iPhone 12 Vs. iPhone 13 Mini Buyer's Guide: Comparing Apple's Two Budget iPhones

Choosing a new iPhone might seem easy until you actually start digging in. There’s fierce competition in the market, even among iPhones. Two such iPhones that make it hard for buyers to decide which one to go with are iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 Mini. 

In this article, we'll compare the key features of these devices, including design, display, camera, performance, and more. Let's take a closer look at the differences between iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini and understand which one you should go with.

iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini: Specs And Features

While the two phones may not differ too much at a glance, they still have subtle design and under-the-hood differences. 

Let's dive deeper and explore them one at a time.

iPhone 13 Mini vs iPhone 12: Design And Display

iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini design differences are minor and the overall design is similar.

For instance, both iPhones feature aerospace-grade aluminum edges and dual rear cameras. However, the iPhone 13 Mini has a 20% smaller notch than the iPhone 12, which means it takes up less screen space. Moreover, the iPhone 13 Mini has its cameras arranged diagonally instead of vertically like on the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini.

Both phones feature the same Super Retina XDR display but the iPhone 13 Mini offers a slightly brighter but smaller screen measuring 5.4" as opposed to the bigger 6.1" display of the iPhone 12.

Apple iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini: Cameras

While both phones offer 12MP dual rear cameras, iPhone 13 Mini brings some improvements.

iPhone 13 comes with Sensor-shift optical image stabilization compared to the standard optical image stabilization of the iPhone 12.

Other improvements include Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 60 fps, Cinematic mode that records videos with shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps), and Photographic styles.

Considering these improvements, iPhone 13 proves to be the best budget camera phone out of the two.

Compare iPhone 12 and 13 Mini: Performance

When it comes to the iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini, the latter boasts some significant performance improvements. 

The key upgrade is the processor chip. The A15 Bionic chip on the 13 Mini is more powerful than the A14 on the 12, offering faster processing speeds and better graphics performance. 

iPhone 13 Mini also reigns in the camera department offering new features and photo/video modes. 

So if you want to avail the benefits of the upgraded A15 chip at a cheap price, consider buying the refurbished and unlocked iPhone 13 Mini.

iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini: Processor

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Mini has a faster single-core and multi-core score, which translates to improved overall performance. The iPhone 13 Mini also has a faster graphics performance, making it ideal for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.

If you're a serious gamer and don't have room for lags, iPhone 13 Mini is the clear pick. Head to our iPhone 13 deals and choose the best deal for you.

For those who are willing to compromise on some of the latest features, the refurbished iPhone 12 can still provide a great user experience.

iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini: Battery Life & Charging

Being the bigger phone, iPhone 12 Mini has a 15% larger battery capacity. Despite that, the specs sheet of both phones lists 17 hours of video playback for both phones. However, when it comes to video streaming iPhone 13 Mini takes the lead with 13 hours playback compared to iPhone 12's 11 hours. You can also extend the average battery life by following our battery saving guide. 

As for charging, both devices support Fast Charging up to 20W as well as MagSafe and Qi wireless charging. The two phones are also considered one of the best fast charging phones by Apple. Among other fast charging standards, both devices are compatible with PD2.0.

iPhone 13 Mini vs iPhone 12: Software

One of the iPhone 13 Mini software improvements includes advanced computational photography and video recording. The iPhone 13 Mini also supports Photographic Styles, which allow you to adjust the color and tone of your photos to your liking.

Other than this, the software experience of both devices is somewhat similar. So if you can compromise on these key software features, it doesn't matter if you choose a cheap iPhone 12 or 13 Mini. 

If iPhone 13 Mini attracts you more, head to our iPhone 13 sales for cheap deals.

Apple iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini: Size & Dimension

The iPhone 12 is slightly taller, wider, and thicker than the iPhone 13 Mini. The iPhone 13 Mini measures 5.18 x 2.53 x 0.30 inches, while the iPhone 12 measures 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.29 inches. 

iPhone 13 Mini also weighs lighter measuring 4.97 ounces compared to 5.78 ounces of iPhone 12.

So if you prefer a smaller phone that's more pocket-friendly, iPhone 13 Mini is the best option. But if you need a little larger screen consider buying a second hand iPhone 12. 

iPhone 12 vs 13 Mini: Colors

The iPhone 12 colors include: 

• Black 
• White 
• (PRODUCT)Red 
• Green 
• Purple 
• Blue

On the other hand, the iPhone 13 Mini comes in:

• Green
• Pink
• Blue
• Midnight
• Starlight
• (PRODUCT)RED

The iPhone 12's colors have a more traditional feel, while the iPhone 13 Mini's colors offer modern options like bold pink and a sleek midnight blue.

iPhone 13 Mini vs iPhone 12: Price

Phonebot offers refurbished iPhones in excellent condition throughout the year at cheap rates that you will not find anywhere else. The iPhone 12 price starts from as low as A$649 and goes as high as A$799.

On the other hand, the price of iPhone 13 Mini starts from A$819 and goes as high as A$1039 for different conditions and storage options.

If you choose to buy your iPhone from a retailer other than Phonebot, consider getting an AppleCare warranty to save any repair costs in the future. However, with Phonebot, you don't have to worry about it.

iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13: Which Is The Right iPhone For You?

Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 Mini are great choices, but it ultimately depends on your personal preferences and budget. 

If you're looking for the latest features and technology and ready to pay a higher price, buy the iPhone 13 Mini. 

However, if you can compromise on some latest features at the expense of larger dimensions and cheap prices, consider the iPhone 12.

FAQs

Find the answers to a couple of frequently asked questions below.

Is the iPhone 12 and 13 Mini the same size?

No, iPhone 12 is taller, wider, and weightier than iPhone 13 Mini. However, iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini have the same dimensions.

Is the iPhone 13 Mini better than the iPhone 12?

iPhone 13 Mini is better in terms of camera capabilities and processor. But the iPhone 12 dominates when we speak of larger screen size.