For the first time, with the iPhone 12 series, Apple started releasing Mini variants of its phones with compact dimensions but still flagship-class specifications. The iPhone 12 mini was the first model and it represented a perfect replacement for the SE series, even though it is more expensive due to its higher-end specifications. Now, Apple released another mini variant with the 13 series: the iPhone 13 mini. While the iPhone 13 mini went on sale, the price of its predecessor dropped. And now it became hard for non-experts to understand which one offers the best value for the money asked. This comparison between iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini will hopefully help you understand which one is the best.
Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Apple iPhone 13 mini
| Apple iPhone 12 mini | Apple iPhone 13 Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm, 135 g |
131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7 mm, 141 g |
| DISPLAY | 5.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED | 5.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super Retina XDR OLED |
| PROCESSOR | Apple A14 Bionic hexa-core 3.1 GHz | Apple A15 Bionic hexa-core 3.22 GHz |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB | 4 GB RAM, 512 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 4 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | iOS 14 | iOS 15 |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 |
Dual 12 + 12 MP, f/1.6 + f/2.4 Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 |
| BATTERY | 2227 mAh, fast charging 20W and Qi wireless charging 7.5W | 2438 mAh, Fast Charging 20W, Qi wireless charging 7.5W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof | 5G, optional dual SIM, optional eSIM, MagSafe 15W, IP68 waterproof |
Design
There are two important improvements in the design of the new iPhone 13 mini. The first is the notch: it is 20 percent smaller than the one of its predecessor, so the display covers a larger area of the front panel. Further, there is a better placement for the rear cameras: the sensors are placed diagonally instead of vertically, which is a more beautiful placement for a device with a square-shaped camera module. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 mini is slightly thinner and lighter because it packs a smaller battery. Further, the iPhone 12 mini has a less protruding camera module.
Display
The displays of the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini have almost the same specifications. They are Super Retina XDR OLED panels with a diagonal of 5.4 inches, the HDR10 certification, a standard refresh rate, and Dolby Vision support. But there are two differences between these panels: the first one, as already mentioned, is the notch, smaller on the iPhone 13 mini. Further, the iPhone 13 mini provides a higher brightness with a peak of 1200 nits. Despite its smaller notch, the new iPhone features an SL 3D sensor for 3D facial recognition available through Face ID technology.
Specs & Software
The iPhone 13 mini is powered by a stronger processor if compared to the iPhone 12 mini. We are talking about the Apple A15 Bionic built at 5 nm with a clock frequency of 3.22 GHz and a 4-core proprietary GPU. Thanks to this chipset, the Apple iPhone 13 mini is able to provide up to 50 percent better CPU performance and 30 percent better GPU performance. The 13 mini comes in three memory configurations: 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, all with 4 GB of RAM. The iPhone 12 mini comes in a base variant with 64 GB of internal storage, a 128 GB variant, and a 256 GB configuration. The most recent model ships with iOS 15 out of the box, while the 12 mini is based on iOS 14.
Camera
When it comes to the camera hardware, there is not any difference between these two phones if we talk about the basics camera specifications. They have a dual rear camera including a 12 MP main sensor with OIS and a 12 MP ultrawide camera. But if you dig deeper, you will find out that the iPhone 13 mini has a better stabilization (sensor-shift OIS) and a bigger pixel size allowing it to capture more light. The front camera is exactly the same: a 12 MP sensor paired with an SL 3D biometrics sensor.
Battery
Last but not least, the iPhone 13 mini is able to provide a longer battery life on a single charge because it packs a bigger battery. The capacity of its battery is 2438 mAh, while the iPhone 12 mini stops at 2227 mAh. The improvement in terms of battery life is important, but the charging speeds remain the same.
Price
The starting price of the iPhone 12 mini in the U.S. is $499, while it launched for no much less than €600 in Europe. The iPhone 13 mini costs $699 in the U.S. and it starts from around €800 in Europe. There are a lot of improvements with the iPhone 13 mini making it better than its predecessor: it has a better design, a bigger battery, superior cameras, and way better hardware. Would spend more on these improvements?
Apple iPhone 12 mini vs Apple iPhone 13 mini: PRO and CONS
Apple iPhone 12 mini
PRO
- Thinner
- Lighter
- More affordable
CONS
- Inferior hardware
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
PRO
- Smaller notch
- Better chipset
- Bigger battery
- iOS 15 out of the box
CONS
- Higher price
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