Phones · Model guide · Maker specs
iPhone 13
Pick iPhone 13 over an iPhone 12 at a similar price: it starts at 128GB instead of 64GB, its screen is rated at 800 nits, and it plays up to 19 hours of video.
Product images
iPhone 13, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Pick iPhone 13 over an iPhone 12 at a similar price: it starts at 128GB instead of 64GB, its screen is rated at 800 nits, and it plays up to 19 hours of video. It has the A15 Bionic, two 12MP cameras with Cinematic mode, and MagSafe and Qi2 charging at up to 15W. Skip it if you want Crash Detection or satellite SOS, which arrived with iPhone 14, or USB-C.
Who it is for
- Owners whose iPhone 13 still holds up. It already has the storage and brightness that iPhone 12 lacked, so the case for replacing it rests on what came later: Crash Detection, satellite SOS and USB-C.
- Used buyers weighing it against an iPhone 12. For the same $799 launch price, the 13 doubled the starting storage to 128GB and is rated at 800 nits typical against 625.
- Anyone who wants fast wireless charging on a budget iPhone. It charges at up to 15W on MagSafe or Qi2 chargers.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants Crash Detection or Emergency SOS via satellite. Both arrived with iPhone 14, which is also rated for 20 hours of video against 19.
- Anyone who wants a telephoto, a LiDAR Scanner or ProMotion. Those are on iPhone 13 Pro.
- Anyone who'd rather have a smaller phone. iPhone 13 mini has the same chip and cameras in a 5.4-inch, 141-gram body for $699 at launch, though it's rated for 17 hours of video instead of 19.
- Anyone who needs USB-C, a 48MP camera or Dynamic Island. None of them is here.
What sets it apart
- 128GB to start, twice iPhone 12's 64GB at the same $799 launch price, with 256GB and 512GB versions above it.
- Up to 19 hours of video playback, 15 of streaming and 75 of audio, against 17, 13 and 55 for iPhone 13 mini.
- Sensor-shift stabilization on the ƒ/1.6 main camera, and Cinematic mode for video.
- MagSafe and Qi2 charging at up to 15W. iPhone 13 mini is rated for MagSafe and 7.5W Qi only.
Caveats
- Its A15 has a 4-core GPU, one fewer core than the A15 in iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14.
- There's no USB-C: it's a Lightning phone, and Apple includes only the cable, so 50% in 30 minutes means buying a 20W or stronger adapter.
- It launched with iOS 15 in September 2021, and Apple puts no end date on its updates.
Key specs
In the same order on every phone page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.1-inch (diagonal) Super Retina XDR; 6.06 inches as a standard rectangle (actual viewable area is less) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Display type | All-screen OLED; Ceramic Shield front; glass back; oleophobic coating. Aluminum design | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsThere's no Dynamic Island or Always-On display. |
| Display resolution | 2532 × 1170 px at 460 ppi | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Refresh rate | No ProMotion (120Hz) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsProMotion is on iPhone 13 Pro. |
| Brightness | 800 nits typical; 1200 nits HDR peak; 2,000,000:1 contrast (typical) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsiPhone 12 is rated at 625 nits typical. Apple gives no outdoor peak for iPhone 13. |
| Always-On display | No | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Dimensions | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65 mm (5.78 × 2.82 × 0.30 in) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Weight | 174 g (6.14 oz) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsiPhone 13 mini weighs 141 g. |
| Build materials | Aluminum design; Ceramic Shield front; glass back | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Finishes | (PRODUCT)RED, Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Green | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsGreen wasn't in the launch lineup. |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68 (IEC 60529); maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Chip | A15 Bionic: 6-core CPU (2 performance / 4 efficiency), 4-core GPU, 16-core. | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsThe A15 in iPhone 14 has a 5-core GPU. |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsiPhone 12 started at 64GB. |
| Rear cameras | Dual 12MP system. Main ƒ/1.6, sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels. Ultra Wide ƒ/2.4, 120° FOV | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Telephoto / zoom | 2x optical zoom out; digital zoom up to 5x. No dedicated telephoto | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsiPhone 13 Pro adds a telephoto. |
| Front camera | 12MP TrueDepth | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Video | 4K video recording; Cinematic mode. No ProRes or Log | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Battery capacity | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion; capacity not published | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Battery life | Video playback up to 19 hours; streamed video up to 15 hours; audio playback up to 75 hours | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsFor comparison: iPhone 13 mini 17, 13 and 55 hours; iPhone 14 20, 16 and 80. |
| Wired charging | Lightning. Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (sold separately) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Wireless charging | MagSafe up to 15W; Qi2 up to 15W; Qi up to 7.5W | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsiPhone 13 mini isn't rated for Qi2. |
| Operating system | iOS 15 at launch (available 20 September 2021) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs; Apple Newsroom, 2021-09-14Apple's compatibility list has the iOS versions it supports today. |
| Update policy | No stated number of years for iPhone 13 | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Cellular | 5G and Gigabit LTE. Model A2482 | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2×2 MIMO; Bluetooth 5.0; Ultra Wideband chip; NFC with reader mode | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Port | Lightning connector. Video out up to 1080p through Lightning adapters (sold separately) | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| SIM | Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM); dual eSIM support; SIM tray. eSIM not supported in all regions | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsUS iPhone 14 models have no SIM tray. |
| NFC / contactless payments | Apple Pay; Express Cards with power reserve | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| GNSS / GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Biometrics | Face ID via TrueDepth camera | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Other sensors | Face ID (TrueDepth); no other sensors listed | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsLiDAR is an iPhone 13 Pro feature. |
| Safety features | No Crash Detection or Emergency SOS via satellite on iPhone 13 | Apple iPhone 13 tech specsBoth arrived with iPhone 14. |
| US launch price | $799 (US), announced 14 September 2021. iPhone 13 mini was $699 | Apple Newsroom, 2021-09-14 |
| Price band | Used or refurbished (launched at $799) | Based on Apple's 2021 launch price |
| Announced | 14 September 2021 | Apple Newsroom, 2021-09-14 |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 17 September 2021 (5 a.m. PDT); stores from 24 September 2021. Not in Apple's lineup as of 2026-09-19 | Apple Newsroom, 2021-09-14 |
iPhone 13 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | 4-core GPU; the version in iPhone 14 has a 5-core GPU | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Lightning | Lightning connector and USB-C to Lightning Cable in the box | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Ring/Silent switch | Ring/Silent switch; no Action button or Camera Control | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| Model number | A2482 | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
| In the box | iPhone 13; USB-C to Lightning Cable; documentation. No power adapter or EarPods | Apple iPhone 13 tech specs |
Apple announced iPhone 13 on 14 September 2021, opened pre-orders on 17 September and had it in stores on 24 September 2021. It’s no longer in Apple’s lineup, so you’ll be buying it used or refurbished. iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12 covers the choice against the older model in detail.
Screen
It’s a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532 × 1170 at 460 ppi with 2,000,000:1 contrast, under Ceramic Shield. A typical brightness of 800 nits, with HDR peaking at 1200, makes it easier to read outdoors than iPhone 12’s 625-nit screen. It has no ProMotion, Always-On mode or Dynamic Island.
Cameras
The main camera is a 12MP ƒ/1.6 sensor with sensor-shift stabilization and 100% Focus Pixels, paired with a 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide that sees 120 degrees. There’s no telephoto, so zoom is 2x optical out to the Ultra Wide and up to 5x digital in. The front camera is a 12MP TrueDepth.
Video goes up to 4K, with Cinematic mode but no ProRes or Log recording.
Battery and charging
| Battery | iPhone 13 mini | iPhone 13 | iPhone 14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video playback | Up to 17 hours | Up to 19 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Streamed video | Up to 13 hours | Up to 15 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Audio playback | Up to 55 hours | Up to 75 hours | Up to 80 hours |
iPhone 14 gained only an hour of video over the 13, so battery alone isn’t a reason to pay more for it. The mini is the one that gives up real endurance, most of all for audio.
Wired charging is over Lightning, at 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or stronger. Wirelessly it takes up to 15W from MagSafe or Qi2 chargers and 7.5W from standard Qi pads.
Connections and SIM
It has 5G and Gigabit LTE (model A2482), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, an Ultra Wideband chip and NFC with reader mode for Apple Pay. It takes a nano-SIM in a tray plus an eSIM, or two eSIMs. If you want a physical SIM in the US, that tray matters: US iPhone 14 models don’t have one. It keeps the Ring/Silent switch, with no Action button or Camera Control, and Lightning adapters can output video at up to 1080p.
Price
For $799 in the US you got 128GB at launch, with 256GB and 512GB costing more, and the smaller iPhone 13 mini started at $699. If you’d rather buy new, Apple’s current Pro is iPhone 18 Pro. For a used 13, storage and battery condition drive the price, so check before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Support — iPhone 13 tech specs (HT111872) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — Guidelines for Using Apple Trademarks and Copyrights — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Which is the better used buy, iPhone 13 or iPhone 14?
iPhone 14, if Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite matter to you; iPhone 13 has neither. The 14 is also rated for 20 hours of video against 19 and its A15 has a 5-core GPU. If you need a physical SIM in the US, the 13 still has a SIM tray and US iPhone 14 models don't.
Is iPhone 13 mini just a smaller iPhone 13?
Mostly. It has the same A15 Bionic and dual 12MP cameras in a 5.4-inch, 141-gram body, and it launched at $699. Its battery is rated for 17 hours of video instead of 19, and it isn't rated for Qi2.
Can iPhone 13 use Qi2 chargers?
Yes, at up to 15W, the same as MagSafe. Older Qi chargers run at up to 7.5W.
Does iPhone 13 have a telephoto camera?
No. It has a ƒ/1.6 main camera and a ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide, so you get 2x optical zoom out and up to 5x digital zoom. iPhone 13 Pro has the telephoto.
What storage sizes does iPhone 13 come in?
128GB, 256GB or 512GB. It was the first non-Pro iPhone to start at 128GB, twice what iPhone 12 started with at the same $799.
Can iPhone 13 shoot Cinematic mode video?
Yes. Cinematic mode is part of its camera system, along with 4K recording. It doesn't record ProRes or Log.
Official product page: iPhone 13. Tech specs: iPhone 13 specs.