Buy the iPhone 12 now or wait for the iPhone 13. This is a perfect example of the classic delayed gratification puzzle. Do you want to get a better phone now, or do you want to get a phone that may be even better in a few months?

Current rumors of the iPhone 13 indicate that there are several upgrades that may make it better than the iPhone 12. However, these upgrades may not be relevant to you or how you use your phone. Additionally, if you wait, the iPhone 12 will almost certainly see a price drop this fall.

With Apple's product event date set for September 14, it's probably in your best interest to wait, even if your phone is cracked or outdated. But here are other important factors to consider.

Smaller notch: The iPhone 13 display is said to benefit from a smaller Face ID notch. Since the notch can be obtrusive, the iPhone 13 will offer a more immersive viewing experience.

Touch ID on the display: Apple will reportedly reintroduce Touch ID on the iPhone 13, either under the display or on a side button. This should help unlock the device quickly when the face is hidden. However, recent reports also suggest that Apple will forego Touch ID on the iPhone 13, so take this with a grain of salt.

120Hz refresh rate (for Pro models): The iPhone 13 display is said to offer a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, at least on Pro models.

Always-on display: Belatedly, iPhone 13 is expected to include an always-on display mode, which iPhone 12 does not have. This should make it easier to check the time and other important information at a glance.

Camera improvements: Avid photographers will benefit from the iPhone 13's improved rear ultra-wide camera lens. In addition, it is rumored that all iPhone 13s, including the base model, will include Apple's LiDAR depth sensor this year, which is an auxiliary camera useful for photo effects and AR applications.

LiDAR was only available on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max last year, so waiting for the iPhone 13 could be a great benefit if you don't fancy paying extra for a 12 Pro model

The iPhone 12 Pro is a newer version of the iPhone 12.

New Colors: The iPhone 13 will likely add new color variations. the iPhone 12 line already has plenty of options, including the newly introduced purple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. But if none of these options strike your fancy, there will be a batch of new color schemes for the iPhone 13, including a possible orange and matte black.

Larger battery: According to a leak spotted on Twitter l0vetodream, all iPhone 13 models will have a larger battery capacity. This includes the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. With the exception of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the battery life of the iPhone 12 series has been disappointing, so a larger capacity would be welcome. The larger capacity will be welcomed.

These arguments were more convincing before Apple scheduled a product event for September 14, when it is expected to unveil the new iPhones. Even then, at least one iPhone 12 model (most likely the 6.1-inch version) would be kept at a lower price. So consider these arguments for adopting Apple's older phones, whether now or after the iPhone 13 is introduced.

Same size: From what we've heard, the iPhone 13 will launch in the same size as the iPhone 12: a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini (despite the iPhone 12 mini's reportedly rather poor sales), a 6.1-inch standard iPhone 13, a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro with some additional features, and a top-of-the-line 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max would be included.

Which size is best for you depends on your exact needs and what fits best in your hands, pockets, and bags, but that is no reason to choose between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.

Price cuts in the iPhone 12 lineup: Apple usually lowers the price of the previous generation iPhone as soon as a new model is announced. We expect the iPhone 12 to be $200 cheaper at $599 after the iPhone 13 is introduced. We cannot say what the price of the other iPhone 12 models will be, or whether Apple will continue to sell those models, but we expect a significant overall price reduction.

The iPhone 12 camera is still really good; despite some expected improvements in the iPhone 13, both the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have excellent cameras. the Pro model has a telephoto lens (2x for the Pro and 2.5x for the Pro Max) but all four models have powerful primary shooters with the best night mode.

The iPhone 12 is still pretty tough: Apple introduced a Ceramic Shield display on the iPhone 12 to provide better protection against drops of the front cover. Apple just gave Corning a large sum of money, but the iPhone 13's durability will not take a big leap forward.

iPhone 12 already has 5G: The iPhone 12 offers 5G connectivity, so we can expect fast data speeds on the go. iPhone 13 should offer an even better 5G Qualcomm modem that can aggregate mmWave and sub-6GHz bands, though, 5G will not be a reason to wait for iPhone 13.

A14 Bionic is fast enough: The iPhone 13 will reportedly offer the faster A15 Bionic chip, which is already in production. That's great, but A14 Bionic already beats most Android phones in terms of performance. It is truly a gaming machine. Therefore, it is unlikely that the iPhone 13's performance will improve dramatically.

Whether you choose the iPhone 12 or the iPhone 13, you will likely have a great phone. Which one you choose depends on your particular needs.

Since there are not expected to be any major changes to the iPhone 13's 5G, storage capacity, performance, charging, or overall size, you can safely choose the iPhone 12 now, or whenever you can find a good deal. (Again, if you hold out until September 14, the price of the older iPhone will likely drop.) If price is a priority, the iPhone 12 is unquestionably cheaper than the iPhone 13 if you wait.

But if you can wait a bit more patiently, you will appreciate the iPhone 13's enhanced photos, less obnoxious notch, Touch ID, and larger battery. We are especially excited about the iPhone 13 Pro series because of its rumored 120 Hz display.