Design and Build

iPhone 13 comes with a really nice and robust design, thanks to an aluminum frame that you usually find in planes, a Ceramic Shield front, and a back of glass infused with color. The product is 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.30 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm) in size and weighs 6.14 ounces (174g), which makes it bigger than the mini version, and at the same time, it is lighter than the Pro models, so you will easily get a comfortable grip. The device is offered in six brand new, very vivid colors – Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, and Green and its notch is smaller by 20% when compared to that of the iPhone 12. Thus, a larger display area is at the user's service. The smartphone is equipped with a Lightning port and can take advantage of physical nano-SIM and eSIM in most regions, while in some markets it can use dual eSIM only.

• Aerospace-grade aluminum frame
• Ceramic Shield front (tougher than any smartphone glass)
• Color-infused glass back
• IP68 rating (water and dust resistance up to 6 meters for 30 minutes)
• Smaller notch (20% smaller than iPhone 12)
• Lightning port for charging and data transfer
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM or dual eSIM (region-dependent)

iPhone 13 Display

iPhone 13 is packed with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display boasting a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels (460 PPI) that gives you vibrant and sharp pictures for HDR10 and Dolby Vision content. Due to the notch reduction, the phone provides more screen space, but it has only a regular 60Hz refresh rate, therefore, the experience might not be as smooth as in the Pro models of the iPhone. The device’s typical brightness is 800 nits, reaching up to 800 nits in normal situations, and to 1200 nits in HDR situations. This lets you enjoy the sunlight even if you don’t have the Always-On Display and are not in the newer models, which are two things the device is missing.

• 6.1-inch OLED (Super Retina XDR)
• 2532 x 1170 resolution, 460 PPI
• HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
• 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (peak HDR)
• Ceramic Shield protection
• 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion or Always-On Display)

Performance and Software

The A15 Bionic processor is the powerhouse of the system and the supplier of all the necessary computing. Also, it is constructed with a 5nm process, which provides the iPhone 13 technology that is far more advanced. The 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine allow the iPhone 13 to be a heavy player, even with only 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM. However, graphics performance is still smaller than in the 5-core GPU delivered by the Pro models. The memory options are 128GB ($799), 256GB ($899), and 512GB ($1099). The gadget is manufactured with iOS 15, therefore, it can be easily updated to the current version, but features like ProMotion, Dynamic Island, and Always-On Display are still not available due to the hardware it has.

• A15 Bionic chip with 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
• 4GB LPDDR4X RAM
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• iOS 15 (upgradable to iOS 18)
• Optimized for everyday tasks and photography

Camera System

The iPhone 13 has a primary dual-camera system that includes a 12MP Main (f/1.6, 26mm, sensor-shift OIS) and a 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.4, 13mm, 120° FOV) rear camera. It neither has a telephoto lens of Pro models nor has it been devoid of improvement in low-light performance due to the replacement by a larger main sensor. The front-facing camera, which is 12MP, is paired with f/2.2. The remaining features include 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps and Cinematic Mode (1080p 30 fps) video recording, with the absence of ProRes. Moreover, the camera is supported by the True Tone flash system so that one can take better photos under low-light conditions.

• Rear: 12MP Main (26mm, f/1.6, OIS), 12MP Ultra Wide (13mm, f/2.4, 120° FOV)
• Front: 12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2)
• Video: 4K Dolby Vision 60 fps, Cinematic Mode (1080p 30 fps)
• Modes: Night mode, Portrait, Photographic Styles
• True Tone flash

Battery and Charging

The iPhone 13 is powered by a 3240mAh battery, which is enough to offer up to 19 hours of video playback. However, real-world test results have shown 14 to 16 hours of mixed use. The device only supports wired charging with 20W (50% in 30 minutes), 15W MagSafe, and 7.5W Qi wireless charging. There is no charger in the box, and only a Lightning cable that comes with the phone. The battery has good performance for a phone of its size and can be called a powerhouse of sorts if you exclude the mini, but you also have to be prepared to not get the Pro Max figures.

• 3240mAh battery
• Up to 19 hours video playback, ~14–16 hours real-world
• 20W wired charging (50% in 30 min)
• 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi wireless charging
• No charger included (Lightning cable only)

Connectivity

The Qualcomm X60 5G modem selected by the iPhone 13 is perfect for those who want a fast, reliable 5G network. It is no longer a secret that the device can connect to a sub-6 5G network, but it is also important to mention that mmWave 5G coverage is limited to the United States only. The phone is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)-enabled and sports Bluetooth 5.0 in addition to that, which is kind of basic for a... modem, right? But polygamy seems to be the way to go, so you may find it very supportive of physical nano-SIM along with eSIM or a dual eSIM, only that one depends on the region near you. For the rest, use the U1 chipset to be able to track your AirTags...in broad daylight only, since it's not possible to get a phone call during an emergency. In the event that something is to be declared with great precision, the only available system is GPS – GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou.

• Qualcomm X60 5G modem (sub-6 GHz, mmWave in U.S.)
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Physical nano-SIM + eSIM or dual eSIM (region-dependent)
• U1 ultra-wideband chip (Precision Finding)
• No satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou

Pricing and Availability

The iPhone 13 was priced starting at $799 for 128GB and $899 for 256GB, and $1099 for 512GB. Apple and carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile started accepting pre-orders on September 17, 2021, with sales starting on September 24, 2021. Today, the normal channels — retail stores like Best Buy, mobile operators, and the gadget companies themselves — make the phone easy to obtain. The phone did indeed phase out in September 2022 after its successor, the iPhone 14, was revealed, and now you can find one if you look among the leftovers at the retailer for a cheaper price or at the second-hand ones they sell. With such programs, a phone can bring credit on a subsequent purchase, provided that it is handed in to the trade-in programs.