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Apple iPhone 13 mini in review: Powerful and ultracompact

Compact and refined. The iPhone 13 mini offers the same hardware as the big iPhone 13 but in a much smaller phone. Read on to find out whether there are any other differences.
Apple iPhone 13 Mini

The display size of just 5.4 inches alone makes the Apple iPhone 13 mini pretty much unrivaled. If you also consider its performance, only the iPhone 12 mini predecessor can come close to the small powerhouse. With Apple's A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13 mini is an extremely powerful smartphone that doesn't need to shy away from its bigger siblings.

With 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, our test model is available from Apple for $729. It also comes with a slightly smaller notch and an increased battery capacity. We will take a look at other new features, as well as traits inherited from the predecessor, below.

Apple iPhone 13 mini (iPhone Series)
Processor
Apple A15 Bionic 6 x 2 - 3.2 GHz
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
Display
5.40 inch 19.5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixel 477 PPI, capacitive, OLED, glossy: yes, HDR, 60 Hz
Storage
128 GB NVMe, 128 GB 
, 116 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: via Lightning, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: acceleration sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, face scanner (3D), Lightning
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0, 2G (850/​900/​1800/​1900), 3G (B1/​B2/​B4/​B5/​B8), 4G FDD/TD (B1/​B2/​B3/​B4/​B5/​B7/​B8/​B12/​B13/​B17/​B18/​B19/​B20/​B25/​B26/​B28/​B30/​B32/​B34/​B38/​B39/​B40/​B41/​B42/​B46/​B48/​B66), 5G (n1/​n2/​n3/​n5/​n7/​n8/​n12/​n20/​n25/​n28/n30/​n38/​n40/​n41/​n48/​n66/​n77/​n78/​n79), Dual SIM, LTE, 5G, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.65 x 131.5 x 64.2 ( = 0.3 x 5.18 x 2.53 in)
Battery
2406 mAh Lithium-Ion
Charging
wireless charging, fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Apple iOS 15
Camera
Primary Camera: 12 MPix 12.0 MP, f/​1.6, phase-comparison AF (dual pixel), OIS, dual LED flash, videos @2160p/​60fps (camera 1); 12.0 MP, f/​2.4, wide angle lens (camera 2)
Secondary Camera: 12 MPix 12.0 MP, f/​2.2, videos @2160p/​60fps
Additional features
Speakers: stereo (hybrid), Keyboard: on-screen, Keyboard Light: yes, Lightning-to-USB-C cable, SIM tool, 12 Months Warranty, IP68, SAR value (body): 0.98 W/kg, SAR value (head): 0.97 W/kg, fanless, waterproof
Weight
140 g ( = 4.94 oz / 0.31 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Drive
Size
Resolution
Best Price
89.8 %
10/2021
Apple iPhone 13 mini
A15, A15 GPU 4-Core
140 g128 GB NVMe5.40"2340x1080
89.9 %
12/2020
Apple iPhone 12 mini
A14, A14 Bionic GPU
133 g128 GB NVMe5.40"2340x1080
84.6 %
10/2020
Google Pixel 5
SD 765G, Adreno 620
151 g128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash6.00"2340x1080
85.9 %
06/2021
Asus ZenFone 8
SD 888 5G, Adreno 660
169 g256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash5.92"2400x1080
87.1 %
10/2021
Sony Xperia 5 III
SD 888 5G, Adreno 660
168 g128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash6.10"2520x1080

Case - Compact and lightweight smartphone with IP68

Apple has left the design introduced with the iPhone 12 mini unchanged, meaning that the iPhone 13 mini also has an aluminum frame as well as front and back sides made of ceramic glass. The build quality is very good, and there are no uneven material transitions. Furthermore, the case is IP68 certified and, according to Apple, water-resistant for 30 minutes at a depth of up to six meters.

In direct comparison with the predecessor, the camera lenses of the iPhone 13 mini are now arranged diagonally instead of vertically, and the notch is slightly smaller. In addition, the weight has increased from 133 to 140 grams, which still makes the compact Apple phone very light. This is also true in comparison with the Android competition in our test field, with the iPhone 13 mini being the smallest device here.

Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple iPhone 13 mini

Size comparison

157 mm / 6.18 inch 68 mm / 2.68 inch 8.2 mm / 0.3228 inch 168 g0.3704 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 68.5 mm / 2.7 inch 8.9 mm / 0.3504 inch 169 g0.3726 lbs144.7 mm / 5.7 inch 70.4 mm / 2.77 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 151 g0.3329 lbs131.5 mm / 5.18 inch 64.2 mm / 2.53 inch 7.65 mm / 0.3012 inch 140 g0.3086 lbs131.5 mm / 5.18 inch 64.2 mm / 2.53 inch 7.4 mm / 0.2913 inch 133 g0.2932 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity - More storage space in the small iPhone

The iPhone 13 mini has 4 GB of RAM in every configuration variant. Now, the internal storage starts at 128 GB in the base version, with the options of 256 GB (+$100) and 512 GB (+$300) being available as well. There is no microSD slot. Furthermore, the SIM slot can only accommodate one nano SIM card, but a dual-SIM mode is possible via an eSIM. VoLTE and VoWLAN are also supported.

Once again, Apple opts for a Lightning port as the only connection, which only works at USB 2.0 speeds but offers a broad compatibility with other Apple devices. 

Left side: Nano SIM slot, volume buttons, Ring/Silent switch
Left side: Nano SIM slot, volume buttons, Ring/Silent switch
Top: No ports
Top: No ports
Right side: Standby button
Right side: Standby button
Bottom: Microphone, Lightning port, speaker
Bottom: Microphone, Lightning port, speaker

Software - Apple is still Apple

The iPhone 13 mini runs the latest iOS 15, which only brings a few changes for Apple veterans. The emphasis is on the interaction with other people via FaceTime as well as on Focus mode, which is meant to prevent users from getting distracted when trying to concentrate on work. We used iOS 15.0.2 for the rest of the tests.

The Maps and Weather apps have also been improved, and it's now possible to interact with text through photos. For example, phone numbers or addresses can be stored directly from a document. The following link describes all the changes found in iOS 15: https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-15/features/

Software - Apple iPhone 13 mini
Software - Apple iPhone 13 mini
Software - Apple iPhone 13 mini
Software - Apple iPhone 13 mini

Communication and GNSS - Fast positioning, but mediocre Wi-Fi

The compact iPhone can establish mobile connections over GSM, 3G, LTE, and 5G, including Sub6-5G. However, mmWave is not available. Global usage should be possible without issues thanks to the wide range of bands covered. Download rates of up to 1.2 Gb/s and upload rates of up to 225 Mb/s are possible via LTE Cat.18.

At close ranges, the iPhone 13 mini can establish connections via Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and Wi-Fi 6. In combination with our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router, we achieve rather mediocre speeds of 405 Mb/s for sending data and 620 Mb/s for receiving data.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus ZenFone 8
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
1261 (1192min - 1327max) MBit/s +211%
Apple iPhone 12 mini
A14 Bionic GPU, A14, 128 GB NVMe
792 (711min - 841max) MBit/s +96%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
680 (620min - 701max) MBit/s +68%
Google Pixel 5
Adreno 620, SD 765G, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
483 (479min - 493max) MBit/s +19%
Apple iPhone 13 mini
A15 GPU 4-Core, A15, 128 GB NVMe
405 (198min - 498max) MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus ZenFone 8
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
903 (446min - 918max) MBit/s +46%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash
839 (805min - 859max) MBit/s +35%
Google Pixel 5
Adreno 620, SD 765G, 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
625 (521min - 652max) MBit/s +1%
Apple iPhone 13 mini
A15 GPU 4-Core, A15, 128 GB NVMe
620 (297min - 709max) MBit/s
Apple iPhone 12 mini
A14 Bionic GPU, A14, 128 GB NVMe
578 (496min - 596max) MBit/s -7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s -39%
04080120160200240280320360400440480520560600640680Tooltip
Apple iPhone 13 mini; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø608 (297-709)
Apple iPhone 13 mini; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø399 (198-498)

The iPhone 13 mini can determine its location via GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS, and Galileo. Apple doesn't specify how many bands are available, though.

On our standard bike ride, the small Apple smartphone shows a slightly lower deviation compared to our reference device, the Garmin Edge 500, which makes it well suited for navigation tasks.

GNSS - Summary
GNSS - Summary
GNSS - Lake
GNSS - Lake
GNSS - Turning point
GNSS - Turning point

Telephone and call quality - Noise reduction could be a bit better

The phone app of the iPhone 13 mini offers direct access to a numeric keypad. Additional tabs provide access to stored contacts, recent calls, and favorites. The Apple smartphone offers a very high volume during calls, but the voice quality suffers a bit as a result. Both parties can be heard very clearly in quieter environments, though. Ambient noise is also filtered out well to a certain degree, with it only impacting voice quality near very busy streets, for example.

Cameras - Strong image quality

Front-facing camera sample
Front-facing camera sample

Like in the iPhone 12 mini, Apple has once again installed two 12 MP camera sensors on the back of the iPhone 13 mini. However, they aren't identical to the sensors in the predecessor, since they capture more light now. Our sample close-up also looks a bit sharper, and colors appear natural as well. The chosen contrast mode is also decisive here, as it automatically creates warmer, cooler, or softer colors.

Panoramic shots also show many details and good colors. Minor blurriness is only revealed when you zoom in a lot. Instead of an optical zoom, only a software-based zoom is available. Although colors are still reproduced well, object edges look very blurry. Subjects captured with the ultra-wide angle lens are rich in detail, but they show a slight graininess and somewhat washed-out surfaces, especially at the edges and on dark areas. The iPhone 13 mini can visibly capture our test subject in low-light conditions, and it even reproduces some details. However, colors are low in contrast here.

Various color filters and predefined modes for different lighting situations are available for the adjustment of the image quality. Among other functions, both the focal length and the exposure can be modified. This also applies to videos, which have a similarly good image quality compared to our sample photos. Available resolutions are 720p at 30 fps, 1080p at 30 and 60 fps, as well as 4K at 24, 30, and 60 fps. The advertised feature of changing the focus point in a video is also available in the iPhone 13 mini.

The front-facing camera also captures subjects with 12 MP. It produces very good pictures with many details and natural colors. Manual adjustments can be made in the same way as when using the main camera.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Close-upPanoramaUltra-wide angleZoom (5x)Low light

The ColorChecker Passport image shows that the iPhone 13 mini's camera captures colors a bit too brightly under controlled lighting conditions. In addition, the test chart is captured very sharply, and it only shows minor weaknesses in contrast in the lower corners.

ColorChecker
18.9 ∆E
10.1 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
21.4 ∆E
10 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
8.6 ∆E
11.1 ∆E
12 ∆E
9.2 ∆E
10.9 ∆E
7.6 ∆E
11.2 ∆E
17.4 ∆E
12.9 ∆E
5.2 ∆E
8.8 ∆E
12.2 ∆E
4.1 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
10.3 ∆E
12 ∆E
8 ∆E
1.7 ∆E
ColorChecker Apple iPhone 13 mini: 10.31 ∆E min: 1.73 - max: 21.45 ∆E
ColorChecker
28.9 ∆E
50.2 ∆E
37.9 ∆E
34.1 ∆E
43.3 ∆E
57.8 ∆E
49.1 ∆E
33.4 ∆E
38.6 ∆E
29 ∆E
58.5 ∆E
58.8 ∆E
28.3 ∆E
44.9 ∆E
33.7 ∆E
67.9 ∆E
40.5 ∆E
40.2 ∆E
68.9 ∆E
65.8 ∆E
49 ∆E
35.9 ∆E
23.8 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
ColorChecker Apple iPhone 13 mini: 43.01 ∆E min: 13.91 - max: 68.9 ∆E

Accessories and warranty - No charger included

The iPhone 13 mini only comes with the smartphone itself and a Lightning-to-USB cable. But Apple offers a wide range of additional accessories, including MagSafe components. These can be attached magnetically to the back of the iPhone, allowing the phone to be enhanced with a card holder, for example.

Apple grants a 12-month warranty period for the iPhone 13 mini. With Apple Care+, a security package is offered as well, which covers the repair of various damages, but an additional fee is still charged. 

Input devices and handling - Accurate touchscreen

The touchscreen of the iPhone 13 mini responds very reliably and accurately to touch. As a result, it's easy to use the iPhone's keyboard despite the small screen. The side buttons respond reliably as well and with a clear pressure point; they sit firmly in their respective enclosures.

Apple relies on FaceID to unlock the smartphone, and it also works in the dark thanks to the infrared sensor. The process was always reliable during our test period.

Apple iPhone 13 mini - Keyboard
Apple iPhone 13 mini - Keyboard
Apple iPhone 13 mini - Keyboard
Apple iPhone 13 mini - Keyboard

Display - Strong contrast and high brightness

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

The screen of the iPhone 13 mini consists of a 5.4-inch OLED panel that offers a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. Both with and without the ambient light sensor enabled, the maximum brightness is a very good 850 cd/m². 836 cd/m² is achieved in the APL50 test, and the minimum brightness can be adjusted to 1.9 cd/m². The brightness distribution of 98% is likewise very good, allowing the iPhone 13 mini to lead our test field.

However, we measure PWM in a range between 162.3 and 510.2 Hz starting at brightness levels of 15%. Below that, only the refresh rate of 60 Hz can be detected.

855
cd/m²
841
cd/m²
840
cd/m²
857
cd/m²
851
cd/m²
838
cd/m²
858
cd/m²
847
cd/m²
840
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 3
Maximum: 858 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 847.4 cd/m² Minimum: 1.9 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 98 %
Center on Battery: 851 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
99.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.21
Apple iPhone 13 mini
OLED, 2340x1080, 5.40
Apple iPhone 12 mini
OLED, 2340x1080, 5.40
Google Pixel 5
OLED, 2340x1080, 6.00
Asus ZenFone 8
AMOLED, 2400x1080, 5.92
Sony Xperia 5 III
OLED, 2520x1080, 6.10
Screen
-9%
-10%
-57%
-91%
Brightness middle
851
623
-27%
635
-25%
758
-11%
554
-35%
Brightness
847
623
-26%
636
-25%
759
-10%
559
-34%
Brightness Distribution
98
98
0%
97
-1%
98
0%
95
-3%
Black Level *
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1
1
-0%
0.8
20%
3.5
-250%
2.22
-122%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
2
2.1
-5%
2.2
-10%
5.94
-197%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.4
1.3
7%
1.7
-21%
1.6
-14%
3.6
-157%
Gamma
2.21 100%
2.21 100%
2.23 99%
2.23 99%
2.193 100%
CCT
6423 101%
6258 104%
6492 100%
6527 100%
7000 93%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 510 Hz ≤ 100 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 510 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 510 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The panel used in the Apple smartphone has a very high contrast ratio and an excellent black level. In addition, colors are displayed very uniformly when True Tone is deactivated. When True Tone is enabled, the system adjusts the color reproduction to the ambient light, which usually resulted in a warmer picture during our test period.

CalMAN - Color accuracy (sRGB)
CalMAN - Color accuracy (sRGB)
CalMAN - Color space (sRGB)
CalMAN - Color space (sRGB)
CalMAN - Grayscales (sRGB)
CalMAN - Grayscales (sRGB)
CalMAN - Saturation (sRGB)
CalMAN - Saturation (sRGB)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2 ms rise
↘ 2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 10 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
5.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 2.8 ms rise
↘ 2.8 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 12 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The iPhone 13 mini can be used comfortably outdoors due to the high display brightness. However, the smooth display surface still leads to reflections that can interfere with the image content's visibility.

Apple iPhone 13 mini - Outdoor use
Apple iPhone 13 mini - Outdoor use
Apple iPhone 13 mini - Outdoor use
Apple iPhone 13 mini - Outdoor use

The built-in display is very viewing-angle stable, so content doesn't look distorted or show inaccurate colors, even from flat angles.

Viewing-angle stability
Viewing-angle stability

Performance - Extremely smooth system

The iPhone 13 mini is powered by an Apple A15 Bionic SoC with six cores and clock rates of up to 3.2 GHz. Compared with the iPhone 13 Pro, the 13 mini has to make do with less RAM at 4 GB and an internal GPU with four instead of five cores. In contrast to the iPhone 12 mini and its A14 Bionic chip, the CPU performance is only slightly better in Geekbench with gains of 8% (single-core) and 9% (multi-core), respectively.

Compared to the rest of the competition, the gap, which was already large, was increased even further. The new model is only somewhat weaker than the predecessor in some categories in the 3DMark tests, and depending on the specific discipline, it also has to let itself be relegated to one of the lower places by the Android smartphones. 

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
1729 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
1604 Points -7%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
598 Points -65%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
1124 Points -35%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
1137 Points -34%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (1590 - 1755, n=9)
1723 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (119 - 2138, n=212, last 2 years)
902 Points -48%
Multi-Core (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
4559 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
4201 Points -8%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1635 Points -64%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
3385 Points -26%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
3572 Points -22%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (4559 - 4914, n=9)
4755 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (473 - 6681, n=212, last 2 years)
2950 Points -35%
3DMark
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
4003 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
5079 Points +27%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
2315 Points -42%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
 
4003 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points -33%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
6867 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
6281 Points -9%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
2106 Points -69%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
 
6867 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points -61%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
1627 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
3041 Points +87%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
3547 Points +118%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
 
1627 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points +92%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
5724 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
6462 Points +13%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
2964 Points -48%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
8779 Points +53%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (5713 - 6175, n=5)
5870 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (317 - 20131, n=175, last 2 years)
6514 Points +14%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
13283 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
9986 Points -25%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
2834 Points -79%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
11552 Points -13%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (9878 - 16221, n=5)
13743 Points +3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (267 - 33376, n=174, last 2 years)
9281 Points -30%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
1913 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
2890 Points +51%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
3530 Points +85%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
4771 Points +149%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (1852 - 2307, n=5)
2027 Points +6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (938 - 8480, n=174, last 2 years)
4150 Points +117%
Wild Life Score (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
9125 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
6652 Points -27%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1015 Points -89%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
5767 Points -37%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
5787 Points -37%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (8357 - 9680, n=6)
9139 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (394 - 9839, n=131, last 2 years)
2586 Points -72%
Wild Life Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
9881 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
7806 Points -21%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
1022 Points -90%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
5821 Points -41%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
5064 Points -49%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (8909 - 11779, n=8)
10800 Points +9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (392 - 20068, n=194, last 2 years)
6058 Points -39%
Wild Life Extreme (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
2243 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
2288 Points +2%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
448 Points -80%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
1528 Points -32%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
1456 Points -35%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (2243 - 3080, n=8)
2759 Points +23%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 5226, n=199, last 2 years)
1628 Points -27%
Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
2151 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
1982 Points -8%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
443 Points -79%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
1512 Points -30%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
1256 Points -42%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (1877 - 2864, n=8)
2528 Points +18%
Average of class Smartphone
  (109 - 5248, n=194, last 2 years)
1635 Points -24%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
60.1 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
60 fps 0%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
45 fps -25%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
119 fps +98%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
117 fps +95%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (59.8 - 60.1, n=8)
60 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps +38%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
375.2 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
264 fps -30%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
48 fps -87%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
238 fps -37%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
202 fps -46%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (358 - 447, n=8)
413 fps +10%
Average of class Smartphone
  (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps -35%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
60.1 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
60 fps 0%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
30 fps -50%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
116 fps +93%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
113 fps +88%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (59.8 - 60.2, n=8)
60 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +18%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
165.9 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
148 fps -11%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
31 fps -81%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
152 fps -8%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
129 fps -22%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (165.9 - 253, n=8)
221 fps +33%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps -17%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
60.1 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
60 fps 0%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
21 fps -65%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
93 fps +55%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
58 fps -3%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (59.8 - 60.1, n=8)
60 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps 0%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
125.1 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
115 fps -8%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
22 fps -82%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
105 fps -16%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
71 fps -43%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (60 - 172.4, n=8)
139.6 fps +12%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps -23%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
54 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
52 fps -4%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
13 fps -76%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
53 fps -2%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
39 fps -28%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (53.2 - 60, n=8)
57.8 fps +7%
Average of class Smartphone
  (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps -21%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
68.8 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
66 fps -4%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
12 fps -83%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
61 fps -11%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
48 fps -30%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (68.8 - 105.2, n=8)
92.9 fps +35%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps -15%
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
60.1 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
60 fps 0%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
13 fps -78%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
57 fps -5%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
45 fps -25%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (59.1 - 60.1, n=7)
59.8 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.6 - 123, n=219, last 2 years)
43.2 fps -28%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
95.9 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
79 fps -18%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
13 fps -86%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
64 fps -33%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
57 fps -41%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (95.9 - 122.2, n=8)
110.1 fps +15%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.3 - 229, n=219, last 2 years)
63 fps -34%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
56.6 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
53 fps -6%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
8.8 fps -84%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
41 fps -28%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
37 fps -35%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (49.4 - 60, n=8)
55.6 fps -2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.8 - 105, n=219, last 2 years)
32.2 fps -43%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
34.56 fps
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
29 fps -16%
Google Pixel 5
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, Adreno 620, 8192
5.3 fps -85%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
26 fps -25%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
23 fps -33%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (34.6 - 41.2, n=8)
38.4 fps +11%
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 94, n=219, last 2 years)
25.1 fps -27%
Antutu v9 - Total Score (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
722973 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini
Apple A14 Bionic, A14 Bionic GPU, 4096
708280 Points -2%
Asus ZenFone 8
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 16384
795730 Points +10%
Sony Xperia 5 III
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G, Adreno 660, 8192
714551 Points -1%
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (722973 - 832548, n=8)
788523 Points +9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (102602 - 1650926, n=148, last 2 years)
741274 Points +3%
Basemark GPU 1.2
Metal Medium Native (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
167.9 fps
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (155.4 - 167.9, n=3)
162.7 fps -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (157.8 - 192.5, n=6, last 2 years)
174.8 fps +4%
1920x1080 Metal Medium Offscreen (sort by value)
Apple iPhone 13 mini
Apple A15 Bionic, A15 GPU 4-Core, 4096
202.6 fps
Average Apple A15 Bionic
  (203 - 220, n=3)
212 fps +5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (232 - 258, n=5, last 2 years)
248 fps +22%

The iPhone 13 mini is also better than the predecessor when it comes to the browser benchmarks, but the differences are significantly larger at times in this regard. As a result, the small Apple smartphone can lead our test field. In everyday use, these rates are reflected in an extremely smooth browsing experience and media content that is quickly available on websites.

Jetstream 2 - Total Score
Average Apple A15 Bionic (173.5 - 189.9, n=8)
182.1 Points +2%
Apple iPhone 13 mini (Safari 15)
177.9 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Safari Mobile 14)
158.2 Points -11%
Sony Xperia 5 III (Chrome93)
119.3 Points -33%
Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 351, n=167, last 2 years)
104.5 Points -41%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
50.8 Points -71%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average Apple A15 Bionic (383 - 414, n=6)
401 Points +2%
Apple iPhone 13 mini (Safari 15)
392.7 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Safari Mobile 14)
367.5 Points -6%
Sony Xperia 5 III (Chrome93)
209.3 Points -47%
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points -50%
Asus ZenFone 8 (Chrome 90)
184.5 Points -53%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
88.9 Points -77%
Speedometer 2.0 - Result
Average Apple A15 Bionic (228 - 347, n=8)
266 runs/min +11%
Apple iPhone 13 mini (Safari 15)
240 runs/min
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Safari Mobile 14)
193 runs/min -20%
Average of class Smartphone (14.9 - 445, n=151, last 2 years)
105.7 runs/min -56%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
49.2 runs/min -79%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Average Apple A15 Bionic (219 - 279, n=8)
254 Points +1%
Apple iPhone 13 mini (Safari 15)
252 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Safari Mobile 14)
191 Points -24%
Asus ZenFone 8 (Chrome 90)
149 Points -41%
Average of class Smartphone (37 - 304, n=119, last 2 years)
131.8 Points -48%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
77 Points -69%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average Apple A15 Bionic (57143 - 65969, n=8)
63305 Points +1%
Apple iPhone 13 mini (Safari 15)
62629 Points
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Safari Mobile 14)
57431 Points -8%
Sony Xperia 5 III (Chrome93)
45930 Points -27%
Asus ZenFone 8 (Chrome 90)
37926 Points -39%
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points -46%
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
18629 Points -70%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Google Pixel 5 (Chrome 86.0.4240.110)
2470 ms * -453%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * -270%
Asus ZenFone 8 (Chrome 90)
1397 ms * -213%
Sony Xperia 5 III (Chrome93)
919 ms * -106%
Apple iPhone 12 mini (Safari Mobile 14)
459.6 ms * -3%
Average Apple A15 Bionic (414 - 507, n=8)
456 ms * -2%
Apple iPhone 13 mini
446.8 ms *

* ... smaller is better

Games - Gaming at a stable FPS is no issue

The iPhone 13 mini can run recent and demanding games smoothly. The titles that we tested with Gamebench ran smoothly even at high detail levels, and they always showed stable frame rates. Controlling games using the touchscreen worked without issues as well. However, some control elements are very small due to the limited display size. This makes it difficult to activate them or select them using your finger.

Armajet
Armajet
PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
Apple iPhone 13 mini; Armajet; 1.61.6: Ø59.5 (57-60)
Apple iPhone 13 mini; PUBG Mobile; Smooth; 1.6.0: Ø59.5 (55-60)
Apple iPhone 13 mini; PUBG Mobile; Ultra HD; 1.6.0: Ø39.4 (37-40)

Emissions - The iPhone 13 mini barely heats up

Temperature

GFXBench - Manhattan 3.1
GFXBench - Manhattan 3.1
GFXBench - ES 2.0
GFXBench - ES 2.0

According to our measurements, the surfaces of the iPhone 13 mini heat up to 34.9 °C (~95 °F) under load. This only makes the smartphone feel warm to the touch, and it can be used without any issues at all times. However, Apple's compact smartphone only achieves a moderate stability score of 64.8% and 73.1% in the demanding 3DMark Wildlife stress tests. However, since this is an extraordinary load scenario, performance drops under continuous load are not to be expected.

Max. Load
 33.8 °C
93 F
34.1 °C
93 F
34.4 °C
94 F
 
 34.3 °C
94 F
34.4 °C
94 F
34.6 °C
94 F
 
 32.9 °C
91 F
34.4 °C
94 F
33.9 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 34.6 °C = 94 F
Average: 34.1 °C = 93 F
34.4 °C
94 F
34.7 °C
94 F
34.4 °C
94 F
34.3 °C
94 F
34.8 °C
95 F
34.2 °C
94 F
33.6 °C
92 F
34.9 °C
95 F
33.7 °C
93 F
Maximum: 34.9 °C = 95 F
Average: 34.3 °C = 94 F
Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated) & Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.1 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.6 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.9 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32 °C / 90 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

3DMark Wild Life stress test

0510152025303540455055Tooltip
Apple iPhone 13 mini A15 GPU 4-Core, A15, 128 GB NVMe; Wild Life Extreme Stress Test; 0.0.0.0: Ø10.7 (10-13.7)
Sony Xperia 5 III Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash; Wild Life Extreme Stress Test; 1.0.5.1: Ø6.51 (5.08-9.2)
Apple iPhone 13 mini A15 GPU 4-Core, A15, 128 GB NVMe; Wild Life Stress Test Stability; 0.0.0.0: Ø42.1 (36.1-55.7)
Sony Xperia 5 III Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.0 Flash; Wild Life Stress Test Stability; 0.0.0.0: Ø21.3 (19.4-30.7)
Heat map - Top
Heat map - Top
Heat map - Bottom
Heat map - Bottom

Speakers

The speakers in the iPhone 13 mini offer a relatively high volume and a sound spectrum characterized by higher tones. This makes them well suited for reproducing voice content, but headphones or external speakers are preferable for music or similar complex media.

Compared with the iPhone 12 mini, there's a slight improvement in sound range, but also a slightly lower maximum volume.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203732.42525.625.13129.123.14023.424.65036.841.16328.425.48024.825.810022.428.712519.240.516016.951.420015.647.925013.85331513.45640013.358.950013.861.56301265.780012.769.6100012.269.712501373.7160013.775.4200013.278250013.479.531501378.7400013.377.6500013.676.8630013.374.7800013.871.71000013.768.3125001468.61600013.567.5SPL25.587.7N0.767.7median 13.5median 68.6Delta0.79.430.435.123.336.72641.522.64034.540.719.942.114.740.814.439.714.944.517.853.918.952.811.754.913.958.91359.610.363.410.466.812.471.411.177.911.284.412.782.712.375.112.675.312.778.212.78012.783.213.582.91478.813.57114.9641658.524.891.90.688.5median 12.7median 71.41.311.135.635.129.434.72930.527.63240.541.826.832.521.433.319.934.422.341.915.653.513.152.710.757.111.557.613.657.310.361.811.263.71162.710.365.111.572.511.976.11279.21281.512.382.51380.412.880.113.277.814.577.913.575.313.772.414.359.624.890.30.675.4median 12.8median 72.41.510.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseApple iPhone 13 miniGoogle Pixel 5Apple iPhone 12 mini
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Apple iPhone 13 mini audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 83% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 31% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Google Pixel 5 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.2% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 24% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 68% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple iPhone 12 mini audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (90.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 7.7% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.9% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (2.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 16% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 38% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 54% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery life - Apple's smallest device has a lot of endurance

Energy consumption

With a minimum idle power consumption of 0.57 watts and a maximum power consumption of 3.56 watts under load, the iPhone 13 mini is one of the most frugal smartphones in our test field. Only the Google Pixel 5 has a lower average power consumption.

A charger is not included in the box.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.08 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.57 / 1.38 / 1.41 Watt
Load midlight 2.65 / 3.56 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Apple iPhone 13 mini
2406 mAh
Apple iPhone 12 mini
2226 mAh
Google Pixel 5
4080 mAh
Asus ZenFone 8
4000 mAh
Sony Xperia 5 III
4500 mAh
Average Apple A15 Bionic
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
-4%
7%
-32%
-149%
-47%
-64%
Idle Minimum *
0.57
0.62
-9%
0.69
-21%
0.82
-44%
1.8
-216%
0.66 ?(0.51 - 1.1, n=8)
-16%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
-56%
Idle Average *
1.38
1.18
14%
0.82
41%
1.1
20%
2.6
-88%
1.303 ?(0.8 - 2.2, n=8)
6%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
-5%
Idle Maximum *
1.41
1.21
14%
0.85
40%
1.16
18%
3.1
-120%
1.748 ?(1 - 4.2, n=8)
-24%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
-16%
Load Average *
2.65
2.1
21%
2.73
-3%
4.24
-60%
5.3
-100%
4.85 ?(2.65 - 6.7, n=8)
-83%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-110%
Load Maximum *
3.56
5.71
-60%
4.4
-24%
6.83
-92%
11.5
-223%
7.77 ?(3.56 - 11.4, n=8)
-118%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-132%

* ... smaller is better

Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)

01234567891011121314Tooltip
Apple iPhone 13 mini Apple A15 Bionic: Ø4.97 (0.801-10.7)
Sony Xperia 5 III Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G: Ø7.8 (2.54-14.5)

Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)

01234567891011121314Tooltip
Apple iPhone 13 mini Apple A15 Bionic; 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Offscreen: Ø8.07 (7.43-8.84)
Sony Xperia 5 III Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G; 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Offscreen: Ø12.8 (11.8-14.2)
Apple iPhone 13 mini Apple A15 Bionic; Idle 150cd/m2: Ø0.708 (0.675-0.785)
Sony Xperia 5 III Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G; Idle 150cd/m2: Ø2.59 (2.36-2.87)

Battery life

In our practical Wi-Fi test, the small Apple iPhone achieves a battery runtime of over 14 hours. This means it lasts four hours longer than the iPhone 12 mini predecessor. In comparison with the rest of our test field, this result is very good too, and it looks even better when you take the iPhone 13 mini's significantly smaller battery of 2,406 mAh into account.

The iPhone 13 mini can be fully charged in little over an hour with a 20-watt power adapter. Wireless charging is also available. MagSafe allows for charging at up to 15 watts while the Qi standard allows up to 7.5 watts.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
51h 47min
WiFi Websurfing
14h 9min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
17h 23min
Load (maximum brightness)
5h 02min
Apple iPhone 13 mini
2406 mAh
Apple iPhone 12 mini
2226 mAh
Google Pixel 5
4080 mAh
Asus ZenFone 8
4000 mAh
Sony Xperia 5 III
4500 mAh
Battery Runtime
-19%
5%
-48%
-14%
Reader / Idle
3107
1537
-51%
2245
-28%
H.264
1043
968
-7%
1466
41%
WiFi v1.3
849
655
-23%
808
-5%
442
-48%
727
-14%
Load
302
316
5%
333
10%

Pros

+ very fast system
+ very good battery life
+ very compact
+ good dual-camera setup
+ bright OLED display

Cons

- 60 Hz display only
- no 5G mmWave
- comparatively slow Wi-Fi 6

Verdict - Unrivaled for fans of compact smartphones

In review: Apple iPhone 13 mini
In review: Apple iPhone 13 mini

If you're looking for a compact high-end smartphone, there's no getting around the iPhone 13 mini. The system performance, the camera quality, and the battery life as well are unmatched by the competition in this size category. Only the Asus Zenfone 8 is similarly compact in our more recent reviews. It's also very fast, but not quite as powerful as the iPhone 13 mini, and at 5.9 inches instead of 5.4 inches, it's still a bit bigger.

The iPhone 13 mini's performance and features are beyond reproach. Nevertheless, the display is almost a bit too small.

Running apps works as usual within the Apple ecosystem, and both the operating system and apps are very smooth. Since the entry-level storage capacity has been increased to 128 GB now, storage space problems are not to be expected that quickly here, either. The 5.4-inch display is also bright and reproduces colors excellently.

Depending on the application, however, app controls might actually be too small and hard to select as a result. If this factor isn't a problem, the Apple iPhone 13 mini is the best choice for fans of compact and powerful smartphones.

Download your licensed rating image as SVG / PNG

Price and availability

You can get the Apple iPhone 13 mini directly from Apple for $729 (activate with carrier later) or $699 (activate today). You can also find it on Amazon and Best Buy, for example.

Apple iPhone 13 mini - 08/31/2022 v7
Mike Wobker

Chassis
91%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 86%
Pointing Device
94%
Connectivity
60 / 70 → 86%
Weight
93%
Battery
90%
Display
94%
Games Performance
62 / 64 → 97%
Application Performance
95 / 86 → 100%
Temperature
91%
Noise
100%
Audio
74 / 90 → 82%
Camera
76%
Average
84%
90%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Apple iPhone 13 mini in review: Powerful and ultracompact
Mike Wobker, 2021-10-27 (Update: 2021-10-27)