Differences iPhone 12 and iPhone 13: specifications, price and more

Comparative table of these iPhone

Of course, we could not ignore the technical specifications that these devices mount. They are not everything, since they are data that admit many nuances, but that can help us to see their main similarities and differences at first.

Although later we will do a more exhaustive analysis of these similarities and differences, we want to emphasize which are the most important points that we think you should look at when choosing a smartphone.

• Dimensions: a point that can be decisive when it comes to knowing whether it will be an ergonomic smartphone or not. In this case, both are very similar and their difference is little.
• Screen: the fact that both match both in size and resolution and adopted technology helps a lot. They are very good quality screens.
• Processor: A14 vs A15, two different chips separated by a year. We will analyze later if this difference is very noticeable, but at first it is an appreciably important difference.
• Memory: not running out of space on the mobile is essential and in the case of these devices, capacities are offered for practically any type of audience.
• Autonomy: another decisive point today to be able to enjoy a smartphone without worries. In these cases there are very notable differences between the two.
• Camera: obviously this is also an important area in recent years, since in many cases smartphones already perfectly replace traditional cameras in many situations.
• Price: we could not ignore a factor that in the end in most cases ends up being decisive. 100 euros is what differentiates these and seeing if it is justified or not is what we will do in the following sections.

These are the aspects where they look alike

We tend to always look for the differences between devices like these, but there is no doubt that analyzing the similarities is also important. This is precisely what we are going to see in the following sections, so that you can know in which sections you will feel practically the same with an iPhone 12 as with an iPhone 13.

Few differences in design

Straight frames and curved corners in the purest iPhone 4 or iPhone 5 style. This at the time was a feature that the iPhone 12 recovered and that has now also inherited the iPhone 13. You may like it more or less, something totally subjective, but reality is that in shape and dimensions are equal. Of course, there is a difference and that is that the iPhone 13 weighs more . Is the latter noticeable? Yes, but we can guarantee that it is not something excessive and it feels very comfortable too.

The range of colors they offer is also different. Not even the shades they seem to share (black and white) are exactly the same in them. Neither is blue. Besides that the ’12’ offers a sixth option in purple, having 5 the ’13’. In any case, and in view of the fact that that purple version of the iPhone 12 came out months later, it is not ruled out that Apple reserves a new color to launch throughout 2022 at ’13 ‘.

Another noticeable difference is the already characteristic notch . This has been reduced in the iPhone 13 significantly, being narrower despite gaining a bit in height. It continues to exist and in the end it is something you get used to quickly and forget, but it is there. Like the arrangement and size of the rear cameras , going from being vertical in the iPhone 12 to increase in size in the ’13’ and seen diagonally.

Identical OLED screens, although the one of the ’13’ shines more

Apple’s adoption of OLED technology for its entire range of smartphones began with the iPhone X in 2017 and ended in 2020 with the iPhone 12, when all four models in this series incorporated panels of this type. They have many benefits when it comes to displaying more vivid colors without losing naturalness and offering purer blacks that even save battery.

In this sense, everything we say about the iPhone 12 is applicable to the iPhone 13, including the 6.1-inch size. Now, the base ’12’ has a brightness of 625 nits , while the newer model adds a base of 800 nits . The difference is evident? Well, being honest, no. Perhaps in certain conditions in which the light falls directly on the screen (for example, the sun), if you can notice some improvement in the iPhone 13, but it is not something extremely remarkable and in the ’12’ there is not much Difficulty viewing content well in almost any circumstance.

Face ID is still the old reliable

The use of masks or other elements that cover the nose and / or mouth continues to be an obstacle for the iPhone’s facial recognition sensor (unless you have Apple Watch and configure the corresponding option). It is also a handicap to have to adjust to a certain angle so that our face is recognized.

However, it is still the best facial unlocking on the market that is extremely efficient and safe. There is no difference in the sensors of these two iPhone beyond the fact that in the ’13’ they have been integrated differently to narrow the notch. Therefore, you can continue making the same use in anyone to unlock it, make payments with Apple Pay and even fill in passwords without having to write them.

Same iOS, with guaranteed years of updates

Although we can sometimes find differences in the same version of iOS depending on the iPhone used, it is not the case with these iPhone. Not only do they update to iOS 15 when this comparison is published, but they are also guaranteed updates for at least 6 or 7 years . Apple increasingly extends the years in this case, having examples such as the iPhone 6s that in 2022 will have completed 7 years of updates.

While it is true that the iPhone 12 could run out of updates at least a year before the ’13’, being objective it seems difficult for us to reach that moment. Or rather that it happens to you, since we imagine that before this event occurs you will have already changed your smartphone. In any case, you should know that iPhones are still functional even when they run out of updates, always depending on whether you take care of them or not.

With 5G, a technology still of the future

That the iPhone 12 had been the first to incorporate this connectivity and had been withdrawn in ’13’ would be absurd. And no, it did not happen. Both share the possibility of connecting to high-speed mobile networks thanks to their modem that allows this connection, although only in the United States do they offer the mmWave antenna that improves this type of connection.

We do not doubt that 5G far surpasses 4G networks and that it is undoubtedly the best data connection today. But as long as it is in its maximum splendor and in coverage areas. And here is the problem, since today there are still very few areas in which there is quality 5G coverage, so in the end the use of this technology can end up being anecdotal. Although, hey, it is always better to have it than to lack it.

Main differences of iPhone 12 and 13

Now comes the part where we are really going to find the most important points of the comparison, such as the real differences between these devices. They will be decisive in the end to end up deciding the balance and we already warn you that in some aspects the difference is really appreciable.

Is the generational leap of the processor noticeable?

The chips that mount the iPhone are extremely efficient when it comes to managing the performance of the device, mounting coprocessors and neural engines that facilitate many tasks at the software level. And we could explain to you at a technical level how much improvement Apple has made in the A15 Bionic of the iPhone 13 compared to the A14 of the iPhone 12. Because there is and it is worthy of admiration, but, how does this transform on a day-to-day basis?

Well, to be fair, in everyday actions the difference between the two is not too noticeable and we find that they allow us to handle the iPhone in a very fluid way, offering minimal loading times and whose difference between one processor and another is practically imperceptible. Now, there are two sections where we notice a difference that, although it is not that it leaves the iPhone 12 in the lunge, its improvement in the ’13’ is greatly appreciated.

The first of these is graphically , something enjoyable for example in video games. The A15 chip has greatly improved its performance in this graphical section and in addition to offering greater fluidity, it also manages resources better, making even consumption less noticeable, something always to be highlighted in actions that have so much impact on consumption.

The other is that of photo and video processing at the computational level . Although we have not yet reached the cameras section, you should know that both teams are capable of making the most of the cameras of the devices with a multitude of operations carried out in a few thousandths of a second and that considerably improve the results of our photographs and videos. And although in the iPhone 12 this is much appreciated, the new modalities introduced in the iPhone 13 would not be possible without the A15 (and if they were, they would do it with less efficiency).

More base memory on iPhone 13

We do not doubt that 64 GB can be enough for many. What’s more, a server who writes you these lines has always lived wonderfully with this ability. Now, for those more reluctant to resort to cloud storage services or to have to continually measure space, the fact that the iPhone 13 starts at 128 GB is excellent news.

The capacity of 256 GB is the maximum in the case of the iPhone 12, while it is the intermediate capacity of the iPhone 13, which can reach up to 512 GB. With these capabilities, probably no one is unhappy, while with the iPhone 12 the aforementioned 64 GB may fall short. In any case, that in the end will depend on the use that each one makes.

A big jump on drums from one to the other

It is striking that, according to the data offered by Apple and commented on in the table with which we started this post, the iPhone 13 offers more hours of autonomy in a multitude of fields. Especially in the video playback where it adds 4 hours more than the iPhone 12 and in the audio with up to 10 hours. Although obviously these data are relative, since no one uses the mobile only to perform a single action without interruption.

However, real day-to-day experience tells us that the difference is very noticeable. We start from the basis that the iPhone 12 is already a good mobile in this field, even offering better data than the ’12 Pro ‘. Without being the device on the market with the most battery, it manages to reach the end of the day with normal use (social networks, navigation, music, camera…). But the iPhone 13 surpasses it.

While it is true that the iPhone 13 is not the best on the market here either, it offers plenty of autonomy to spend the day without difficulties doing normal use like the one we described above, even with a 20-30% battery at night. Even with a little more intensive use it pays, so in the end and despite the benefits of the ’12’, we have to give the battle to the iPhone 13 won at this point.

Of course, in either of the two you must bear in mind that the deterioration of the battery will occur sooner or later. While in the first months you will enjoy the battery in its maximum splendor, after a year you will notice a reduction. Although in the end it will not be anything worrisome, since until after 2-3 years you will not notice that there has been wear and tear to consider replacing the battery.

Camera: these are their differences

Both have a dual lens with ultra wide angle and wide angle with, a priori, identical specifications. But it really is not like that, since the iPhone 13 not only incorporates lenses of greater size and quality, but also adds other elements such as an image stabilizer by sensor movement . What does this mean? Well, when you take a freehand photo, it will come out much sharper and without being moved thanks to this element. And although the stabilization works quite well on the iPhone 12, the fact that it is done by software makes the difference.

And although in photography we find similar results , if there is something to highlight in the jump from iPhone 12 to 13, it is that the latter has incorporated a spectacular cinematographic mode . Broadly speaking, what this modality offers is to be able to make videos with portrait mode (background blur). Although logically it is not at the level of a professional camera, the truth is that it is very successful and precisely the culprit is the A15 chip that we talked about in a previous section.

The cinema mode allows you to intelligently focus and blur the subjects of a video, being able to choose the focus manually during recording and, best of all, in editing. From the editing settings of the Photos app, you can change all the parameters to make the video as professional as possible.

Now, without wanting to detract from this video functionality that seems spectacular to us, it is true that it is not made for all audiences. If you are not used to using the iPhone to record videos or you do not do it in a professional way, it may not be a factor that marks your purchase decision. And we insist that at the photographic level they offer very even results, with a slight improvement in the night mode of ’13’ that is not very relevant either.

Final conclusions of the comparison

At this point, you are probably wondering what to do if you already have an iPhone 12 . Our advice here is clear and is that really, despite all the improvements of the ’13’, the jump does not seem to be justified. More if this also means a significant investment of money. If you can afford it and you want to indulge, we are not going to deny that you will enjoy your mobile a lot, but you will not feel the change so much.

If you do not have any of them and you come from a generation prior to the ’12’ and even Android, possibly if you notice the change more and the iPhone 13 may be an excellent option. Although in this case, the iPhone 12 is not disposable if you find a special offer that makes it cheaper. In any case, if the 100 euros difference does not seem like much or you think it may be justified, going for the ’13’ will always be a better choice.