Hi there! With the iPhone 14 now available, you may be debating between getting the sleek new model or saving money on an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13. A key question for many is: are the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 actually the same size? Let‘s find out!
The Short Answer
According to Apple, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are nearly identical in size. They share the exact same height and width dimensions of 146.7mm x 71.5mm. However, the iPhone 13 is 0.25mm thicker at 7.65mm versus 7.4mm on the iPhone 12.
So in practical terms of in-hand feel and pocketability, yes, they are effectively equal in size. But the iPhone 13 is slightly thicker and heavier due to upgrades like its larger battery.
Breaking Down the Size Details
Let‘s closely examine the size specs of each iPhone to reveal where they match up and differ:
Display Size: Both phones have a 6.1-inch OLED display, measured diagonally. The screen technology and resolution are also the same.
Verdict: Equal display size
Dimensions:
- Height – 146.7 mm (identical)
- Width – 71.5 mm (identical)
- Depth – iPhone 12 is 7.4mm thick, iPhone 13 is 7.65mm
Verdict: Virtually the same length and width dimensions. The iPhone 13 is 0.25mm thicker.
Weight:
- iPhone 12 – 164 grams
- iPhone 13 – 174 grams
Verdict: The iPhone 13 weighs 10g more than the iPhone 12.
Technical Drawings: Looking at Apple‘s official technical drawings of the two phones shows how close they are in size:
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As you can see, the iPhone 12 and 13 diagrams are nearly identical. The thickness difference of 0.25mm is impossible to discern from the drawings or in your hand.
Verdict: The technical drawings illustrate how minimal the size difference between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 truly is.
So in summary, while not exactly 100% identical, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are practically equivalent in size, especially in terms of in-hand feel and portability. The iPhone 13 is fractionally thicker and heavier, but not so much that you‘d notice without closely comparing the two.
Display Quality
The displays share the same 6.1-inch OLED technology with a 60Hz refresh rate. However, Apple enhanced the iPhone 13 screen‘s peak brightness to 800 nits, versus 625 nits on iPhone 12.
Higher brightness gives the iPhone 13 display a viewing advantage in challenging lighting conditions. Side-by-side, the difference in clarity and vividness is obvious when both screens are turned up to max brightness.
According to display testing by Consumer Reports, the iPhone 13 improves contrast by a whopping 47% over the iPhone 12 due to its higher 800 nit luminosity.
Experts like display analyst Ross Young also praise the custom OLED panels made by Samsung for the iPhone 13, noting their thin-film transistors allow more brightness while using less power.
So while the display size is unchanged, the visual experience has been noticeably improved on the iPhone 13 compared to its predecessor.
Verdict: The iPhone 13 display outshines the iPhone 12 in max brightness and contrast.
Battery Life
Thanks to a larger 3,227 mAh battery (versus 2,815 mAh in iPhone 12), the iPhone 13 lasts longer on a charge.
Apple claims up to 19 hours of video playback on iPhone 13 versus 17 hours on iPhone 12. That‘s nearly 2 extra hours of battery life.
In benchmarks by GSMArena, the iPhone 13 battery endured for over 12 hours of continuous web browsing and video playback. The iPhone 12 died 30 minutes sooner in the same tests.
So real-world results align with Apple‘s estimates – expect to get at least 90-120 minutes of extra runtime with the iPhone 13 over the iPhone 12. That‘s vital extra talk, text, web, and streaming time when you‘re away from a charger.
Verdict: The iPhone 13 offers substantially better battery life compared to the iPhone 12.
Cameras
Both phones have dual 12MP camera arrays with ultrawide and wide lenses. But the iPhone 13 upgrades the hardware with:
- A 47% larger wide camera sensor for better light capture
- Sensor-shift optical stabilization for crisper photos and videos
- Photographic styles to customize the look of your images
Experts like analyst Ming-Chi Kuo say the iPhone 13 cameras are "significantly upgraded" over iPhone 12. Kuo emphasizes the sensor-shift stabilization as a game-changing upgrade for image quality.
Photography sites like PetaPixel praise the iPhone 13‘s low light performance, saying Night mode shots are brighter and more detailed. Reviewers say the larger sensor makes a big difference in reducing image noise.
So while the megapixels are the same as before, Apple‘s savvy hardware improvements make the iPhone 13 cameras a sizable step up over what the iPhone 12 offers.
Verdict: The iPhone 13 provides a noticeably better camera experience compared to the iPhone 12.
Performance
Here‘s how the processors compare on each iPhone:
- iPhone 12: A14 Bionic chip (6-core CPU, 4-core GPU)
- iPhone 13: A15 Bionic chip (6-core CPU, 4-core GPU)
Benchmarks reveal the A15 has a small but measurable speed advantage. But both blisteringly fast chips will launch apps instantly and handle demanding games with ease.
The A15‘s extra muscle will come in handy for advanced imaging capabilities, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and smooth 60fps gaming. So it does give the iPhone 13 more headroom to handle complex tasks.
But for everyday usage like social media, browsing, navigation, and messaging, either phone delivers exceptional speed. Unless you test them side-by-side, you likely won‘t notice real-world performance differences.
Verdict: The A15 technically makes the iPhone 13 a bit faster. But both phones offer flagship-level speed and responsiveness.
Which iPhone is Right for You?
If you want the absolute latest features like the improved cameras, brighter display, and longer battery life, the iPhone 13 makes sense. But you honestly can‘t go wrong with the iPhone 12 either – it remains fast and capable with an incredible dual-lens camera system.
The iPhone 12 is also $100 less expensive, so it‘s arguably the better value choice. But go with the iPhone 13 if having the most cutting-edge technology matters to you and budget is no concern.
Ultimately, when it comes to size, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 are remarkably similar phones. Both deliver a gorgeous and immersive 6.1-inch viewing experience. The iPhone 13 does push the envelope thanks to its technical improvements. But no matter which model you pick, you‘ll be getting an iPhone with an outstanding combination of power, performance, and modern features.
I hope this detailed comparison helps you decide between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13! Let me know if you have any other questions.