There is a possibility that the iPhone 13 mini will be the last thing of its like. It is a little phone that is not only the ideal size for many people, but it is also a very powerful device. The question is, how does it stack up against the iPhone 12 mini from the previous generation? Which one do you think you should go with?

The iPhone 13 mini model is an improvement over its predecessor in terms of battery life, which was a significant shortcoming. Not only that, but it also has a faster chip, a new camera sensor, and an increase in storage space, which is very much appreciated.

There are a few additional interesting updates, so continue reading! 

iPhone 12 Mini vs 13 Mini in 2024 (Comparison video)

Here is a brief comparison of the iPhone 13 Mini and the iPhone 12 Mini:

• A longer battery life! The 13 mini has a duration of 1.5 hours longer than the 12 mini.
• The newer phone is slightly broader and heavier, despite its nearly identical design and appearance.
• Both have 5.4" 60Hz screens, but iphone 13 mini is brighter.
• Faster Apple A15 compared to the previous A14, with the same 4GB of RAM
• Base storage of 128GB on the 13 Mini compared to 64GB on the 12 mini
• Both have two cameras, however the 13 mini has an improved version.

Design and Display

The fact that the iPhone 13 Mini maintains the same 60Hz refresh rate as the iPhone 12 mini is disheartening, especially when one considers that more recent smartphones offer 120Hz technology, which allows for scrolling to be more fluid.

With that exception, the screen quality on both phones is exceptional. The iPhone 13 mini and 12 mini boast 5.4" OLED panels with superb color reproduction, viewing angles, resolution, and sharpness. As a result, the 13 mini can reach a maximum brightness of 800 nits, according to Apple, while the iPhone 12 mini only manages 625 nits. This certainly enhances outdoor viewing of the screen.

From a design perspective, they are almost identical. There aren't really any noticeable modifications other than the diagonal camera, which is a dead giveaway for the latest model. If you look closer, the only difference between the 13 iPhone mini and the iPhone 12 mini is that the 13 mini is somewhat thicker (7.65 mm vs. 7.4 mm) and slightly heavier (141 g vs. 135 g), but these are details that you probably won't notice when you hold the two devices in your hand.

When it comes to iPhone colors, you have a fair lot of possibilities. Both models are available in standard black and white, and Product Red is also available as an option. On the 13 mini, you can choose from pink, blue, and green. On the 12 mini, you can find slightly different versions of the same colors.

Battery and Charging

The good news is that the iPhone 13 mini, like all other models in the 13 series, has an upgraded battery.

An improvement over the 12, Mini's 2,227mAh battery, the 13, Mini's 2,406mAh battery is a nice touch. The result is an increase in pure capacity of about 10%.

Impressively, Apple claims that the 13 mini's battery life will be 1.5 hours longer than its predecessor in typical use. Battery life while streaming video is another interesting metric; the iPhone 13 mini has 13 hours, whereas the iPhone 12 mini only manages 10 hours.

Regarding the charger, well, not much has changed. Apple no longer includes a charger in the box, so if you don't already have one, be prepared to invest an extra $20 to $30 on a fast charger. The "fast charger" on Apple devices can only deliver 20W of power, which is far slower than the chargers on most other phones. As with the 12 mini, a full charge for an iPhone 13 mini takes around 1.5 hours.

Wireless charging with MagSafe technology is available on both iPhone Mini models at up to 15W, but you'll need a charger that is compatible with both models to achieve those maximum rates. You can use a standard wireless charger that isn't MagSafe Qi to charge them, but the speed will be slow.

Cameras

In addition to an updated diagonal arrangement of the cameras, the 13 mini also features upgraded camera hardware.

The hardware consists of a dual-camera configuration with an ultrawide and wide-angle lens on the back:

Wide camera: 26mm, f/1.6 aperture on both

Ultra-wide camera: 0.5X, 13mm, f/2.4 aperture on both

Apple states the 13 mini features a "new wide camera" with a brighter sensor that collects 47% more light, along with improved stability thanks to new sensor-shift optical image stabilization. The aperture remains unchanged, though. The business boasts that the ultra-wide lens would allow you to capture "more detail in the dark areas of your photos."

The front-facing camera on the 13 mini still uses the same 12-megapixel sensor as the 12 mini, but it has improved dynamic range, so your selfies will appear more appealing.

Additionally, the following software features have been added:

Cinematic Mode- Similar to the Portrait mode, but specifically designed for video. The bokeh effect, which allows the subject to remain in focus while blurring the background, is applied to video footage by the iPhone 13 mini in real time. When it's suitable, it can also swap focus across faces; for instance, if you're in focus and then swivel your head, the camera will automatically shift its focus to the person in the picture following you.

Photography Styles- much more effective than standard filters. Once you've customized the camera's image capture with one of these new AI filters, the app will remember and utilize that setting in future shots. What this implies is that you have a lot of control over the look and feel of your images. Awesome! Remember that you can't go back and change your mind about your photography style once you've taken a photo.

Neither the iPhone 13 mini nor the 12 mini come with the zoom lens, LiDAR scanner, or macro mode; these features are reserved for the Pro versions. 

Performance

Apple has consistently produced industry-leading processors over the last many years, and their latest A15 Bionic chip only strengthens their position as market leaders. whereas both the A14 and the A15 use 5nm technology, the A15 has 15 billion transistors whereas the A14 only has 11.8 billion.

Performance on a single-core CPU is somewhat improved, while multi-core performance is significantly improved due to the broader cache, faster graphics, and one additional GPU core.

According to experts, Apple increased CPU speed for better single-core scores and cache for better multi-core scores, which improved performance.

Conclusion

Compared to the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 13 mini is clearly a better phone. A longer-lasting battery, more storage, quicker processing, brighter screen, improved cameras, and more are just a few of the many changes included in its incremental sequel.

Having said that, the iPhone 13 mini is the better purchase because to its longer lifespan and increased frequency of software upgrades. Even if it's not bad, the iPhone 12 small isn't worth the money unless you're spending less than $500. The 12 mini's already-limited durability will continue to decline in a year or two due to battery degradation and more sophisticated upgrades; eventually, it will be far more difficult to live with than it is now.

 (Image credit: Apple)