Apple iPhone 13 mini review
The iPhone 13 mini is identical in size and design to its predecessor, the iPhone 12 mini, with some minor changes such as diagonal camera alignment and a slightly reduced notch. Despite being heavier and thicker than the 12 mini, it still feels comfortable to use due to its compact size. One of the standout features of the iPhone 13 mini is its display, which boasts a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR screen with HDR 10 Dolby Vision support. The screen has excellent brightness, color accuracy, and pixel density, making it one of the sharpest displays on this year's iPhone lineup. The phone also features stereo speakers with good loudness and audio quality, and a large 2,438mAh battery that provides an impressive 75-hour endurance rating. Despite being small, the battery is 10% larger than last year's model. Under the hood, the iPhone 13 mini packs Apple's A15 Bionic chip with 4GB of RAM, making it one of the fastest mobile chipsets available. The phone also features iOS 15 out of the box, which brings improved notification management and other significant upgrades. The camera system on the iPhone 13 mini is identical to its larger siblings, featuring a 12MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera with sensor shift stabilization and fixed focus. While the camera performs well in good light conditions, it struggles with foliage rendering and noise in low-light situations. The selfie camera, however, produces excellent results with great detail, contrast, and color accuracy. Overall, the iPhone 13 mini offers a unique blend of compact design, excellent display, powerful performance, and top-notch camera quality, making it the best compact flagship on the market.
Build Quality and Design
The iPhone 13 mini is a testament to Apple's commitment to delivering high-end smartphones in compact packages. The device's design is identical to its predecessor, the iPhone 12 mini, but with some subtle changes that make it even more desirable. One of the standout features of the iPhone 13 mini is its build quality and design. The phone's aluminum frame has been reinforced with a brushed finish that provides an excellent grip, making it comfortable to hold and use one-handedly. Despite being smaller than many modern smartphones, the iPhone 13 mini feels substantial in the hand, thanks to its sturdy construction. The device's ceramic shield on the front, combined with the Corning-made rear panel, ensures that it can withstand scratches and minor drops without sustaining any damage. In fact, various drop tests have proven the iPhone 13 mini to be one of the most durable phones on the market. Another notable feature is its IP68 dust and water resistance rating, which Apple has exceeded by allowing the device to handle up to 30 minutes under 60 meters of water. The phone's compact design also means that it can fit into tight spaces, making it perfect for those who prefer a smaller phone. The iPhone 13 mini's 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display is another highlight, with an excellent pixel density and HDR10 Dolby Vision support. However, the focus of this review is on the device's build quality and design, which we can confidently say are among the best in the industry. Overall, the iPhone 13 mini's design is a masterclass in minimalism, where every detail has been carefully considered to create a phone that is both compact and premium. If you're in the market for a small flagship smartphone with top-notch build quality, look no further than the iPhone 13 mini.
Battery Life
Despite its compact size, the iPhone 13 Mini boasts an impressive battery life that defies expectations. With a 2438mAh battery, it's easy to assume that this small device would drain quickly, but Apple has managed to squeeze out a remarkable 75-hour endurance rating on our tests. This represents a 6-hour improvement over its predecessor, the iPhone 12 Mini, and is nothing short of impressive given the device's size. In fact, the battery life in the 13 Mini is comparable to some larger devices on the market, making it an unexpected strength in this compact flagship. Fast charging also gets a nod from Apple, with the phone reaching 61% capacity in just half an hour using the company's 20W charger. While it may not reach full charge in that time, the fact that it can recover such a significant amount of battery life so quickly is reassuring. While not perfect, the battery life in the iPhone 13 Mini is certainly commendable, especially considering its compact size. It's a testament to Apple's ability to optimize their hardware and software to deliver a device that's both small and powerful, with a battery life that won't leave you scrambling for a charger all day.
Display
The display of the iPhone 13 mini is a highlight of this compact flagship. Measuring in at 5.4 inches, the Super Retina XDR display is an OLED screen that supports HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. The bezels are as thin as its predecessor's, but with a narrower notch. Despite being smaller, the display still packs a punch, boasting excellent brightness and color accuracy. With a pixel density of 476 PPI, the iPhone 13 mini has the sharpest screen in this year's lineup. It also features Apple's True Tone technology, which ensures accurate colors across different lighting conditions. The display is capable of producing an impressive 831 nits of maximum brightness, making it easily viewable even in direct sunlight. One notable omission from this display is a high refresh rate, as it sticks with the same 60Hz rate as its predecessor. However, it does make up for this by offering a touch sampling rate of 120Hz. This is a minor trade-off considering the overall quality and performance of the display. In terms of durability, the iPhone 13 mini's ceramic shield on the front and Corning-made rear panel ensure that the screen can withstand drops and other impacts without sustaining damage. The IP68 dust and water resistance rating also gives users peace of mind when using the phone in wet conditions. Overall, the display of the iPhone 13 mini is a strong point for this compact flagship. While it may not be as advanced as some other iPhones on the market, it still offers excellent brightness, color accuracy, and durability. For those who value portability without sacrificing visual quality, the iPhone 13 mini's display is a compelling option.
Camera
The camera on the iPhone 13 Mini is identical to its predecessor, with a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with fixed focus. While this may seem like a step back from the more advanced cameras found in other flagship iPhones, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of photos taken with the Mini. In good lighting conditions, the main camera produces excellent photos with great detail, contrast, and low noise. The dynamic range is also impressive, making it one of the best camera phones on the market. However, I was not impressed by how the camera renders foliage in these shots. The ultrawide camera takes some of the widest photos I've seen, with details that are okay, contrast that's great, and low noise. The dynamic range is well-balanced here too, but again, I'm disappointed by how it handles foliage and lack of autofocus. At night, the main camera takes excellent low-light shots with balanced exposure, great contrast, and superb color saturation. Details and sharpness are also outstanding in these shots. However, the ultrawide camera struggles to take good low-light photos, producing soft and noisy images that are only suitable for social media. The selfie camera on the iPhone 13 Mini is a highlight of the device, with two field-of-view modes: a 12-megapixel wide-angle shot and a slightly zoomed-in 7-megapixel crop. The 12-megapixel selfies are fantastic, with great detail, contrast, and dynamic range. Colors are also accurate, and noise is well-handled even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. In terms of video recording, the iPhone 13 Mini can capture excellent 4K footage at 60 frames per second with both cameras. Videos have digital stabilization and expanded dynamic range thanks to Smart HDR, making them some of the best on the market. Overall, while the camera on the iPhone 13 Mini may not be a huge leap forward from previous models, it still produces great photos and videos that are competitive with other flagship cameras. If you're in the market for a compact flagship phone with excellent camera capabilities, the iPhone 13 Mini is definitely worth considering.
Price and Value
While the trend in smartphone size has been trending upwards in recent years, Apple's decision to release the iPhone 13 Mini is a refreshing reminder that there's still demand for smaller phones. This compact flagship offers an exceptional user experience, with its durable design, excellent speakers, and top-notch camera quality. But what about the price? The iPhone 13 Mini starts at $699, which might seem steep considering its smaller size compared to other iPhones. However, when you consider the features it packs, including a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display, a ceramic shield on the front, an aluminum frame in the middle, and a Corning-made rear panel with IP68 dust and water resistance rating, it's hard to argue against its value. The price is also comparable to last year's iPhone 12 Mini, which started at $599. So, despite being pricier, the iPhone 13 Mini offers several upgrades, including a larger battery (with a 10% increase in capacity), improved cameras with sensor-shift stabilization and a 120Hz touch sampling rate, and an A15 Bionic chip that's faster than its predecessor. In terms of value, I'd say the iPhone 13 Mini is a solid choice for those who want a compact flagship without breaking the bank. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of its larger siblings, it still offers an excellent camera experience, great speakers, and impressive performance. And with Apple's commitment to supporting it with software updates for several years to come, you can be confident that your investment will last. Overall, I'd give the iPhone 13 Mini a solid 8 out of 10 in terms of value for its price. It may not be cheap, but it's definitely worth considering if you're looking for a compact flagship with excellent features and performance.
Performance
The iPhone 13 mini boasts the A15 Bionic chip, the fastest mobile chipset available today. With four gigabytes of RAM, it offers ample power for years to come. In our tests, the phone's thermals performed well, and the CPU maintained 74% of its maximum performance with sustained use. The GPU throttled to 64% after 20 minutes at full power, but this is still a significant achievement. The A15 Bionic chip outshines Android competition, providing ample processing power for demanding tasks. This translates to seamless multitasking, swift app launches, and efficient performance in resource-intensive activities. The iPhone 13 mini's processor is also optimized for AI-driven features, making it an excellent choice for users who rely on Siri or other Apple-exclusive services. One notable aspect of the A15 Bionic chip is its ability to handle demanding tasks without significant thermal throttling. This means that even with sustained use, the phone remains cool and performs admirably. While some Android flagships may struggle with thermal management, the iPhone 13 mini's design ensures efficient cooling, allowing it to maintain peak performance for extended periods. In terms of raw processing power, the iPhone 13 mini outperforms its predecessor by a significant margin. Apple's optimized software and efficient hardware collaboration make it an excellent choice for users seeking top-notch performance in a compact package. With its powerful A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13 mini stands as one of the most capable smartphones on the market today.
Pros
1. The iPhone 13 mini has a beautiful, durable, and lightweight design that is perfect for those who prefer smaller phones.
2. It has excellent speakers with good loudness, audio quality, and bass response.
3. The camera quality is top-notch, with great photos in both daylight and low-light conditions, as well as impressive video recording capabilities.
4. The phone's performance is fast and powerful, thanks to the A15 Bionic chip and 4GB of RAM.
Cons
1. The iPhone 13 mini's screen doesn't have a high refresh rate, which may be a disappointment for some users.
2. The ultra-wide camera has fixed focus, which can be limiting in certain situations.
3. The phone's battery life is decent but not impressive, with a rating of around 75 hours of endurance.