With the expiration of the iPhone 13 embargo, reviews of the new iPhone series are pouring in. We have compiled a round-up of the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini and 6.1-inch iPhone 13 reviews, to help you decide if the new models are worth an upgrade or purchase.
iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 reviews call them excellent models for an upgrade
Although the iPhone 12 mini did not have decent sales, Apple did not immediately discontinue the model. Instead, the company improved not only the mini model but the entire iPhone 13 series with performance, camera, and battery improvements. Along with the features which were exclusively available on iPhone 12 Pro Max, new features are offered across the iPhone 13 series like sensor-shift image stabilization, larger battery, Cinematic Mode, macro photography, and much more. Here is our 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini and 6.1-inch iPhone 13 reviews round-up.
The Verge – “The iPhone 13 has got some good game”
After testing the iPhone 13 model,
I think it’s all too easy to look at the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini and not think much of the updates this year. Cameras get better every year and every company promises good battery life, after all. And compared to the massive changes we saw on the iPhone last year, the 13 looks iterative, more like an iPhone 12S than truly new models.
I won’t pretend that reading is totally wrong, but I also think it misses the point. Fancy new features are fun, but the fundamentals of battery life and camera are more important. Because if you focus on the fundamentals, your whole game gets better. And the iPhone 13 has got some good game.
CNBC – ‘If you’re coming from an older phone, you’ll notice and appreciate the differences”
Although the mid-range iPhone 13 models lack the advanced features introduced in iPhone 13 Pro models, they still offer major improvements compared to their predecessors. According to Todd Haselton, a faster processor, more storage, a new camera system, and improved battery life, are some worthy features for an upgrade from older iPhone models, not the iPhone 12.
I’m partial to the iPhone13 Mini this year since I love its size and I barely notice in my pocket. But for most people, the regular iPhone 13 is the best choice — just like the iPhone 12 last year. It has the best balance between features, screen size, price and battery life.
Overall, all of the iPhone 13 models contain only minor updates from last year, and you don’t need to upgrade from the iPhone 12. But if you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or earlier, you’ll like the new design, the boost in cameras, better battery life and nicer screens, no matter what model you pick.
Engadget – “iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 feel like worthwhile upgrades”
Cherlynn Low writes that in the same body as iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12, Apple has introduced iPhone 12 Pro Max features in the new iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 models. The faster processor, smaller notch, bigger battery, improved camera, and 5G support, all add up to make iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 models worthy upgrades. For Low the cheapest iPhone 13 models may not have attractive features to attract Android switchers but “they are excellent phones with little to complain about.”
While this year’s iPhones aren’t major improvements over their predecessors, they offer just enough changes that might tempt you to upgrade, particularly if you’re still on an iPhone 11 or older. The iPhone 13 and 13 mini feel like they should have been called the 12s and 12s mini, thanks to a largely similar design and few major upgrades from the previous models.
The New York Times – “The Most Incremental Upgrade Ever”
Unimpressed by the new upgrades introduced in iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 models, Brian X. Chen says that the new models are only 10 percent faster than the previous ones, and the photos are only slightly better. His verdict is that new iPhones offer marginal improvements.
The fact that the smartphone has plateaued is not a bad thing. It means you can enjoy the one you have for years to come without missing out on anything major. And when it feels right to upgrade, you are in for a piece of mature technology that is incrementally — though not dramatically — better.
Wire – “Time to upgrade”
iPhone 13 and 13 mini models have impressive camera systems, the enhanced 128 gigabytes of base storage space, and longer battery life, especially of iPhone 13, which make them worthy upgrades. Lauren Googe gives 8 out of 10 models.
Some critics have said that this is an iterative year for the iPhone, and they’re not wrong. But this is what we expect from flagship smartphones now: support for 5G, super responsive displays, better battery life, desktop-grade processors, and cameras that put point-and-shoots to shame. The question for consumers is more about where they are in the upgrade cycle, and what kind of technology they can get in their pockets for a certain price. The iPhone 13 feels like a response to that question—and a good one, at that.
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