iPhone 13 (Mini) vs iPhone 12 (Mini) – Upgrading is pure nonsense

In this comparison the new iPhone 13 and 13 Mini next to the cheap variants from the iPhone 12 series. Spoiler alert: upgrading is nonsense!

With the arrival of the iPhone 13 series, Apple has given customers yet another line of smartphones that are ostensibly better than last year’s. To make the iPhone 13 even more attractive, the more expensive iPhone 12s have been canceled. That while the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are made cheaper. Is that worth buying a new iPhone 13 (Mini) after all? Or is it better to go for the much cheaper 12-series from last year?

Comparison: iPhone 13 (Mini) vs iPhone 12 (Mini)

To get straight to the point; it’s complete nonsense to upgrade to an iPhone 13 or its Mini variant. After all, you’ve already read the title. There are some exceptions that we will come back to in a moment. But it should be clear that Apple has hardly made any changes.

In our comparison of the Pro and Pro Max variants of the 12 and 13 series, we were able to point out some major differences. Now, there’s only one difference between the iPhone 12 (Mini) and 13 (Mini) that makes it worth a comparison at all: the processor. As always, Apple equips their latest iPhone with a new Bionic SoC. It is a bit faster, more advanced and more powerful than last year. That is literally the only substantial difference between the current generation and last year’s.

And what about the battery?

You may notice that in the comparison below, there is still a difference between the SIM systems and battery size of the iPhone 12 (Mini) and 13 (Mini). To start with that first one, you can now insert 2 SIM cards. Very handy for business use, but that’s about it.

As for the battery: in theory and according to Apple, the 13 variants do indeed last a few hours longer. On the other hand, don’t forget that software mainly matters how long the battery lasts. An iPhone 12 will also last a good day. The new processor, on the other hand, is more energy-efficient, which is a small win for the iPhone 13.

But that’s what it really was. The displays, amount of RAM, cameras, charging speeds and even broadly the dimensions are identical!

Conclusion

In short, that makes the comparison between the iPhone 13 (Mini) and iPhone 12 (Mini) very easy. There are only some very niche reasons to upgrade to the latest variant. If you have an older device, you can save a lot of money by buying a generation older. An upgrade is only really worthwhile if you want dual SIM, an extra fast processor or a slightly larger battery. All other aspects are identical to last year’s, but cheaper.

Specifications	iPhone 13	iPhone 12	iPhone 13 Mini	iPhone 12 Mini
Display and resolution	6.1‑inch Super Retina OLED	6.1‑inch Super Retina OLED	5.4‑inch Super Retina OLED	5.4‑inch Super Retina OLED
Resolution	2532 x 1170 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio	2532 x 1170 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio	2340 x 1080 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio	2340 x 1080 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio
Pixels per inch	460 ppi	460 ppi	476 ppi	476 ppi
Refresh rate	60Hz	60Hz	60Hz	60Hz
Processor	Apple A15 Bionic	Apple A14 Bionic	Apple A15 Bionic	Apple A14 Bionic
Random access memory	4GB RAM	4GB RAM	4GB RAM	4GB RAM
Storage area	128/256/512 GB (not expandable)	64/128/256 GB (not expandable)	128/256/512 GB (not expandable)	64/128/256 GB (not expandable)
Operating system	iOS 15	iOS 15	iOS 15	iOS 15
Camera resolution (rear)	Dual12 MP (Wide, Ultra Wide)	Dual12 MP (Wide, Ultra Wide)	Dual12 MP (Wide, Ultra Wide)	Dual12 MP (Wide, Ultra Wide)
Camera resolution (selfie)	12 MP	12 MP	12 MP	12 MP
SIM	Dual SIM	Single SIM	Dual SIM	Single SIM
Battery	3240mAh*	2815mAh	2438mAh*	2227mAh
Fast Charging (Wattage)	20W	20W	20W	20W
Wireless rechargeable	15W (MagSafe)	15W (MagSafe)	15W (MagSafe)	15W (MagSafe)
Height	146.7mm	146.7mm	131.5mm	131.5mm
Width	71.5mm	71.5mm	64.2mm	64.2mm
Thickness	7.65mm	7.4mm	7.65mm	7.4mm
Weight	173 grams	164 grams	140 grams	133 grams
Waterproof	Yes, IP68	Yes, IP68	Yes, IP68	Yes, IP68
Recommended retail price (from)	€909,-	€809,-	€809,-	€689,-