How does Apple’s iPhone 13 compare against the iPhone 12? It is worth upgrading from the iPhone 12? Or should you hold onto your phone for another year and wait for the iPhone 14?

As expected, Apple’s iPhone 13 was not a major update. Apple did make a few tweaks here and there, most notably in the camera module and battery department, but for anyone using the iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 is probably one to miss.

Why? All the big changes will be coming next year with the release of the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14 will have a completely new design, new specs, new features, and they will look markedly different from the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.

Bottom line? If you’re using the iPhone 12 now, hold onto it for another 12 months and wait for the iPhone 14. There’s just not enough “new” stuff to warrant an update this year. If you’re running an iPhone 11 or older, sure, upgrade. The iPhone 13 is a massive step forwards from these older models.

Here’s the complete changelog and update list for Apple’s iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models:

iPhone 13 Updates List

iPhone 13 gets trickle-down updates from iPhone 12 Pro; it now runs the same 12-megapixel lens with an f/1.6 aperture as 2020’s iPhone 12 Pro. The iPhone 13’s new ultrawide camera also has a faster f/2.4 lens and 120-degree field of view, as well as sensor-shift stabilization technology.
All iPhone 13 models feature Cinematic Mode; this technology will automatically transition focus in real-time which will make all the phones in the range better for shooting video. Apple used a parody of Knives Out to demonstrate how Cinematic Mode works.
The iPhone 13 range features a smaller notch. The notch on the iPhone 13 is 20% smaller than it was before.
iPhone 13 has better 5G performance than the iPhone 12. The iPhone 13’s connection to 5G networks is faster, according to Apple, and it will support more than 200 carriers in over 60 countries by the end of 2021.
The iPhone 13 features Apple’s new A15 CPU. Apple says the new A15 chipset, while still a 5nm SoC, is 50% faster than its nearest competitor (the Snapdragon 888), although these claims have not been tested yet.
The A15 chipset features two new high-performance cores and four new high-efficiency cores.

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone Pro Max Updates List

All of Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro models feature new 120Hz Super Retina XDR screens with improved brightness (up to 1000nits).
The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max are available in the following colors: graphite, gold, silver, and a new light blue.
All three cameras have been updated inside the iPhone 13 Pro lineup; you have better low light performance, thanks to larger sensors, a wider aperture for the ultra-wide lens, and 3x zoom for the telephoto lens. Night Mode is now supported on all three lenses too.
The 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max now feature a new macro lens that’ll let you shoot objects from just 2cm away. All of Apple’s Pro models now feature sensor-shift optical image stabilization.
The Pro models also get Cinematic mode but will also benefit from Apple’s new ProRes technology. You can film in 4K up to 30fps with the iPhone 13 Pro models and, with ProRes, a higher quality video format, you can then edit in more detail after footage has been filmed.
All iPhone 13 Pro models get an extra tier of storage, 1TB – this is likely down to its use of ProRes.
Apple has improved the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro’s battery life; the iPhone 13 Pro will last 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 13 Pro Max will last 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12 Pro Max.