iPhone 13 Mini vs. iPhone 13 Buyer's Guide

In 2021, unveiled the iPhone 13 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 13 as the successors to the popular iPhone 12 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 12, featuring a 20 percent smaller notch, the A15 Bionic chip, improved cameras, longer battery life, and more. As Apple's entry-level ‌iPhone‌ 13 offerings, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 13 offer a host of versatile features intended for the mainstream consumer.

iphone 13 and iphone 13 mini
The ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini starts at $599 and the ‌iPhone‌ 13 starts at $699. Although the two phones share the vast majority of features, there are a small number of differences between the devices besides just screen size. Our guide highlights the differences between the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 13, and helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two ‌iPhone‌ models is best for you.

Comparing the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 13

The ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ mini and ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 share virtually all of the same key features. Both phones have the same OLED Super Retina XDR display, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, dual cameras with 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide lenses, and are available in the same colors. More interesting is where the two devices differ:

Differences

‌iPhone‌ 13 mini ‌iPhone‌ 13
5.4-inch OLED display 6.1-inch OLED display
2340 x 1080 pixel resolution 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution
17 hours of battery life when playing video 19 hours of video when playing video
Weight of 4.97 ounces (141 grams) Weight of 6.14 ounces (174 grams)
$699, $799, and $999 for 128GB/256GB/512GB $799, $899, and $1,099 for 128GB/256GB/512GB

It is worth noting that the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini does not miss out on any specific features or camera improvements due to its smaller size, with the two devices sharing almost all of their features. Read on for a closer look at each of the different aspects, and see where exactly the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 contrasts with its smaller sibling.

Display Size

The most noticeable difference between the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ mini and ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ is the size of their displays. The ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ mini has a display size of 5.4 inches and the ‌iPhone‌ 13 has a display size of 6.1 inches. This means that the larger phone will be able to show more content on the screen, with the UI elements of apps spaced further apart and items such as the keyboard being bigger.

iphone 13 lineupThe display sizes of the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max, 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, and 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini compared.

The smaller phone, however, is easier to use with one hand. For example, the Control Center is easier to reach at the top of the screen, and users may feel more comfortable swiping around iOS on a smaller display with a firmer grip.

The displays themselves use the exact same technologies and feature brighter panels than last year's ‌iPhone‌ 12, but the main reason to prefer the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 mini will be because of its better fit in the hand and easier one-handed use. Likewise, those that want a larger display for media consumption, being the same size as the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, will clearly prefer the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 13.

Dimensions and Weight

As a smaller phone, the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ mini obviously has a lesser height and width than the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌. The ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ mini is 15.2mm shorter and 7.3mm narrower than the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌. Both phones have the same thickness of 7.65mm. The size of the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini makes it much more pocketable than the ‌iPhone‌ 13.

iphone 13 colors sizes
Another factor that demarcates the difference between the two devices is their weight. The ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 mini is 33 grams (1.16 ounces) lighter than its larger counterpart, at just 141 grams (4.97 ounces) in total. If you want the smallest and lightest possible ‌iPhone‌, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini will be a better choice than the ‌iPhone‌ 13.

Battery Life

The ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 13 also differ when it comes to battery life. The ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 mini can deliver up to 17 hours of video playback, according to Apple. Since the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 is larger, it can accommodate a larger battery and therefore offer a longer battery life. This means that the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ can reportedly deliver up to 19 hours of video playback.

iphone 13 13 mini notch camera
When streaming video, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini can deliver 13 hours of battery life and the ‌iPhone‌ 13 can deliver 15 hours. When streaming music, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini offers 55 hours of battery life compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 13's 75 hours. Real-world battery life for both devices is likely to be lower than Apple's estimates, as mixed usage tends to be a bit heavier than video playback alone.

If battery life is a priority for you, the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 clearly offers better battery life over the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, but it is not a major difference. If you choose to get the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, it will still have a fair, all-day battery life, but it simply does not match the capability of the ‌iPhone‌ 13.

Other iPhone Options

If you want a larger, 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌, but the ‌iPhone‌ 13 is out of your price range at $799, you may wish to consider the ‌iPhone‌ 12, which offers a larger display and many of the ‌iPhone‌ 13's key features, but for $599.

Alternatively, if you want a 6.1-inch device but with even more battery life and added camera capabilities, you may wish to consider the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, which starts at $999. For the biggest ‌iPhone‌ with maximum battery life, there is the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max for $1,099.

We have a host of Buyer's Guides that take deep-dive into all of the differences between various ‌iPhone‌ models, so if you are now considering either the ‌iPhone‌ 13 or ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, take a look at our comparisons with the ‌iPhone‌ 12, ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max to be sure you are making the right decision:

Final Thoughts

The most important decision point between the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 13 comes down to screen size, but comfort, pocketability, weight, and battery life are also important considerations. The added $100 for the ‌iPhone‌ 13 seems fair for the added display area and battery life, but it is important to weigh up these additional factors in your personal use case.

The ‌iPhone‌ 13 represents the baseline for what you can get out of an ‌iPhone‌, and most users will be happy with this size. A smaller, 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ is not for everyone. Some may find the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini's size far too small, while others will love the design for being ultra-portable and easy to use with one hand. These users will be willing to trade off a couple of hours of battery life for the more compact and lightweight design.

Screen size is ultimately a matter of personal preference, and Apple offers the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro lineup in three different sizes to meet all users' needs. Since the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ mini and ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ share almost all features except for battery capacity, it comes down to individual taste.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

M5 MacBook Pro

Apple Announces New 14-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip

Wednesday October 15, 2025 6:07 am PDT by
Apple today updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, which is also available in updated iPad Pro and Vision Pro models. In addition, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro can now be configured with up to 4TB of storage on Apple's online store, whereas the previous model maxed out at 2TB. However, the maximum amount of unified RAM available for this model remains 32GB. Like...
Apple iPad Pro hero M5

Apple Debuts New iPad Pro With M5 Chip, Faster Charging, and More

Wednesday October 15, 2025 6:16 am PDT by
Apple today announced the next-generation iPad Pro, featuring the custom-designed M5, C1X, and N1 chips. The M5 chip has up to a 10-core CPU, with four performance cores and six efficiency cores. It features a next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerator in each core, allowing the new iPad Pro to deliver up to 3.5x the AI performance than the previous model, and a third-generation ray-tracing ...
apple oct 2024 mac tease

Apple Expected to Announce These Two to Three Products 'This Week'

Sunday October 12, 2025 7:05 am PDT by
Apple plans to announce new products "this week," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple's "Mac Your Calendars" teaser last October In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the products set to be updated this week include the iPad Pro, Vision Pro, and "likely" the base 14-inch MacBook Pro, with all three likely to receive a spec bump with Apple's next-generation M5 chip. Gurman...
maxresdefault

Here's Everything Apple Announced Today

Wednesday October 15, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We didn't get a second fall event this year, but Apple did unveil updated products with a series of press releases that went out today. The M5 chip made an appearance in new MacBook Pro, Vision Pro, and iPad Pro models. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up our coverage and highlighted the main feature changes for each device below. MacBook Pro M5...
joz macbook tease

Apple Teases Upcoming M5 MacBook Pro Launch: 'Something Powerful is Coming'

Tuesday October 14, 2025 11:59 am PDT by
Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased the launch of an upcoming product, saying "something powerful is coming" on social media. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. A short animation accompanying Joswiak's teaser reveals a brief glimpse of a MacBook Pro along with the words "coming soon." The shape of the MacBook Pro is a V, which is the Roman numeral...
airpods max 2024 colors

AirPods Max 2: Everything We Know So Far

Tuesday October 14, 2025 8:43 am PDT by
Apple's AirPods Max have now been available for almost five years, so what do we know about the second-generation version? According to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new AirPods Max will be lighter than the current ones, but exactly how much is as yet known. The current AirPods Max weigh 0.85 pounds (386.2 grams), excluding the charging case, making it one of the heavier...
Vision Pro M5 Announcement

Apple Updates Vision Pro With M5 Chip, Dual Knit Band, and 120Hz Support

Wednesday October 15, 2025 6:14 am PDT by
Apple today updated the Vision Pro headset with its next-generation M5 chip for faster performance, and a more comfortable Dual Knit Band. The M5 chip has a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a 16-core Neural Engine, and we have confirmed the Vision Pro still has 16GB of RAM. With the M5 chip, the Vision Pro offers faster performance and longer battery life compared...
macbook pro blue

Apple's M5 MacBook Pro Imminent: What to Expect

Tuesday October 14, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is going to launch a new version of the MacBook Pro as soon as tomorrow, so we thought we'd go over what to expect from Apple's upcoming Mac. M5 Chip The MacBook Pro will be one of the first new devices to use the next-generation M5 chip, which will replace the M4 chip. The M5 is built on TSMC's more advanced 3-nanometer process, and it will bring speed and efficiency improvements. ...
MacBook Pro M5 Screen

New MacBook Pro Does Not Include a Charger in the Box in Europe

Wednesday October 15, 2025 6:59 am PDT by
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip does not include a charger in the box in European countries, including the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and others, according to Apple's online store. In the U.S. and all other countries outside of Europe, the new MacBook Pro comes with Apple's 70W USB-C Power Adapter, but European customers miss out....
HomePod mini and Apple TV

Apple's Next Rumored Products: New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and More

Thursday October 16, 2025 9:13 am PDT by
Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but previous rumors have indicated that the company still plans to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year. The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025, although it is unclear if the timeframe for any of them has...