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When it comes to choosing the best Apple phone, you have several options. Apple products are designed with premium features that give users the best experience when using them. However, before you decide on which one to buy, you need to know more about its features and which one is best suited for your needs. The iPhone12 and 13 are among Apple’s latest versions of their smartphones, both of which have significant improvements over the 11 other versions.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 come with a lot of hype. This is because there is a great deal of attention being paid to these two devices by both the media and consumers alike. They’re almost identical in design and specs, but some slight differences between them might make your decision easier — or harder! In this iPhone 12 vs 13 comparison, we’ll take a look at how these two phones stack up against each other, so you can choose which one will work best for you.
iPhone 12 Vs 13: Side by Side Comparison
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | October 13, 2020 | September 24, 2021 |
| Storage | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128, 256, 512 GB |
| System on a Chip | A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4 | 4 GB LPDDR4X |
| Measurements | 5.78 in x 2.82 in x 0.29 in | 5.78 in x 2.81 in x 0.301 in |
| Camera Features | 5 x Digital Zoom, 2 x Optical Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus | 5 x Digital Zoom, 2 x Optical Zoom, Auto Flash, Face detection, Touch to focus |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inch | 6.1 inch |
| Available Colors | White, black, blue, green, purple, Red | Midnight, Starlight, Product Red, Blue, Pink, and Green |
| Weight | 5.78 oz | 6.1 oz |
| Price | $699 | $799 |
| Operating System | iOS v14 | iOS v15 |
- OFFER INCLUDES: An Apple iPhone and a wireless plan with unlimited data/talk/text
- WIRELESS PLAN: Unlimited talk, text, and data with mobile hotspot, nationwide coverage, and international reach. No long-term contract required.
- PROGRAM DETAILS: When you add this offer to cart, it will reflect 3 items: the iPhone, SIM kit, and carrier subscription
- Ceramic Shield, tougher than any smartphone glass
- A14 Bionic chip, the fastest chip ever in a smartphone
![Apple iPhone 12 (128GB, Blue) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/41xssMLI2DL._SL500_.webp)
iPhone 12 vs 13: Six Must-Know Facts
- The iPhone 12 was released on October 23, 2020, and the iPhone 13 was released in the fall of 2021.
- The iPhone 12 is powered by an A14 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 13 is powered by an A15 Bionic chip.
- The cameras on both models are equal in quality, with added features such as optical zoom, dual rear camera setup, quad-LED flash, and auto HDR, among other things.
- Apple is using OLED displays for both new phones, which means you’ll get better color accuracy than with traditional LCD screens.
- The battery life on the new iPhone 13 has been extended by 2 hours over the last generation.
- Both phones now come with Face ID instead of Touch ID. This means you’ll be able to unlock your phone with just your face instead of typing in a PIN (or swiping a fingerprint scanner).
iPhone 12 vs 13: Key Differences
If you’re looking to upgrade from your current iPhone, you have a lot of options. You can go with the latest model or the previous one, or you can go with an older model that’s still in production. When it comes to deciding between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13, there are a few key differences to consider:
Design and display
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The iPhone 12 and 13 are pretty much identical in design. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 have sleek, minimalist designs that are sure to appeal to any Apple fan. The edges of the devices are made of aerospace-grade aluminum, and the back is made of a single piece of polished glass. The dual rear cameras on the iPhone 13 are offset diagonally against each other, as opposed to vertically on the iPhone 12.
The iPhone 13 has a 20% smaller notch for the TrueDepth camera array, which frees up more display real estate and makes the cutout less noticeable. Except for the rear camera placement and the smaller notch, the devices are identical.
The new models weigh a bit more, probably because Apple made the iPhone 13’s battery bigger. There are also new color options. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini now come in pink as well as black (Midnight), white (Starlight), blue, and Product [RED]. Sierra Blue has been added to the lineup of colors for the iPhone 13 Pro, joining Graphite, Gold, and Silver options. Apple has added green options to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models since the iPhone 13’s release last year.
Although the AMOLED panels used in the iPhone 13 lineup are the same size as their predecessors, Apple has made the biggest changes to the displays since the iPhone 12 in this regard. Instead, Apple promises brighter displays — in fact, 28% brighter than the screens on the iPhone 12. The brightness of the iPhone 13 and 13 mini is 800 nits, while the iPhone 13 Pro models can reach 1,000 nits.
Overall Performance and 5G
Every new iPhone has better performance than the last one. That tradition continues with the new iPhone 13. The A15 Bionic processor inside the iPhone 13 is a significant improvement over the A14 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 12, which was already very quick.
While the A15 processor is more powerful in theory, its increased speed might not be immediately apparent. For example, the iPhone 13 is slightly faster at transcoding videos than the iPhone 12, but only by a few seconds.
The standard iPhone 13 has a 4-core GPU, but the Pro models have a 5-core GPU, making them more powerful and faster. This makes the Pro variants of the iPhone 13 an excellent choice for playing games, especially compared to the iPhone 12.
Regarding 5G, the iPhone 13 comes out on top. The iPhone 12 had 5G connectivity, but it was insufficient. Apple now claims that 5G support will be expanded to 200+ carriers in 60 countries and regions. This should significantly improve 5G.
Battery capacity
The iPhone 13 Mini’s battery capacity of 2,500 mAh is an increase of 12% over the iPhone 12 Mini’s capacity. The base model iPhone 13 features a 3,265 mAh battery, an increase of 17% over the 2,960 mAh battery found in the base model iPhone 12. The batteries in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max have been upgraded from the previous generation by about 15% and 18%, to 3,150 mAh and 4,400 mAh, respectively.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 both feature dual 12MP rear cameras, one with an ultra-wide f/2.4 lens and the other with a standard-angle f/1.6 lens. The Wide camera in the iPhone 13 has a new sensor that can capture 47 percent more light for brighter, less noisy photos, and the Ultra-Wide camera also has a new sensor that can capture more detail. Smoother video and higher quality stills are possible thanks to the sensor-shift optical image stabilization technology built into the Wide camera.
Dolby Vision HDR video can be recorded on both devices, but the iPhone 13 can do so at up to 60 frames per second, while the iPhone 12 can only manage 30.
A new camera mode called Cinematic is included in the iPhone 13, allowing users to capture video with a shallow depth of field at 1080p and 30 frames per second. When shooting video in cinematic mode, you can rack focus to smoothly switch the camera’s focus from one subject to another. To do this, it keeps the subject in sharp focus while the background is blurred, and it can switch focuses on its own if a new subject enters the frame. The Photos app also lets you tweak the blur and focus of your videos after they’ve been shot.
Photographic Styles on the iPhone 13 can boost or mute colors without affecting skin tone. Styles are selectively applied to images, unlike filters. Photographic styles include Vibrant, Rich Contrast, Warm, and Cool (accentuates blue undertones). Each style’s Tone and Warmth can be customized to your liking.
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 have similar cameras, but the iPhone 13 has Dolby Vision HDR video at a higher frame rate, Cinematic mode, and Photographic Styles, as well as a larger sensor and sensor-shift stabilization. The iPhone 12’s camera is still very good, but the iPhone 13 has more options and better image quality.
Storage
The iPhone 12 has 64 GB, 128GB of storage, and 256 GB, while the iPhone 13 offers storage capacities of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512GB. This indicates that if you require more storage space than 256 GB, you will have to purchase the iPhone 13 to have a larger 512 GB storage capacity. Other than that, the devices do not differ in terms of their storage options.
Price
At first glance, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are $100 cheaper than the corresponding iPhone 13 models, but that’s before you consider storage space. Both iPhone 12 models start at 64GB, which was plenty of space a few years ago. With apps becoming larger and cameras taking even more detailed photos and video, you may reach the storage limit during your time with the phone. The iPhone 13 starts at 128GB and costs $829. When you compare that to a 128GB iPhone 12, which starts at $779, the price difference is only $50. This is because Apple reduced the prices of several iPhone 12 models following the release of the iPhone 13 and then discontinued the iPhone 12 Pro.
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Cinematic mode adds shallow depth of field and shifts focus automatically in your videos
- Advanced dual-camera system with 12MP Wide and Ultra Wide cameras; Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 4, Night mode, 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording
- 12MP TrueDepth front camera with Night mode, 4K Dolby Vision HDR recording
- A15 Bionic chip for lightning-fast performance
![Apple iPhone 13 (256GB, Blue) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/3150P3KQFlL._SL500_.webp)
iPhone 12 vs 13: Which is Better
The iPhone 13 is a worthy successor to the iPhone 12. Given their similar designs and feature sets, it’s probably not worth upgrading from one to the other, but anyone using an older phone like the iPhone 8 will notice a significant improvement.
The iPhone 13’s battery life is perhaps the most significant improvement here, and it will get you through a day of heavy use in a way that the iPhone 12 never could.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 13’s camera is a significant upgrade over the iPhone 12. In many ways, it’s similar to last year’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, with a large sensor and advanced stabilization. It takes noticeably better pictures, especially in low light.
Performance has also improved significantly, though this will not be immediately noticeable in day-to-day use. After all, the iPhone 12 is still an amazing phone.
Overall, iPhone 12 users can rest easy for at least another year. For everyone else, however, the iPhone 13 is superior in every way.
