Apple iPhone 13 vs 12 vs 11 comparison: What's the difference?

(Pocket-lint) - Apple revealed the iPhone 13 series connected 14 September, with 4 models to take from: the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

We've compared the 4 models successful a separate feature, but present we are looking astatine however the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 comparison to past year's iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, arsenic good arsenic the older - but inactive disposable - iPhone 11. We've besides referenced 2018's iPhone XR for those wondering however the caller models comparison to the three-year aged instrumentality if you're owed an upgrade.

Should you upgrade from the iPhone XR, iPhone 11 oregon iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13? Or should you prevention immoderate wealth and bargain the iPhone 11 or the iPhone 12 given they are being sold alongside the latest models?

Note that the iPhone SE is besides successful Apple's portfolio, truthful that's worthy checking retired if you're blessed to person the Touch ID Home Button alternatively of Face ID. 

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Design

• iPhone 13 mini: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65mm, 141g
• iPhone 13: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm, 174g
• iPhone 12 mini: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm, 135g
• iPhone 12: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm, 164g
• iPhone 11: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm, 194g
• iPhone XR: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm, 194g

The Apple iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 each diagnostic precise akin designs. They each person aluminium frames that are level alternatively than rounded, they some travel with a notch astatine the apical of their displays and they some person glossy solid backs with a dual rear camera strategy successful the apical near corner.

The notch connected the iPhone 13 models is smaller than the iPhone 12 models though, and the mini models are of people smaller than the modular models successful presumption of carnal size. The iPhone 13 models besides person a diagonally-arranged dual rear camera, portion the iPhone 12 models person a veritcally-arranged dual rear camera.

The Apple iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR connection a akin plan to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models successful that they some travel successful a fig of colours, connection an aluminium framework and a solid rear. There's a notch astatine the apical of some their displays excessively - which is the aforesaid size arsenic the iPhone 12 models and truthful larger than the iPhone 13 - but they person rounder edges than the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models.

The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 mini devices are the smallest and lightest of those being compared here. The iPhone 11 and XR are identical successful presumption of footprint and weight, and some somewhat larger and heavier than the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12.

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The iPhone XR is IP67 water-resistant, however, enabling it to beryllium submerged up to one-metre for 30 minutes, portion the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are each IP68 rated, though the 13 models and 12 models tin grip depths up to six-metres for 30 minutes, portion the 11 tin lone bash 2 metres.

The iPhone 13 models, iPhone 12 models and iPhone 11 each person a dual rear camera, with a camera lodging that features a matte solid to differentiate it from the remainder of the glossy body. The iPhone XR meanwhile, has a azygous rear camera.

The colour options besides disagree betwixt the iPhone 13 models, iPhone 12 models, iPhone 11 and iPhone XR.

Display

• iPhone 13 mini/12 mini: 5.4-inch, OLED, 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution, HDR, 1200nits
• iPhone 13/12: 6.1-inch, OLED, 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution, HDR, 1200nits
• iPhone 11: 6.1-inch, LCD, 1792 x 828 pixel resolution, nary HDR, 625nits
• iPhone XR: 6.1-inch, LCD, 1792 x 828 pixel resolution, nary HDR, 625nits

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models each person OLED displays with HDR and a maximum brightness of 1200nits. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 mini person a 5.4-inch show with a 2340 x 1080 pixel solution for a pixel density of 476ppi, portion the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 person a 6.1-inch show with a 2532 x 1170 pixel solution for a pixel density of 460ppi.

The iPhone 11 and the iPhone XR some person a 6.1-inch, Liquid Retina LCD show with a 1792 x 828 pixel resolution, resulting successful a pixel density of 326ppi truthful the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models are rather a spot sharper and much vibrant. 

All models being compared present person True Tone technology, on with a wide colour gamut, and determination is Haptic Touch implicit 3D Touch.

Neither the iPhone 11 oregon iPhone XR person HDR and they aren't arsenic agleam arsenic the iPhone 13 models oregon iPhone 12 models. The 11 and XR some still deliver large displays with ample brightness though.

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Cameras

• iPhone 13/12 models: Dual rear camera (12MP wide space and ultra wide angle), 12MP TrueDepth beforehand camera
• iPhone 11: Dual rear camera (12MP wide space and ultra wide angle), 12MP TrueDepth beforehand camera
• iPhone XR: Single rear camera (12MP), 7MP TrueDepth beforehand camera

The Apple iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models each person a dual rear camera, comprised of a 12-megapixel wide space sensor with a f/1.6 aperture, and an ultra-wide space sensor with a f/2.4 aperture. Results successful bully conditions are fantabulous based connected our acquisition with the iPhone 12 models and they are bully successful debased airy too, with Night Mode having to footwear successful little than the iPhone 11 acknowledgment to the somewhat wider aperture.

The iPhone 11 besides has a dual camera connected the rear, comprised of a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor with an aperture of f/2.4 and a wide-angle sensor with a somewhat narrower aperture of f/1.8 compared to the iPhone 13 and 12 models. It excessively delivers large results, but arsenic mentioned above, it uses Night Mode a small much successful debased airy conditions.

There's optical representation stabilisation, a brighter True Tone flash and Portrait Lighting with six effects, arsenic good arsenic next-generation Smart HDR for photos and Night Mode, each of which the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models connection too. Night Mode is offered connected the beforehand camera of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models excessively however.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models besides person HDR video signaling with Dolby Vision up to 30fps, which is supported connected the rear and beforehand cameras and kicks successful automatically. Neither the iPhone 11 oregon XR connection this. There are besides a mates of other features connected the iPhone 13 models, including Photography Styles and sensor displacement optical representation stabilisation.

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The iPhone XR meanwhile, has a azygous 12-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, optical representation stabilisation and integer zoom up to 5x. It besides lone offers 3 effects for Portrait Lighting and first-gen Smart HDR for photos. 

The iPhone XR besides has a 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera strategy with an aperture of f/2.2 connected the front, allowing for Face ID, among plentifulness of different features. It offers 1080p video signaling astatine 30fps oregon 60fps.

The iPhone 13 models, 12 models and the iPhone 11 meanwhile, person a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera connected the front, with an aperture of f/2.2, next-gen Smart HDR for photos and 4K video signaling astatine 24fps, 30fps and 60fps. 

Hardware

• iPhone 13 mini/iPhone 13: A15 chip, 128/256/512GB, Dual SIM
• iPhone 12 mini/iPhone 12: A14 chip, 64/128/256GB, Dual SIM
• iPhone 11: A13 chip, 64/256/512GB storage, Dual SIM
• iPhone XR: A12 chip, 64/256/512GB storage, Dual SIM

One of the main differences betwixt the iPhone 13 models, iPhone 12 models and the older iPhone 11 and iPhone XR is hardware. As you would expect, the iPhone 13 has a bump successful hardware, moving from the A14 spot recovered successful the iPhone 12, the A13 successful the iPhone 11 and the A12 spot successful the XR to the A15 chip. This should connection much fluid show overall, particularly erstwhile it comes to gaming and different much dense work tasks.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 travel successful 64GB, 128GB and 256GB retention options and microSD for retention enlargement isn't disposable connected immoderate model. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13's retention options commencement astatine 128GB and spell up to 512GB. Neither the iPhone 12 mini oregon the iPhone XR volition beryllium disposable done Apple erstwhile the iPhone 13 arrives, but you whitethorn find them elsewhere.

All devices besides enactment dual SIM with a nano-SIM and eSIM and each devices are charged via Lightning, though the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 models besides person MagSafe connected board. The iPhone 13 oregon iPhone 12 models don't travel with a partition plug successful the container nevertheless and the MagSafe charger is sold separately. All models connection Apple Pay.

The iPhone 13 models and iPhone 12 models have 5G capabilities, portion the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR are 4G only.

• Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max review

Price

• iPhone 13 mini: From $699/£679
• iPhone 13: From $799/£779
• iPhone 12: From $599/£599
• iPhone 11: From $499/£499

The Apple iPhone 13 mini starts astatine $699 successful the US and £679 successful the UK. The iPhone 13 starts astatine $799 successful the US and £779 successful the UK. It goes connected merchantability connected 17 September.

With the motorboat of the iPhone 13 models, the Apple iPhone 12 present starts astatine $599 in the US and £599 successful the UK.

The iPhone 11 starts astatine $499 in the US and £499 successful the UK, making it a cheaper alternative.

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Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 13 has a mates of upgrades implicit the iPhone 12, with the processor, refined plan acknowledgment to the reduced notch and camera adjustments being the basal retired differences.

Upgrading from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13 volition truthful connection a boost successful speed, camera improvements and a flimsy plan change. The aforesaid goes for upgrading from the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR, though each those differences are adjacent much apparent.

If you're considering upgrading from an older iPhone oregon the iPhone XR, the iPhone 12 is simply a fantastic device, arsenic is the iPhone 11 - and some are precise bully worth present - truthful chances are you'll beryllium pleased with either if the iPhone 13 is retired of your budget.

That said, if you tin agelong to the iPhone 13 mini, you apt won't beryllium disappointed assuming it volition stay a pouch powerhouse similar its predecessor, portion the iPhone 13 volition springiness you everything the iPhone 13 mini offers successful a larger format.

Writing by Britta O'Boyle. Originally published connected 10 September 2019.