In the pecking order of iPhone models, the iPhone Pro is considered king. many key iPhone features are shared between different models, but the best features are generally reserved for the Pro models of Apple phones.

In the case of the iPhone 13, the $999 iPhone 13 Pro and $1,099 iPhone 13 Pro Max have more eye-catching new features, such as a dynamically adjustable ProMotion display and an ultra-wide-angle camera lens with a wide aperture for shooting in low light. The additions include. The Pro also offers macro photography.

This time, however, the "regular" iPhones, the $799 iPhone 13 and $699 iPhone 13 mini, don't feel superfluous. Rather, they are remarkable upgrades in their own right.

How the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will fare against their predecessors as well as the Pro models that Apple will release at the same time remains to be seen in a review. However, a glance at the specs and promised features of the least expensive iPhone 13 model makes it clear that both are worthy of attention.

What Apple has done to make the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini attractive devices, regardless of their higher spec siblings, is as follows.

The most amazing news about the iPhone 13 came at the very end of the product launch. When discussing pricing and storage options, Apple mentioned that both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini base models will come with 128GB of onboard storage.

This is an important move for Apple, which as of last year's iPhone 12 thought that 64GB of storage was sufficient for the flagship model. I'm sick of even hearing me talk about this because I've been beating this particular drum so loudly, but similarly priced Android phones have not skimped on storage; from the Galaxy S21 to the Google Pixel 5, all have 128GB of storage. And now the iPhone 13 can join this competition.

More basic storage also means more capacity options for those willing to pay for more capacity. Both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will also have 256GB and 512GB options, which will cost $100 and $200 more, respectively, than the starting price of these models. (15]

A comparison of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro reveals that the Pro model receives a more impressive camera upgrade, as one would expect from Apple's higher-priced models. However, the iPhone 13 is not being left behind, and Apple is still finding ways to enhance the camera hardware with less expensive options.

Specifically, the new phone's main camera features the largest sensor Apple has put into one of its dual-camera phones. According to Apple's calculations, this sensor is able to capture 47% more light, which should result in brighter, less noisy photos. The ultra-wide-angle lens also has a new sensor that should improve detail in dark areas. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini also feature sensor-shift optical image stabilization, first introduced last year with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, for more stable shots

However, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are not the same as the iPhone 13.

However, Apple's improvements to the iPhone 13 camera are not limited to the hardware, or to the iPhone 13 Pro model alone. Like these models, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will have a new Cinematic mode available when shooting video. This feature can blur the background of an image to bring the subject into focus, or automatically or manually move the focus between the foreground and background.

We plan to compare the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini with other devices to see if these changes translate into better photos. However, we imagine that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will be among the best camera phones, even if they cannot offer all the improvements Apple has made to the iPhone 13 Pro lineup.

Battery life was a major weakness across the iPhone 12 lineup, with the exception of the longer-lasting iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini were particularly unimpressive, with neither reaching 8.5 hours in a custom battery test of continuous web surfing on the phone and powering off. This is well below the smartphone average. [The batteries in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are said to be larger than the power packs used in last year's phones. Officially, we don't know how much larger - Apple won't reveal details about that level of detail - but rumor has it that the iPhone 13's battery is 3,095 mAh, up from 2,815 mAh in the iPhone 12, and the iPhone 13 mini's 2,406 mAh power pack is an upgrade from the iPhone 12 mini's 2,227 mAh.

These battery sizes will have to wait until they are confirmed in teardowns and will be tested independently to see how the larger capacity affects battery test results. Apple promises up to 1.5 hours on the iPhone 13 mini and up to 2.5 hours on the iPhone 13 over the previous model.

The improved battery life will be welcomed. Outside of camera performance, phone duration has the biggest impact on how satisfied people are with their smartphones. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini seem to be a step in the right direction.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are available at the same price as their iPhone counterparts. (Given concerns that component shortages may drive up the cost of consumer electronics products like the iPhone, this is a bigger issue than it appears.

Even without component concerns, smartphone prices have continued to rise over the past few years. It is therefore pleasing to see that Apple has kept the starting price of its new flagship phone at $699.

None of this ignores the fact that more features are available in the higher-priced iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. The biggest feature missing from the lower-priced iPhone 13 models is the iPhone 13 Pro's refresh rate of 10Hz and ProMotion display that varies between 10Hz and 120Hz depending on the activity on the screen.

Allegedly, one of the reasons this feature is missing from the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini is because Apple's display suppliers could not provide enough ProMotion panels for the two models. Still, if you're considering the iPhone 13 instead of the Pro model, it's got to sting.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro also lack the LiDAR sensor that Apple added to the iPhone 12 Pro models in a big way a year ago. (LiDAR can greatly improve the performance of AR apps.)

The iPhone 13 Pro also continues to have a telephoto lens, giving it a longer 3x optical zoom. Additionally, the Pros' ultra-wide angle lens can be used for macro photography.

None of these differences make the iPhone 13 a deciding factor. Apple has added so many enhancements to its entry-level flagship device. We have yet to reach a final conclusion, but as first impressions go, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are off to a good start.