It used to be that every other year, Apple would release an S-model iPhone — a slightly better and faster version of the iPhone that came out the year prior. But recently, Apple stopped doing that and has opted to just continue naming iPhone models chronologically without any S models in between. As a result, many people on the internet have speculated whether or not iPhone 13 is just a slightly faster iPhone 12.
Don’t worry. We’ll take it from here. In this article, you’ll read about how these models stack up next to each other. And whether you’re on iPhone 12 or something earlier and you’re looking to upgrade, you’ll see if iPhone 13 is really worth it for you or not.
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12: The cameras
Apple has consistently improved the camera on each model of iPhone. But is that true with iPhone 13? Some might argue that the improvements are negligible. And for the most part, those people would be right.
The most significant difference in the cameras is that iPhone 13 has a diagonal lens system, whereas iPhone 12 has vertically stacked lenses. The other major thing is that iPhone 13 has sensor-shift optical image stabilization. All that means is that as you’re moving your phone around, the sensor is physically moving to accommodate, whereas iPhone 12 zooms in on the image to help keep videos as smooth as possible.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13: Design and displays
Unless you saw these two models right next to each, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them. That said, there is a minimal range of differences in the iPhone’s physical space.
Size and colors
When it comes to the size of the two models, they’re almost identical. The only difference is that iPhone 13 is slightly thicker and, in turn, just a bit heavier. The other significant physical difference between the two is their colors. Here’s a quick breakdown of each iPhone model:
- iPhone 12: Purple, blue, green, Product (RED), White, and Black.
- iPhone 13: Pink, blue, midnight, starlight, and Product (RED).
Displays
The displays are another area where these two models are nearly identical. Both have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display. Where they differ is that iPhone 13 is slightly brighter. But, other than that, it looks like the display is the same for both models.
iPhone 12 and 13 performance comparison
Performance specs are probably where we’re going to start seeing the biggest differences between the two models.
Processor and 5G
Both the processor and 5G on your iPhone are essential — and nearly identical. The biggest difference is the A15 Bionic chip in iPhone 13 versus the seemingly humble A14 Bionic chip in iPhone 12, which is still a great processor by all other accounts.
Battery life
When iPhone 12 was released, it boasted one of the longest battery times at 17 hours. But, during iPhone 13’s release, the newer phone upped that battery runtime to a whopping 19 hours of usage on a full charge.
Storage options
iPhone 13 brought some upgraded storage options with it. A brand-new iPhone 12 comes in 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB, while iPhone 13 bumps all of that up with 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB storage options.
Full iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12 specs
Now that we’ve got all the non-essential items out of the way, let’s get down to brass tacks. Check out this table to see the exact specs on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
| iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 | |
| Processor | A14 Bionic Chip | A15 Bionic Chip |
| iPhone size | 5.78” x 2.82” x .29″ x 5.78” | 5.78” x 2.82” x .30″ x 6.1.” |
| Color options | Purple, blue, green, Product (RED), White, and Black | Pink, blue, midnight, starlight, and Product (RED) |
| Storage capacity | 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB |
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours | Up to 19 hours |
| Display | 6.1” Liquid Retina | 6.1” Liquid Retina |
iPhone 13 vs. 12: Our verdict
If you’re already using an iPhone 12, and you’re trying to decide whether you should upgrade or not, maybe hold off for a bit. There’s just not much improvement between the two models. But, that said, if you have anything older than iPhone 12, run — don’t walk! Upgrade your iPhone to iPhone 13, a great model. You’ll come to fully appreciate all of the features they’ve built in this time around.
Both iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are great phones. But since you only need one, iPhone 13 is going to be the way to go. While there are only small performance bumps with iPhone 13, it definitely outranks the competition! And if you’re also considering the Pro models, see how iPhone 12 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max compare.
