Is the iPhone 13 worth buying in 2023?

The iPhone 13 can be a great pick at a discount (Image via Apple)
The iPhone 13 can be a great pick at a discount (Image via Apple)

While the iPhone 13 is no longer the latest generation flagship, with the 14th available worldwide, that does not take away from its viability in 2023. Originally released back in 2021, the model has sold quite well over the years. Featuring Apple's trusted quality finish paired with reliable software support, the last-gen flagship might just be worth considering over its current-gen counterpart for more than one reason.

Interested buyers will be able to pick up the iPhone 13 at a discount and enjoy the A15 Bionic SoC's performance. Let's take a look at what you can expect from the device if you decide to purchase it.


The iPhone 13 remains a strong force in the market despite having completed a year in circulation

Like the 12th generation, the 13th-gen iPhone was released in multiple variants, including an iPhone 13 mini and 13 Pro. The flagship product was launched for sale back in September 2021. One of the reasons that makes this device so viable in 2023 is the processor it features.

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All variants of the 13th generation iPhone come with the A15 Bionic chip. The Pro and Pro Max variants step up the performance with an extra core over the non-Pro variants. Interestingly, Apple bought back the A15 Bionic for the non-Pro variant of the iPhone 14, albeit with the extra core.

Apple's flagship in-house silicon is known for being ahead of time and providing a much smoother experience than its Android counterparts. While the 14th generation might be faster than the 13th on paper, the last-gen variant holds up quite well in day-to-day tasks.

Display6.1-inch (15.5 cm diagonal) Super Retina XDR display with True Tone
Capacity64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Splash, Water, and Dust ResistantAll-glass and surgical-grade stainless steel design, water and dust resistant (rated IP68)
Camera and VideoDual 12MP cameras with Portrait mode, Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, Smart HDR, and 4K Dolby Vision HDR video up to 30 fps
Front Camera12MP TrueDepth front camera with Portrait mode, Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, and Smart HDR 4
Power and BatteryVideo playback:Up to 19 hours, Video playback (streamed):Up to 15 hours, Audio playback:Up to 75 hours, 20W adapter or higher (sold separately), Fast-charge capable: Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher
In the BoxiPhone with iOS 15, USB-C to Lightning Cable, Documentation
WarrantyApple-branded hardware product and accessories contained in the original packaging (“Apple Product”) come with a One-Year Limited Warranty. See apple.com/in/legal/warranty for more information.
Height5.78 inches (146.7 mm)
Width2.82 inches (71.5 mm)
Depth0.3 inch (7.65 mm)
Weight6.14 ounces (174 grams)

The iPhone 13 is available in two sizes: regular and mini, with the Pro variant bringing in a bigger screen with Pro Max. As for the resolution of the display, the models feature high-resolution Super Retina XDR OLED panels and up to 1200 nits of brightness.

Moving on to the cameras, the iPhone 13 and its mini variant feature the same 12 MP three-lens setup, with one in front and two in the back. As for the software, it features the advanced computational technology used by cameras in the 14th generation, which is capable of taking very high-quality mobile photographs.

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Since the launch of the iPhone 14, the last-gen flagship has received quite a notable price cut, leading it to be a price-to-performance offering compared to its competitors. Apple also discontinued the mini variant with the iPhone 14, suggesting buyers go with the third-generation iPhone SE for smaller screens. This leaves the iPhone 13 mini as the most up-to-date option for a mini-iPhone variant.

The 13th generation can still pack a punch in terms of expected performance, with the year-and-a-half-old A15 Bionic exceeding all expectations even today. The processor is one of the top scorers in terms of benchmarks while maintaining a consistent performance.

Considering all of the factors, from flagship performance to competitive pricing, the iPhone 13 is worth buying in 2023.

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