a lot and lots of carriers are offering it next to nothing with a trade in

 

[Cosmosent]

If the rumors are true, that Apple will be transitioning to a 48 Mpx Back Wide Camera image sensor NEXT year, then this year's Pro & Pro Max may end up being the Best that Apple has ever offered !

As I understand it, this year, both the Pro & Pro Max have 1.9 micron image sensors in their Back Wide Camera !

Will Pixel Binning, next year, improve upon that, quality-wise ?

This Camera App Dev seriously doubts it !

Just like curb weight for your car, OR the OL for your favorite NFL team, image sensors don't get the attention they deserve !

It is an extremely important product attribute !

BTW, for comparison, the 13 mini & the 13 have 1.6 micron image sensors in their Back Wide Camera.

The details of such were NOT provided in the Article, but should have been !

If possible, would like to see if macrumors.com can add the Transcript for the iPhone 13 family Announcement (on the 14th), so anyone can easily search for the Details, as well as confirm things for themselves.

 

[Mainsail]

So, is the iPhone 13 kind of like an iPhone 12s? I always liked the ”S” versions. They seemed solid and reliable.

 

[darmorenoo]

Definetly not worth the upgrade if you have the iPhone 12 or even the 11. The september event was so disappointing.

 

[thermal]

If you already have a 12, your just buying the same phone twice.

- Improved Qualcomm modem
- 10 - 15% faster A15 processer vs A14
- 47% improved light gathering for main camera
- Significantly improved battery life
- Brighter display (800n vs 625n for iPhone 12)
- 1 year longer support for iOS
- Smaller notch
- Cinematic Mode
- Base storage doubles to 128GB for same price

 

[The Game 161]

If you already have a 12, your just buying the same phone twice.

Sure if calling it the same phone with everything being much improved you class as the same phone sure

It’s improved key areas which needed fixing

 

[CJM]

If you have an iPhone 11, it's a no brained IMO

Haha, no brain if you get it. Amirite.

Seriously my phone is fine for another year or two.

I want Apple to put in some telephoto lens tech that will blow me away before I upgrade.

 

[The Game 161]

Definetly not worth the upgrade if you have the iPhone 12 or even the 11. The september event was so disappointing.

If you’re talking non pros maybe but if you’re talking pros If you don’t care about better battery life, brighter display, high refresh rate and improved cameras sure

This is a massive upgrade from the 11 pro

 

[darthbane2k]

It’s not what the reviews say

Really? What is materially different then?

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

If you already have a 12, your just buying the same phone twice.

Sure, but people who upgrade every year know what they're getting into. I'm coming from an iPhone 8 Plus and I'm really glad I held on – the 13 does everything the 12 did, and does lots of it better.

 

[darthbane2k]

- Improved Qualcomm modem
- 10 - 15% faster A15 processer vs A14
- 47% improved light gathering for main camera
- Significantly improved battery life
- Brighter display (800n vs 625n for iPhone 12)
- 1 year longer support for iOS
- Smaller notch

longer support for iOS?! 🤣 What a stretch to justify a S release!

iPhone 12 owners need only wait another year and they'll have no notch at all! Then suddenly the 13 will look very very dated.

 

[iGüey]

I'll stick with my beloved Midnight Green 11 Pro (512 GB) until the foldable iPhone sees the light.

 

[iGüey]

- Improved Qualcomm modem
- 10 - 15% faster A15 processer vs A14
- 47% improved light gathering for main camera
- Significantly improved battery life
- Brighter display (800n vs 625n for iPhone 12)
- 1 year longer support for iOS
- Smaller notch

Better specs for sure (as every single year), but I still don’t think it worth the upgrade from 12 or even 11.

 

[iGüey]

This is a massive upgrade from the 11 pro

Not enough (for me).

 

[MhaelK]

Solid S-upgrade - improvements on the “weaker“ spots of the iPhone12 while sticking to the same recipe.

 

[DeepIn2U]

If the rumors are true, that Apple will be transitioning to a 48 Mpx Back Wide Camera image sensor NEXT year, then this year's Pro & Pro Max may end up being the Best that Apple has ever offered !

As I understand it, this year, both the Pro & Pro Max have 1.9 micron image sensors in their Back Wide Camera !

Will Pixel Binning, next year, improve upon that, quality-wise ?

This Camera App Dev seriously doubts it !

Just like curb weight for your car, OR the OL for your favorite NFL team, image sensors don't get the attention they deserve !

It is an extremely important product attribute !

BTW, for comparison, the 13 mini & the 13 have 1.6 micron image sensors in their Back Wide Camera.

The details of such were NOT provided in the Article, but should have been !

If possible, would like to see if macrumors.com can add the Transcript for the iPhone 13 family Announcement (on the 14th), so anyone can easily search for the Details, as well as confirm things for themselves.

What on earth do you mean by 'Back Wide Camera' ? You mean Wide Camera (there is none on the front Mr Camera app developer).

Why should all or any articles of the iPhone 13 series talk about a 48 megapixel sensor/camera that is NOT in any of the products? Right now that's only a rumour ... it's like you're saying talk about your future wife to the parents when you haven't even started talking to her or dating her yet.

Curb Weight of a car ... while important for ICE cars, lately with fully electric cars, Tesla has proven a 4200-4800lbs (US lbs) car can accelerate faster than a Lamborghini Aventedor (ALL of them) or any Ferrari from 0-160mph ... repeatedly on a drag-race track plenty of youtube videos on that. So what I'm saying is real world use from hardware to software and into the end users hands is THE most important thing to consider, not just hardware.

Curious are predominantly an Android camera app developer, cause it seems you haven't keyed into what Apple does or is about with their products.

 

[kuwxman]

First upgrade I've skipped in a long, long time. Just isn't anything really worth starting a lease all over for as a 12 Pro user.