Why the iPhone 13 mini is the best iPhone in 2021

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The iPhone 13 mini may not be the sharpest kid in town, but it offers the best of both worlds. Full of features and budget friendly. And ah very cool! The other iPhones in the lineup cover it up. At least that’s what I believe, but why did I face the iPhone 13 mini head-on?

Well, let’s take you on this discovery journey with me. Maybe towards the end we will be on the same page. And whether you love it or hate it, share your feelings in the comments section below.

1. Compact design

I’m not a big fan of the “bigger and better” philosophy, especially when it comes to phones and screens. Your daily device should be convenient and easy to carry, and the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini is just that.

Compact design of iPhone 13 mini
Source: Apple

In addition, this time you will see a 20% smaller notch, or 20% extra screen. It’s not that many, but every drop is important, yes! πŸ˜‰

The iPhone 12 mini isn’t a success story, and many thought Apple would close the miniline. But I think the second time is attractive! The iPhone 13 mini has made great strides in terms of power, performance and camera.

And the best part is that there are “almost” a lot of minis on par with the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max of the same era.

2. Battery life and performance

The iPhone 13 mini takes up and turns around the battery, which is the most prominent problem with the iPhone 12 mini. Apple has redesigned the iPhone 13 “inside and outside.” It comes with 10% battery boost, 28% brighter screen, up to 50% faster CPU and 30% faster graphics than competing products.

iPhone 12 mini iPhone 13 mini
battery 2,425mAh Up to 1.5 hours or more
Playback Up to 15 hours Up to 17 hours
Audio playback Up to 50 hours Up to 55 hours
screen Super Retina XDR display Super Retina XDR display
size 5.4 inches 5.4 inches
resolution 2340 x 1080 pixels 2340 x 1080 pixels
Luminance
HDR
Typical
Up to 1200 knits
Up to 625 knits
Up to 1200 knits
Up to 800 knits
Chipset A14 Bionic A15 Bionic

In addition, midrange phones are available with ceramic shielded glass, IP68 waterproof and dustproof, 5G and more. Yes, it skips ProMotion and its lucrative 120Hz refresh rate, but when you pay less $$, you get some and lose some.

I have to say that the iPhone 13 mini has great specs for any casual user. Seamlessly handle surfing, multiple app usage, games, voice calls, messaging and more.

3. The most advanced dual camera system ever

Oh yeah! A separate section was needed to set up the camera. Usually, buying a phone with a budget puts the camera at some risk. To some extent, it also happened on the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12. Many things like sensor shift optimization were MIA.

However, this time the situation is very different. The iPhone 13 mini boasts great camera updates, much like the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.

feature iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max
Digital zoom Up to 5 times Up to 15 times
Portrait mode βœ… βœ…
Sensor shift optical image stabilization βœ… βœ…
Dual optical image stabilization ❌ βœ…
True tone flash βœ… βœ…
Night mode βœ… βœ…
Deep fusion βœ… βœ…
Smart HDR4 βœ… βœ…
Photo style βœ… βœ…
Macro photography ❌ βœ…
Apple Pro RAW ❌ βœ…
Cinematic mode βœ… βœ…
ProRes video ❌ βœ…
Time lapse βœ… βœ…
LiDAR ❌ βœ…

You see, you haven’t missed much. Yes, it’s a shame that we don’t have macro photography and 15x digital zoom. But do you really miss the fact that your device has LiDAR, ProRAW, and ProRes? Especially if the new diagonally placed lens is working well.

iPhone 13 mini's state-of-the-art dual camera system
Source: Apple

I. New Architecture: The Magic of Diagonal Thinking

The camera bump on the iPhone 13 has a lens set to 45 degrees. And while the members were on Field Day, Apple took this action to meet:

  • Largest wide camera sensor – 47% to capture more light.
  • Sensor shift optical image stabilization – Very stable shot.
  • Faster ultra-wide camera sensor – Get details even in dark areas of the image.

And that’s not all! iPhone 13 mini also has the following functions.

II.Cinematic mode

Have you heard of the term shift focus? Now, thanks to Apple’s amazing hardware and machine learning, the iPhone 13 mini can automatically shift focus from one subject to another, bringing stunning field depth effects to your videos.

Cinematic mode for iPhone 13 mini
Source: Apple

Imagine those movie-style birthday videos, TikToks, or YouTube videos you can make. In addition, you can edit the video on your iPhone, change the focus after shooting, and manipulate the depth effect.

Even those expensive professional cameras don’t have this kind of skill set yet! Want more from your video? The Mini also has it:

  • Cinematic video stabilization – 4K, 1080p, and 720p
  • Dolby HDR video recording – Up to 4K at 60fps
  • 4K video recording – At 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
  • 1080p HD video recording – At 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
  • 720p HD video recording – At 30fps
  • Slow motion video – 1080p at 120fps or 240fps
  • Time lapse – With stabilization and night mode

III. Smart HDR4

Apple’s unique features have also been upgraded to allow you to take great group photos. It recognizes up to 4 people in the frame and can adjust the contrast and lighting accordingly.

Most importantly, it also takes into account the color of the skin, so no one is washed away and everyone looks perfect.

iPhone 13 mini smart HDR4
Source: Apple

IV.Photo style

Another masterstroke from Apple, and I’m very happy that it’s not limited to Pro models. Some people like lively, rich contrast, warm or cool. That’s why iPhone 13 mini dresses up your photos in “style”.

iPhone 13 mini photo style
Source: Apple

Also, don’t make the mistake of comparing your photo style to filters or presets. Unlike the latter two, the former helps maintain skin tone.

4. Amazing front camera

It keeps getting better. The TrueDepth camera system is cramped with a 20% smaller notch, but as advanced as it does, and offers almost all the functionality that a rear camera does.

  • Cinematic mode video recording – 1080p at 30fps
  • Cinematic video stabilization – 4K, 1080p, and 720p
  • Night mode
  • Deep fusion
  • Smart HDR4
  • Photo style
  • Dolby HDR video recording – Up to 4K at 60fps
  • 4K video recording – At 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
  • 1080p HD video recording – At 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
  • Slow motion video – 1080p at 120fps or 240fps
  • Time lapse – With stabilization and night mode
Amazing front camera for iPhone 13 mini
Source: Apple

So you can sort everything from selfies, group phis, selfie videos, vlogs and more. Need more explanation why you fall in love with iPhone 13 mini? Well, there’s actually one thing that matters! Keep scrolling …

5. Price: Double the same $$ storage

model storage Price at release
iPhone 13 mini 128 GB $ 699
iPhone 12 mini 64 GB $ 699
iPhone 13 128 GB $ 799

This year, Apple skipped the 64GB variation and doubled its storage capacity, or 128GB. Interestingly, it didn’t raise the price of the base model. Then add some stunning pro-like features to your mix. The iPhone 13 mini has excellent cost performance.

Yes, I have a gap in my discussion. The 256GB and 512GB variations of the iPhone 13 mini are priced similar to the iPhone 12 mini, at $ 799 and $ 999. Therefore, the concept of double storage does not work here. But that doesn’t reduce the value of money to them.

You can take advantage of many amazing features such as a larger battery, a faster chip, a brighter screen, a smaller notch, and a smarter camera. Well, isn’t it worth it?

The iPhone 13 mini is certainly a great entry-level iPhone

Before I say the last piece, let’s talk about the elephants in the room – Why iPhone 13 mini instead of iPhone 13?

After all, the duo offers about the same functionality, and the iPhone 13 has a larger battery and screen. Well, it also carries an additional $ 100 price tag. Money to invest in accessories such as Apple Care + and charging bricks.

Joking aside, if you’re a small business owner, up-and-coming entrepreneur, student, or parent, $ 100 can make a difference. In addition, there are few compromises in functionality. You can use it seamlessly to build your business, start an influencer journey, and stay in touch with your kids and seniors at all times.

Most importantly, you can enter / expand the Apple ecosystem without hitting your wallet hard. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the iPhone 13 mini offers the best of both worlds. And that’s why the iPhone 13 mini is the best iPhone Apple has to offer this year for me.

what about you? Could I tilt your perception? I want to hear your story. Share your thoughts and comments on the iPhone 13 mini in the comments section below.

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