iPhone 13 mini

iPhone 13 mini

iPhone

Discontinued
Released: September 14, 2021Discontinued on: September 12, 2023
United States: US$699, US$799, US$999

Overview

Be aware that this A2481 iPhone 13 mini supports 5G NR bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, and n79, along with 5G NR mmWave bands n258, n260, and n261. It is designed for carriers in the United States but is technically functional with carriers across the globe.


Every iPhone 13 mini model is outfitted with a 5.4-inch (diagonal) haptic-touch enabled "Super Retina XDR" display (2340x1080, 476 ppi) that covers nearly the entire front. It has three cameras. The front "TrueDepth" camera, positioned in the "notch," supports Face ID, captures 12-megapixel photos, and records 4K video. The rear includes a dual 12-megapixel, 4K video-capable camera system with Ultra Wide (f/2.4 aperture, 120-degree field of view) and Wide (f/1.6 aperture) lenses. Apple promotes that the Ultra Wide camera's new sensor offers greater detail and less noise, while the Wide camera supports "Sensor-shift OIS" for enhanced stabilization. These cameras also introduce a "Cinematic mode" with a simulated depth effect (1080p, 30 fps).


The iPhone 13 mini has an aluminum case with flat sides and a glass front and back. The front is protected by a "Ceramic Shield" cover for durability, and the back includes an integrated "MagSafe" magnetic charging connection. It is IP68-rated for splash, water, and dust resistance (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes). Originally offered in five colors—a warm gray (Starlight), "Midnight" (black), blue, (pale) pink, and (PRODUCT) RED—a sixth color, Green, was added on March 8, 2022.


Internally, the device is powered by a 3.2 GHz "Apple A15 Bionic" processor with six cores (two performance, four efficiency) and a 16-core Neural Engine. It has 4 GB of RAM and storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB. It also supports 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 with 2x2 MIMO, 5G wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, Ultra Wideband for "spatial awareness," NFC for Apple Pay, "Express Cards with power reserve," and Dual SIM functionality (one hardware nano SIM and one software-based eSIM or dual eSIMs).


Apple's battery life estimates for the iPhone 13 mini are "up to" 55 hours of audio playback, 17 hours of video playback, and 13 hours of streamed video playback.


In the US, this specific iPhone 13 mini was initially priced at US$699, US$799, and US$999 for the 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB models, respectively. It was also available on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon for monthly payments starting as low as US$29.12, US$33.29, and US$41.62 with a two-year contract.


On September 7, 2022, Apple reduced the price of this model to US$599, US$699, and US$899 if purchased outright and to US$24.95, US$29.12, and US$37.45 per month with a carrier subsidy. Trade-in discounts were also available. The iPhone 13 mini was discontinued entirely on September 12, 2023.

Evaluation

The iPhone 13 mini A2481 achieved recognition as the most technologically advanced compact smartphone in the American market, receiving exceptional praise from US technology reviewers for its exclusive mmWave 5G capabilities and distinctive antenna engineering that set it apart from global variants. Professional evaluations consistently highlighted the device's unique physical design featuring the visible mmWave antenna window, with many reviewers noting this as a symbol of cutting-edge wireless technology implementation despite its practical limitations in everyday usage. Technology publications across major US markets extensively tested the mmWave functionality, reporting impressive peak speeds exceeding 2000 Mbps in optimal conditions, though most acknowledged the technology's current limitations to high-density urban venues and specific carrier deployments. The model's comprehensive 5G band support including n29 and n71 bands, combined with legacy CDMA compatibility, earned consistent recognition from US carrier testing laboratories as the most network-versatile iPhone variant available domestically. Despite mmWave's limited real-world deployment, reviewers frequently praised Apple's forward-thinking approach to 5G implementation, positioning the A2481 as the definitive future-proof compact smartphone for American consumers.

Product Info

Product Info Table
Model IDiPhone14,4
Apple Model NoA2481* (EMC 3994*)
Apple Order NoMLHP3LL/A
Apple SubfamilyiPhone 13 mini

Price

Price Table
Original PriceUS$699, US$799, US$999
United StatesUS$699, US$799, US$999

Pricing Extras

Pricing Extras Table
Est. Current RetailUS$600-US$750

Body

Body Table
Form FactoriPhone 13 mini
Case TypeHandheld
Housing ColorMetallic Glass
Dimensions5.18 x 2.53 x 0.30 in / 131.57 x 64.26 x 7.62 mm
Avg. Weight4.97 oz / 141 g

Platform

Platform Table
Processor TypeApple A15 Bionic
Processor Speed3.2 GHz
Processors1 (6 Cores)
Onboard RAM4 GB
Geekbench 4 (SC)7732
Geekbench 4 (MC)19120
Geekbench 5 (SC)1722
Geekbench 5 (MC)4503

Storage

Storage Table
Storage Capacity128, 256, 512 GB

Display

Display Table
Built-in Display5.4" Super Retina XDR
Display Resolution2340x1080 (476 ppi)
Camera12.0 Megapixels

Media Support

Media Support Table
Audio SupportApple reports that the iPhone 13 mini supports "AAC‑LC, HE‑AAC, HE‑AAC v2, Protected AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC‑3), Dolby Digital Plus (E‑AC‑3), Dolby Atmos, and Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+)."
Video SupportApple reports that the iPhone 13 mini supports "HEVC, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2, and Motion JPEG."It also supports up to 4K HDR AirPlay for mirroring, photos and video out to the Apple TV 2nd Gen or later or AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV as well as video mirroring and video out "up to" 1080p through the Lightning Digital AV Adapter and the Lightning to VGA Adapter.
Photo SupportApple does not formally specify photo formats for the iPhone 13 mini. However, it can sync photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats.

Wired Connectivity

Wired Connectivity Table
ConnectivityUSB-C
PortsLightning Only
USB SupportSync & Charge

Wireless Connectivity

Wireless Connectivity Table
Cell NetworkGSM/CDMA/5G
Standard Wireless802.11ax (2x2 MIMO)
Standard Bluetooth5.0

Power

Power Table
Battery TypeLithium Ion (2406 mAh)
Battery Life (Music)55 Hours
Battery Life (Voice)N/A

Software

Software Table
Pre-Installed OSiOS 15.0 (19A346)
Maximum OSCurrent
Mac SupportOS X 10.11.6
Windows SupportWindows 7+

Accessories

Accessories Table
ControllerHaptic Touch
Incl. AccessoriesShips with a Lightning to USB-C Cable. It does not ship with headphones or a USB Power Adapter.In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells wireless headphones for this iPhone.In the US, site sponsor Speck sells cases, sanitizers, and other accessories for this iPhone.Also see: What is the best external keyboard for the iPhone?