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iPhone Q&A
Update Published September 20, 2024
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What are the major differences between the iPhone 13 mini/iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro/iPhone 13 Pro Max? Which is best for my needs?
The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max all have been discontinued. This Q&A has been updated with current iOS support and other details and can be quite helpful to anyone buying one of these models on the used market.
There are a whopping twenty different iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max models (five of each), but this EveryiPhone.com Q&A mostly covers the collective differences to make it straightforward to decide which is best for you.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left to Right: iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max)
These four iPhone devices released in 2021 are quite similar to one another (and similar to earlier iPhone models, as well). However, there are some significant differences between the 2021 lineup as well as a number of similarities that are important to understand, too.
External Design & Functionality Differences
The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max models look nearly identical -- rounded rectangles with a glass front and back and nearly edge-to-edge displays with a "notch" at the top to hold cameras and sensors.
Each of these iPhone models have flat sides that are easy to hold, but there are some differences in materials and functionality.
The "regular" iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 use a case that is primarily aluminum whereas the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max use a mostly stainless steel case. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max also have textured glass with a matte finish that is a bit easier to grip than the non-Pro models.
All of these models have a "Ceramic shield" on the front side for durability and are waterproof to the IP68 standard (IEC standard 60529) for up to 30 minutes of water exposure to a depth of six meters.
Each of these devices also have stereo speakers, a Lightning connector, magnetic "MagSafe" charging capability in addition to support for "wireless" charging and a side-mounted access panel for SIM cards.
Most models support dual SIMs, either a single physical Nano SIM and one virtual eSIM or two virtual eSIMs, but China-only models do not support eSIM. Instead the China-only iPhone 13 mini (A2629) has a single Nano SIM whereas the bigger China-only models have two physical Nano SIMs.
As you would anticipate, the smallest iPhone 13 mini is the lightest of the four and the largest iPhone 13 Pro Max is the heaviest. The iPhone 13 Pro is a bit heavier than the "non-Pro" iPhone 13, but they are the same dimensions:
 13 mini |
13 |
 13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Material: | Aluminum/Glass | Aluminum/Glass | Steel/Glass | Steel/Glass |
| Height (In.): | 5.18 | 5.78 | 5.78 | 6.33 |
| Width (In.): | 2.53 | 2.82 | 2.82 | 3.07 |
| Depth (In.): | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Weight (Oz.): | 4.97 | 6.14 | 7.19 | 8.46 |
Display Differences
The screens in the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are all attractive.
Of course, the smallest iPhone 13 mini has the smallest display and the largest iPhone 13 Pro Max has the largest, but the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models have displays that are even better quality than the "non-Pro" models.
Specifically, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models have "Super Retina XDR with ProMotion" displays which are brighter and support an adaptive refresh rate from 10 Hz to 120 Hz for faster frame rates and more comfortable viewing when scrolling:
13 mini |
13 |
13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Display Type: | XDR | XDR | ProMotion | ProMotion |
| Dimensions: | 5.4" | 6.1" | 6.1" | 6.7" |
| Resolution: | 2340x1080 | 2532x1170 | 2532x1170 | 2778x1284 |
| PPI: | 476 | 460 | 460 | 458 |
| Brightness: | 800 nits | 800 nits | 1000 nits | 1000 nits |
| HDR Max: | 1200 nits | 1200 nits | 1200 nits | 1200 nits |
| Contrast: | 2 million:1 | 2 million:1 | 2 million:1 | 2 million:1 |
Also note that the physically smaller iPhone 13 mini has more pixels per inch whereas the largest iPhone 13 Pro Max has fewer pixels per inch.
Housing Color Differences
All four of these iPhone models have a black front and the same size "notch" at the top of the display, but different back colors are offered.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 13 mini/iPhone 13 Colors)
The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 (above) originally were offered in five colors: "Starlight" (a light, warm gray), "Midnight" (black), blue, (pale) pink, and (PRODUCT) RED. On March 8, 2022, Apple added a sixth option -- green.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 13 Pro/iPhone 13 Pro Max Colors)
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, originally were offered in four colors -- graphite (dark gray), gold, silver, and "Sierra" Blue. On March 8, 2022, Apple added a fifth option -- "Alpine" Green.
For the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13, Apple used more subdued colors than earlier "non-Pro" options, but the company continued to use color -- along with texture and material -- to make the "professional" models feel higher-end.
Camera Differences
The cameras in the "regular" iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 and the higher-end iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are one of the most significant points of differentiation. The front cameras use the same hardware, but the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max support ProRes video recording. The rear cameras in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are significantly more capable, as well.
Front Cameras
The front-facing camera on all four of these devices -- which Apple refers to as "TrueDepth" -- support "Face ID" authentication, augmented reality (AR), still photos, and 4K video recording:
13 mini |
13 |
13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Megapixels: | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Aperture: | f/2.2 | f/2.2 | f/2.2 | f/2.2 |
| Video: | 4K | 4K | 4K* | 4K* |
| ProRAW: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| ProRes: | No | No | Yes* | Yes* |
*Note that iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models with 128 GB of storage only support the ProRes codec at 1080p at 30 fps. Higher capacity models (256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB) support ProRes up to 4K.
Rear Cameras
The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 rear cameras have dual 12 megapixel ultra wide and wide angle lenses that shoot still photos and 4K video with a variety of filters and processing options.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPhone 13 Pro/iPhone 13 Pro Max Rear Camera)
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models are even better and have rear triple lens camera systems as well as support for the Apple ProRAW photo format and ProRes video codec for more flexible and professional editing options:
13 mini |
13 |
13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Megapixels: | 12 MP x2 | 12 MP x2 | 12 MP x3 | 12 MP x3 |
| Ultrawide: | f/2.4 | f/2.4 | f/1.8 | f/1.8 |
| Wide: | f/1.6 | f/1.6 | f/1.5 | f/1.5 |
| Telephoto: | No | No | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| SS OIS: | Wide | Wide | Dual | Dual |
| Macro Support: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Zoom: | 2x-5x* | 2x-5x* | 2x-15x* | 2x-15x* |
| Apple ProRAW: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Apple ProRes: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
* By combining an image from multiple cameras, these models emulate a 2x optical zoom and provide an enhanced digital zoom (up to 5x for the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13; up to 15x for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max).
Identification Differences
Some iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max models can be spotted readily by color and camera, but this does not work well for all options and is not a reliable method accordingly. It is not possible to identify specific models within each line by appearance alone, either.
One relatively easy way to uniquely identify these models is by the Model Number listed on the cardboard shipping box and within the iOS "Settings" app.
Consequently, for the purpose of this Q&A, it is sufficient to note that the following model numbers refer to these iPhone devices:
iPhone Model |
Model Number |
EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iLookup feature also can precisely identify these iPhone models by Order Number (referred to as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About), and their Serial Numbers, as well.
Battery Life Differences
The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max each have impressive battery life, but the largest iPhone 13 Pro Max provides the longest runtime of the four:
13 mini |
13 |
13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Local Video: | 17 Hours | 19 Hours | 22 Hours | 28 Hours |
| Streaming: | 13 Hours | 15 Hours | 20 Hours | 25 Hours |
| Audio: | 55 Hours | 75 Hours | 75 Hours | 95 Hours |
All of these devices are capable of charging to 50% capacity in 30 minutes, also.
Wireless Connectivity & Data Differences
Collectively, the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max models each provide much of the same connectivity. For example, all provide 5G support, Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, Ultra Wideband "for spatial awareness," NFC capability, and more.
However, there are a few 5G and 4G LTE bands that are supported by some models and not others. Specifically, models sold in the United States support 5G mmWave bands n258 (26 GHz), n260 (39 GHz), n261 (28 GHz), but others do not. Models sold in the US and Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Saudi Arabia support the 5G bands n29 (700d MHz) and n71 (600 MHz) in addition to the 4G bands 11 (1500 MHz), 14 (700 PS), 21 (1500 MHz), 29 (700d MHz), and 71 (600 MHz). Models sold in other countries do not support these bands.
Supported 4G and 5G bands vary accordingly:
iPhone Model |
Model No |
Additional 4G/5G |
iPhone 13 mini (US) |
11 (1500 MHz) n29 (700d MHz) n258 (26 GHz) |
|
iPhone 13 mini (CA/MX/JP/SA) |
11 (1500 MHz) n29 (700d MHz) |
|
iPhone 13 mini (Global) |
No Differences |
|
iPhone 13 mini (China) |
No Differences |
|
iPhone 13 mini (Russia) |
No Differences |
Most models support a single physical Nano SIM and one virtual eSIM or two eSIMs, but China-only models do not support eSIM. Instead the China-only iPhone 13 mini (A2629) has a single Nano SIM whereas the bigger China-only models (A2634, A2639, and A2644) have two physical Nano SIMs.
Internal Differences
Although specific parts are different, the entry-level iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 are largely similar to the higher-end iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max internally. However, the "Pro" models add LiDAR support, a beefier GPU, more RAM, and the option of more storage:
13 mini |
13 |
13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Clockspeed: | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 3.2 GHz |
| Processor: | A15 | A15 | A15 | A15 |
| CPU: | 6 Cores | 6 Cores | 6 Cores | 6 Cores |
| GPU: | 4 Cores | 4 Cores | 5 Cores | 5 Cores |
| RAM: | 4 GB | 4 GB | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage: | 128/256/512 | 128/256/512 | 128/256/512/1 | 128/256/512/1 |
| LiDAR: | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Note that despite the additional GPU core and the extra RAM in the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, from a performance standpoint, there is no meaningful difference between these models at all.
iOS Support Differences
The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all originally shipped with iOS 15 and fully support the operating system. Later iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 models shipped with iOS 16.
Specific feature support is a bit different for different models in the lineup running iOS 16, though. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max fully support the operating system. The iPhone 13 mini, on the other hand, supports iOS 16, but it does not support the minor Accessibility Detection and improved Depth of Field features. The iPhone 13 supports the improved Depth of Field feature, but it does not support Accessibility Detection.
Feature support is a bit diferent for iOS 17, as well. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 do not support the minor Point and Speak accessibility functionality, wheras the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max do support Point and Speak.
Finally, all of these models support iOS 18, the current version of the iOS, but none support the Messages via Satellite or Apple Intelligence (AI) features.
iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro & 13 Pro Max Comparison Chart
These differences as well as other details and pricing information is summarized below:
13 mini |
13 |
13 Pro |
13 Pro Max |
|
| Introduced: | Sep 2021 | Sep 2021 | Sep 2021 | Sep 2021 |
| Discontinued: | Sep 2023 | Sep 2024 | Sep 2022 | Sep 2022 |
| RAM: | 4 GB | 4 GB | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage: | 128/256/512 | 128/256/512 | 128/256/512/1 | 128/256/512/1 |
| Battery Life: | 13-55 Hours | 15-75 Hours | 20-75 Hours | 25-95 Hours |
| Display Size: | 5.4" | 6.1" | 6.1" | 6.7" |
| Display Type: | XDR | XDR | ProMotion | ProMotion |
| Resolution: | 2340x1080 | 2532x1170 | 2532x1170 | 2778x1284 |
| PPI: | 476 | 460 | 460 | 458 |
| Brightness: | 800 nits | 800 nits | 1000 nits | 1000 nits |
| Front Camera: | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear Camera: | 2 (12 MP) | 2 (12 MP) | 3 (12 MP) | 3 (12 MP) |
| Material: | Al/Glass | Al/Glass | Steel/Glass | Steel/Glass |
| Colors: | 6 Colors | 6 Colors | 5 Subdued | 5 Subdued |
| SIM Card: | Nano/eSIM | Nano/eSIM | Nano/eSIM | Nano/eSIM |
| 5G: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MagSafe: | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orig. iOS: | iOS 15 | iOS 15 | iOS 15 | iOS 15 |
| Max. iOS: | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| Orig. USD: | US$699 US$799 US$999 |
US$799 US$899 US$1099 |
US$999 US$1099 US$1299 US$1499 |
US$1099 US$1199 US$1399 US$1599 |
| Orig. GBP: | £679 £779 £979 |
£779 £879 £1079 |
£949 £1049 £1249 £1449 |
£1049 £1149 £1349 £1549 |
| Orig. CAD: | C$949 C$1089 C$1359 |
C$1099 C$1239 C$1509 |
C$1399 C$1539 C$1809 C$2079 |
C$1549 C$1689 C$1959 C$2229 |
| Orig. AUD: | A$1199 A$1369 A$1719 |
A$1349 A$1519 A$1869 |
A$1699 A$1869 A$2219 A$2569 |
A$1949 A$2019 A$2369 A$2719 |
| Orig. JPY: | ¥86,800 ¥98,800 ¥122,800 |
¥98,800 ¥110,800 ¥134,800 |
¥122,800 ¥134,800 ¥158,800 ¥182,800 |
¥134,800 ¥146,800 ¥170,800 ¥194,800 |
| Orig. CNY: | RMB 5,199 RMB 5,999 RMB 7,599 |
RMB 5,999 RMB 6,799 RMB 8,399 |
RMB 7,999 RMB 8,799 RMB 10,399 RMB 11,999 |
RMB 8,999 RMB 9,799 RMB 11,399 RMB 12,999 |
* Note that these original prices are for devices unlocked and paid in full upfront. Carrier subsidized options, leases, and trade-in discounts also were available.
For pricing in dozens of countries, see the "Global Prices" on the specs page for each iPhone as well as the "By Global Original Prices" section of EveryiPhone.com.
So, which is for me? Should I buy an iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max?
Ignoring subsequent models, when these models were first introduced after fourteen years of iPhone designs, it was easy to become jaded as the pace of innovation slowed, but the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max each were impressive devices nevertheless at their time of initial release. They remain quite capable, too.
Although the value proposition may have shifted somewhat on the used market, the less expensive "non-Pro" iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 are (1) the same speed and (2) have the same fast 5G capability as their more expensive "Pro" siblings and are a solid value accordingly. For most users, any should be more than adequate.
However, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max offer (1) a stronger steel frame and textured glass for easier grip, (2) substantially higher quality displays, (3) much more advanced rear cameras with support for a more professional file format and video codec, (4) longer battery life, (5) more RAM, (6) LiDAR support, and (7) the option of more storage.
Just comparing these four options -- and ignoring later models -- the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 Pro Max are the easiest to consider. If you want the smallest and/or cheapest, go with the iPhone 13 mini. If you want the largest display and longest battery life possible -- and don't mind using what is essentially a two-handed device for most people and aren't shocked by the price tag (at least when it was new) -- go with the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Even on the used market, it remains a more challenging decision between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro. The iPhone 13 already is a quality device; the iPhone 13 Pro originally was US$200 more if equipped with the same amount of storage. For most users, it was a decision of whether or not the (1) better display, (2) more advanced rear camera, and (3) longer battery life were worth an extra US$200 (on the used market, though, the difference should be smaller).
In the US, site sponsor Other World Computing sells used and refurbished iPhone models also with free shipping. On the other hand, if you need to sell an iPhone, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac and GoRoostr will buy your older iPhone with an instant quote and prompt payment.
Please also see EveryiPhone.com's Ultimate iComparison feature to dynamically compare any iPhone model to any other iPod, iPhone, or iPad.
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