The long-anticipated iPhone 13 series was finally unveiled at yesterday’s Apple event. In classic Apple fashion, the iPhone 13 (and its Mini version) packs minor year-on-year upgrades. They offer better screens and better cameras, but more dramatic updates are reserved for the Pro iPhones. The new A15 Bionic powerhouse chip runs the whole lineup.
Let’s talk aesthetics first. The iPhone 13 hasn’t changed radically in the way of design. We’re still looking at a glass casing reinforced with a metal frame and the Ceramic Shield. The body of the iPhone's new model 2021 is rated IP68 against dust and spills. Plus, Apple has trimmed the wedge-shaped notch by 20%. It comes in starlight, midnight, blue, pink, and the (PRODUCT) RED shades.
Like last year’s iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 is offered in two sizes: the 5.4” Mini edition and the 6.1” baseline iPhone 13. The latest Super Retina XDR OLED screens on these phones deliver 28% more brightness — 800 nits outdoors and an eye-searing 1200 nits for HDR content.
The iPhone 13 Mini is among the dying breed of smartphones that can be used single-handedly. But the last-gen Mini traded off battery life to keep its dimensions.
This year’s iPhone 13 and Mini offer 2.5 and 1.5 hours of extra use every day. The improved battery life comes from the new A15 Bionic chip, larger cell (which contributes to a heavier body), and software/hardware tweaks.
The other upgrade is the dual-camera system on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. This duo borrows the sensor-shift OIS technology from the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Its 12MP wide camera collects 47% more light for improved shots with low noise. The 12MP ultra-wide camera has a new sensor behind it.
Apple has also polished its focusing technology. The Cinematic Mode on the iPhone 13 can capture an even shallower depth of field. Through Apple’s AI Magic and Neural Engine in the A15 Bionic, this mode shoots in Dolby Vision HDR — 4K at 60 fps on both cameras.
The base storage is 128GB now and goes up to 512GB. iOS 15 comes pre-packages with the iPhone 13 and Mini. But Apple is once again leaving the accessories — the charger and earphones — out of the box. The pricing hasn’t changed, however. iPhone 13 Mini starts from $699 (~ Rs. 117,800) and the iPhone 13 from $799 (~ 134,700.) Note that the iPhone is generally priced much higher in South Asian countries like Pakistan.
