When Apple released the iPhone 13 last September 2021, it immediately became one of the leading smartphones globally. With its stylish design, fast A15 Bionic chip, top-notch cameras, and enhanced battery life, it hit the performance and price sweet spot in Apple’s offerings.
Now, in 2025, with the latest iPhones such as the iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 series available, the million-dollar question is: Is the iPhone 13 worth purchasing today? Let’s explore all you need to know about the iPhone 13 – from its design and performance to its cameras and long-term value.
Design and Build: Premium Yet Practical
The iPhone 13 follows Apple’s minimalist design tradition. It has a Ceramic Shield front glass, glossy glass back, and an aluminium frame which, while being solid in feeling, is premium in feel. At 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65 mm and 174 grams, it is easy to hold without being too cumbersome.
The phone is available in several stylish colors: Pink, Blue, Midnight (Black), Starlight (White), and Product (RED). Apple later released a new Green color option in 2022, providing consumers with more fashion options.
It also carries IP68 water and dust protection, which means that it can withstand being submerged in water for 30 minutes at a depth of up to 6 meters. For daily use, you will not have to worry about liquid or rain spots shortening the lifespan of the device.
Display: Vibrant and Gorgeous
One of the most powerful aspects of the iPhone 13 is its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen. It has a resolution of 2532 × 1170 pixels and pixel density of approximately 460 ppi, bringing sharp images, colorful images, and rich blacks.
The display supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, making it ideal for watching movies, streaming high-quality videos, or even editing photos. Brightness is another win – the iPhone 13 reaches 800 nits typically and peaks at 1200 nits in HDR mode, which makes it easy to use outdoors even under direct sunlight.
The only downside? It’s stuck at 60Hz refresh, whereas the Pro models and most current smartphones now have smoother 120Hz displays. But for the majority of users, the display still impressed even in 2025.
Performance: Fueled by the A15 Bionic
At its core, the iPhone 13 runs on Apple’s A15 Bionic chip based on a 5nm process. It has a 6-core CPU (with 2 high-performance cores and 4 energy-efficient cores), a 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.
Even though the A16 and A17 chips are now available in newer iPhones, the A15 Bionic is still extremely fast. Whether you’re gaming, editing 4K videos, or multitasking between apps, the iPhone 13 continues to perform flawlessly.
Apple also stands out in offering long-term software support. The iPhone 13 came out with iOS 15 but has already received updates through iOS 18 in 2025, making the phone secure and full of new features.
If you want the newest tech, check out our iPhone 15 Plus review.
Cameras: A Photographer’s Delight
The iPhone 13 comes equipped with a dual-camera setup on the rear:
- 12 MP Wide Camera with f/1.6 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).
- 12 MP Ultra-Wide Camera with f/2.4 lens and 120° field of view.
It takes incredible photos in both daylight and in low light. Apple’s Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 4 combine to produce high-quality, natural-looking images.
One of the highlights that came with iPhone 13 was the Cinematic Mode. This enables you to record video with a shallow depth of field, having the ability to automatically change focus between people in the scene for a more professional finish. It records at 1080p at 30fps and has Dolby Vision HDR for video recording.
In the front, the 12 MP TrueDepth camera is Night Mode capable and records 4K videos, ideal for selfies, FaceTime calls, and vlogging.
Battery Life and Charging
Apple upgraded the battery capacity of the iPhone 13 to approximately 3,240 mAh, a significant boost compared to the iPhone 12. The outcome is up to 19 hours of video playback that can easily last an entire day of usage.
Charging options are:
- 20W fast charging (50% in approximately 30 minutes).
- 15W MagSafe wireless charging for fast, easy charging with Apple’s MagSafe accessories.
- 7.5W Qi wireless charging for typical wireless pads.
Similar to other new iPhones, the iPhone 13 does not include a charger in the package, but instead a Lightning-to-USB-C cable.
Storage Options
Apple began the iPhone 13 series with 128GB of base storage, a great step forward from the 64GB base in previous models. You can also have 256GB and 512GB options depending on your requirements. There’s no expandable storage like with all iPhones, though, so choosing wisely matters.
If you’re curious about the next generation, the iPhone 14 Plus brings some interesting upgrades.
Connectivity and Features
The iPhone 13 is 5G-ready, which means it is future-proofed for fast internet. It also has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and Dual SIM support (nano-SIM + eSIM).
As far as security goes, it has Face ID, Apple’s secure facial recognition. It also has Apple Pay support for contactless transactions and integrates perfectly with the MagSafe accessories ecosystem.
Prices in 2025
In India (as of 2025), the iPhone 13 is priced around:
- ₹50,000 – ₹55,000 for 128GB
- ₹60,000 – ₹65,000 for 256GB
- ₹75,000 – ₹80,000 for 512GB
This makes it a good mid-range choice for those who want an iPhone but don’t require the latest model.
Discover the latest innovations in the iPhone 15 Plus and how it stands out.
Pros and Cons of iPhone 13
Pros:
- Great OLED screen with HDR support
- Strong A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent cameras with Cinematic Mode
- Long battery life
- 5G support and MagSafe accessories
- Long iOS update support
Cons:
- 60Hz refresh rate (compared to 120Hz on newer models)
- No telephoto lens
- Lightning port rather than USB-C
- Charger is not included in the package
Final Verdict: Is the iPhone 13 Still Worth Buying in 2025?
The iPhone 13 might be four generations old at this point, but it still offers top-notch performance, excellent cameras, stunning OLED screen, and superb battery life. Apple’s extended software support guarantees that the phone will stay relevant for many years.
If you’re looking for a premium iPhone experience without spending as much as the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16, the iPhone 13 is still a smart choice in 2025. For most users, it strikes the perfect balance between performance, reliability, and value for money.
Check out our detailed review of the iPhone 14 Plus to see how it compares.
