Iphone 13 mini test: the magic of the small format still triumphs

After several months of use, I must say that the autonomy of the iPhone 13 Mini is its main drawback. But we had to expect it, that was already the case in our full test of the iPhone 12 Mini. Personally, I use my smartphone all day to listen to music streaming, surf occasionally, use Messenger, Instagram, take photos and make calls, including video calls. Gourmet battery tasks like playing or following streaming movies on Netflix are not in my habits.

IPhone 13 mini test

For the iPhone 13 Mini test, it is the sharp analysis of discoverdosis that makes the difference. This compact and incredibly efficient gem will make you crack. This daring apple smartphone keeps its promises with a pragmatic format and high aerobatics power. Grand Apple ! In this video, Discoverdose deploys with relevance the advantages of this mobile. Here is for you a summary of this Iphone 13 mini test.

iPhone 13 Mini: Discover the video test

Iphone 13 mini test: its size makes the difference

Maybe you have little hands ? Or you love to slide your smartphone into the pocket of your slim or you don’t like getting noticed with a mobile whose screen is disproportionately ? So the iPhone 13 mini is for you and it is not because it is riquiqui that it is not impressive ! The iPhone 12 Mini opened the ball when it was released in 2020. A year later, the Cupertino firm propels the iPhone 13 Mini with an even smaller, ingenious format ! And yet, this mini did not have the expected success. That is why, Discoverdosis, reference youtubeur in terms of smartphones, decided to use it on a daily basis to give its informed opinion.

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In the video, Discoverdose received an iPhone 13 Mini Rouge in a exceptional state, without claw or trace of shock.

iPhone 13 mini: the magic of a little thumb

Once in hand, this is the surprise for the youtubeur. Indeed, this Apple smartphone is a premium model with incredible ergonomics. Its elegant slices and chassis reflect the high end. Nevertheless, a shell improves the grip according to him.

The screen is made of tempered glass, Very flat and not curved as the Android models can be. With a 5.4 inch diagonal, We are still in the presence of an interesting and largely usable model to surf the internet. Because its screen is larger than that of the iPhone SE, while it is smaller. You can easily appreciate the brightness and the high quality of this slab to OLED technology associated with a fluidity powered by iOS 15 for:

• View Netflix;
• Watch YouTube videos;
• Read the news;
• Go to social networks;
• Playing video games.

In comparison with the majestic Samsung S22 Ultra, it does not have to be ashamed of its size, because it offers equally pleasant performance. Nevertheless, when it comes to writing long emails or correcting photos, it’s less pleasant. And you can even type your sms with one hand, it’s very practical !

Powerful details of this mini iPhone 13 details

Here is in more detail, a specific opinion on the features of the iPhone 13 Mini.

Performance and fluidity of this ultra compact

The haptic return and the speakers are very good, because very powerful, and it is surprising given the reduced size of this mobile to the apple to the apple !

And, It holds the best Apple processor: the Apple A15 Bionic chip. It does not heat and delivers an incredible performance without devouring battery life. You do not encounter any problem to play fluidity. Because, with iOS you are guaranteed to have updates on 6 to 7 years. You benefit from an extremely fluid platform with few bugs.

This is the advantage of having an Apple product. The software is optimized to last as well as the materials.

A photographic style of pro

Discover 5 presets to define your shots, They strengthen or soften the contrast. You navigate between hot or colder shades. And the cinematic mode offers a portrait mode, but on video. It’s a very popular little revolution ! All the scenarios are impeccable, day, night and even against the light !
The video is breathtaking. Fluid, without sudden and ultra -clear, the images are breathtaking. The quality is simply stunning.

Nevertheless, the iPhone 13 Mini does not have a zoom X2, X3 or X5 sensor or even an autofocus on the ultra-angle that we find in the range.

A mini battery

The battery of this mini Apple is to 2420 Mah. So, certainly, it is little, but it turns out that unlike the iPhone 12 Mini, The 13 mini battery is surprising. Because, with sustained consumption that mixes video games and intensive media, It has a full day from 7:30 a.m. to midnight and with 5:30 am on screen on. It’s very honorable. Then, the use of Mac Safe is top, but recharging is somewhat slow.

Prolific nuances

Here are the different chassis colors available by the iPhone 13 Mini, they are subtle and very elegant:

• iPhone 13 mini white;
• iphone 13 mini pink gold;
• iPhone 13 mini blue;
• iPhone 13 Mini Noir;
• iphone 13 mini khaki green;
• iPhone 13 mini red;
• iPhone 13 mini white.

These colors are splendid, which will capsize you ?

The iPhone 13 mini test Led by the maestro of smartphones comparisons, Discoverdose is final. It is a jewel with a high -tech condensed in ultra reduced, but extremely powerful format, why deprive it ? Quickly click to discover it reconditioned at Recommerce®!

• All about the iPhone XR
• All about the iPhone 13
• All about the iPhone 12

Iphone 13 mini test: the magic of the small format still triumphs

The small thumb of the iPhone range is an ogre of power, with impressive ergonomics and a stunning screen. Its autonomy progresses, but alas less than that of its big brothers. A question of size.

01net’s opinion.com

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

• + Compact and pleasant design
• + The superb slab
• + The power of the A15 Bionic
• + Progressing autonomy
• + The photo modules that improve
• + Doubling the storage capacity

• – The autonomy that we would have liked to see more progress
• – Only two photo modules at the back
• – The lack of dive and modeling photos

Writing note

Note published on 09/28/2021

Technical sheet

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

System	iOS 15
Processor	Apple A15 Bionic
Size (diagonal)	5.4 “
Screen resolution	476 PPP

See the full file

Last year, the iPhone 12 Mini was a surprise, an excellent surprise. A little moment of grace that held in the hollow of one hand, a kind of UFO in the world of smartphones where the slabs will tease diagonals that were formerly believed to be reserved for tablets.

The iPhone 12 Mini was the iPhone that can really be used with one hand, without tips, without having to reposition your palm or stretch your fingers. He promised the power of his big brothers in a compact factor. The best of two worlds.

The iPhone 13 Mini takes up this formula … better. We find the same vertical and frank edges, which largely participate in the comfort of grip, in addition to the reduced dimensions. The aluminum strapping underlines and prolongs the color of the rear side nicely: this year we are entitled to five finishes: pink, blue, midnight, stellar light (the opposite gray ?) and finally (product) red. The whole is pleasant to hold in hand and does not slip. Even if it is true that we will always tend to protect your phone with a shell.

Since we are talking about protection, remember that Apple protects the front facade of its smartphones with its Ceramic Shield, a glass specially designed and given to be more resistant than the other glasses used by the industry. Our experience over the past year with the iPhone 12 seems to corroborate this assertion. The slabs stride a little, but do not break despite the few inevitable falls.

Like other iPhone 13, the mini thickens a little and also increases. Seven grams on the scale, it is not a disaster, and to speak, it does not really feel – especially with a shell. But not everyone will be of this opinion. The fact remains that it is by far the lightest in the range.

An exceptional and improved slab

With its 5.4 -inch Super Retina XDR pack (which offers an 85.4%screen ratio), the iPhone 13 Mini is the iPhone that offers the smallest display area of ​​this new range. But his HDR compatible oled panel is nonetheless a great asset.

Like other iPhone 13, the mini saw the notch in the facade reduce in size, by around 20%. This does not upset the interface, but allows, despite everything, to win a few tenths of centimeter when you watch a film or play.

The Super Retina XDR tiles of this year are also brighter. The iPhone 12 Mini displayed 623 cd/m2 last year. But this year, under the same conditions, these are the 800 cd/m2 that we reach. With HDR content, we reach light peaks at 1000 cd/m2. In other words, a much greater brightness to use your iPhone outside in direct sunlight, without having to fight with the reflections. The contrast remains “infinite”, while the delta e (which measures colorimetric fidelity) is slightly withdrawn from last year, but remains exceptional at 1.22. Its slab is thus 72.2% fairer than that of high -end smartphones tested these last twelve months.

On the other hand, as beautiful and efficient, it is it, this slab suffers from a defect that a lot of competitor under Android no longer know. The iPhone 13 Mini, like its big brother, the iPhone 13, does not offer pro motion technology. In other words, the speed of refreshment of the slab does not adapt to your uses and above all does not vary from 10 to 120 Hz, as is the case on the two pro models this year.

It is all the more unfortunate that it strengthens the comfort of use and does not seem to have had a negative impact on the autonomy of the iPhone 13 pro, in view of the records established by the pro max.

Autonomy: discreet and serious progress

Since we are talking about autonomy, let’s approach the question head -on. Does the iPhone 13 mini improve ? Yes, but unevenly. For our versatile autonomy test, which amounts to simulating everyday uses on a smartphone (web, email, video, etc.), the iPhone 13 Mini reaches 3:18 p.m., only 18 minutes more than the iPhone 12 Mini. The result is honest, but a little too light to guarantee that you will hold all day away from a sector outlet if you use your iPhone in a slightly intensive way, with a lot of games or connection to the network.

It is all the more unfortunate that the iPhone 13, identical in every way, except for its size, displays it much more substantial autonomy. He reached 6:57 p.m. in versatile, and 4:39 p.m. in video streaming … A test where the mini goes out after 1:43 p.m., 45 minutes more than the iPhone 12 Mini. The new encoders/decoders of the A15 Bionic chip can do miracles, but the battery must be quite substantial despite everything. However, that of the 13 mini is 2,406 mAh, against 2,226 mAh for the 12 mini. Progress, but compactness has its limits, which we find here.

To close this chapter of halftone progress, note that it still takes 1h36 to recharge this battery from 0 to 100%. You must of course always go through a Lightning cable, since none of the iPhone 13 has passed to the USB-C.

An iPhone mini, but with the power of large

This year again, the iPhone 13 Mini is not an iPhone at a discount, as the iPhone could sometimes appear it. It’s really the top iPhone experience, but in a more compact case.

The 2021 edition is therefore entitled to the same chip as the iPhone 13, an A15 Bionic, which incorporates six cores for the CPU. Two high performance, which are clocked at around 3.2 GHz and four low consumption, less powerful, but perfectly suited for uses that require less power like surfing on the web, for example. The GPU part is made up of four cores on the mini, as on the 13th. Only iPhone 13 pro benefit from an additional heart. The whole is accompanied by four gigabytes of RAM, two GB less than on the pro.

In fact, the interface is fluid, the applications get started quickly, execute without worry and the transition from one program to another does not cause any jolts or slowdown. iOS 15 is his business. The new text recognition functions run without hitch – finally, with the few failures that we nevertheless meet sometimes, but which are independent of the power of the device.

iOS 15 on the mini is a pleasure. We just would have a remark, a recommendation rather. Try to adopt the keyboard in one hand. It will save you the few typing faults due to a little smaller virtual touches. 5.4 inches, it’s tall … but not that much.

Anyway, on the fluidity and performance side, given what Apple provides each year, there were very little doubts about the subject. To make the measurement of power progress, which will ensure more fluidity in heavy applications, which will produce prettier graphics in games, which will allow you to multiply the tracks in music creation software, or which will accelerate the assembly of videos or photo, it’s good to turn to tools bench synthetic.

In this case, we retain Geekbench 5, GFXBENCH METAL for the pure graphic part, and 3DMARK WILDLIFE to measure the capacity of the chip to maintain an effort on the “long term”. Because sometimes it is better a marathonian chip than a sprinter that runs out of steam too fast. Who just play a game for five minutes when he can do it for 30 minutes or more ?

With Geekbench, we focus on the score attributed to an effort that mobilizes several cores. When we compare the performance of the iPhone 12 Mini to that of the iPhone 13 Mini, there is a performance gain of just over 12%. This is very similar to what you get between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13, which are experiencing the same configuration differences.

The result of Compute, which establishes a score attributed to the execution of demanding tasks such as video editing, image editing or video game, gives a slightly more important advantage to the iPhone 13 Mini. It flirts with the 15.6% more power.

With GFXBENCH, which focuses on graphic performance, we perform three tests. The first, GFXBENCH T-REX, which does not require the chip, because a little dated, another which corresponds more to the current requirements (GFXBENCH because Chase), and, finally, a very demanding third which mobilizes all the resources of the iPhone (GFXBENCH AZTEC RUINS). The iPhone 13 Mini is 92.3%, 123.6% and 50.2% more efficient than its elder in its three bench. The GPU part is therefore cut to ensure the show, if you play, or if you use programs that need good calculation power.

Now let’s take a look at 3dmark Wildlife. As we said, this test measures not only the performance of the chip, but also its ability to maintain an effort over a fairly long time, between 20 and 30 minutes. For that, he produces a stress test, which consists in performing the same loop bench. Only three figures come out: the best loop (9045 against 6884 for the iPhone 12 Mini), the worst (6,217 against 5542 last year), and the percentage of stability of the effort maintained by SOC.

In this case, at its best, the A15 Bionic is 31.4% more efficient than the A14 Bionic. Has its least good, it flirts with the 12.2% better.

What teaching to withdraw from it ? On the one hand, that the A15 Bionic is always the most efficient, but also that it tends to greatly reduce its performance over time when it heats a lot. So there is throttling.
And we immediately see that the compactness of the iPhone 13 Mini case does not help the heat evacuation produced by the chip. It is obvious when you compare your performance stability index with that of the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 Mini sentences of a 68.7% index, compared to 80.5% for the model of last year. The iPhone 13, whose case is much wider, displays an index of 73.9%, while it is not surprisingly the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the largest of Apple smartphones, which obtains the best index index of stability with 75.7%, down sharply compared to 90.8% last year.

The A15 Bionic therefore brings power, but it feels and it heats up, especially when the iPhone is very small, like the mini. Let us reassure, however, the temperature never reaches a truly embarrassing level. The maximum that we have noted (44 ° C) is even slightly lower than that of the iPhone 12 Mini.

A two -part photo partition. and novelties

The A15 Bionic does not stop only offering you a more fluid interface and more power for games and different uses for resources in resources. Its GPU and its neural network (revised, but still with 16 cores) are indeed at the center of the power put at the service of computational photography. Where computer power at the service of your shots.

Two new features materialize this reinforced effort from Apple. Photographic styles and kinematic mode, on video. The first, as its name suggests, applies to photographs. It allows you, via five presets, to define a default treatment applied to your shots, until you want to change it. Some strengthen the contrast, others the warm or cold colors of your photos.

In a few seconds, and at any time, you can define a digital treatment, as an Instagram filter in a certain way, without having to plunge into the various existing settings of the camera application. It is practical and effective, even if you will sometimes have to learn to do without to keep a little natural. After all, this is one of the strengths of the shots taken with the iPhone, their exposure and their colors are excellent.

The kinematic mode is a kind of portrait mode, but on video. This is actually more than that, since it allows you to define an envy and at any time a focus area in your video setting. Better still, if you can do it manually, the function is based on movement recognition algorithms, objects and people to automate these vagueness area development and area applications. So, if only one person stands in the field, they will be clear and the rest blurred. If a second person enters the plan, the sharpness will be on the newcomer. If the latter turns his head to the first person, the focus point will change alone.

To speak, when the plans are clearly defined, and the Apple algorithms are not default, the effect rendered is pretty good. However, when we look more closely, or in some more complex cases, things get complicated.

First of all, as the portrait mode had and has its failures, the cutting of people and objects is sometimes quite clumsy. Flying hair will be cut, a glass surface with fairly wide edges will be perceived as a full object, which means that the blur will be applied around the object, but not in the background seen through the window , etc.

If we flirt with the effects of cinema optical blur, we are not there yet, and there is obviously still work to do.
In addition, it should be noted that for the moment, this mode records only in full HD (1080p, at 30 frames per second, Dolby Vision HDR, despite everything). At the time of 4K, it may seem little, but it must be understood that it is a real tour de force. Because, for each image of the plan, the iPhone must calculate the depth of field of the different elements, identify them, in short map the environment and then try to best apply the blur according to your wishes.

Technically, it is stunning, in practice, it is fun, and it will open the door to many creative experiments, even if we doubt that this mode becomes the most popular in video. If only because the iPhone 13 Mini excels in conventional video with impeccable stabilization, particularly well-sampled colors and a unified exposure between its two cameras modules.

Because, yes, the iPhone 13 Mini, like the 13, always embarks only two cameras modules. An ultra-angle, 13 mm equivalent, which opens at f/2.4 and benefits from a new sensor, and a large angle, equivalent 26 mm, f/1.6, which comes straight from the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Yes, the technology of the high-angle module reserved for the best iPhone in photo last year is now found in the entry-level of iPhone 13. We therefore find the 1.7 micron photododids, to bring more light, and the stabilization system by displacement of the sensor.

All this put end to end, the more the power of the A15 Bionic, allows the night mode to squat all the modules cameras, rear and front, it also allows the introduction of Smart HDR 4 technology, which gains in nuance in night photos, especially. The tendency to want to clarify certain areas is reduced and avoids this impression of artificial day in the middle of the night. Contrasts are also better mastered, and, as for video, the quality of the exhibition and the colors is always almost impeccable, even when you go from one camera module to another.

Ultimately, the iPhone 13 Mini, as the iPhone 13 offers a nice photo score. However, she still suffers from the same major defect, in our eyes, an obvious lack of dive and modeling. When you want to enlarge a shot, to crop it or print it in a little substantial format, there is immediately a lack of precision in the photographic matter. Flats blurred the contours, the branches become a boil of shades of green, and the buildings or plants, too, resemble watercolors. If we look at the cliché on the screen, without zooming, everything is perfect, but it is unfortunately still far from being as good as a Mate 40 Pro, from Huawei. To the point that it is almost a little regretted that the power of the A15 Bionic and its neural network is put at the service of the above -mentioned innovations and not at the service of a correction of the flaws of the sensors and optics used. This does not mean that the iPhone 13 Mini is a bad camera, just that it is time that Apple is tackling this defect, at a time when the Chinese giants give it lessons in photography, with gigantic sensors and substantial optical zooms. Or even at a time when Samsung smartphones is offering real telephoto lens.

Because, this is another defect of these iPhone 13 and 13 Mini. Two optics, in 2021, it may be a bit short. Adopting a telephoto lens, equivalent to 77 mm in this entry -level, and adding a fourth to the iPhone Pro, would be a good way to respond to competition ..

iOS 15, a major asset

Especially since Apple has in hand a kind of excalibur that its competitors cannot consider brandishing, as good and efficient is Android: it is the total integration between the hardware and the software, the very controlled addition of functions in iOS 15.

A new iteration of Apple’s mobile bone based on an App Store, a keystone of financial and security success. The arrival of certain functions in iOS 15, such as the sharing of films or series via FaceTime, or even more the link creation function to hold videoconferences with contacts under Android or Windows, is a great attempt to open and a way to make Apple’s ecosystem even more attractive.

A small enclosed world, of course, to guarantee your privacy, your safety and the fact that you are not going to go see elsewhere, but which opens just what it takes, sometimes may not be enough.

Nevertheless, overall, for most users, and we are not talking about geeks who want total control, personalize everything, and everything can modify, the iOS ecosystem offers tools to facilitate and improve the user experience. Concentration allows you to act if the screen time function has made you realize that you spend too much time on your iPhone. You can decide not to be interrupted by notifications when you are with the family, or you want to have time for you. The function is activated at predefined schedules, depending on your location or even because you ask.

But beyond these different points, the richness of the functions, which we still end up finding on Android, if they did not appear there before, the strength of iOS, it is also and above all the promise that Your iPhone 13 Mini will be updated for six years, or more. Six years of free updates, which provide security fixes, optimizations and some new features. Software support that ensures sustainability to your iPhone, a strong point whether it is to keep it for a long time or resell it without losing too much money. Details that are not and perhaps partially justify the entry ticket.

IPhone 13 mini test

The iPhone 13 Mini seems to be in the test of time, like almost all the other iPhone in fact. And still happy because Apple seems to have abandoned the idea of ​​selling compact versions of its flagships.

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

• See the offer 759, 00 € (Amazon)
• See the offer (eBay)
• € 809.00 See offer 729, 00 € (Amazon – New)

Even if it still costs almost 700 euros, I find the quality/price ratio of the iPhone 13 mini still very good in 2023. The 60 Hz screen and the double photo module An aging hair are the only real blackheads of this compact smartphone in terms of technical sheet.

• Go see our comparison of the best Apple iPhone in 2023

Design: Practical and compact

Thanks to its 5.4 inch screen, the iPhone 13 Mini measures only 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65 mm and weighs only 140 g. The smartphone is also waterproof thanks to IP68 certification, has the typical iphone mood button and has a glass back.

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• The compact form factor
• Ease of use in one hand
• The SilCencieux button

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini

• The smartphone is very slippery without shell
• Microphones are quickly hidden during hands -on calls
• The countless screenshots due to the positioning of the buttons

Some time ago, I wrote a fairly controversial opinion article on compact smartphones. I continue to think that they are less present in daily life. The smallest iPhone is barely noticed in the pants or jacket pockets, it always holds well in hand and can be used comfortably with one hand. In addition, it is ultralight with its 140 g.

Apple has made its watertight and dust smartphone thanks to IP68 certification. This means less cryptically that the smartphone can survive up to 30 minutes in water up to 6 meters deep. So, even at the swimming pool, I could indulge in my mania to play with the mute switch in the pocket of my breeches when I was bored. Thanks to its precise vibrating engine, it advantageously replaced the Fidget Spinner.

However, the positioning of microphones has always been annoying during continuous use. Especially with the Apple silicone shell, if you let the smartphone rely on your little finger and it rests on the housing slices, your interlocutor will not hear you anymore. I do not recommend use without any shell due to the slippery back.

Finally, the positioning of the Apple buttons is annoying. The large power button is found exactly opposite the volume increase button and their simultaneous support is precisely the gesture of iOS to make a screenshot. Result: nearly 50 accidental screenshots have been taken.

Screen: a beautiful slab with too low refreshment rate

As on the standard iPhone 13, Apple has integrated an Oled Super Retina XDR screen, which measures exactly 5.4 inches. Thanks to its 2.340 x 1.080 pixels, the resolution of 476 ppi is higher than on all other iPhone. The refresh rate is however limited to 60 Hz.

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini

• Ease of use in one hand
• The clearest screen in its range
• The superb color loyalty thanks to the truetone

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini

• The refresh rate of only 60 Hz
• The notchy not exceeded
• Software optimization does not follow

The iPhone 13 mini screen is a real high-end mini-tab. Thanks to the management of HDR, it reaches maximum brightness of 1,200 nits, offers almost infinite contrasts thanks to the OLED and is, with its 476 DPI, the most net iPhone screen on the market. This is the screen I hope to see in the future on the iPhone SE, always has an old LCD screen.

For photo and video, Truetone support, which automatically adjusts colors depending on the environment, is practical. With my fairly large fingers, use by one hand is perfectly possible. But at the same time, it is difficult to affect certain content with precision, as if to copy text. Finally, as always with small screens, you will automatically hide part of the content with your fingers.

Technically, I must criticize the refresh rate of 60 Hz compared to competitors under Android at the same price. I first found the screen a little slow, but I quickly got used to it daily. In this iPhone, I prefer this choice of Apple. I think that a 120 Hz screen would have seriously impacted autonomy.

On the technical level, Apple is also lagging behind with regard to the location of the front camera, which needs a particularly important space due to the Face ID. The emblematic notch has certainly narrowed a few millimeters, but it is always clearly visible in the videos.

Immediately after the announcement of the smaller notch, mockery was issued about unsuitable applications like Youtube, in which the notch exceeds a few millimeters in the image when the videos are not stretched in full screen. The fact that Apple does not manage to solve this problem, even after several iOS updates, is annoying.

OS: Impeccable software experience

The iPhone 13 Mini runs on iOS 16 and if you want to know more, you can take a look at our page dedicated to iOS 16. On a daily basis and on the iPhone 13 Mini, the operating system behaves very well. Despite a smaller screen, I noticed any display or scaling error. The update policy, which is expected to last six to seven years, makes the smartphone more sustainable and makes a fairly high purchase price a long -term investment.

If you use other Apple devices, you also benefit from the best integration in terms of ecosystem. You can open browser tabs on your MacBook or iPad intuitively, even if they are open to your smartphone, you can scan documents via the iPhone camera by right click on the desktop and You can also answer macOS calls.

An integrated ecosystem is the greatest force of Apple and at the same time a great drawback. Indeed, what is called the “enclosed garden” makes it difficult for third -party suppliers to enter a system so closed. The probability of opting for other Apple devices for this reason is quite high – and costly.

Performances: phenomenal power

The iPhone 13 Mini is equipped with the A15 Bionic processor that Apple launched in 2021. His successor, called A16 Bionic, was only used in 2022 in the pro models of the new iPhone series. The iPhone 14 only offers two additional graphics. The mini model therefore offers almost the same performance as the latest basic model.

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• Excellent performance
• No overheating or thermal throttling problems
• 128 GB of internal storage

The weak points of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• Non -expandable storage

Apple has therefore reserved performance upgrade in 2022 mainly for pro models. From a functional point of view, the 13 mini therefore has little defects – only a few camera features are reserved for 2022, more powerful graphic models. You can see below how the upgrades in the benchmark behave.

Even if the lack of extensible storage is not as important from a technical point of view as on the iPhone SE 2022, the whole is still complicated. At the same time, I congratulate Apple for its decision to offer a basic storage of 128 GB on the iPhone 13 series. The value for money is improved compared to last year.

Camera: the dream for video fans

Without additional graphic processors, Apple cannot, according to its own statements, bring its latest photo features to the old devices. Thus, the kinematic mode is only available in Full HD and the mode action is simply not available. In addition, image quality can no longer be compared to that of current flagship products.

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• Good image quality with the three cameras (counting the selfie camera)
• The very good video quality
• Nice software functions (photographic styles, portrait mode and Cinematic Mode)

The weak points of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• The camera is easily covered with its fingers because of the small size of the smartphone
• The Cinematic Mode works in FHD to the maximum
• The digital zoom not particularly convincing

Even if the specs of the Apple camera do not seem spectacular at first glance on the technical sheet, we read some interesting details there. The main camera not only offers a particularly bright lens with its opening of F/1.6, but it is also stabilized by discrepancation of the sensor. A characteristic which, on the previous generation, was still reserved for the iPhone 12 Pro Max. In addition, the iPhone 13 Mini is a very good camera to film.

Indeed, the two cameras on the back can film in 4K at 60 fps. Even the Pixel 6 Pro, which I compared at the time to the iPhone 13 Pro and which is considered one of the best photo smartphones, goes to full-hd in ultra wide angle. Those who like to shoot videos will therefore not have to worry about quality differences or upscaling.

Provided that you give up kinematic mode, which unfortunately only works in Full HD on old models. Apple then calculates a deceptive bokeh effect in the videos. If you want a maximum image quality, you must choose one of the iPhone 14. The same goes for fashion action, which is missing at 13 mini. Stabilization is however sufficient for most situations. You will find more prints in my video in the iPhone 14 test.

Even if the iPhone 13 Mini is not the best photo smartphone of the year, the quality is very satisfactory in all situations. Suitable for its compact size, the smartphone is perfect for instant photos and is a very good camera to take everywhere with you. It is however annoying that the ultra -wide angle camera is often covered by a finger. It is a disadvantage of the compact format, because you have to hold the smartphone somewhere.

Autonomy and fast charge: the only real defect in compact format

Even if Apple does not officially confirm it, the iPhone 13 Mini is equipped with an unaccoming battery of 2406 mAh. Despite the fact that he manages to get many hours of autonomy thanks to the A15 Bionic and its energy efficiency, autonomy is a disadvantage of the small iPhone. The fast load remains rather effective, despite a maximum power of 25 W.

The strengths of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• Quite fast recharge
• Magsafe’s care
• Wireless recharging possible even without Apple charger

The weak points of the iPhone 13 Mini:

• Autonomy sometimes lower than a day
• The Lightning port

After several months of use, I must say that the autonomy of the iPhone 13 Mini is its main drawback. But we had to expect it, that was already the case in our full test of the iPhone 12 Mini. Personally, I use my smartphone all day to listen to music streaming, surf occasionally, use Messenger, Instagram, take photos and make calls, including video calls. Gourmet battery tasks like playing or following streaming movies on Netflix are not in my habits.

• Go see our buying guide for best chargers and accessories Magsafe for your smartphone

For me, autonomy was therefore sufficient in most cases. I would have liked it to be better, because at the end of January, I had a feeling of discomfort while going by car from Berlin to Friborg with the iPhone 13 mini. A route of almost 8.5 hours during which I could not use the smartphone continuously as GPS without charging cable.

But if I could not use my loading cable, it is only because in 2022, Apple still clung to its lightning. Admittedly, the Apple connector is practical, but it is quite rare in my entourage and even in the Apple ecosystem. Most iPad and MacBook models, almost all Android smartphones and most headphones; use the USB-C port. For Apple, the transition is difficult, after all, all AirPods use a Lightning port. Always have two different cables will however have to stop one day.

If I continue to use the iPhone 13 Mini, I will buy a PowerBank Magsafe. As the smartphone also supports the San Fil load via the IQ standard despite the presence of the Magsafe, I can fortunately use a third -party model to load in this way.

Conclusion

As an Android user of the first hour, the iPhone 13 Mini brought me into the iOS ecosystem when I bought it last year. After long -term use, the smartphone turned out to be a reliable and above all discreet companion on a daily basis. It is possible to remedy defects such as low autonomy by using accessories or recharging it regularly.

The purchase of an iPhone 13 mini in 2023 is more interesting than that of another model of 2021 because Apple did not offer a successor to his compact flagship. The only alternatives are its predecessor (see the comparison between the iPhone 13 Mini and the iPhone 12 Mini) and the iPhone SE 2022. The two models are certainly cheaper, but they have clear gaps in all their characteristics. Compared to the iPhone 13 Mini, it is above all the SE 2022 which seems technically exceeded.

The fact that Apple does not continue its mini range and replaces it with the iPhone 14 Plus (Test), however, that small smartphones are not sold particularly well.