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Updated January 10, 2024·
For photography enthusiasts, the iPhone 13 improves upon the iPhone 12 with better low-light performance and more photographic styles, though both have dual 12MP cameras. If longer battery life is important, the iPhone 13 comes out ahead. Both have High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, but the iPhone 13 boasts Dolby Vision video recording at 4K up to 60 fps. The iPhone 13 also offers more base storage, which might appeal to those who store a lot of media. However, both have OLED screens with the same size and resolution. Performance-wise, the iPhone 13 has a slight edge with the newer A15 chip over the A14. If these incremental upgrades are less compelling, choosing the iPhone 12 might offer better value, while the iPhone 13 provides improvements for those willing to pay a little extra. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 12
- The Apple iPhone 12 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13
- The Apple iPhone 13 has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 12.
Key differences
Video Quality
7.2
8.0
The Apple iPhone 13 takes very good videos, while the Apple iPhone 12 takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 takes very good videos as it offers enhancements in video software, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance compared to the iPhone 12, making it superior especially in varying lighting conditions or when capturing fast-moving scenes. Both phones boast good mic quality, but the iPhone 13's improvements deliver a more exceptional video recording experience overall.
Battery
6.2 Hours
7.1 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life. The Apple iPhone 13 has 7.1 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
7.7
The Apple iPhone 13 and Apple iPhone 12 both have good overall cameras quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 has a higher selfie camera quality compared to the Apple iPhone 12, which is particularly notable for consumers who prioritize front-camera performance for self-portraits or video calls. Additionally, while both phones deliver high-quality photo and video experiences across various aspects such as resolution, software, dynamic range, low light performance, and versatility, the iPhone 13 offers incremental improvements in these areas that contribute to a more versatile and rich camera experience.
Photo Quality
7.1
7.5
The Apple iPhone 13 and Apple iPhone 12 both have good photos.
The iPhone 13 takes very good photos compared to the iPhone 12's good photos mainly because the iPhone 13 has improved in key areas such as better selfie quality, more versatility in camera options, and enhanced software experience for photography. Additionally, the iPhone 13 demonstrates a stronger performance in low light conditions, which contributes to its higher quality photo outcomes.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Apple iPhone 13 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$600
$630
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 12 has a price of $600 and the Apple iPhone 13 costs $630.
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How the Apple iPhone 12 and the Apple iPhone 13 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 | Apple iPhone 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $630 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Apple | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | iOS | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 23, 2020 | September 24, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2532 x 1170 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 460 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | A15 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.2 Hours | 7.1 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2815 mAh | 3240 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.78" x 2.81" | 5.78" x 2.81" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.78 oz | 6.14 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, Red | Blue, Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Green, Red | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Custom ROM Support | |||
Custom ROM Support | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 12
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Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Stuart Miles | March 2022
"The iPhone 12 offers many of the important things that you want from the iPhone: a decent camera, 5G, great screen, fast processor. For the group of people who want a new iPhone without the price tag of the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 range, this is a great choice. There's no settling for second best with this smartphone."
Apple iPhone 13
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | September 2022
"The iPhone 13 isn’t a game changer for Apple’s series of smartphones, but it’s an important iteration that offers better battery life, a better processor and an upgraded camera setup than iPhones that have gone before it. If you’re looking for a fast and capable smartphone, and don’t need the extra features of the pricier Pro model, this is a top choice."
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About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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Phones stats compiled
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Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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