Is the iPhone 12 mini better than iPhone 13 mini?

Curious whether the 13 Mini is worth the extra cash? We hear you. That’s why we’ve created an article that will hopefully shed some light on the key differences between the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini. We’ll give you the lowdown on every juicy detail, including the 13 Mini’s boosted battery life and improved storage space. So, let’s get to it.

 

Design and size

Mini by name, mini by nature! Yes, both handsets stay true to form with their compact 5.18 x 2.53-inch size. Each phone sits comfortably in hand for easy use, while sleek glass rears and smooth, angular curves deliver a stylish finish.

There are a few subtle tweaks, though. For instance, the 13 Mini’s dual camera features a diagonal arrangement, while the 12 Mini’s two cameras are layered vertically. The notch on the 13 Mini is also 20% smaller, offering more display real estate for browsing, gaming, and streaming—a significant enhancement when the screen is a modest 5.4 inches.

There’s also a major makeover in the way of colour. Bold shades of Black and Product Red still dress both handsets. However, the iPhone 13 Mini has more: all-new tones of Midnight, Pink, Starlight, Green, and Blue. 

 

iPhone 13 Mini vs 12 Mini dimensions: 

	iPhone 12 Mini	iPhone 13 Mini
Height	131.5mm	131.5mm
Width	64.2mm	64.2mm
Depth	7.4mm	7.65mm
Weight	133g	140g

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verdict: Draw.

 

Display and screen

A beautiful 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display (with 2340x1080 pixels apiece) lights up the two minis. The key difference? The 13 Mini reaches up to 800 nits, making for clearer browsing when outside.

Both boast Apple’s uber-tough Ceramic Shield technology, protecting your screen from trips, falls, or air-borne mishaps. They’re also water-resistant to a depth of 6 metres for up to 30 minutes.

 

iPhone 13 Mini vs 12 Mini display comparison

iPhone 12 Mini Display: 

• Type: Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
• Size: 5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density)
• Protection: Scratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating, Wide colour gamut, True Tone display

iPhone 13 Mini Display: 

• Type: Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
• Size: 5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio)
• Resolution: 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density)
• Protection: Scratch-resistant ceramic glass, oleophobic coating, Wide colour gamut, True Tone display

Verdict: Stalemate.

 

Camera and photography

Two rear cameras and front selfie snappers boast 12MP across both phones. The Ultra-Wide lens features an f2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view, delivering incredible scale and focus.

The main difference is the 13 Mini’s Wide 1.7µm pixels range, promising better shots in low-light conditions. Another upgrade is the new sensor-shift optical image stabilisation (OIS) on the Wide lens, which remains steadier under shaky shooting.

Elsewhere, budding videographers will be pleased to hear the iPhone 13 Mini has a new Cinematic Mode. The nifty feature allows you to automatically hone in on a subject as they enter the shot and switch focus.

 

iPhone 12 mini vs 13 mini camera comparison:

	iPhone 12 Mini	iPhone 13 Mini
Dual	12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6"	12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide)
Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Video	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), stereo sound rec.	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec.

Verdict: It’s close. But the 13 Mini edges it.

 

Specs and Performance

The iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini come packed with 4GB RAM and 4-Core GPU. The difference is that the 13 Mini features Apple’s ultra-powerful A15 Bionic Chip.  However, it’s unlikely you’ll notice too much difference between the two handsets as the 12 model’s A14 chip processor is nearly as impressive.

The iPhone 13 Mini wins on storage, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB variants. In contrast, the 12 Mini starts at 64GB and finishes at 256GB. Another win for the iPhone 13 Mini is its battery life. Boosted from 2,227mAh to 2,438mAH, the upgrade should provide another hour or two of play time each day.

 

iPhone 12 Mini vs iPhone 13 Mini performance comparison:

	iPhone 12 Mini	iPhone 13 Mini
Chipset	Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm)	Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
CPU	Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm)	Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
GPU	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)	Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
Battery type	Li-Ion 2227 mAh, non-removable (8.57 Wh)	Li-Ion 2438 mAh, non-removable (9.34 Wh)
Charging	Fast charging 20W, 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 MagSafe wireless charging 15W Qi magnetic fast wireless charging 7.5W	Fast charging (18W, unofficial rating), 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 MagSafe wireless charging 15W Qi magnetic fast wireless charging 7.5W

Verdict: The iPhone 13 Mini outperforms its predecessor.

 

Conclusion: iPhone 12 mini vs iPhone 13 mini

This is a tough one. After all, there’s not much in it—both handsets feature stunning screens and powerful processors. The question is whether you want more storage and better battery life. If the answer is yes, we recommend plumping for the iPhone 13 Mini.

Whichever phone you decide to pick, refurbished iPhone Pro handsets are available from Envirofone for less dosh than those sold in the Apple store. Better still, you can save more money by selling your iPhone to us!