Intro
Small telephones are retro.
Nicely, the brand new iPhone 16 is just not precisely compact, however the writing’s on the wall––it’s the most compact new iPhone that Apple has in retailer for us in 2024. With the identical design that has been round for the previous few years, however with some notable upgrades. We get two new buttons, an Motion Button and a brand new Digicam Controls button, in addition to a sooner new chip that helps Apple Intelligence.
Nonetheless, how does the newest iPhone evaluate in opposition to probably the most compact one currently? Let’s evaluate the 2 and deduce whether or not you need to improve or not.
iPhone 16 vs iPhone 13 mini variations:
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 13 mini |
|---|---|
| Brighter 6.1-inch OLED show with Dynamic Island | Extra compact 5.4-inch OLED display screen with a small notch with normal max brightness |
| New Motion Button, new Digicam Management button | Normal mute change |
| Apple A18 chip | Apple A15 Bionic chip |
| 8GB of RAM | 4GB of RAM |
| Apple Intelligence assist | No Apple Intelligence assist |
| 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage choices | The identical 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage choices |
| New vertical structure for the digicam that permits Spatial Video | Diagonal digicam structure |
| Twin digicam system with a 48MP essential digicam, 2X sensor crom, and 12MP ultra-wide w/ macro | Twin essential and ultra-wide 12MP cameras with smaller sensors |
| USB-C port on the backside | Lightning port on the backside |
| 20W wired charging | 20W wired charging |
| 25W MagSafe charging | 15W MagSafe charging |
| $799 beginning worth | $699 worth at launch, now not obtainable formally |
Desk of Contents:
Design and Dimension
Nicely, though three years could have handed for the reason that iPhone 13 mini broke cowl, there would not be that many variations between the compact outdated champ and the brand new iPhone 16, style-wise.
Naturally, the 2 will differ when it comes to dimension. In a single nook, we received a really single-hand pleasant iPhone 13 mini with a 5.4-inch display screen that weighs simply 141gr; within the reverse nook, you get the 6.1-inch aluminum gadget that is taller, wider, thicker, and heavier.
Each telephones make use of the identical common design language with the now iconic flat shows and body, which has been slowly adopted by almost the entire business. On the entrance, the iPhone 16 has the Dynamic Island punch-hole design, whereas the iPhone 13 mini has the older notch design language, although it is barely smaller than the previous iPhone 12 era.
One other important change is the brand new Digicam Management button, which is positioned on the fitting facet of the iPhone 16 and means that you can shortly work together with the iPhone 16 digicam. Other than shortly capturing images or movies, the Digicam Management button additionally means that you can maintain and swipe to pick out between totally different digicam controls, like publicity, Photographic Types, and a lot extra.
The iPhone 13 mini options IP68 water and dust-resistance, and the iPhone 16 does so, too. The newer iPhone has a USB Kind-C port on the backside, whereas the iPhone 13 mini remains to be a Lightning port holdout.
Show Variations
As we talked about, the iPhone 16 arrives with the identical 6.1-inch show that has been round for the reason that iPhone 11.
No main modifications on deck right here: the identical OLED Tremendous Retina XDR display screen with 60Hz refresh charge, excessive peak brightness of round 1600 nits, and the brand new right here minimal brightness of only a single nit, making the telephone very appropriate for utilization through the night time.
In the meantime, the iPhone 13 mini additionally comes with an OLED display screen with a 60Hz refresh charge, simply smaller and extra compact, measuring 5.4 inches throughout. The height brightness is fairly normal, at round 1,000 nits, however the primary and most necessary factor in regards to the iPhone 13 mini stays the tremendous compact dimension and the minuscule show, as per at present’s requirements.
In our assessments, the iPhone 16 fares higher than the iPhone 13 mini in most use situations, together with each most and minimal brightness ranges. Nevertheless, the iPhone 13 mini has a extra correct shade replica, as evident within the shade charts within the desk above. You most likely will not discover any distinction in real-world situations, however hey, that is what the info says, and information is king.
Each gadgets depend on Face ID for on-device authentication, however the iPhone 16 has the newer Dynamic Island whereas the iPhone 13 mini makes use of a daily iPhone notch. To be truthful, it is smaller than those on the iPhone 12 and older.
Efficiency and Software program
A terrific efficiency leap
The iPhone 13 mini comes with the Apple A15 Bionic chip, constructed on a 5nm manufacturing course of, in order that’s a three-generational hole between the 2 iPhones in favor of the newer iPhone 16. Nevertheless, telephones outfitted with the A15 Bionic do not actually really feel too outdated or sluggish. Nonetheless, not a superb outlook for the potential future-proofness of the gadget, which is about to be out of date in a few years’ time.
Okay, we lied, a method during which the older chip would possibly really feel terribly outdated is synthetic intelligence, and Apple Intelligence specifically. The A18 chip contained in the iPhone 16 implies that it helps Apple Intelligence, although Cupertino’s suite of good AI options is not right here but and can expertise a staggered launch over the approaching months.
How’s the each day efficiency? Nicely, we ran our artificial benchmarks, and the info is in: to no shock, the iPhone 16 beats the older iPhone 13 mini in all efficiency assessments. Irrespective of if we’re speaking in regards to the CPU-heavy Geekbench 6 or the graphics-testing 3DMark Excessive, it is the iPhone 16 that takes the cake.
Nevertheless, the iPhone 13 mini remains to be a wonderfully succesful telephone that is alive and kicking regardless of the advances in cell efficiency since its launch.
One other main change on the iPhone 16 are the 8GB of RAM on board. The rationale for which might be the tasking {hardware} necessities for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. As a comparability, the iPhone 13 mini boasts 4GB of RAM, which sounds unimpressive compared, however RAM is not such a serious subject with iPhones. Nonetheless, it is good to have extra, no?
We count on the iPhone 16 to be supported till the tip of the last decade, after which some. The iPhone 13 mini will doubtless get sundown round 2028.
iOS 18.1
Each gadgets at the moment run iOS 18, however iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence to reach by the tip of October 2024. That stated, do not count on Apple Intelligence to be obtainable on the iPhone 13 mini. Then once more, you are not dropping a lot. Here is what’s new:
- Pictures––The Pictures app has undergone a redesign and now contains AI options like Reminiscence Films, which might generate a film out of your picture library based mostly on a immediate you enter. The app additionally has a Clear Up instrument for eradicating undesirable objects from images. That is just like most different producers’ comparable takes on that fucn
- Writing Instruments––One of many standout options of iOS 18.1 is its built-in writing instruments, which allow you to proofread and rewrite textual content immediately inside nearly any app. You may select to use edits one after the other or all of sudden. The instrument may also summarize textual content, create bullet factors, and generate lists, making it a extremely priceless addition.
- Siri––Whereas a extra superior Siri is anticipated in early 2025, the present iOS 18.1 model brings a recent look, that includes a glowing overlay that seems on iOS, macOS, and CarPlay when Siri is activated. It’s also possible to sort out instructions as an alternative of talking them. The assistant now presents higher context consciousness and may adapt to mid-sentence modifications in your question.
- Mail––The Mail app now options Good Reply for fast, prompt responses, and may summarize emails. Vital emails are flagged as excessive precedence, making certain you’re promptly notified after they arrive.
- Messages – The Good Reply characteristic is now a part of the Messages app too, serving to you ship applicable responses shortly and effortlessly.
- Focus Modes––A brand new focus mode referred to as Scale back Interruptions makes use of Apple Intelligence to inform you solely of important messages, permitting you to pay attention with out distractions.
- Notifications––iOS 18.1 introduces an AI-powered notification abstract that seems on the lock display screen, supplying you with a fast overview of key updates.
- Cellphone––The up to date Cellphone app enables you to document calls and robotically transcribe them into the Notes app, making it simple to reference necessary conversations later.
- Safari––The Safari browser now features a summarizing characteristic that condenses internet pages into key factors, serving to you digest info extra effectively.
Digicam
Twin cameras, however higher
The principle digicam of the iPhone 16 is a high-res 48MP one, delivering larger element compared with the 12MP one on the iPhone 13 mini. The high-res sensor additionally enables you to make the most of a 2X crop for a higher-quality digital zoom. The 12MP ultra-wide digicam is widespread between the 2 gadgets, however the one on the iPhone 16 has macro assist, whereas the iPhone 13 mini would not.
One main change is the digicam structure. Not like earlier iPhone fashions, which have diagonal digicam alignments, the iPhone 16 will undertake a vertical structure, which has not been seen for the reason that iPhone 12 days. The rationale for this repositioning is to permit the brand new iPhone 16 to document spatial video, which could be watched on the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional headset.
And we already talked about the brand new Digicam Management button, which helps you to work together with the iPhone 16‘s digicam. You may take images and movies with a single click on, in addition to management the publicity and different facets of the digicam with a single click on and swipe on the brand new button.
Most important Digicam
In common daylight circumstances, the iPhone 16 is sharper and with higher dynamics. Nonetheless, the iPhone 13 mini undoubtedly stand This can be a testomony to only how good the iPhone 13 mini nonetheless is, because it would not actually really feel that you simply’re dropping a lot by not upgrading to the iPhone 16.
At night time, there aren’t that many distinction both. One factor that instantly stands out is the seen oversharpening with the older iPhone 13 mini (simply take a look at the flowers). Apart from that, the dynamics and general really feel of each images is just about comparable.
Zoom High quality
When zooming, it is the higher-res digicam and newer algorithms of the iPhone 16 that take the cake and ship considerably higher picture high quality. Right here, the iPhone 13 mini remains to be within the race, however the drop in picture high quality is instantly seen compared with the iPhone 16.
At 10X, the distinction in sharpness is palpable, because the iPhone offers us a usable picture, whereas the iPhone 13 mini outputs a smudgy mess.
Extremely-wide Digicam
Not many variations within the ultra-wide digicam check, as the 2 telephones are primarily utilizing fairly comparable {hardware}. The principle distinction is the vibrancy of the colours within the iPhone 13 mini pattern picture, whereas the iPhone 16 delivers a extra pure and down-to-earth look.
At night time, nonetheless, the iPhone 13 mini falloff is as soon as once more evident. The iPhone 16 has a lot better low-light sensitivity and does a a lot better job at exposing the picture accurately, and even throwing in some nice element to rub it onto the iPhone 13 mini.
Selfies
Not that many variations with the selfie cameras both––we would decide both one to placed on our social media channels.
Extra Digicam Samples
Battery Life and Charging
iPhone 16 domination incoming
Coming in with a big 3,561mAh battery, the iPhone 16 is the battery life favourite right here, as now we have a selected light-weight fighter within the different nook: the iPhone 13 mini with its humble 2,406mAh battery, subpar as per at present’s requirements.
Paired with the extra environment friendly and sooner A18 3nm chip, Apple’s newest iPhone delivers glorious battery life, whereas the iPhone 13 mini will solely do an excellent job should you’re at all times close to an outlet or carry a MagSafe powerbank with you.
Within the PhoneArena customized internet shopping battery check, which goals to emulate a shopping workflow, the iPhone 16 outlasts the smaller telephone by greater than 4 hours. The identical largely applies to our 3D gaming check, engineered to duplicate a cell gaming expertise: the iPhone 16 reaches almost ten hours, whereas the iPhone 13 mini would not even attain six hours of battery life. The state of affairs is usually equal in our video streaming check, during which each telephones gravitate inside an hour of one another.
PhoneArena Battery and Charging Check Outcomes:
On the charging entrance, some issues have modified. Whereas each telephones share 20W charging speeds, the MagSafe wi-fi charging on the iPhone 16 has scored a critical replace to 25W, whereas we solely get 15W MagSafe on the iPhone 13 mini. Oh, and the iPhone 13 mini comes with a Lightning port, whereas the iPhone 16 will use a USB Kind-C connector.
Each gadgets cost at the same charge, taking them round an hour and forty minutes for a 0-100% cost.
Specs Comparability
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 13 mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension, weight | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm, 170gr | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65 mm, 141gr |
| Display | 6.1″ OLED, 60Hz, 2000 nits peak brightness | 5.4″ OLED, 60Hz, 1200 nits peak brightness |
| Processor | A18 3nm | A15 Bionic 5nm |
| RAM, Storage | 8/128GB 8/256GB 8/512GB | 4/128GB 4/256GB 4/512GB |
| Cameras | 48MP essential, f1/6 12MP extremely, f/2.2 12MP entrance | 12MP essential, f/1.6 12MP extremely, f/2.4 12MP entrance |
| Battery | 3,561mAh | 2,406mAh |
| Charging | USB-C 20W wired 25W MagSafe | Lightning 27W wired 15W MagSafe |
Abstract
Though many undoubtedly nonetheless bemoan the dearth of a compact fashionable iPhone, that is what it’s, and so they must settle for a actuality that jumbo-sized telephones have gotten the norm. You must both adapt or hope that Girl Luck smiles your approach.
The iPhone 16 might be the most effective wager for iPhone 13 mini customers: on the drawback of a barely bigger gadget, you get sooner efficiency, probably higher battery life, higher digicam, and entry to Apple Intelligence, which is able to most likely be a giant factor within the coming years.
Must you improve? Certain, it feels just like the iPhone 16 might be your finest wager in the meanwhile, delivering smart upgrades over the growing older compact trooper. It is likely to be value it to commerce your iPhone 13 mini and get the brand new iPhone 16 whereas the compact telephone nonetheless carries any worth.
