One year after the iPhone 12, here, here… the iPhone 13. More powerful, more autonomous, always more. But let's look at one model in particular: the iPhone 13 mini. “Mini” does not mean that it embeds lower quality components or offers second-rate services. It's a real iPhone 13, but 24% more compact. We couldn't wait to see what he has in store. Is its autonomy really up, has its camera been improved...? So many questions that we answer in this complete test.

iPhone 13 mini

5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display Cinematic mode, which reduces depth of field and changes...

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These prices were updated on 01/27/2022 by All4affiliates. They are listed in ascending order and excluding delivery costs. Only the prices displayed at the merchants are authentic.

Test carried out by Pierre-Edouard Laurent

He got out. The coveted iPhone 13 was revealed on September 14, 2021 during the famous Apple back-to-school keynote. We talk about a new Bionic processor more powerful than the competition, a great photo/video device, a new version of iOS... Whether we love or hate Apple, its products or its commercial strategy, strong is to note that it is still the firm at the apple which often gives the La on the markets of the mobile telephony. Inspired by or ahead of Apple, Chinese and Koreans fantasize about the thundering success of the American manufacturer and hope to reproduce the enthusiasm it has aroused since 2007.

Each year, specialized journalists, financial experts, fanboys and the general public await the keynote from the Apple guru. On the other hand, for some time now, innovations and the wahooo effect seem to be running out of steam, while Samsung, Xiaomi and Oppo are polishing their specifications to seduce geeks around the world. In addition, with the restrictions linked to the health crisis, the year has been difficult for Apple even if it still manages to maintain its leadership.

Shortly before the last keynote, we wondered if the mini version of the iPhone was going to disappear. With its tiny screen, the statutory function of the smartphone is chipped. Phones with large screens sell better, because the public is looking for a versatile smartphone: both a phone, but above all a walkman, a screen for watching videos, a camera, a desk extension... The iPhone mini therefore goes against the current .

For a few months now, experts have been announcing the end of the mini version. It costs too much to manufacture while its sales are at half mast. The year 2021 was tragic: Apple simply interrupted production of the iPhone 12 mini in the second half. The mini version of the iPhone 12 represented only 6% of sales, when the classic version constitutes 27%. Removing a production line would allow resources to be allocated to higher-end and therefore more lucrative models. But the disappearance of the iPhone mini will therefore not be for this year. Apart from the technical specifications of the iPhone 13, the real surprise is therefore the marketing of a new mini. On the other hand, it will probably be the last of its line as assured by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 13 mini spec sheet

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iPhone 13 Mini
Dimensions	13.15 x 6.42 x 0.765 cm
Weight	140 grams
Display	5.4" Super Retina XDR OLED2340 x 1080 pixels476 pixels per inch
Processor	A15 Bionic (5nm)
Operating System	iOS 15
RAM	4 GB
Storage	128 GB256 GB
microSD	No
Main sensors (rear)	Wide-angle 12 MP, f/1.6Ultra wide-angle (120°) 12 MP, f/2.4Digital zoom up to 5xOIS (wide angle)
Selfie sensor (front)	12 MP, f /2.2
Battery	9.34 Wh 20W wired fast charging Wireless fast charging up to 12W with MagSafe
5G	Yes
Biometrics	Face ID
Water resistance	IP68

Price and availability

Despite the health crisis, the launch of the iPhone 13 mini was not impacted. Its official commercial release is September 24, 2021, 10 days after Apple's keynote. You will find it, as usual, in Apple Stores, but also in operator stores. If the iPhone 13 Pro Max may experience some supply difficulties, depending on its colors, it is not the same for the iPhone 13 Mini.

The prices of the iPhone 13 Mini start in France at 809 euros for the 128 GB version. The 64 GB version (on the iPhone 12 mini and previous) no longer exists on this new generation. For the mid-range (256 GB), it will take 929 euros. Finally, the most expensive version of the iPhone 13 Mini is the 512 GB model priced at 1159 euros. We immediately notice that for the price of an iPhone 12 mini 64 GB we now obtain an iPhone 13 mini 128 GB. .

If you want even more figures, know that the iPhone 13 mini 128 GB is 80 cents / GB cheaper than an iPhone 13 of the same capacity. The gap narrows (€0.39/GB) when comparing iPhone 13 mini 256 GB and iPhone 13, while it drops (€0.19/GB) between “normal” iPhone 13 and mini. This year, Apple did not inflate the price of the iPhone mini. You can get a mini 128 GB version (for a pro phone for example) with a comfortable storage space for the majority of uses.

iPhone 13 mini

5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display Cinematic mode, which reduces depth of field and changes...

Best prices

These prices were updated on 01/27/2022 by All4affiliates. They are listed in ascending order and excluding delivery costs. Only the prices displayed at merchants are authentic.

Finally, lovers of the Apple environment, who have a small budget or do not have big “multimedia” needs, can always turn to an iPhone SE (2^th generation) with 2.5 times lower definition and a smaller screen (- 0.7''). They will still be able to find an iPhone with a capacity of 64GB (7.6€/GB). The iPhone 13 Mini 128 GB is more expensive (+2.1€/GB) than the SE, but the electronic features are without comparison. With AI which requires more and more higher computing power and above all more suitable circuits, the SE is likely to flounder with iOS 15. Obsolescence through the arrival of a new iOS that is always more greedy and more elitist.

Design

Apple played a little prank on us. He honored us with a series of blue (iPhone 13), white (iPhone Pro Mac) and red (the Mini in this test) iPhone. Not only does this happy picking delight our cocardier (or Dutch) minds, but it means something else: the mini is a (product) RED.

We will not impose the semiology of the color red on you, but we will quickly content ourselves with pointing out that wearing red gives confidence and a subtle psychological domination. Apart from these considerations, this red is not the same as the iPhone 12. The red of this one was a bright red with a hint of orange. A vulgar and showy vermilion red, some would say. On the iPhone 13 mini in test, this red dress is rather a cardinal red; a red with a hint of black, close to cherry red. A velvety, delicate red, coordinated with the nail polish of a sophisticated lady or the upholstery of an old English convertible.

Despite the back cover covered with a plate of mineral glass, the iPhone 13 Mini is not too reflective and is discreet on a table. This mobile is set with an aluminum border with a red metallic paint. The object is a real gem that inevitably brings to mind the iPhone 4 (the last of the Steve Jobs era) with its straight edge and rounded corners. This thin strip of metal encasing the two glass plates guarantees the longevity of the iPhone despite the vagaries of everyday life. But the metallic layer (as on the “standard” iPhone 13s) is likely to chip with wear in pockets or ordinary micro shocks.

However, Apple products are generally not penalized by household wear, less than other brands in any case. If the iPhone 13 mini is reminiscent of the iPhone 4 (2010 already!) for its design with additional rectangular buttons, its format is more reminiscent of an iPhone 6. Tim Cook was not very original on this point. Same height (131.5 mm), same width (64.2 mm) and almost the same thickness (7.65 mm, +0.25 mm) as the iPhone 12 mini.

It is true that this size was praised by the mentor Steve Jobs when he spoke of the iPhone 4 “whose form factor was ideal for managing everything only with the thumb”. 11 years later, smartphones have huge screens. The Apple iPhone mini range is one of the few to offer this design. It really feels like having a baby smartphone in your hands when you are used to large screens. But we must admit that this template is perfect for a good grip in portrait mode, for making calls or quickly looking for information on an app or the web.

To come back to (Product) RED, there is no connection with the French mobile telephone operator belonging to the Altice group. It's also not an Apple-exclusive series. The apple brand has been selling it since 2006 (3^th generation iPod). Product Red is actually “a trademark that is licensed to partner companies” as defined by Wikipedia. By creating and marketing a RED product, the partner companies undertake to donate a percentage of their profit to charity: mainly for the fight against AIDS. The intention is already remarkable in these uncertain times, but Apple has taken the covid-19 pandemic into account. Since the end of 2020, the benefits of its RED products have returned directly and above all entirely to the Global Fund for sub-Saharan populations already in a situation of extreme precariousness before Covid. Clearly, you buy an iPhone 13 Mini RED, you make a "donation", a gesture of solidarity for people in serious difficulty. The solidarity operation with full repayment of the profits from the Product (RED) is extended until December 30, 2021. So, if you only had to choose one shade for the iPhone 13 Mini, it's the Product (RED) ).

If you really are allergic to red, the iPhone 13 mini is available in pink, blue, midnight (black) and starlight (white). Like the iPhone 12 (yes again), this smartphone has obtained the IP68 protection index. In other words, it is water resistant to a depth of 6m for half an hour.

Screen

Despite its compactness, the iPhone 13 mini sports a 5.4 '' (about 12.7cm) Super Retina XDR panel, that is to say OLED for Apple. For Apple agnostics and fanboys, remember that the iPhone SE (2^th gen) is bigger and heavier with a smaller screen (only 4.7''). The advantage for the iPhone 13 mini is therefore real. Finally, not compared to its ancestor, the iPhone 12 mini, the new version has the same screen diagonal, the same resolution (2,340 x 1,080 pixels), the same pixel density (476 pixels per inch), of the same color range (P3)…

There is also the same HDR10 technology (10-bit color depth) and Dolby Vision (12-bit encoding), the same maximum brightness in HDR (1200 nits) and still refresh at 60 Hz (when Android offer 120 Hz at equivalent prices, or even lower than that of the iPhone 13 mini).

So, has Apple really kept the same panel as the already old iPhone 12 mini? Not exactly. The majority of specifications are identical, but the iPhone 13 mini has a brighter screen (800 nits against 625 nits), still protected by a Ceramic Shield mineral glass. This mineral glass is “more resistant than the glass of any smartphone”.

In practice, during our tests, this did not jump out at us in practice. But such brightness can only be appreciable for reading your emails at the beach. A screen with such a definition allows you to watch series or videos, but let's face it, the experience is just fine. For video games, it's really complex, especially on FPS like Call Of Duty. In this regard, the notch of the camera is much smaller (about 30%) on the iPhone 13 mini, but it is still impractical to play with a piece of screen that is missing…

Environment

As is always the case with Apple, who says new generations of iPhone says new version of the operating system. The iPhone 13 mini comes with iOS 15. Not to change, iOS is “always better”, even if it still does not make coffee. Obviously, this version of the OS is not exclusive to the iPhone 13, since an iPhone 6S (released in 2015) can theoretically use it.

What about iOS 15 on iPhone 13 mini? First, the experience is smooth. No “micro lag” to launch an app. It's fine, but natural. Remember that this model is not the ugly duckling of generation 13 with low-end components. It's a simply more compact iPhone 13. As you might expect, navigating through the menus and the settings are as pleasant as with a big one, and maybe more, since the thumb movements are shorter. Obviously with a smaller screen, the text is smaller, which can annoy the older or visually impaired among us. Enlarging the font and accessibility mode can help people with average eyesight.

“Stay focused” is the promise of iOS 15! Rest assured, there is no mindfulness meditation yet (though…) on Apple's mobile OS. This new iOS version simply offers different usage profiles: “Do not disturb”, “time for yourself”, “work”, “rest” and “work”. In addition to the “Concentration” line in the Settings of this new version, we find this module in the widgets. This concentration module is actually the improvement of the "Do not disturb" function (with the crescent moon icon). It prevented being disturbed by the phone or receiving notifications in the car. The level of adjustment was “basic, simple.” With Concentration, we make bespoke lace.

Thus, for each profile, you have the option of authorizing calls and notifications from certain people (by checking their name from Contacts), but also certain apps. This profile can be activated automatically, like an alarm, on the days of the week and at the desired times. Notifications can be hidden on the home screen or the locked screen, if the user wishes. It is even possible to activate a particular profile depending on the location (eg when leaving the metro to go to work), the time (eg during the lunch break) or by launching an app (eg when I 'opens FaceTime).

These features are already very rich, but require a bit of configuration. Apple therefore added a small pinch of AI. There is indeed a “Smart Activation” function. This can automatically activate a profile according to your habits (location, time, use of apps, etc.). iOS 15 detects, for example, when you are at home (this is where you sleep) and deactivates calls from your boss, for example. It can also automatically deactivate FaceTime or telephone every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. when you are in the middle of a Zumba session. With these new profiles, it is therefore easier to divide an intense week into different sequences of work, rest, time for yourself, family... If your lifestyle still lacks other activities, Apple has provided a " Driving” (car), “Video Games” (gaming is serious), “lectu

re” (for maximum attention), “sport” and even “mindfulness”.

Also, Maps has been improved. Until now, the three-dimensional view was reserved for tourist sites. Now, on iOS 15, 3D modeling of buildings is available on all maps (still signed by TomTom). Apple fills another big gap in Plan facing Google Maps, public transport. Not only are the stations (bus, metro, tram, ferry, etc.) indicated, but also the timetables. Your iPhone notifies you when you arrive at your destination and it's time to get out of your transit. In this spirit of assistance when traveling, Apple Maps adds alerts on the occurrence of weather hazards (snow, wind, ice, etc.) during long journeys and offers an alternative route to circumvent them.

Also read: here are the features of iOS 15 that are not available at launch

Performance

This iPhone 13 Mini is powered by a new SoC Bionic A15 which incorporates a new 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 "high energy value) dedicated to general operation, a new 4-core GPU (dedicated to display) and a new Neural Engine 16 (dedicated to AI). Everything seems new then, except that the A14 chip had the same specifications.

But Apple has still reworked the architecture of its SoC since the performance has nothing to do with that of an iPhone 12 mini. Regardless of the benchmark used, the iPhone 13 mini is faster than its predecessor. Fortunately, given the rapid obsolescence of our smartphones. According to AnTuTu, the iPhone 13 mini is around 13% faster than a previous generation iPhone mini. Yet Apple has not introduced more RAM. We must always be satisfied with 4 GB of RAM (compared to 6 GB on the Pro and Pro Max).

Autonomy

The Cupertino company boasts of having produced a more powerful and even more energy-efficient SoC. We revealed to you that the battery of the iPhone 13 was larger than that of an iPhone 12, because Apple had redesigned the layout of the components. Without having to dissect our test model, we can assure you that it is in any case more electrically efficient.

According to our tests (Bluetooth activity, sound and medium backlighting), this smartphone can operate for just over 11 hours in video streaming. Apple provided in its communication 13 hours of video streaming. It's not that far off. By disabling Bluetooth, setting the backlight and the sound of the speakers to a minimum, you can save about 1 hour. And by plugging in wired headphones, we should approach 13 hours of autonomy. The observation is similar for internal video playback (with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth deactivated) since we reach 2:20 p.m., against 5 p.m. according to Apple.

In audio streaming playback (sound broadcast by the internal speakers), the iPhone 13 Mini can last around 37h20. In audio playback (internally with WiFi / BT disabled), we even reach 53 hours. Not so far from the 55 hours announced by Apple.

Beyond our specialized tests (music, video, etc.), the iPhone 13 Mini can go without a charge for a day. It's particularly economical when it's not doing anything fancy like playing media files or gaming. It is this use that seems to consume the most electricity. In 45 minutes of Call of Duty Mobile, the battery loses 10% battery. By interpolation, in 7:30 a fully charged battery is completely emptied by the video game.

Charging time and charger options

Apple generously offers a small USB-C/Lightening power cable. Under the pretext of ecological awareness, the charger is of course no longer supplied with an iPhone over 800 €. You will therefore need to have a USB-C charger or plug it into your recent Mac of course, because older models (before 2015) do not have a USB-C port. Let's not complain, USB-C is also found on Windows PCs. But if your charger is USB-C, it may not be powerful enough.

Fast charging is authorized on the iPhone 13 mini (as is already the 8 and later): up to 50% charge in 30 minutes, it is however necessary to have a 20W charger or higher. It will cost you the "modest" sum of 25 euros to have a "20W USB-C power adapter" from Apple's specialized details. You will need to find a compatible USB-C cable or a Lightning to USB cable (25€ at Apple).

if you are the proud owner of a MagSafe wireless charger (45€), the iPhone 13 mini (like the iPhone 12) supports it. Otherwise, the QI charger also works. In 15 minutes, we got 15% battery with a no-name QuickCharge 3.0 charger (not recommended by Apple) connected to an Anker induction platform. With an additional 15 minutes, but this time directly with a Lightning-USB cable, the battery gained 32%. As on the iPhone 12, the MagSafe magnetic power bank (€109) is functional on this iPhone 13 Mini.

Telephone and connectivity

We could almost forget it, but an iPhone is above all a telephone, more or less intelligent. Not only does the larger battery and less greedy SoC guarantee better autonomy for telephoning, but Apple engineers have gone further. There is indeed not one eSIM, but two eSIMs in the iPhone 13 mini (and its other brothers). Rest assured, your beloved nanoSIM card still has its slot. However, the Cupertino company has decided to house a second virtual SIM card in the precious square centimeters of this generation of iPhone. The dual eSIM chip is an incredible comparative advantage: on the same phone, two telephone lines are possible in addition to the line with a traditional SIM. No more changing phones, no more torn jacket pockets for storing multiple phones, no more carrying multiple chargers. eSIMs also enable faster activation or deactivation for fleets of hundreds of mobile terminals.

In terms of connectivity, as on the iPhone 12, there is the 5G link (already present on the iPhone 12) in addition to 2G (GSM/EDGE), 3G (UMTS) and 4G (HSDPA). For Wi-Fi, nothing new: we still benefit from a Wi-Fi 6 chip (802.11ax with MIMO). For short-distance data exchange, Bluetooth 5.0 is available (as on the iPhone 12). To pay with your iPhone or load your Navigo card (with the Vianavigo app), the NFC module (very short distance waves) is essential.

Audio

With microphones and speakers the same sizes and layouts as the 12 mini, it's a safe bet that Apple hasn't made any big changes. If that had been the case, Tim Cook would not be deprived of talking about it during the September 14 keynote. For such a compact model, the sound from the speakers is decent. In rock, electro or even jazz (bass), the acoustic reproduction is quite satisfactory at high volume.

Note that, everywhere in the world, iPhone buyers have a hyper compact packaging box, without a white overbox. Indeed, France is the only country in the world to have imposed the supply of "hands-free kit" on the sale of smartphones. Thus, the lucky French buyer has EarPods headphones with Lightening plug (19 euros saved) since Apple has removed the 3.5 jack from the iPhone 7.

Since comfort is wireless, you can replace these wired headphones (so 2010's) for AirPods (€179 for the entry-level model, it's not cheap) or the AirPods Max headphones (629 € is even less cheap). Of course, other True Wireless headphones and headsets are also compatible.

Photo and video

When comparing the specifications between the iPhone 13 Mini and the iPhone 12 Mini, they are as similar as two drops of water. The only differences are not hardware, but software. We will review these similarities and differences. The iPhone 13 Mini has two dorsal lenses: a wide angle (24mm) and an ultra-wide angle (16mm) when the user goes to x0.5. As there is no optical zoom beyond x2, as soon as the user zooms in (x2.1 to x5), he only enlarges his shot to 24mm by software. This is why the detail of the shot below is similar, whatever the zoom level. According to the Photo app, in x5 zoom, the shot is equivalent to a 131mm lens. In x4 zoom at 106 mm, in x3 zoom at 79 mm and in x2 zoom at 53 mm. The algorithms take care of smoothing the pixels so as not to obtain aliasing (staircase effect) on the photos.

The result is correct on monuments and vegetation, but hardly appealing on animals or humans. Unlike a real APN which increases in exposure (ISO) and pause time (1/xxx) gradually, the cameras of smartphones (and tablets) adjust without constraint. For the iPhone 13 Mini, the pause time can go down to 1/1786s (and probably more) and go up to 1/4s (and probably a little more), according to our tests. Sensitivity changes automatically between ISO 50 and ISO 3200. This information is generic, as there is now (since the iPhone 12) a Night mode. The latter is a kind of Pause B: the smartphone leaves its iris open for 3 to 10s.

The result is satisfactory (see our night photos), but we are far from an iPhone Pro Max or the best Android smartphones (Samsung S21 Ultra, Oppo Find X3 or Google Pixel 5…). With Night mode deactivated, the f/1.6 aperture on the wide angle or f/2.2 on the ultra wide angle already gives very good results, with less digital smoothing. This gain is explained by the arrival of mechanical stabilization on the iPhone 13 mini (and big brother 13): the sensor performs micro-movements to compensate for the inevitable tremors during the photo. The benefit is greater than conventional optical stabilization.

Always more AI or at least software processing with the iPhone 13 Mini. On the one hand, the HDR mode (more contrast, more vivid colors, etc.) goes from Smart HDR 3 (on generation 12) to Smart HDR 4 (on generation 13). In addition, this new iPhone version inaugurates photographic styles. These are not filters, but predefined temperature and tone configurations, but which can be adjusted (-100 to +100). We thus find intense contrast (tone -50, temperature 0), sharp (tone 50, temperature 0, warm (tone 0, temperature 50), cold (tone 0, temperature -50). revolution", but it avoids post-production.

In video mode, the iPhone 13 mini always records in 4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60fps with stabilization from 720p to 4K or slow motion in 1080p@120fps… like the 12 mini . We find the Deep Fusion mode, Quicktake video and Animoji/Memoji… as on the 12 mini. But Apple still introduces a bit of novelty. On the one hand, HDR recording (with Dolby Vision) goes from 30 to 60 frames per second, but all iPhone 13s benefit from cinematic mode.

Until now, iPhone AI recognized faces in a scene and focused on them. With cinematic mode, the iPhone becomes a director, because it detects movements, identifies possible faces or important elements and focuses according to a myriad of criteria. For example, if you are filming an assembly of several people, the focus will be on the person who is looking at you, or who is speaking, or who is moving. The AI ​​recognizes important elements by framing them, as soon as they have a behavior deemed relevant, the focus is on it.

You might think it only works on humans, but it also works on other things like moving cars. By clicking on such and such a vehicle, the development will be carried out (tracking) on ​​it until it leaves the frame. It's quite stunning. Unfortunately, the cinematic mode suffers from a double bind. For one, recording will be limited to 30fps at 1080p. On the other hand, it is not possible to zoom in the frame. Only the depth of field is adjustable. These limitations are explained by the fact that the computing power is important to carry out this monitoring operation. In 4K or 60fps and more, the computing power would be 2 to 4 times greater.

So, should you really buy an iPhone 13 Mini?

If you already own an iPhone 12 mini, the improvements are minimal. Unless you've altered your battery health, the switch to the 13 Mini isn't worth it. If you already have an old iPhone (7 and earlier), your battery is certainly showing signs of weakness. In addition, you have kept an old iOS (12 or 13) which penalizes you for installing new apps and additional functions. The iPhone 13 mini is then a good solution since it is much more powerful and durable than an iPhone SE while keeping an equivalent size.

If you need a business phone and appreciate the iOS environment, the iPhone 13 mini will also be a better choice than the iPhone SE in terms of battery life, function and expandability (with the new iOS versions). The dual eSIM will surely interest many professionals, from merchants to multinational firms. No more carrying multiple phones (and chargers) in your pocket.

iPhone 13 mini

5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display Cinematic mode, which reduces depth of field and changes...

Best prices

These prices were updated on 01/27/2022 by All4affiliates. They are listed in ascending order and excluding delivery costs. Only the prices displayed at the merchants are authentic.