Apple’s iPhone 13 lineup brings improvements like longer battery life, a new processor, and new camera features, but it’s still hard to know if it’s time for an upgrade. A large part of the decision depends on which iPhone you currently own.
Should you upgrade to the iPhone 13?
The short answer is that most iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 users will probably skip this upgrade because their phones are likely in good condition and there isn’t much that can meaningfully change the experience. If you have an iPhone from the last two years, you should wait for the rumored iPhone 14, which is expected to launch in September. Here’s how the iPhone 13 compares to its predecessor, let’s take a look!
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12, 12 Pro
If you have an iPhone 12, there’s little reason to upgrade right now. That’s because the iPhone 12 has a lot in common with the iPhone 13. They all support 5G, vibrant 6.1-inch OLED screens, fast processors, great cameras, and MagSafe accessory support. The biggest reasons to consider an upgrade are camera updates and better battery life.
All of Apple’s new iPhones, including the standard iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, will get a new video capture feature called Movie Mode, which automatically switches focus between subjects, giving shots a more cinematic aesthetic. This may seem like a neat trick for those who regularly use their phone for video projects. Apple says Movie Mode takes advantage of the new A15 Bionic processor, but it’s worth noting that Apple also has a history of bringing similar enhancements to previous iPhones via software updates.
Apple also introduced a new feature called “Photo Styles” that allows users to apply certain preferences to scenes in photos.
The iPhone 12 still features Apple’s 12-megapixel dual-camera system with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle cameras, while the iPhone 12 Pro series has Apple’s 12-megapixel triple-lens setup with wide-angle, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. Aside from the new features mentioned above that are only available on the iPhone 13 series, most camera features are the same across generations.
Compared to the iPhone 12’s A14 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13’s aforementioned A15 Bionic processor offers faster speeds and longer battery life. Specifically, the iPhone 13 should last about 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12, while the iPhone 13 Mini is 1.5 hours longer than last year’s 12 Mini. The iPhone 13 Pro will last 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max will last 2.5 hours longer than its predecessor. The iPhone 13 Pro has up to 1TB of storage, while the iPhone 12 Pro maxes out at 512GB.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 11, 11 Pro
The iPhone 11 is almost three years old, but it’s probably running smooth enough for most people. You can at least wait until the iPhone 14 arrives before upgrading. Compared to the iPhone 13, sticking with the iPhone 11 misses out on two major additions: 5G support and a better camera.
The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro phones also lack 5G support compared to the iPhone 12 and 13, but that’s not the main reason for the upgrade right now. Widely deployed 5G networks are only marginally better than 4G LTE networks, and there aren’t really any apps or services available that can take advantage of the faster speeds.
The iPhone 13 also features Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 11 series uses Apple’s two-year-old A13 Bionic processor. Although it’s not the latest chip, the iPhone 11’s processor is still powerful enough. Apple even uses the same A13 Bionic chip in its new entry-level iPad, another sign that the processor is still capable.
Compared to the iPhone 11, the iPhone 13 also has two hours longer battery life when playing video, supports Apple’s MagSafe accessory, and has twice the storage capacity of the base level. According to Apple’s website, the standard iPhone 13 has similar battery life to the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. But during video playback, the iPhone 13 Pro should last four hours longer than the iPhone 11 Pro and two hours longer than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
The iPhone 11 also uses Apple‘s older design language, including rounded corners, with a smooth pastel finish on the standard model and a matte finish on the Pro model. By comparison, the iPhone 12 and newer have flatter edges, similar to the iPad Pro, and the Ceramic Shield coating should make it more durable, with a glossy glass back.
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