There are times when the most up-to-date smartphone for you was released a year and a half ago.
Before the new Apple iPhone 14 went on sale, I had the opportunity to spend a week testing it out, which was both an exhilarating and demanding experience. During that week, I tried my best to find an answer to the question “Should you buy it?” by taking part in activities like ferry rides, selfie-taking while on the boat, online browsing, videography, video game play, and navigation.
My response back then, and I continue to give now, is, “Probably not.” Even though it’s a fantastic phone, the iPhone 13 is still the clear winner in this comparison. Choosing the 14 makes perfect sense if your carrier is offering you a tremendous discount on it or if you spend a lot of time out of cell range, in which case the new Emergency SOS feature might save your life. If you want the most up-to-date features, the iPhone 14 Pro is the way to go. However, for the rest of us, the iPhone 13 is just as impressive and has the advantage of being priced a bit lower.
- iPhone 13 review: larger batteries are better.
- iPhone 14 review: Meet the 13S
I am a woman of her word, so when it became evident that it was time to update my iPhone 11 before its trade-in value dropped off, I went straight for the iPhone 13 — the Mini, to be exact, which is down to $600. This was because it became clear that it was time to upgrade my iPhone 11 before its trade-in value fell off a cliff. Since the end of the previous year, I have devoted a significant amount of time to putting the newest generation of high-end smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and an iPhone 14 Pro that I tested more recently, through their paces. Each of these smartphones is remarkable in its unique way. However, when it came time to select which phone to purchase, I did not choose any of the most recent and cutting-edge gadgets. Nope, I went to Verizon and exchanged my 11 (along with a tiny bit of my soul) for the lowly iPhone 13 Mini, and I haven’t had any regrets about the decision since then.
My mom-at-the-playground-chic belt bag’s outside pocket fits it well.
I prefer a smaller phone, and the 13 Mini will probably be the last decent tiny phone on the market. For these reasons, I went for the Mini. But even if you like your phones on the larger side, I still believe the 13 is the best option. You do not get the enhanced camera technology and processing supplied by the 14. However, it is still a good camera overall, with good portrait mode images, lovely video, and an ultrawide lens to add a little drama. In addition to that, it offers photographic styles and a cinematic video mode, both of which I frequently use (wealthy contrast fans, unite!).
Even after a year and a half on the market, the 13 Mini is a pretty decent phone by today’s standards, except for its photographic capabilities. The battery life isn’t awe-inspiring, but it’s plenty to get me through a day of light to moderate usage with enough margin for safety. It is a perfect fit for the outside pocket of my belt bag to seem like a cool parent at the playground. Because of its A15 Bionic CPU, it is blazingly quick and very responsive. Because it features a MagSafe port, it also supports wireless charging. It also includes an actual SIM tray, unlike
Best iPhone 2023
The 13 Mini is not without its flaws. There are certain features that I want it to have, but the reality is that I wouldn’t be able to acquire them on the iPhone 14 anyhow since they are exclusive to the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro. And while the 14 is a bit more costly than the 13 Mini ($800 as opposed to $600), the 14 Pro, which costs $1,000, is much more expensive than the 13 Mini. A telephoto lens, an always-on display, and a screen that scrolls smoothly at 120 Hz are all exclusive to the Pro version. They are undoubtedly beautiful, but are they $400 more pleasant than you already have? Maybe. But not for me, and certainly not at this time.
Ultimately, this question has to be asked: not which is the most excellent phone overall, but which is the best one for me? This question consumes most of my time each day as I work toward providing them with an answer. When it comes to something as personal as your phone, choosing the correct one to live with is always a little more complicated than that. Although it’s enjoyable to proclaim victors and losers, selecting the perfect one to live with is always a little more complicated.
