Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Apple iPhone 13 mini review: still the boss of small phones

Apple iPhone 13 mini review: still the boss of small phones

Mini model trounces competition with great camera and performance, but isn’t the best iPhone for the year

The iPhone 13 mini takes what’s great about the full-size iPhone 13 and squeezes it into a body not much larger than the iPhone 5S without cutting back on features or power.

The smallest of Apple’s 2021 lineup costs £679 ($699/A$1,199), sitting above the £389 iPhone SE and below the £779 iPhone 13.

The 13 mini is only slightly thicker and heavier than last year’s 12 mini, still making it one of the smallest full-blooded smartphones you can buy.

The notch at the top of the screen takes up less space compared with previous iPhones, but the status bar still shows the same limited information.

The 5.4in OLED screen is superb: crisp, bright and now with a smaller Face ID notch taking up less room at the top. The aluminium and glass body is slim, light and lovely to hold. It fits in pockets easily and works great for messaging and calls.

But it has the same drawbacks from its diminutive size as its predecessor. It is too small to fit in my car windscreen mount, watching video on it is a bit tedious, games are cramped, and you end up scrolling around in documents a lot.

I ended up using the mini less than other smartphones just because of the size, which might be a plus for some.

Specifications


* Screen: 5.4in Super Retina XDR (OLED) (476ppi)

* Processor: Apple A15 Bionic

* RAM: 4GB

* Storage: 128, 256 or 512GB

* Operating system: iOS 15

* Camera: dual 12MP rear cameras with OIS, 12MP front-facing camera

* Connectivity: 5G, wifi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5, Lightning, ultra wideband and location

* Water resistance: IP68 (6 metres for 30 mins)

* Dimensions: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.7mm

* Weight: 141g

Speed, battery life and iOS 15
The 13 mini takes one hour 43 minutes to fully charge, hitting 80% in 46 minutes, with a 20W USB-C charger (not included in the box).


The 13 mini has the same A15 Bionic chip as its larger siblings, making it one of the fastest smartphones you can buy, and has the same starting 128GB storage, which is large enough for most things.

The battery doesn’t last quite as long as the bigger phones, however, making it about 38 hours between charges with the screen on for just over four hours during that time. That’s eight hours less than the iPhone 13, but still decent for a phone this small.

The 13 mini runs the same iOS 15 software as the rest of its lineup, including various new features to help process notifications and faster voice recognition. Apple will provide at least five years of software and security updates, and potentially as long as seven years.

Sustainability
The dark blue coloured glass is a dust and fingerprint magnet.


Apple does not provide an expected lifespan for the iPhone 13 mini’s battery, but it can be replaced for £69. Batteries in similar devices typically maintain at least 80% of their original capacity after 500 full charge cycles. The smartphone is generally repairable, with an out-of-warranty service costing £376.44, which includes the screen.

The iPhone 13 mini uses 98% recycled rare earth metals, 99% recycled tungsten and 35% recycled plastic in various components, plus 100% recycled tin in the solder of its main board and battery management unit. The company breaks down the phone’s environmental impact in its report.

Apple also offers trade-in and free recycling schemes, including for non-Apple products.

Observations
The 13 mini has the same improved dual-camera system as its larger sibling, making it one of the best you can buy but lacking in optical zoom.


* Wireless charging is restricted to 12W, not the maximum 15W that the other iPhone 13 models are capable of with Apple’s MagSafe charger.

* Call quality, 5G and wifi reception were solid.

Price


The iPhone 13 mini costs £679 ($699/A$1,199) with 128GB of storage, £779 ($799/A$1,369) for 256GB or £979 ($999/A$1,719) for 512GB.

For comparison, the iPhone SE costs £389, the iPhone 13 costs £779, the iPhone 13 Pro costs £949, the Samsung Galaxy S21 costs £769, the OnePlus 9 costs £629, and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 costs £949.

Verdict


The iPhone 13 mini is without doubt the best small phone you can get. The few competitors that exist are usually cut-down, cheaper models with compromised experiences, where the 13 mini is a full iPhone, just condensed.

It has a great camera, 5G, fast performance, solid battery life, decent storage and long software support.

It isn’t the best Apple phone this year; it’s just too small for many things. But if you’ve been hanging on to an iPhone 5S or 2016 iPhone SE because newer models are too big, or you just long for a smaller smartphone, this is the iPhone for you.

Pros: small and easy to hold, great camera, water-resistant, MagSafe, Face ID, top performance, great screen, 5G, long software support.

Cons: no USB-C, need your own charger, no telephoto camera, screen may be too small for many, not cheap.

The iPhone 13 mini (left) has a smaller 5.4in screen compared with the 6.1in screen of the iPhone 13 (right).

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Grok 4 Video plus Voice, can identify wildlife!
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
The UK Does Not Have a ‘Far-Right’ Problem
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
JD Vance Warns Europe Faces “Civilizational Suicide” Over Open Borders and Speech Limits
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
×