iPhone 12 vs 13: What’s the Difference?

Since Apple released its newest mobile phone, the iPhone 13, on September 24, 2021, many iPhone 12 owners as well as those wanting to upgrade their older phones have wondered which iPhone option is the best, the iPhone 12 vs 13. The two newest iPhones were released with less than a year between them and have many similarities as well as a few distinct differences.

Let’s Compare iPhone 12 and 13

Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 offer the ProMax, Pro, standard, and mini models. For this comparison, we’ll look at the standard models. Before we get into the differences between iPhone 12 and 13, let’s review what both models have in common.

• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display Using OLED Technology and a 2532 x 1770 Resolution at 460 ppi
• 4GB Memory
• Ceramic Shield Front
• Aerospace-grade Aluminum
• Face ID
• Dual 12MP ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide and ƒ/1.6 Wide Cameras with 2X Optical Zoom Out
• Camera Features: True Tone Flash with Slow Sync, Portrait Mode, Night Mode
• Video Features: HDR Recording with Dolby Vision, Slo-Mo Video, Night Mode Time Lapse, Audio Zoom
• Magsafe and Qi

Let’s Look at the Difference Between iPhone 12 and 13

One of the biggest upgrades for the iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12 is the battery life. The iPhone 13 has up to 19 hours of video playback, 15 hours of video playback streamed, and 75 hours of audio playback. The iPhone 12 has 17 hours of video playback, 11 hours of video streamed, and 65 hours of audio. These variances are due to each model’s processor. The iPhone 12 is driven by Apple’s A14 Bionic processor, while the iPhone 13 has the newest A15 Bionic chip.  

Another contrast between the iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 is the storage options each model offers. The base storage for iPhone 12 is 64 GB, followed by 128 GB and 256 GB. The iPhone 13 starts out at 128 GB and then offers 256 GB and 512 GB storage.

Other key differences between the iPhone 12 vs. 13 are:

• iPhone 13’s wide camera can capture 47% more light than the iPhone 12. This allows for less noise and brighter images. It also has sensor-shift optical image stabilization technology for smoother and higher quality images.
• iPhone 13 features Photographic Styles, smart filters that adjust the photos for better quality.
• The ‌iPhone 13‌ features Cinematic mode, which allows you to record video with a shallow depth of field and shifts focus seamlessly from one subject to another. It keeps the subject in focus while blurring the background.  
• iPhone 12’s max brightness display is 625 nits; iPhone 13’s is 800 nits
• iPhone 12 supports dual SIMs (one physical, one eSIM); Phone 13 supports one physical and two simultaneous eSIMS
• iPhone 12 can record Dolby Vision HDR up to 30 fps; iPhone 13 up to 60 fps

Should I Purchase an iPhone 13 or iPhone 12?

If you have an older phone and are looking to upgrade, purchasing an iPhone 13 vs iPhone 12 is a good option, especially if you’re interested in more storage capacity, a longer lasting battery, and a higher quality camera.

If you already have an iPhone 12, it may be better to wait for the next model before you upgrade to a new phone. If you decide to purchase a used iPhone 12, be sure to shop for Phonecheck Certified listings, for maximum buyer-seller transparency and certified devices you can trust.

What Do I Do with My Old Phone After I Upgrade?

Once you’ve made the choice to upgrade, you’ll need to decide what to do with your old phone. An excellent option is to resell your old phone. Before doing so, read our list of 3 easy steps to take, including the most important of all: obtaining a Phonecheck Device History Report.