Not everyone can afford Apple’s latest iPhones, especially with prices approaching or exceeding $1,000. The truth is that most people don’t need the latest models, and Apple offers attractive prices on the older ones. For example, Apple is still selling the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini, and both of these phones have a starting price of $599, which is much friendlier to your wallet.
Let’s take a look at the main components of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 and how they compare to help you decide which model to buy.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 mini: specs
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Resolution 2532 × 1170 pixels at 460 ppi |
5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED 2340×1080 pixel resolution at 476 ppi |
| Dimensions | 5.78 inches x 2.82 inches x 0.29 inches | 5.18″ x 2.53″ x 0.30″ |
| lester | 5.78 ounces | 4.97 ounces |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Product(RED), Purple, White | Blue, Green, Midnight, Pink, Product(RED), Starlight |
| Processor | A14 bionic | A15 bionic |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Rear camera | Dual 12MP Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture Ultra wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture Optical image stabilization Smart HDR 3 for photos |
Dual 12MP Wide: ƒ/1.6 aperture Ultra wide: ƒ/2.4 aperture Sensor-shift optical image stabilization Smart HDR 4 for photos |
| Front camera | 12MP true depth f/2.2 aperture Smart HDR 3 for photos |
12MP true depth f/2.2 aperture Cinematic mode for videos Smart HDR 4 for photos |
| Video recording | 4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps HDR Dolby Vision up to 30 fps |
4K video recording at 24 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps HDR Dolby Vision up to 60 fps Cinematic mode |
| Biometric security | Face ID | Face ID |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6 5G LTE Bluetooth 5.0 Lightning |
WiFi 6 5G LTE Bluetooth 5.0 Lightning |
| Wireless charging | MagSafe, Qi | MagSafe, Qi |
| Waterproofing | IP68 | IP68 |
| SIM | Dual SIM (nano and eSim) | Dual SIM (nano and eSim) Dual eSIM |
| Battery life | 17 hours of video playback | 13 hours of video playback |
| Price | $599/$649/$749 | $599/$699/$899 |
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13: Design and colors
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini feature the same flat-edge design, but the mini is smaller and lighter. The two rear camera bump lenses are vertical on the iPhone 12. On the iPhone 13 mini, they are diagonal.
The color offerings are different. Even three colors with the same name on both models (blue, green and product (RED)) are different shades.
The iPhone 12 (left) and iPhone 13 mini are available in 6 colors.
Apple
Our choice : The design differences are not very important to influence you one way or another. Lens placement isn’t an issue, the extra weight on the iPhone 12 isn’t enough to sway a decision. It really comes down to the size and color you prefer – every phone’s color palettes are different. But if you put a case on the iPhone, you may not care about the color of the phone.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 mini: Display
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini both have a Super Retina XDR display, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, True Tone, and P3 color support. One difference is that the iPhone 13 mini is 28% brighter, with a typical peak brightness of 800 nits, while the iPhone 12 is rated at 625 nits. Both phones have an HDR peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
Our opinion : If you are often in a situation where you have trouble seeing the screen in an environment with bright lights, consider the iPhone 13. Even though it is smaller than the iPhone 12, its brighter screen will easier to see in these situations, but the iPhone 12’s screen is still more than enough for everyday use.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 mini: Cameras
This is where the iPhone 13 has a few differences that might sway your decision. Users who take their photos and videos very seriously might be won over by the new camera features.
The reason the rear camera lenses on the iPhone 13 mini are now diagonal is so that Apple can install a sensor-shifting optical image stabilization system there. It improves on the standard optical image stabilization of the iPhone 12. The main rear camera specs of both phones are the same – 12MP Wide (ƒ/1.6 aperture) and Ultra Wide (ƒ/2.4 aperture) – but the main camera has a larger sensor for better low-light performance. The front cameras have the same specs (12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture), but the iPhone 13 mini’s selfie camera supports newer features than the 12.
The iPhone 13 mini now features what Apple calls Photographic Styles, which can change color tones without affecting skin tones. You can apply a style called Rich Contrast, and the shadows in a photo will darken and the colors will become deeper. The Vibrant style makes photos brighter, while the Warm style enhances golden tones and the Cool style accentuates blue colors.
A key new video feature is Cinematic mode, which creates shallow depth of field: the person stays in focus while the background is blurred. You can shift the focus from person to person, and you can even edit the effect on the iPhone to adjust the blur or change the focus. Cinematic mode runs in 1080p at 30 fps.
Apple
Our choice : For users who make cameras the top priority, the iPhone 13 mini is the way to go. The cameras are better and the new features are ideal for content creators who want to do more with their photos and videos. However, if your use case is more about snapshots and short video clips, you’ll find an excellent camera in the iPhone 12.
iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13 mini: Battery life
As iPhone 13 mini is smaller than iPhone 12, its battery is smaller. According to information provided by Apple to Chemtrec, the iPhone 13 mini’s battery is listed with a capacity of 9.34 watt-hours, compared to 10.78 Wh for the iPhone 12, an increase of 15%. However, Apple’s specs state that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini offer 17 hours of video playback. But the iPhone 13 mini has a 13-hour streaming video rating, which is 2 hours longer than the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 offers 65 hours of audio playback (10 hours longer). In our tests, the iPhone 12 lasted about eight and a half hours, about two hours longer than the iPhone 13 mini.
Both iPhones are compatible with MagSafe and Qi wireless charging. If you use a 20W charger or more, both phones can add up to 50% charge in 30 minutes.
Our choice : Either phone is quite capable of getting you through a day and more. If you frequently use the phone as a work tool or for your personal projects, the larger battery of the iPhone 12 is more reassuring.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 mini: Processor
Apple did an interesting thing when talking about the iPhone 13 mini’s processor: it compared the performance of the new A15 Bionic to “the competition” instead of the iPhone 12’s A14 Bionic. That’s probably because ‘it may make bigger claims against the competition, while comparisons to the A14 Bionic may not be as significant according to Apple. We did our own testing of the A15 chip in the iPhone 13 and it shows a modest 11% increase over the A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12.
The A15 Bionic, like the A14 Bionic it replaces, has 6 CPU cores (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), a 4-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine. That’s one less GPU core than in the iPhone 13 Pro, but it shouldn’t make much of a difference in anything other than high-end games and apps.
The A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 offers a nice boost over its predecessor, but you might not notice a difference if you already have an iPhone 12.
Apple
Our choice : While the geeks among us are wary of CPU performance, the truth is that for several generations now the iPhone has been more than fast enough to handle everyday use – accessing social media, using the camera , web browsing, instant messaging, video calls. , and more. The iPhone 12 is very fast for these tasks as well as heavier tasks, like processing edited videos and games.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 mini: Storage
This is where the price differences stand out. Both phones start at $599, but at that price the iPhone 12 has 64GB of storage, while the iPhone 13 mini has 128GB. A 128GB iPhone 12 is $649, $50 more than the 128GB iPhone 13 mini. Both models are available with 256GB, but the iPhone 12 costs $749, which is $50 more than the $699 256GB iPhone 13 mini. The iPhone 12 n isn’t available with 512GB, while the iPhone 13 mini has a 512GB version for $899.
Our choice : If you only consider storage, the prices of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 mini seem odd. We wouldn’t recommend buying a 64GB phone – that’s not enough storage for most people, especially if you plan to take lots of photos and videos. The 128GB and 256GB iPhone mini are better deals than the 128GB and 256GB iPhone 12.
But the physical size of the phone plays a role here. If you prefer the larger size of the iPhone 12, be prepared to pay a little more.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 mini: conclusion
With the iPhone 13 mini, you get a few extra features over the iPhone 12: more camera options, a faster processor, and a lower price per gigabyte for storage. And it’s in a smaller package, which is the main difference between the two. But the iPhone 12 is still a great phone, and if your use case is more basic, it’s the best fit. Its A14 Bionic is very fast, so don’t worry about it being outdated, and if you’re upgrading from a much older iPhone, you still get a significant performance boost.
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