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
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
×