We may earn compensation from reviewed products. Learn about our editorial policies.
The iPhone 13 mini has it's issues in terms of a poor battery life and an ageing camera system, but if you really want one, it is still just about worth it in 2024. Just keep an eye out for the new iPhone SE 4 which might make more sense in 2025.
The Good
- Small profile is lovely to hold and transport
- Cameras hold their own against other 13 models
The Bad
- Battery life is poor
- No Apple Intelligence support
- Camera system ageing copared to new iPhones
Ok, so… hear me out on this one.
Regular readers will know that I’m a huge fan of the iPhone 13 mini. I’ve written about it constantly and my original review used to be the highest-performing video I’d ever published on YouTube.
I love it. I still love it – despite what conclusions you may have drawn from today’s blog title.
Read about the latest iPhone in my iPhone 16 review
But I’m afraid there’s a problem that you may start to notice after using it for a few months, and I need to address it today.
iPhone 13 Mini Release Date
Before we begin though here’s a little history lesson…
The iPhone 13 mini made its grand entrance on September 24, 2021, as part of Apple’s annual WWDC. Joining the larger iPhone 13, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max models, the mini variant was positioned as the compact option for those who yearned for a more hand-friendly smartphone experience.
Fancy an Android phone? Read my Oppo Find X8 review
It recalled a time when flagship smartphones weren’t the size of a small car, hence why lots of people love it. Compact, powerful and good-looking.
Now, back to my thoughts!
It’s the battery
Yeah. I know.
Let’s put some context around this. The iPhone 12 mini was universally panned for its terrible battery life. “Awesome idea, ultimately flawed” was the general gist of most reviews.
I didn’t buy that phone, and, indeed, I avoided it because of those reviews.
Then, in 2021, Apple launched the iPhone 13 mini and all was suddenly right with the world. The one-handed form factor remained – only, this time, it housed an even faster and more efficient chip which resulted in, finally, all-day battery life. I’m just going to call out here that the iPhone 16 still hasn’t reached this milestone yet!
Good times. Apple’s tiny smartphone would no longer conk out at 5pm after a moderate day’s use!
Unfortunately, it seems that its newfound stamina has a use-by date, and if my experience is typical, that use-by date arrives far sooner than one might hope.
My iPhone 13 mini’s battery life has gradually tanked – big time. A quick check of the ‘Maximum Capacity’ in Settings suggests it still has 96%, but real-world usage tells a completely different story.
How I drew this conclusion
I’m no longer an everyday iPhone user – I think it’s important to come clean on that.
This comes with the territory, I’m afraid. As my brand has evolved, so too has the breadth of devices I review, and as a result, I always have an Android phone placed in the opposite pocket to the one holding my iPhone.
I’ve been using several Android phones this year and they’ve all had stellar battery life that often extends into two days. I also spent some time with the iPhone 16 Pro Max earlier this year, which has greatly improved Apple’s well-known battery life shortcomings.
To be clear, I’m not expecting this kind of battery performance from the iPhone 13 mini, but I would have liked it to retain its all-day thing. Mine hasn’t. As time has drawn on, the battery has gradually drained quicker, to the point where come early evening, I have to attach it to the charger. And before you tell me this is due to my beta testing, I can confirm that the battery performance started worsening before I installed iOS 16 beta.
Before the beta test, I could no longer make it through an entire day with the iPhone 13 mini, and it has become an increasing downer during daily use – particularly when compared to Android phones which are considerably cheaper.
Is the iPhone 13 mini suddenly a bad buy?
I’m conscious that a lot of people have bought the iPhone 13 mini having read and watched my gushing fanboy appreciation of it. I don’t regret that, and it remains an awesome purchase for anyone who wants this sized phone.
As I’ve said before, you just can’t get this much power or ergonomic joy from any other smartphone on the market; the iPhone 13 mini remains in a class of its own. However, the longer I’ve used it, I’ve simply discovered that you need to balance everything that’s wonderful about this phone with what is clearly a more tangible reaction to battery degradation.
Speaking of battery life, Max’s RingConn Gen 2 review tells all
I don’t think Apple has done anything wrong here; it’s physics. The battery in the iPhone 13 mini is smaller and delivers as much stamina as it can when new. It’s also powering a great display and houses much of the internals you’ll find on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. It has a lot resting on its tiny shoulders.
All batteries perform worse, gradually, over time – the iPhone 13 mini simply has less room to play with, thus making its degradation more noticeable. I think this is what I’m experiencing at the moment – and I’d love to know if any other iPhone 13 mini owners are nodding along to what I’m saying today. If that’s you – please get involved in the comments!
Is the iPhone 13 mini worth it in 2024?
It was a sad day when Apple removed the mini from the iPhone 14 lineup. And there’s no sign of it returning. However, there is a glimmer of hope that we might get a ‘mini’ form factor in the upcoming iPhone SE 4.
That will probably happen in 2025, and it’s very good news for anyone who has been waiting to buy Apple’s ‘budget’ phone, but who doesn’t like the big bezels and lacklustre screen on the current SE.
Even with that in mind, I think it is still viable to buy an iPhone 13 mini in 2024. Yes, it’s old. Yes, it’s got a less-than-ideal battery, but there are no better options out there if you want a small iPhone.
However, that doesn’t mean you can buy any old iPhone 13 mini. If you really want one, you’d have to find one that is new or like-new, otherwise, you’ll face an already depleted battery. It’s a rare case where second-hand doesn’t make sense.
If you aren’t desperate for the iPhone 13 mini, then I would just wait for the iPhone SE 4. It will have a much better battery, more powerful processor and be optimised for Apple Intelligence (if you care about that).
iPhone 13 Mini Specifications
Just for clarity, here’s the specifics of the Apple iPhone 13 Mini laid out for you:
| iPhone 13 Mini | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Height: 5.18″ (131.5 mm) Width: 2.53″ (64.2 mm) Depth: 0.3″ (7.65 mm) |
| Weight | 4.97 oz (141 g) |
| Display | 5.42″ (5.4″) (137.7 mm) diagonal Super Retina XDR display Resolution: 2340 x 1080 pixels, 476 ppi |
| Processor | Apple A15 Bionic chip |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Camera | Dual 12MP camera system (Wide and Ultra Wide) 12MP TrueDepth front camera |
| Battery | 2,406 mAh |
| Charging | 20W fast charging 15W MagSafe wireless charging |
| Operating System | iOS 15 |
My next iPhone
I’m currently back to using an iPhone as my daily driver; the iPhone 16 Pro Max. But that will change in 2025.
More on Apple in my Apple Watch Series 10 review
I am very intrigued by the iPhone SE 4. Everyone loves a more affordable and less bulky iPhone, including myself. I just hope it doesn’t come with a severely downgraded camera system. If it does, then it will be hard to justify buying it.
But, if the iPhone SE 4 comes with full-blooded cameras, a screen with a high refresh rate and, importantly, a battery life beyond 15 hours, then it may be one of the best iPhones ever. The next iPhone 13 mini? We’ll have to wait and see!
15 Comments
Why not just get the battery replaced? I’ll do that soon with my iPhone XS afterwards a couple of year’s daily use, and I hope to use it a good while longer after that. I’ve finally grown tired of charging at the desk, in the car, whenever possible. And that can be fixed by apple for (I think) £75. A lot cheaper to pay that every year or two than buy a new phone, especially to keep hold of one you love. And I love all sorts of things about my XS that the current crop just don’t provide. Rounded feel in the hand, 3D Touch (amazing for editing text), the steel sides that help it grip in my hand with no case (now only available in Pro models) enhanced by the glass back… the list goes on. Cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Mi 13 mini lasted all of 3 months before it literally had a melt down. It got too hot to hold and wouldn’t charge. I took it to Apple they said it was fine, did a factory reset but nothing changed. With moderate usage the battery lasts 5hours and it’s always hot. Apples response… there is nothing wrong with your phone. I’m fuming!
Use less your phone, rediscover life (the real one, not the one in 4×3 cm screen). That’s the best advice for you.
<3
the worst part about this iphone is that when it runs out of battery it won’t charge. you can plug it in and it won’t charge. you have to leave it for a few days and then try charging it again. most frsutrating thing I’ve ever dealt with, I wish I bought an android, and i’ve had an iphone since series 4
My 13 mini is still doing great after 5 months, needing recharging only every 2nd day.
Hi Mark, curious as to why your experience with the 13 Mini battery degradation wasn’t mentioned in “Why you should STILL buy the iPhone 13 mini in 2023!” vid on your YT?
I’ve had my iphone mini for a year and the battery lasts about 3 hours – it is always on charge – often hot in the pocket – it really is a dud of a phone
I absolutely love the 13 mini, but am now looking at the 15 Pro Max, and that is completely down to battery life. I sometimes have to recharge twice a day, and there’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling of seeing your phone drop below 50% before you’ve even hit the midday mark! I love smaller phones, but battery life need to be improved to make them workable for anyone other than a light user. I’d even taking a slightly thicker phone or reduced chip speed (similar to the SE) if it improved the battery life! It is with great sadness I’ll be trading up to the cumbersome size of the Pro Max, but at least I know it’s going to last out the day!
I have the iPhone mini and I have no problems with the battery or battery life. The only problem I do have is with the camera. I go to take a photo or portrait photo and sometimes the phone freezes. Occassionally it won’t take a photo on command and I miss a good photo op. it’s frustrating. I have to maneuver the phone in the air and all around and then it will randomly take a photo. Otherwise, the quality of photos are clear and crisp. I traded in my 2nd generation SE for this phone specifically for the upgrade in camera quality.
@Terra the camera issue appears to have started with iOS13. Hoping Apple will fix it soon, as it is very annoying. It is definitely a software issue. A workaround is to use Procam or one of the many other camera apps available – they don’t have the problem.
*iOS17
I am experiencing something similar with my iPad 9. A great device at a great price point, but after only 9 months usage it barely lasts till lunch. My almost 10 year old iPad Air from 2014 had better battery life when I gave it away a few months ago.
My iPhone 13 mini screen turned green and then black out out of the blue, and now the screen doesn’t work. Look’s like I have to buy a new phone.
Great insights, Mark! I was definitely excited about the iPhone 13 mini, but your points about battery life and performance really made me reconsider. It’s disappointing to see such compromises in a device that’s marketed as a compact alternative. Thanks for your honest review!