There's only one good reason to buy an iPhone 13 right now
If you've had your current phone for a while now, chances are it's starting to show its age. The battery might be fading, the animations stuttering and, if you're as clumsy as this writer, that glass screen might well be hazardous to your health by now. But now is not, I repeat not, the time to upgrade to the iPhone 13. And you can probably guess why.
That's right – the newest iPhone won't be the newest iPhone for much longer. The iPhone 14 (opens in new tab) line up will probably make itself known next month – and based on the various leaks and rumour we've already heard, it's going to be worth waiting for. (Feeling really, really impatient? Oh, go on then – check out the latest iPhone 13 deals.)
The iPhone 13 will soon be replaced (Image credit: Apple/Future owns)
If previous years are anything to go by, the iPhone 14 will arrive in September, and the price is unlikely to vary a huge amount from that of the iPhone 13. So, if you can hang on for a little longer, you'll get the latest and greatest Apple tech for (probably) the same price. Or, you'll be able to get the iPhone 13 with a no-longer-the-cool-kid discount.
So what are we expecting to arrive next month? We've heard tons about the iPhone 14 already. It sounds like this year, Apple is planning to differentiate the standard and 'Pro' models a little more than normal. Not only will the Pro allegedly be the only model to sport a new chip, but it might also finally see the removal of the controversial 'notch', which is said to be being replaced by a new pill+hole camera cutout.
We've also heard that the iPhone 14 could be the first to sport an always-on display, which could allow users to view essential information even when the phone is asleep. And if the camera is as advanced (not to mention physically large) as rumours suggest, then we're in for a whopper of a shooter.
A fan-made render of the iPhone 14, complete with always-on display (Image credit: Matt Talks Tech)
So, if you want the best tech available, you're going to want to hold on until next month. But there is one very big (or is that small?) reason to upgrade to the iPhone 13 – and that's if you like small phones. Tragically, there's bad news for those who prefer a phone that doesn't require three hands to hold. That's right – the iPhone mini is dead. After disappointing sales, Apple is said to be slashing the tiny model from the line up. So, if you want a mini iPhone, then 13 it is.
Looks like there won't be an iPhone 14 mini (Image credit: Apple/Future)
But unless you prefer the mini, our advice is to wait it out. Not only will the iPhone 14 likely destroy the 13 in terms of features, but the 13 will almost certainly drop in price next month. But if what you want – what you really, really want – right here, right now, is the iPhone 13, then check out today's best deals below.
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Now's the right time to buy the iPhone 13
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
At its annual fall press event on Wednesday, Apple announced the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max. Ironically, that makes now the best time to buy 2021’s iPhone 13, at least if you care about value over state-of-the-art features.
As is usual after new iPhone announcements, the prior year’s model is now available at a discount. Straight from Apple, the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13 starts at $699, and the 5.4-inch 13 Mini runs for $599. Both devices are $100 lower than before, making them cheaper than the new $799 iPhone 14 and $899 14 Plus while still delivering plenty of power.
Third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are holding on to their old price tags as of this writing, but they’ll soon follow suit, and probably offer a better deal in some cases. If you’re willing to accept a little risk, meanwhile, a flood of used or refurbished iPhone 13s is about to hit sites like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace as people upgrade. Eventually, Apple itself will start selling refurbished models, though I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were actively shopping for a phone.
Apple iPhone 13 Top-notch build quality • Unparalleled performance • Solid camera and video experience Is Apple's vanilla iPhone good enough to make you skip the Pro model? The Phone 13 is for people who want to make the safe choice. Everything it does, it does well. It sacrifices a handful of features to keep the price in check and loses little along the way. $699.99 at Apple Save $100.00
If you want an iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max, though, you’ll have to go with third parties. Apple has killed off new sales, perhaps understandably betting that if you’re considering a Pro, you have the money for the newer models.
The iPhone 14 isn’t worth the extra cash
Apple
This year, there’s more reason than ever to choose or stick with an older base iPhone model. The iPhone 14 begins at $799 yet it’s barely an upgrade, mainly gaining things like a faster aperture on its main camera, autofocus on its selfie shooter, and a satellite fallback for emergencies. There’s no new processor — it’s the A15 again for the regular 14, unless you get a 14 Pro that has the A16.
For the most part, the iPhone 14 offers last year's specs for the cost of new hardware.
For some US customers, the iPhone 14 might even be a downgrade, since Apple is dropping a SIM tray there in favor of going eSIM-only. That might be all well and good if you never leave US borders, but could make international travel a hassle. It’s not uncommon for travelers to buy short-term SIM cards from local shops. (Though we quite like the convenience of prepaid, data-only eSIMs for travel where available.)
There’s a case to be made for the iPhone 14 Plus, which has a larger 6.7-inch screen and better battery life, but it’s also $899. You’re a stone’s throw from the 14 Pro’s $999, and if screen size is all that matters, you can probably hunt down an older Pro Max instead.
Would you pay $699 for an iPhone 13 or $799 for an iPhone 14? 724 votes iPhone 13 — it's better value for money. 71 % iPhone 14 — small upgrades and an extra year of OS updates are worth it. 12 % Neither. 16 %
The Android alternative
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
There’s also the Third Way, by which we mean making the leap from iPhone to Android. There are tools to ease the transition, and plenty of high-quality phones to choose from, many of which are cheaper than the iPhone 14 or better at the same price. Google’s Pixel 6 is $599 or less, for example, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 is $700. The latter offers things missing from the iPhone 14, such as a 50-megapixel camera sensor and a smoother 120Hz display.
Now is also the perfect time to try Android. A Pixel 6 or a Galaxy S22 will offer a new experience and plenty of extra features.
Switching is a pretty big ask, but then so is asking iPhone shoppers to shell out $799 or more for what’s effectively last year’s specs. It might be the nudge some people need if they can’t afford the 14 Pro’s steep entry fee. More: The best Android phones
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iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
The iPhone 14 is among Apple's latest iPhones and follows last year's iPhone 13, but how different are the two successive iPhone generations?
In 2021, Apple unveiled the iPhone 13 as the successor to the popular iPhone 12, with improved rear cameras, longer battery life, the A15 Bionic chip, and more. As devices that are more affordable than the "Pro" models, but more full-featured than the low-cost iPhone SE, the iPhone 14 will likely be the most popular option among customers, starting at a price of $799 for the 128GB model. The iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 continue to be available from Apple for $599 and $699, respectively.
As the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 share the overwhelming majority of their features and have the same design, should you consider sticking with the iPhone 13 to save money? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you, and serves as a way to clearly see the differences that the iPhone 14 brings to the table.
Comparing the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14
The iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 both feature the same display size, 5G connectivity, A15 Bionic chip, and design. Nevertheless, the iPhone 14 still offers a number of upgrades, such as an additional GPU core, Emergency SOS via satellite, the Photonic Engine, and Action Mode.
Differences
iPhone 13 4-core GPU (A15 Bionic)
4GB of memory
Bluetooth 5.0
Dual-camera system
12-megapixel Main camera with ƒ/1.6 aperture
12-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture
Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps)
Up to 19 hours battery life during video playback
Thickness of 7.65mm
Weighs 174 grams
eSIM optional
Emergency SOS
Available in Green, Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and PRODUCT(RED)
iPhone 14 5-core GPU (A15 Bionic)
6GB of memory
Bluetooth 5.3
"Advanced" dual-camera system
12-megapixel Main camera with ƒ/1.5 aperture and larger sensor
12-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/1.9 aperture and autofocus
Photonic Engine
Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (4K HDR up to 30 fps)
Action mode
Up to 20 hours battery life during video playback
Thickness of 7.80mm
Weighs 172 grams
eSIM only (in the U.S.)
Emergency SOS via satellite
Crash Detection
Available in Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and PRODUCT(RED)
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 14's upgrades over the iPhone 13 are mostly iterative, offering small refinements in terms of photography and videography capabilities, battery life, and GPU performance. 6GB of memory, Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite, three features that also come to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, are more significant upgrades for the safety-conscious, as well as the enhanced camera hardware. That being said, the iPhone 14 is probably best suited to those coming from an older device.
At face value, there is likely not enough to justify getting the new model over the iPhone 13 for most customers. Matters may be different if you want a larger display size, however, as there is no equivalent to the iPhone 14 Plus in the iPhone 13 lineup.
The iPhone 13 is still highly capable for everyday use, and iPhone 14 shares the vast majority of the iPhone 13's most versatile features, such as the A15 Bionic chip, OLED Super Retina XDR display, Ceramic Shield, Night mode, MagSafe, and IP68 water resistance, so it may be better to wait for a more substantial upgrade.
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