iPhone 13 – Apple gives everyone what they’ve been waiting for

Apple unveiled a lot of new tech at its live streamed event. Among that tech, and what everyone was most excited to see, are four new iPhone models across four different sizes (and prices). The standard iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 share a lot of the same features and a few of the usual differences.

Let’s cover the differences first. The Mini version measures just 5.4in and starts at $700 (around R10,000 — don’t expect that price here). Its slightly bigger brother is (you guessed it) slightly bigger at 6.1in and will start at $800 (roughly R11,400). Just like the new iPads, pricing will definitely change when they arrive here. That’s pretty much all the differences between the two iPhone 13 models. Here are the differences from the previous generation of iPhone.

iPhone 12 or iPhone 13? (hint, it’s the same picture)

You’d need to really get in close to spot the differences between the now-old iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13. The biggest difference is around the back. In an absolutely groundbreaking move, Apple has put its dual camera sensors diagonally. Stacking them vertically is so last year. Oh yes, and there’s a smaller notch in the front. We dare you to guess by how much. No really, guess because we don’t know either. Does Apple even know?

The biggest improvement from last years phones is the new A15 bionic SoC. This new guy uses a 6-core design, with two new high-performance cores and four updated high-efficiency cores. It also features Apple’s “most powerful GPU ever”. This new chip will do everything the old one did, just faster and more efficiently. Apple is also putting more emphasis on machine learning, which is another thing the company does every year.

As for those now-diagonal cameras around the back, users are in for a wide lens and an ultra-wide lens. Both use 12MP sensors (there’s that 12MP again) and Apple will now include its dedicated OIS chip, previously reserved for the iPhone 12 Pro range, into its smallest iPhones.

With these new iPhones, and their fancy new diagonal setup, comes a new video mode for iPhone 13. Apple called it Cinematic mode but essentially it’s just autofocus on steroids. You can switch between two subjects at difference focal points, like they do in the movies. Okay, this feature is kinda cool — probably because we haven’t seen it yet.

Among the other incremental upgrades are: a slightly better screen, 5G capability, a battery that “lasts longer” (oh really? Wow, thanks Apple!) and support for Apple’s MagSafe tech, which you still need to be careful around.

We’ll hopefully know a bit more on the performance and technical specs when they land on our shores. Apple says the phones will be available internationally from 24 September, so we’ll need to wait and see if Apple has made enough for the rest of the world.