Difference between iphone 13 mini and iphone 13 pro max

So if you are considering picking up a new iOS handset but want to narrow down the best option for you, then you are in the right place, as we compare each model to list their similarities, key differences and what factors make each iPhone unique.

For hands-on impressions of the devices, make sure to read our iPhone 13 review, iPhone 13 mini review, iPhone 13 Pro review and iPhone 13 Pro Max review.

Shopping for add-ons? Here’s our guides to the best iPhone accessories you can buy in 2022, the best smartphone tripods and the best portable chargers.

Jump to:

  • Key differences at a glance
  • Specs and features
  • Price
  • Storage
  • Battery life
  • Cameras
  • Display
  • 5G capability and connectivity
  • Design
  • Verdict and where to buy

Key differences at a glance

  • The iPhone 13 series is generally split into two camps when it comes to power and specs: mini and 13 on one side and Pro and Pro Max on the other.
  • The iPhone 13 and 13 mini do not have Apple’s ProMotion technology, which allows for refresh rates of up to 120Hz, giving smoother app scrolling.
  • The iPhone Pro and Pro Max have an additional telephoto lens, compared to just the 12MP Wide and Ultra-Wide lenses found on the 13 and mini.
  • The iPhone Pro and Pro Max have more battery life than the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, adding a few hours to the total capacities available.
  • The two camps each have their own colour options this year, with the iPhone 13 and 13 mini coming in ink, blue, midnight, starlight and red, and the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max coming in sierra blue, silver, gold and graphite.
  • The iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max have a one terabyte storage option.

Difference between iphone 13 mini and iphone 13 pro max

iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have three camera lenses Xing Yun / Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Specs and features

It helps to split the new iPhone 12 family into two camps when comparing the line-up – with the mini and 13 on one side and Pro and Pro Max on the other.

Even so, there is a good amount of overlap when it comes to specs and features on the series, and Apple has done a good job of not making any of the handsets feeling underpowered compared to the hulking frame of the 13 Pro Max.

In fact, one thing that doesn’t ring true with the iPhones is that bigger always equals better. The 13 and the 13 Pro have the exact same 6.1-inch display size.

All of the iPhone 13 handsets have an OLED Super Retina XDR display, IP68-rated water resistance, an A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, support for MagSafe add-ons, Qi wireless charging, Face ID and a 12MP TrueDepth front camera.

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The differences between the two camps is a little more subtle, but you certainly get extra perks by going for the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max - including refresh rates of up to 120Hz, a LiDAR scanner for night mode pictures, a stainless steel design (instead of aluminium), an additional telephoto camera lens and more battery life.

Price

While the line-up looks familiar at a glance – all sharing a design almost identical to last year’s iPhone 12 series – pricing is definitely a major differentiator. Here are the starting prices for the iPhone 13 handsets, which will have 128GB of storage:

  • iPhone 13 mini: from £679
  • iPhone 13: from £779
  • iPhone 13 Pro: from £949
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: from £1,049

Storage

All four of the new iPhones have three storage options: 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. However, the Pro and Pro Max have an additional variant that gives you a massive 1TB (terabyte) of storage – and that extra room will be helpful if you are shooting high-resolution videos, which generally take up a lot more space on the device.

Difference between iphone 13 mini and iphone 13 pro max

Feline Lim/Getty Images

Battery life

While battery on iPhones will vary wildly based on how much the devices are being used throughout the day, it’s important to note that some models of the new line-up will certainly give you extra capacity and keep you going for slightly longer.

As a rough guide, Apple has measured how long each of the handsets can play a continuous video clip to demonstrate a rough guide to how each will perform:

  • iPhone 13 mini: up to 17 hours of video playback
  • iPhone 13: Up to 19 hours of video playback
  • iPhone 13 Pro: Up to 22 hours of video playback
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: Up to 28 hours video playback

We can definitely see that the Pro Max comes out on top with closer to 30 hours of video playback compared to the mini’s 17 hours. But if you are constantly using the device to record clips, take pictures, and browse, all will come in lower. We found Apple’s iPhone 13 battery life claims to be broadly accurate in our reviews.

Cameras

The iPhone 13 and 13 mini each have a dual 12MP camera system, consisting of a wide and an ultra-wide lens. In comparison, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have a triple camera system (still 12MP) that has an additional telephoto – this is a long-focus lens that lets you take better pictures of subjects further away.

Unlike the others, the 13 Pro and Pro have Apple ProRAW – which lets you shoot RAW images with additional benefits from the phone’s artificial intelligence and an extra 3x optical zoom, digital zoom up to 15x and a night portrait mode.

  • iPhone 13 mini: Dual 12MP system (Wide and Ultra Wide)
  • iPhone 13: Dual 12MP system (Wide and Ultra Wide)
  • iPhone 13 Pro: Triple 12MP system (Telephoto, Wide, Ultra Wide)
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: Triple 12MP (Telephoto, Wide, Ultra Wide)

Difference between iphone 13 mini and iphone 13 pro max

Display

While display size isn’t always an indicator that it’s a top-spec iPhone 13, there are some key differences in the screens of the latest family of Apple smartphones. The biggest difference – aside from literal size – is that the Pro and Pro Max each have “ProMotion” tech, which is a fancier way of saying up to 120Hz refresh rate.

The iPhone 13 and 13 mini have a 60Hz refresh rate. Broadly speaking, the higher the number, the smoother the performance will be on the smartphone’s display. It’s not a deal-breaker, but having a 120Hz refresh rate is always more preferred.

  • iPhone 13 mini: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) display
  • iPhone 13: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) display
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED), ProMotion
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED), ProMotion

The iPhone 13 phones also have different screen resolution and brightness:

  • iPhone 13 mini: 2340x1080 resolution, 800 nits max brightness
  • iPhone 13: 2532x1170 resolution, 800 nits max brightness
  • iPhone 13 Pro: 2532x1170 resolution, 1,000 nits max brightness
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max: 2778x1284, 1,000 nits max brightness

5G capability and connectivity

All four iPhone 13 handsets have 5G connectivity and are compatible with MagSafe accessories and Qi wireless chargers. If you want to find out more about Apple’s technology for magnetic accessories, read our full what is MagSafe guide.

All handsets have Dual SIM support and are not compatible with existing micro-SIM cards. They all still use Apple’s Lightning cable to charge instead of USB-C.

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Design

Compared to last year’s 12 series, the new models have a slightly smaller notch on the front of the screen – but that’s where any drastic design changes end.

They retain the aesthetics of 2020’s line-up, with the main exception being the third lens on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max’s back modules. Black bezels run along the sides of all of the phones, and they all have a Ceramic Shield front.

While major differences are minimal, the standard 13 and mini frames are made with aluminium, while the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max are stainless steel. They still look fantastic, but it’s just not a huge overhaul from their 2020 predecessors.

The latest Apple phones have a lot of overlapping specs and features, but there are subtle upgrades that mean you still have to carefully consider which one is right for you. If you are a photography fanatic, you should stick to the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max, which offer a 1TB storage option and an additional camera lens to play with alongside the enhanced 12Hz refresh rate and Apple ProRAW mode.

If you love smaller handsets and like casual photography without needing the latest top-of-the-line flagship specs, then the 13 mini is your clear choice.

On the other end of the scale, the same goes for the iPhone 13 Pro – which will suit anyone who wants a massive screen and the most powerful specs available.

But as we detailed in our review, it’s the iPhone 13 Pro that we feel represents the best option overall of this year’s range because “it combines next-level hardware with optimized software, all within a form factor that will suit most people.”

Difference between iphone 13 mini and iphone 13 pro max

Stanislav Kogiku/Getty Images

Where to buy iPhone 13 mini

  • Shop iPhone 13 mini at Currys
  • Shop iPhone 13 mini at Amazon
  • Shop iPhone 13 mini at Very
  • Shop iPhone 13 mini at Three (contract)
  • Shop iPhone 13 mini Vodafone (contract)

Where to buy iPhone 13

  • Shop iPhone 13 at Currys
  • Shop iPhone 13 at Amazon
  • Shop iPhone 13 at Very
  • Shop iPhone 13 at Three (contract)
  • Shop iPhone 13 at EE (contract)

Where to buy iPhone 13 Pro

  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro at Amazon
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro at Currys
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro at O2 (contract)
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro at Vodafone (contract)
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro at iD (contract)

Where to buy iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro Max Amazon
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro Max Currys
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro Max at John Lewis
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro Max at o2 (contract)
  • Shop iPhone 13 Pro Max at EE (contract)

For the latest news, reviews and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. In research mode? Don’t miss our guide to the best smartphone. Want to buy a new Apple handset? We’re tracking the latest iPhone 13 UK availability.

What is difference between iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 Pro Max?

The iPhone 13 lineup ranges in screen size from 5.4 inches to 6.7 inches. The iPhone 13 Mini is 5.4 inches, the standard iPhone 13 and Pro models are both 6.1 inches and the Pro Max is 6.7 inches.

What is the difference between iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13?

The only differences between the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 13 is physical size, display size and cost. Otherwise, the colours, storage options, camera and hardware is identical between the two models, as well as the design. The mini doesn't last as long in terms of battery though.

Is iPhone 13 mini worth buying?

Tom's Guide Verdict. The iPhone 13 mini is the most powerful small phone ever. It packs in great cameras and better battery life, plus 128GB of storage to start and class-leading performance.

Is there a big difference between iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max?

The main difference between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro is their rear camera setups. The iPhone 13 has a dual 12MP camera system with Ultra Wide and Wide lenses, whereas the iPhone 13 Pro has a triple camera setup that adds a Telephoto lens into the mix.