iPhone 12 vs iPhone 13: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
When a phone gets a successor, the headline feature is only part of the story. The quieter changes underneath often matter more, and the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 12 are a good example. The scorecard favors the iPhone 13, which leads in 2 of 5 areas. Its strongest showing is in the memory & storage category.
At a glance
- Display Tie
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage iPhone 13 wins
- Camera Tie
- Battery & Charging iPhone 13 wins
- Price Tie
- Display2.1
- Memory & Storage0.4
- Camera0.9
- Battery & Charging1.2
- Display2.1
- Memory & Storage1.8
- Camera0.9
- Battery & Charging1.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The iPhone 13 has 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB
The iPhone 13 doesn’t just edge this one; 128 GB against 64 GB is a lead you’ll feel. Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
-
The iPhone 13 has 2 h more rated video playback
The iPhone 13 has a modest edge on rated video playback: 19 h against 17 h for the iPhone 12. More rated playback suggests the iPhone 13 lasts longer on a long flight or an evening of streaming.
-
The iPhone 12 has a 0.35 oz lighter build
It’s a small lead (5.78 oz versus 6.14 oz), but it’s real, and it goes to the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 is easier on your wrist during long reading or gaming sessions.
-
The iPhone 13 has a bigger top storage option
Big gap, real consequences. The iPhone 13’s 512 GB versus the iPhone 12’s 256 GB changes how the two compare in daily use. The top storage option only matters if you plan to buy a high-capacity version, but it caps how much you can ever keep on the phone.
Design & Size
- iPhone 12 5.78 in × 2.81 in × 0.29 in
- iPhone 13 5.78 in × 2.81 in × 0.30 in
There’s no meaningful size difference between the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13. In the weight column, the iPhone 12 leads by 0.35 oz.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.78 in | 5.78 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 2.81 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in | 0.30 in |
| Weight | 5.78 oz (winner) | 6.14 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Display
Too close to call
Evenly matched is the fairest summary of the display section. Don’t let display decide this one; look at the other sections instead.
Performance
Too close to call
The differences on performance are small enough to ignore in daily use. If performance was going to be your tiebreaker, you’ll need a different one.
Memory & Storage
iPhone 13 leads
This section belongs to the iPhone 13. In memory & storage, it leads the iPhone 12 by a margin that’s hard to ignore. Choose the iPhone 13 and you get 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. The iPhone 13 starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos. If memory & storage is your priority, the iPhone 13 is the phone to pick.
Base storage
iPhone 12: 64 GB iPhone 13: 128 GB If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years.
Max storage
iPhone 12: 256 GB iPhone 13: 512 GB Most buyers are fine with a base or middle tier, so this is a niche advantage, but a real one if you need it.
Camera
Too close to call
There’s no meaningful winner in the camera section; the two are too close to separate. This section won’t settle the choice, so weigh the other areas more heavily.
Battery & Charging
iPhone 13 leads
The iPhone 12 keeps it close on battery & charging, yet the iPhone 13 holds a small lead. The iPhone 13 gives you 2 h more rated video playback. Lab ratings rarely match real life exactly, but comparing them between two phones is still a useful endurance hint. If this section decides it for you, choose the iPhone 13.
Rated video playback
iPhone 12: 17 h iPhone 13: 19 h Rated video playback is the manufacturer’s own endurance figure, so it reflects efficiency as well as battery size.
Software & Updates
This area doesn’t reduce to a single number. The table shows the software & updates details for both, so you can judge what matters to you.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.1 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Super Retina XDR) | OLED (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2532 x 1170 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits | 1,200 nits |
| Always-on display | No | No |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| CPU cores | 6 | 6 |
| Process node | 5 nm | 5 nm |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 64 GB | 128 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 512 GB (winner) |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 2 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 17 h | 19 h (winner) |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | Lightning | Lightning |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 14 | iOS 15 |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.78 in | 5.78 in |
| Width | 2.81 in | 2.81 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in | 0.30 in |
| Weight | 5.78 oz (winner) | 6.14 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Price
| Spec | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $799 | $799 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Price is a tie: both launched at the same figure.
All prices are official US launch prices, last checked September 2021. Actual prices at stores may differ.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 12 if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (5.78 oz vs 6.14 oz)
- you’re fine skipping this generation’s changes
Choose the iPhone 13 if…
- you want more storage without paying for an upgrade (128 GB vs 64 GB)
- you stream a lot of video on the go (19 h vs 17 h rated playback)
- you plan to buy a high-capacity version (512 GB vs 256 GB maximum)
- you find that the improvements in the iPhone 13 match what you need
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13?
We’d point most buyers to the iPhone 13. The main exception is if you can keep using the iPhone 12 you already own.
Is the iPhone 13 worth it over the iPhone 12?
For most owners, it’s a meaningful step. The iPhone 13 brings 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB, 2 h more rated video playback and a bigger top storage option over the iPhone 12.
Which has better battery life, the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13?
On paper, the iPhone 13 has the edge: 19 h of rated video playback against 17 h for the iPhone 12. Real-world results also depend on how you use it.
Which is larger, the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13?
Size is essentially a tie. The official dimensions of the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13 differ only marginally.
Which weighs less, the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13?
On the scale, the iPhone 12 comes out ahead at 0.35 oz lighter than the iPhone 13.
Does the iPhone 12 have more storage than the iPhone 13?
The iPhone 13 offers more, with 128 GB against 64 GB.
Executive Summary
Here’s what I’d tell a friend who asked me about the iPhone 13 versus the iPhone 12. What I like most about the iPhone 13 here is 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. On top of that, the iPhone 13 adds 2 h more rated video playback. The iPhone 12 isn’t without merit: a 0.35 oz lighter build is a real advantage.
Match the strength to your habits (portability for the iPhone 12, memory & storage for the iPhone 13), and you won’t go far wrong.
My pick: the iPhone 13 for new buyers, while owners of the iPhone 12 can probably sit this generation out.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.