Apple iPhone 13 vs older iPhones: Should you upgrade?

Apple’s recently launched iPhone 13 series includes four smartphones, from the iPhone 13 Mini to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The designs are unchanged from their predecessors, except for a smaller notch and a realigned camera setup for the two smaller iPhones. However, thanks to iOS 15, you get the expected increases in performance, better battery life, new camera modes and new software features. But is that enough to justify an upgrade if you have an older iPhone? Let’s find out in this comparison between iPhone 13 and older iPhones!

See more: Everything you can think of about the Apple iPhone 13. need to know

If you still have the iPhone 8 series or an even older Apple phone, it’s probably time to upgrade. The four-year-old iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were the last Apple flagships to feature the classic iPhone design with large bezels and the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. The 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are tiny by today’s standards, with the iPhone 13 Mini being the best option if you want to keep the same overall footprint.

You will get much better performance with the new phones. The displays are significantly improved, especially if you opt for the iPhone 13 Pro models with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. And while the iPhone 8 cameras were excellent for their time, you miss the latest hardware and software features available on the newer phones. You also don’t get 5G support.

The only thing you don’t have to worry about is the software package itself. Any iPhone dating back to the iPhone 6S series is eligible for an upgrade to iOS 15 and most of its new features, with the exception of those on hardware are instructed. However, while Apple does a great job optimizing its software for older phones, you may find some sluggishness with the iPhone 8’s A11 Bionic processor and 3GB of RAM.

It’s not surprising that the iPhone 13 series is better than the iPhone 8 series and older iPhones in every way. If you want to upgrade, now is the time to do it.

The iPhone X was introduced along with the iPhone 8 series in 2017 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. The iPhone X was just as revolutionary for Apple as the first iPhone and introduced a complete design overhaul with the notch and the almost frameless display. This design element has been present in every iPhone so far, with the exception of the iPhone SE 2020.

Aside from the design changes, everything we said about the iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 8 applies here. The iPhone X comes with the same hardware as the iPhone 8 Plus – two 12 megapixel rear cameras, the Apple A11 Bionic SoC, 3 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. It is eligible for an upgrade to iOS 15, but it misses certain features that are only available on devices with A12 Bionic or newer.

The iPhone X’s introductory price of $ 999 was daunting then, but is commonplace in today’s flagship world. The cost of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro is pretty tempting, and even the $ 1,099 Pro Max is reasonable for everything the phone offers. There is no doubt that the iPhone 13 series is a worthy upgrade over the iPhone X.

The design and features of the iPhone X became mainstream with the iPhone XS and XS Max. As before, the S edition was an iterative update. It packed the latest processor, the A12 Bionic, increased the RAM and introduced a higher storage option of 512GB. The XS Max had the same hardware as its smaller brother. It was named after the huge 6.5-inch display, which was the first from Apple to cross the 6-inch threshold. It also had a bigger battery and better battery life.

Due to the rising prices of the flagship range, Apple has also introduced the iPhone XR. It offered flagship performance and there were many colorful options to choose from. However, the build quality and camera setup weren’t as good as the high-end models, which allowed Apple to keep the price relatively low.

Our ratings: iPhone XS test | iPhone XS Max in the test

The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR are three years old at this point, but some users may want to hold onto them a little longer. The good news is that you won’t be missing out on any iOS 15 features with these devices as both are powered by Apple’s A12. This SoC, in combination with up to 4 GB of RAM, should also ensure that everything runs smoothly. Of course, the iPhone 13 series is better in all aspects and definitely a worthy upgrade. But if you’re curious about the supposedly big things Apple has in store for its 2022 flagships, there’s no reason you couldn’t keep the XS series going for another year.

Apple started its Pro and Pro Max iterations with the iPhone 11. The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max had identical hardware, the only difference being the screen size – 5.8 “vs 6.5” – and the size of the Batteries. On the other hand, the standard iPhone 11 had a lower resolution display and one less rear camera, while the Pro editions added a telephoto lens.

Powered by the Apple A13 Bionic and backed by 4GB of RAM, the iPhone 11 series is still powerful enough to run smoothly with iOS 15 and take advantage of all of the new software features. There are a few key differences that make the iPhone 13 the better of the two.

Our verdict: iPhone 11 review | iPhone 11 Pro Max in the test

The iPhone 13 phones come with OLED screens that offer a better viewing experience than the LCD displays on the iPhone 11. Plus, the iPhone 13 series gives you better performance, more camera features, longer battery life, and better durability. However, the software experience will stay the same and the iPhone 11 cameras will be more than good enough even in 2021.

Unless you need the latest and greatest processing package and cameras, you can probably keep the iPhone 11 for at least another year. However, trade-in values ​​are starting to get good here, with up to $ 500 for the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

With the introduction of the Mini, Apple has made the leap from three to four phones with the iPhone 12 series. The Mini offered users a manageable size and, most importantly, a cheaper option.

Apple may no longer offer S Edition phones, but the iPhone 13 series is a fairly iterative update and isn’t that much different from the iPhone 12. However, there are some notable upgrades that could tempt you to purchase the new phone .

In terms of design, things remain largely the same, except for a minor notch down the line. The rear view camera module is also more prominent on all four phones and in a new diagonal orientation on the iPhone 13 Mini and the standard iPhone 13.

Speaking of cameras, the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max has been upgraded from an aperture of ƒ / 2.4 to ƒ / 1.8, which means it should work better in low light. The cameras of the non-Pro models remain the same. Another upgrade reserved for the Pro models is the new ProMotion display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

Related: The best iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro cases to buy

All four phones are equipped with larger batteries than their predecessors. The storage of the base model has also been doubled and the Pro models offer up to 1 TB of storage. The iPhone 13 phones are also faster with the new A15 Bionic, but we’ll need to run our tests to see how much faster.

The iPhone 13 has lots of upgrades on offer, but nothing that you badly need if you already have the iPhone 12. However, if you really want to take the plunge, trade-in savings can save you up to $ 790 – it isn’t the worst option.

If you have an iPhone older than the iPhone 11, it is probably time to consider upgrading. You could possibly hold onto the iPhone XS series for another year as the A12 Bionic masters all of the new software features you get with iOS 15. However, the iPhone 13 devices bring significant improvements over phones like the XS and older devices. . So it’s definitely not a bad time to upgrade.

Also read: Which iPhone is Right for You?

It’s a bit darker with the iPhone 11 and even more so with the iPhone 12 series. Both areas remain extremely powerful and should run smoothly for more than a year or two. If none of the new features of the iPhone 13 are particularly tempting, you don’t have to let off steam with the latest from Apple just yet.

What may tempt potential buyers, however, are the excellent trade-in values. The iPhone 11 series can save you up to $ 500. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 series comes with a maximum discount of $ 790. Of course, keep in mind that if you decide to sell your phone, you can still get more.

Are you going to upgrade from an older iPhone to an iPhone 13? Let us know in the comments below!