While the article below was originally published in 2021, we updated our iPhone 13 mini review in 2023 to guarantee that our pricing and stock information are accurate. We’ve since been hands-on with the newer iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models, but still recommend the iPhone 13 mini or iPhone SE 3 for anyone after a smaller handset. It’s not discontinued so is still available from Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, and Apple itself. We used it for a whole year, and think it’s a brilliant pocket-friendly iOS handset with high-end specs and cameras. Looking for savings? We recommend checking out refurbished models or monthly contract offers, plus the best iPhone alternatives if you don't mind using an Android handset (we’d go with Google Pixel phones or Samsung phones for the best Android experience).
Had enough of large smartphones that you struggle to use one-handed and can't fit in your pocket? Apple's iPhone 13 mini is the most powerful small phone on the market – it shares all the same features as the iPhone 13, just in a much more compact 5.4-inch package.
Proving that little phones aren't dead yet, this model includes an upgraded camera system, a brighter display and, with its base 128GB capacity, twice as much starting storage space as its predecessor.
Because of its size, it'll take a slight hit on battery life but this has also been improved by an extra hour and a half, and we think you could always stash a power bank in your bag for emergencies.
iPhone 13 mini key specs
- Screen size: 5.4 inch
- Resolution: 2340 x 1080
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- Cameras: 2 x rear cameras (12MP wide-angle and 12MP ultra-wide angle) 12MP (wide) front camera
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage space: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- MicroSD card slot: No
- Weight: 140g
iPhone 13 mini battery life
We won't pretend like one of the biggest downsides to the iPhone 12 mini wasn't its battery life, which reviewers agreed wasn't enough to last for daily use.
The tech giant says it's improved the iPhone 13 mini's battery life by up to one-and-a-half hours. On its site, Apple claims it has increased battery life to 17 hours with this release, up from 15 on the 12 mini. In our testing so far, we've found this updated model has more than enough juice to get you through the day with regular use, but it won't last all day if you use it for intense gaming or a lot of video streaming.
What to Read Next
iPhone 13 mini camera
When you consider the amount of tech Apple's packed into this compact form factor, the camera upgrades are impressive. The much larger lenses may look almost comical on the back of this tiny phone, but this camera system adds in many of the advancements introduced on last year's premium iPhone 12 Pro Max. That includes sensor-shift stabilisation to prevent wobbly and blurry photos, and larger sensors to let in a lot more light – 40% more compared to the 12.
The rear cameras deliver excellent results in bright light, and we found you get a lot of detail in low light when night mode kicks in too. The colours it captures are accurate and pleasing, although we noticed they can also be a little oversaturated occasionally too. The selfie camera hasn't seen a big update, but we still found it takes rich and clear images in good lighting conditions.
For extra control, Apple has introduced a "photographic styles" feature that allows you to slightly tweak how your pictures look by default, without the need to edit them after shooting. You can choose between vibrant, rich contrast, warm, and cool and then adjust each to your liking. While it affects colour and contrast, it will preserve true-to-life skin tones within the image.
Below we've included a few photos we've shot with the 13 mini, including some that use portrait mode. These are all unedited, though some were shot using the rich contrast photographic style with some warmth added.
Apple iPhone 13 mini sample photos
If you're a budding videographer, Apple’s new "cinematic" video mode can help make your movies look a bit more professional. This is a portrait mode for video, giving you soft blurry backgrounds and automatically shifting the camera's focus between subjects in the frame in the way a Hollywood cinematographer would.
The effect is fun but needs some refinement, and much like any portrait mode, you'll see a bit of a halo around people's faces and hair. But if you're just looking to add some suspense and drama to an Instagram story or a TikTok, you'll find a lot to enjoy with this feature.
iPhone 13 mini design
When compared to the iPhone 12 mini, the design has barely changed, it's just a shrunken-down version of the flagship model. We know a lot of you will be considering the leap from an iPhone XR, 11 or SE, though, and if that's the case you'll appreciate the throwback squared-off edges of this phone that make it a bit more comfortable to hold without feeling like it's going to slip right out of your hand.
It also comes in a few different colours now: you can pick one up in red, blue, pink or what Apple calls Starlight, which is a silver/gold mix, or Midnight, a very dark blue that almost looks black.
iPhone 13 mini display
Similarly, anyone coming from a model from a few years ago will notice how this one has an OLED display. This display tech was introduced to the non-Pro models with last year's 12 and 12 mini, and it doesn't require a backlight to illuminate the pixels. With OLEDs, colours are brighter and crisper while blacks are deeper. When compared to the previous version, this also has a higher maximum brightness, which will really help you see the screen in bright sunlight.
iPhone 13 mini drawbacks
Several Android phones give you a memory card slot for boosting your available storage space, but that's not an option here at all. You'll need to make sure you pick the model with the storage you need, as it's not expandable. Apple also doesn't include a charging plug in the box anymore and just provides you with a USB-C to Lightning cable. So keep in mind that you'll have to hold onto your existing plug to charge your handset. We've also found that it can be fiddly to align the mini model on some wireless charging pads and stands, which is a small downside.
iPhone 13 mini verdict
If you've got one of last year's iPhones, the changes in this model aren't quite significant enough to justify an upgrade. But, if you're using an iPhone 11 or an XR and you're wishing for something smaller but more capable, this is the ideal option. This mini costs a bit less than its predecessor did when introduced last year, and it gives you all the headline features of the iPhone 13 in a smaller body. We especially like the camera system and the increased storage capacity.
Pros
- Great pocketable size
- Takes impressive photos and videos
- Bright and clear OLED display
- Increased storage
Cons
- Battery life is comparatively minimal
- Hard to align on wireless chargers
What about the iPhone Pro models?
If you're looking for a review of the premium options, we've also compared the differences between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro here. As usual, Apple reserved many of its headline features for those models, which include a zoom lens and adaptive refresh rate displays.
