Assuming there are no major surprises, the iPhone 13 looks to be a pretty safe iteration if the various leaks prove correct.

The iPhone 13 rumors suggest that it will be four devices that look almost identical to last year's model, with modest upgrades such as a (slightly) smaller notch, upgraded camera, 120Hz screen technology, and of course faster performance. It seems.

All are welcome, but perhaps what we once assumed was the iPhone 12S rather than the iPhone 13 - an iterative update rather than a game changer. Talk of life-saving satellite communications has also lost some of its luster, on the grounds that it may be limited and inactive until next year.

But all of this is building up to a cell phone that feels greater than the sum of its parts.

The first point is to acknowledge that the iPhone 12 family is excellent overall: three of the four handsets are on our "best phones you can buy" list, and the one missing handset (the iPhone 12 mini) earned our review, earning four and a half stars.

Both are great phones, with lightning fast performance, high-quality OLED screens, a great feel in the hand, very high performance photography, and for the first time, 5G connectivity. These are built on an excellent foundation.

But each has its own Achilles heel: battery life on any model in the iPhone 12 family is significantly shorter than its iPhone 11 equivalent, and performance in games is even worse. Rumor has it that Apple is prioritizing this improvement this time around, increasing the capacity per battery from 179mAh (iPhone 13 mini) to 665mAh (iPhone 13 Pro Max). Add to this the other rumored efficiency gains from the iPhone 13's A15 chip, and it could be a game changer.

While extended battery life may seem boring, you'd be surprised how many people care. uSwitch's recent survey of 2,000 adults in the UK found that "improved battery life" was the most requested feature, with 35% of respondents wanting it. wanted a "camera upgrade" and 22% wanted a "faster processor" as well. It would be surprising if they were not satisfied with what Apple offered this week.

Notably, only 14% wanted a "different general design," suggesting that the iPhone 12 looks completely modern in the eyes of most people. Yes, the leaked iPhone 14 renderings look very exciting to followers of tech blogs, but it does not appear that most buyers are looking for such a dramatic change this time around. However, the 34% of respondents seeking "lower prices" appear to be severely disappointed.

Evolutionary change can feel revolutionary in its own way, and I would be surprised if iPhone 13 doesn't feel like a huge upgrade, even if it doesn't feel like it should be when judged on individual differences. If Apple does not lose a superstitious layer by incorporating the number 13, I will be surprised if this device is a huge hit for Apple and not our top recommendation a month from now.