Introduction

Welcome to our comprehensive comparison between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini. You may want to upgrade to Apple's latest mini version, but you're unsure which one of the two options suits you best. Don't worry, we're here to help you make that decision! But if you are looking for a comparison between the two standard versions? Then go to the iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13 comparison here.

In this blog post we will clearly explain the differences between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini. We understand that lists with complicated specifications can seem intimidating. Our goal is to present the information to you in a clear way so you can make informed decisions.

Although both the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini have similarly compact form factors, there are significant differences between them that may influence your decision. We will focus on important aspects that are relevant to you, such as the design, the display, the camera, the performance and the battery life.

By the end of this blog post, you will have a better understanding of which model best suits your needs. So without any further delay, let’s dive into the comparison between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini!

By the way: You can also watch our review of the iPhone 13 mini on YouTube!

The design: compact and yet individual

iPhone 12 mini Design:

iPhone 13 mini Design:

Design is often a deciding factor when choosing a smartphone. Both the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini are characterized by their compact form factor, which makes them particularly handy and practical. But there are some notable innovations in the design of the iPhone 13 mini.

The design of the iPhone 12 mini impresses with a glass back and a high-quality aluminum frame. The back is smooth and elegant while the frame gives a sleek look. The iPhone 13 mini essentially retains this tried-and-tested design, but there is one noticeable innovation: the camera arrangement and a smaller notch - the cut-out for the front camera.

The iPhone 13 mini presents a diagonal camera arrangement on the back. This is a significant departure from the vertical arrangement on the iPhone 12 mini. The diagonal camera arrangement not only gives the iPhone 13 mini a modern look, but also has practical advantages. It makes better use of space and allows Apple to integrate advanced camera features. The cutout for the front camera, i.e. the black part at the top edge of the display, has also been reduced slightly so that you have a little more of the display. Why not?

The design changes to the iPhone 13 mini are subtle, but they give the device a fresh touch. It's an example of how Apple refines existing designs while still maintaining the individual character of each model.

In summary, the design of both models is elegant and compact, but the iPhone 13 mini offers a notable innovation - albeit a small one - with its diagonal camera arrangement.

The display: clarity and brightness

The display is one of the central elements of a smartphone that shapes our visual experience. Both the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini offer impressive displays with similar technical specifications.

Both models have a high-quality 5.4-inch all-screen OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels at 476 ppi (pixels per inch). This display enables a razor-sharp display of content such as photos, videos and apps.

In addition, both the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini offer a typical contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. This enables impressive color depth and a vivid display of images.

A notable improvement in the iPhone 13 mini is the maximum typical brightness. While the iPhone 12 mini has a maximum typical brightness of 625 nits, the iPhone 13 mini offers a maximum typical brightness of 800 nits. This additional brightness ensures that you can read content clearly even under bright sunlight.

In summary, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini offer similar displays with high resolution and impressive color reproduction. The only difference is the higher brightness of the iPhone 13 mini, which allows for better readability under bright ambient light.

The camera: Capture and share important moments

A crucial factor when choosing a smartphone is the quality of the camera. Both the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini offer powerful camera systems that enable impressive shots.

iPhone 12 mini camera

The iPhone 12 mini camera is equipped with a 12-megapixel two-camera system, consisting of a main camera and an ultra-wide-angle lens. The camera has an ƒ/2.4 aperture and optical image stabilization. It also offers 0.5x and 1x optical zoom options, as well as the popular Night mode, which allows for impressive shots in low light conditions. With Smart HDR 3 for photos and Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and depth control, you can create professional-looking images with beautiful blur effects.

iPhone 13 mini camera

The iPhone 13 mini sets another milestone in camera technology. The iPhone 13 mini's camera has larger pixels at 1.7 µm, making it 47 percent more sensitive to light. This means the iPhone 13 mini delivers even better photos, even in difficult lighting conditions. The main camera has an ƒ/1.6 aperture, while the ultra-wide-angle lens has an ƒ/2.4 aperture. With sensor-shift optical image stabilization and 0.5x and 1x optical zoom options, you can capture crisp images and stunning videos. In addition to the improved Night Mode, iPhone 13 mini also offers photographic styles that give your pictures a personalized look.

Both models offer excellent camera quality, but the iPhone 13 mini brings a noticeable improvement thanks to its larger pixels and improved light sensitivity.If you value the best possible image quality, the iPhone 13 mini is the recommended choice. However, the iPhone 12 mini camera already offers impressive quality and allows you to take great photos.

Battery life: Enjoy longer

The battery life of a smartphone is an important factor for everyday use and plays a crucial role when choosing a cell phone. Both the iPhone 12 mini with its decent battery life and the iPhone 13 mini with its optimized battery performance offer a relatively good usage time, which allows you to benefit from your device for longer.

According to official information from Apple, the iPhone 12 mini battery lasts up to 15 hours with pure video playback and up to 10 hours with streamed video playback. Audio playback can last up to 50 hours. These numbers give a good indication of how long you can use the battery life of the iPhone 12 mini for various activities.

Apple has further optimized the battery life of the iPhone 13 mini. According to Apple's official claims, the device offers up to 17 hours of video playback and up to 13 hours of streamed video playback. Audio playback can last up to 55 hours. These improvements mean you can get even longer out of iPhone 13 mini's battery life before needing to recharge the device.

It is important to note that actual battery life depends on various factors such as device usage, active apps, signal strength and settings. Apple's official information is intended as a guide, but may vary in practice.

In summary, both the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini offer an impressive battery life - even if they are shorter than the iPhone 13 battery, for example, due to their smaller design. However, the iPhone 13 mini offers improvements over the iPhone 12 mini battery, allowing noticeably longer usage time, especially in video playback and streamed video playback.

Comparison iPhone 12 and 13 mini: Which model is right for you?

In this blog post, we conducted a detailed comparison between the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini to highlight the differences and improvements between the two models. Here is a quick summary of the key points:

• The iPhone 13 mini offers some improvements over the iPhone 12 mini, such as the newer A15 Bionic Chip for even more powerful performance.
• The iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 12 mini have an impressive 5.4-inch all-screen OLED display that offers outstanding image quality and provides an immersive viewing experience.
• Both models have powerful camera systems with impressive functions for high-quality photos and videos, but the larger pixels in the iPhone 13 mini  make it the significantly better camera .
• The iPhone 13 mini offers even better battery life compared to the iPhone 12 mini, so you can use your device for longer before having to recharge it.

If budget is important to you, the iPhone 12 mini is still a very good choice. Since it's only a year older, it still offers great performance and features. But in particular, refurbished models of the  iPhone 12 mini  and the iPhone 13 mini can be available at a cheaper price without sacrificing quality or performance. With refurbished iPhones you generally don't need to be afraid, as these smartphones often still work perfectly after years.

Ultimately, the decision depends on your individual needs, budget and preferences. Both the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini are high-quality smartphones that offer a great user experience. If you are interested in other iPhones, then take a look at our comprehensive   report on the iPhone 13 series.