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iPhone 13: Everything we know about Apple's new 2021 phone line

Apple's new iPhone 13 line made its debut Tuesday, with four new models shown off.

Patrick Holland Managing Editor
Patrick Holland has been a phone reviewer for CNET since 2016. He is a former theater director who occasionally makes short films. Patrick has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing, fast-paced world of phones, especially the iPhone and iOS. He used to co-host CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast and interviewed guests like Jeff Goldblum, Alfre Woodard, Stephen Merchant, Sam Jay, Edgar Wright and Roy Wood Jr.
Expertise Apple, iPhone, iOS, Android, Samsung, Sony, Google, Motorola, interviews, coffee equipment, cats Credentials
  • Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
Patrick Holland
5 min read
038-apple-iphone-12-pro

Apple announces the follow-up to the iPhone 12 during an virtual event.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Apple's new iPhone 13 line debuted Tuesday at Apple's September event, showing a tweaked design with a variety of new features for those upgrading from earlier iPhone models. The lineup consists of four new phones: the iPhone 13, the 13 Mini, the 13 Pro and the 13 Pro Max. The new phones will run iOS 15, come with a larger battery, more storage, a new A15 Bionic processor, a smaller notch and an abundance of new camera features. The base model of the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini are available in five colors: pink, blue, midnight (black), starlight (white) and Product Red. The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max will also get a giant camera upgrade as well as a new display with 120Hz high refresh-rate display.

Read on for our first take on Apple's iPhone 13 lineup and the answers to all of your questions about the phone's specs, features, design, price and how to get your hands on one yourself. Plus, here's everything we know about iOS 15, and here's what we know about a potential October Apple event.

Watch this: Review: The iPhone 13 and 13 Mini check all the boxes

How many iPhone 13 models are there?

Apple's iPhone 13 lineup includes four phones, just like last year's iPhone 12. The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max differ in size, price, storage options and a number of key specs and features. We've combed through the specs to give you an apples-to-apples comparison of each of the phones in the iPhone 13 lineup here.

How much will the iPhone 13 cost, and how much storage does it have?

The iPhone 13 price depends on which of the four variants you buy, how much storage you choose and whether you're purchasing through a carrier or unlocked. Here's everything to know about the iPhone 13 price structure and preorder details

Without a carrier discount, the iPhone 13 starts at $829 (£779, AU$1,349) for 128GB, which is twice the storage of the base iPhone 12 model. The iPhone 13 Mini starts at $729 (£679, AU$1,199) for the same 128GB of storage. Like the iPhone 12, if you buy an iPhone 13 or 13 Mini tied to a US carrier, you'll receive a $30 discount. 

The iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 (£949, AU$1,699) and the 13 Pro Max at $1,099 (£1,049, AU$1,849) for 128GB of storage. For the first time, you have the option to get 1TB of storage on an iPhone. The extra storage is only available on the Pro models and pushes the iPhone 13 Pro Max's price to $1,599. Below is a breakdown of prices (without a carrier discount) and storage options.

iPhone 13 series US prices and storage

Model128GB of storage256GB of storage512GB of storage1TB of storage
iPhone 13 Mini $729$829$1,029N/A
iPhone 13 $829$929$1,129N/A
iPhone 13 Pro $999$1,099$1,299$1,499
iPhone 13 Pro Max $1,099$1,199$1,399$1,599
Apple Event iPhone cameras
Apple/Screenshot by James Martin/CNET

When will the iPhone 13 be in stores?

All four models of the iPhone 13 are available to preorder starting Friday, Sept. 17 and will ship starting Friday, Sept. 24. Apple announced that preorders for all iPhone 13 models will begin at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET). There are a number of deals and carrier discounts available as well, which could bring the cost of the new iPhone down to $0.

What colors does the iPhone 13 come in?

The iPhone 13 lineup includes some bold new colors, including Sierra blue and a pink hue that the internet has been pleading for. Apple's newest flagship phone also features a slightly smaller notch and some other design tweaks.

iPhone 13 and 13 Mini colors:

  • Starlight
  • Midnight
  • Blue
  • Pink
  • Product Red

iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max colors:

  • Silver
  • Graphite
  • Gold
  • Sierra blue

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini: Check out the redesigned camera module and smaller notch

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What is the iPhone 13's screen size?

The four iPhone 13 models have the same size screens as the iPhone 12 series. The iPhone 13 Mini has a 5.4-inch display, the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro have a 6.1-inch screen, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display. All the new phones have brighter screens.

Does the iPhone 13 Pro have a 120Hz refresh rate?

Both Pro models now get a higher 120Hz refresh rate, which makes animations and scrolling look smoother and gaming more immersive. Android phones, whether they are expensive or not, commonly feature a high refresh rate screen. Up to now, the only Apple device to offer such a refresh rate was the iPad Pro, which uses an LCD screen instead of the OLED found on the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. Here's some more information on the iPhone 13's 120Hz refresh rate, ProMotion and why it may not work exactly the way you think.

How long does the iPhone 13 battery last?

Probably the most welcomed feature announced for the iPhone 13 is a bigger battery. Apple didn't share the size, but claims that the new battery along with iOS 15, the A15 chip and updated display adds 2.5 hours of battery life to the iPhone 13 (compared to the iPhone 12). 

The iPhone 13 Mini should get an 1.5 hours more than the iPhone 12 Mini. That's a significant increase: The battery life on the iPhone 12 Mini was a compromise some people weren't willing to make. So it's exciting to see the new Mini get such a big bump in just a year.

Apple says that the Pro models should see a similar increase in battery life with the iPhone 13 Pro getting 2.5 hours more and the 13 Pro Max getting an additional 1.5 hours.

How many cameras does the iPhone 13 have?

The iPhone 13 and 13 Mini get an updated camera system, which is apparent from the new diagonal orientation of the two rear cameras. In fact, Apple says the new orientation is a result of making more room for a new sensor-based stabilization system -- which previously was only on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. (The cameras on the iPhone 12 were stacked vertically.) 

All four models get an improved 12-megapixel main camera and a better ultrawide lens and sensor. The new hardware, along with the new A15 Bionic chip, means a handful of improvements and new features, including being able to capture 47% more light.

The iPhone 13 Pro also has a new triple-camera system with better lenses and sensors. The telephoto lens comes with 3x optical zoom, which is 1.5x longer than the camera on the iPhone 12 Pro and 1.2x longer than the tele lens on the 12 Pro Max. Take a look below at the different telephoto lenses the Pro models of the iPhone 13 and 12.

To put things in perspective, this is an enormous improvement for the iPhone, but it still pales in comparison to the telephoto cameras on the Galaxy S21 Ultra and phones from Huawei.

iPhone 13 Pro telephoto lens specs vs. 13 Pro, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max

ModelOptical zoom35mm lens equivalent
iPhone 13 Pro Max 3x77mm
iPhone 13 Pro 3x77mm
iPhone 12 Pro Max 2.5x65mm
iPhone 12 Pro 2x52mm
Watch this: Review: iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are Apple's best

iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini camera testing: See how Apple's new phones take photos

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