iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 — is it worth paying extra?
The iPhone 13 is worth the extra ~2,000 Kč: it has a battery around 30% larger, a brighter display (800 nits vs 625), better low-light photos (Night mode on both wide and ultrawide) and the A15 chip. The iPhone 12 is fine, but the 13's battery and night-time photos are noticeably better — it lasts longer both day-to-day and generation-to-generation for iOS updates.
The iPhone 13 is worth the extra ~2,000 Kč: it has a battery around 30% larger, a brighter display (800 nits vs 625), better low-light photos (Night mode on both wide and ultrawide) and the A15 chip. The iPhone 12 is fine, but the 13's battery and night-time photos are noticeably better — it lasts longer both day-to-day and generation-to-generation for iOS updates.
In this article
- Same design, better insides
- Main improvements of the iPhone 13:
- What stayed the same
- Comparison of key specs
- Software support
- Choose the iPhone 12 if:
- Choose the iPhone 13 if:
- Our verdict
Same design, better insides
The iPhone 13 kept the iPhone 12's design — flat edges, OLED display, MagSafe. The changes happened inside: a smaller notch, a stronger chip, a bigger battery and a better camera. The outward difference is negligible, but in practice the iPhone 13 is a noticeably more usable phone.
Main improvements of the iPhone 13:
- A15 Bionic chip (vs. A14 on the iPhone 12) — roughly 15% higher performance.
- Bigger battery — around 2.5 hours longer video playback.
- Cinematic Mode — video with blurred background and automatic focus racking.
- Sensor-shift OIS on the main camera — stabilisation moved from the body to the sensor.
- Smaller notch by about 20%.
- More storage as standard (128 GB vs. 64 GB on the iPhone 12).
What stayed the same
The same 6.1" OLED display, the same resolution (2532 × 1170 px), the same design, the same 15W MagSafe charging, the same aluminium frame. The Lightning port also stayed — USB-C only arrived with the iPhone 15. So for everyday use, the 12 and 13 look exactly the same.
Comparison of key specs
| Spec | iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 13 |
|---|---|
| Chip | A14 Bionic vs. A15 Bionic |
| Battery | approx. 17 h vs. 19 h video playback |
| Video playback | ~17 h vs. ~19 h |
| Main camera | 12 MP vs. 12 MP with sensor-shift OIS |
| Cinematic Mode | No vs. Yes |
| Storage as standard | 64 GB vs. 128 GB |
| Pre-owned price (from) | Current prices of both models are in the catalogue — they change based on availability. |
Software support
Apple typically supports iPhones for 6–7 years from release. The iPhone 12 launched in 2020 — expected support at least until 2027. The iPhone 13 launched in 2021 — expected support at least until 2028. That extra year is a reasonable argument for paying more.
Choose the iPhone 12 if:
- You want the cheapest OLED iPhone with MagSafe and 5G.
- You don't need Cinematic Mode for video.
- Around 17 hours of battery life is enough for you.
Choose the iPhone 13 if:
- You want longer software support (an extra year).
- You shoot a lot of video — Cinematic Mode is great.
- A modest premium doesn't put you off — you get a noticeably better phone for it.
- You need more storage — 128 GB vs. 64 GB.
Our verdict
Given the current (fairly small) price difference, the iPhone 13 is the clear choice. A better battery, a newer chip, more storage, Cinematic Mode and longer support — that's a great package for the money. The iPhone 12 makes sense only if you're really after maximum savings or a second phone.