iPhone 13 128GB Prices & Plans

iPhone 13 128GB Review

In the leadup to the iPhone 13, one of my colleagues (Brodie at our sister site Reviews.org/au, because I'm going to throw him under the bus) said he was disappointed with the rumours. That everything seemed a bit boring. At the same time, he couldn't really express what would genuinely get him excited about a new iPhone. The maturity of smartphones has led us to this paradox. New iterations are less exciting than they used to be, but there's so little uncharted territory left that it's hard to even fantasise about new functionality we want.

Brodie was right. The iPhone 13 is a pretty boring upgrade. The cameras are better, the battery lasts longer, and the screen is brighter. There's not much more to it than that. Of course, boring doesn't mean bad. It's incremental, but at the end of the day, I'd much prefer an updated camera and a longer battery over any gimmick.

Before we start, here's how the iPhone 13 family compare: 

On a (camera) roll

Let's start with cameras. Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini now feature the same kind of primary sensor we saw in last year's iPhone 12 Pro Max. Until now, that was the best camera you could get in a phone. The TLDR is that it lets in more light and is faster at taking photos, so you'll more reliably get the shot you when using the main lens, even in challenging environments. Night mode shots will take less time when compared to last year's models (well other than the iPhone 12 Pro Max), which in turn helps get sharper, clearer images.

The iPhone 13 Pro models represent another step up from the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini primary camera, but for most, the difference will be hard to notice. In good lighting, photos are almost impossible to tell apart. In dark situations, the iPhone 13 Pro is a touch faster at taking photos - it might only need a one second night mode instead of three on the iPhone 13 - but you're still going to get great low light images on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

This shot was taken on the iPhone 13:

And this shot was taken on the iPhone 13 Pro:

There are some slight differences, but you really have to be looking for them. For example, the sign next to the white car in the alley is a touch blown out in the iPhone 13 shot, but it retained more colour in the version taken on the iPhone 13 Pro. We're very much in pixel peeping territory here.

Apple's also upgraded the ultra-wide lens in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, with improvements predominantly pertaining to low light photography. It's still not incredible at night, but it's better than past models. Otherwise, it does a bang-up job. Notably, the iPhone 13 Pro has an even fancier ultra-wide lens that's even better in low light and also facilitates a macro mode (but more on that later).

Here's a low light shot from the iPhone 13 ultra-wide lens:

And here's the same one from the iPhone 13 Pro ultra-wide:

The iPhone 13 Pro shot is just that bit sharper, which is especially noticeable in the trees.

In addition to upgrade lenses, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini benefit from a few new software features. The first is Photographic Styles. Photographic Styles are filter-like adjustments that happen before you shoot, rather than something you manually add after. You can manually set the contrast and warmth of the camera itself, so every photo you take has the same look. There are a few premade options you can use, but you can also create your own if you want something more subtle or dramatic. I've always been happy enough with the iPhone camera's default look, but extra customisation options are always a treat. Just note that you can't remove a style from a photo after you've shot it.

Here's the default out of look camera (note these photos were taken on an iPhone 13 Pro, but the Photographic Styles work the same way across all four phones): 

Here are Apples' four preset styles:

And here's a photo with the settings really dialled up: 

When you're shooting night mode photos, you now get access to even longer exposure times if you're using a tripod. The longer the exposure, the more light your iPhone can capture. These now max out at 30 seconds across the entire iPhone 13 family, compared to 10 on previous models.

The iPhone 13 family also feature a new video setting called cinematic mode. t's ostensibly portrait mode for video. You pick a subject and the phone blurs the background behind them, and is smart enough to track motion. It can also pull focus if you tap on another subject, if your primary subject looks elsewhere in the shot, or if someone else enters the frame. It's a nifty trick, but it can feel like earlier versions of portrait mode where you'll get imperfections in how the background behind your subject is blurred. Cinematic mode isn't perfect, but it's a nice bonus on top of already excellent video quality.

There are however few notable camera omissions when compared to the Pro models. As with previous generations, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini miss out on the zoom lens you'll get on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Given most Android phones in the iPhone 13's price bracket offer at least three cameras, I would have liked Apple to extend its three camera setup to the standard models - even if all you got was a 2x zoom lens, rather than a 3x zoom lens like on the Pros.

As aforementioned, you also miss out on the iPhone 13 Pro's new macro mode, which lets you get super close to your subject and still get a sharp shot. It's a really fun addition, so it's a shame it's exclusives to the Pros.

You also miss out on a LiDAR sensor, which helps with low light portrait mode photos and augmented reality apps. While it genuinely makes a difference if you're trying to use portrait mode in a dark environment, LiDAR is easily the least crucial omission made by the iPhone 13.

The same but different 

Other than a rejigged camera bump, you'd struggle to tell the difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini feature the same squared-off design as their predecessors, rather than the pillowy aesthetic of older models. There are some slight changes; the pair have a slightly smaller notch and are a little thicker to squeeze in more battery, but neither change is overall noticeable.

Both new iPhones feature brighter displays than their predecessors - which is welcome outdoors - but not an earthshattering upgrade. While the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini miss out on the high refresh rate ProMotion display you'll find in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, this in itself isn't a reason to go the pricier models. It's nice having slightly smoother scrolling, it's just not a game-changer.

The new pink finish is really nice, though. It's like a grown-up rose gold.

While the iPhone 13 is a fairly conventional smartphone with a fairly standard 6.1-inch screen, the iPhone 13 mini stands out thanks to its comparatively tiny 5.4-inch form factor. In a world of supersized phones, there's nothing quite else like the iPhone 13 mini. It's the kind of device where one-handed usage is always comfortable, but the screen is still large enough that two doesn't feel cramped. It doesn't take up an entire pocket. You might even forget you've got it with you - I've certainly had to check it hasn't fallen out. Sure, some will want the biggest screen you can get, but the iPhone 13 mini is a welcome alternative in a world where phones only seem to get bigger.

When it comes to battery life, the iPhone 13 is great. I was easily able to get around six hours of screen time per charge when continually connected to a 5G network (and WiFi switched off). That's better than the iPhone 13 Pro which clocked in at five hours of screen time, but not quite as good as the iPhone 13 Pro Max which managed to get a ridiculous eight hours. For comparison, I've found many 5G handsets can struggle to hit even four hours of screen time. In real world terms, the iPhone 13 should comfortably get over a full day of use - you won't be scrounging for a charger at 7pm.

While the iPhone 13 mini features a larger cell than last year's model, battery is still its Achilles heel. I was only able to get about four hours of screen time per charge. That’s not awful, but not great either. Heavier users will definitely find themselves needing a top-up throughout the day, and even lighter users won't have much of a buffer left when calling it a night.

It's also worth noting that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini finally start with 128GB as the default amount of storage. Given they're the same price as last year's models, it's a welcome - if overdue - upgrade that makes them a better value buy.

Treats from last year

Naturally, most won't be upgrading from an iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13 mini or iPhone so, so it's worth calling out a few of last year's more meaningful features.

As with the iPhone 12 family, every iPhone 13 has a Ceramic Shield display. Apple says this makes it four times more drop-resistant than iPhones without the extra protection. The back of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini is still traditional glass. It won't be quite as durable.

Naturally, the pair are both 5G devices. 5G is still very much a work in progress, and there aren't any major use cases that require the next-generation network. You shouldn't be rushing out to buy a phone just because it has 5G, but if you're going to buy a new iPhone anyway, 5G is a nice bonus.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are compatible with MagSafe, Apple's newish wireless charging ecosystem. MagSafe is a puck-like charger that (magnetically) clicks to the back of your device. This helps ensures proper alignment for a faster wireless charge, and means you can still hold your phone, unlike with a traditional wireless charging pad. A MagSafe puck will set you back $65, however, and is slower than a wired charge. It's a fun little novelty, but most are better sticking with a good old fashioned cable.

Lastly, don't be shocked when you don't find a charger or headphones in the box. All you'll get is a Lighting to USB C cable. You'll need to spend an extra $29 to get one of Apple's USB C wall plugs. While any old Lightning cable will work, a Lightning to USB C cable coupled with a USB C wall plug will give you a faster charge.

iPhone 13 & iPhone 13 mini - Final Thoughts

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini may not be overly exciting updates, but they’re still excellent devices. The iPhone 13 is once again the best iPhone for most, even if the Pro has a couple of extra neat camera features. Unless you're a phone photography fanatic, the iPhone 13 is simply the smarter buy thanks to a more affordable price tag. And while it can't match the supersized Pro Max in terms of battery, the fact it lasts longer than the iPhone 13 Pro is a treat.

While the iPhone 13 mini doesn't have the same kind of excellent battery life as the standard iPhone 13, Apple hasn't compromised in any other way to keep the size down. The cheaper starting price is also welcome, especially now that every iPhone starts with 128GB. A 6.1-inch screen will be the better option for most, but I'm glad the iPhone 13 mini exists for those that want a smaller device.

There's no need to rush out and upgrade to an iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 mini - especially if you've got an iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 - but if you're on an older device, Apple's latest represent a great buy.

iPhone 13 & iPhone 13 mini camera samples