Level Up With This Pick
Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the greatest iPhone for most users. This year, Apple added a few features from the Pro versions, such as sensor-shift stabilization on the primary camera to compensate for shaking hands and 128 gigabytes of base storage, up from the previous 64 gigabytes. The 6.1-inch OLED screen is likewise a good size. Cinematic mode, which combines Portrait mode with video and adds a blur effect around your subject, is one of the most excellent new additions. In any case, it can be a little finicky. Overall, the cameras have gotten better. The vast and ultrawide capture more light, resulting in crisper and brighter nighttime images.
The battery life is improved, easily lasting a full day and then some intensive use, and the A15 Bionic chip that powers it is no wimp. On the negative side, the colors are a little drab. However, it is water-resistant to IP68, features 5G, and retains the MagSafe accessory mechanism from its predecessor.
There is no charging adaptor (or earbuds) provided with any iPhone 13 models, only a USB-C to Lightning connection. If you don’t have a USB-C adaptor hanging around, you may need to purchase one. AT APPLE, IT COSTS $799.
For Small Phone Lovers
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
Do you despise large phones? This is the world’s smallest iPhone and one of the world’s smallest smartphones in general. Unfortunately, Apple went with the present iPhone design—slim borders around the screen and Face ID instead of Touch ID—so the iPhone SE 2020 has a larger 5.4-inch OLED screen than the iPhone SE 2020, despite the phone being physically smaller. Nevertheless, it offers the same characteristics as the iPhone 13, except that Apple could improve the battery life. The Mini will keep the lights on until bedtime, but you may need to carry a portable charger with you, depending on how frequently you use it.
The Ultimate iPhone
Apple iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
There are valid reasons to pay $1,000 and up for the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max. First, they’re a mix of stainless steel and glass instead of aluminum, so they’re more durable. The Max also has a large 6.7-inch OLED screen, so it’s a must-have for anyone that needs a giant display possible (that’s not an iPad Mini). The 6.1-inch Pro has the same set of features this year, so you won’t miss out if you go small. This includes a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which makes interacting with the screen feel smoother. The OLED screens can also be made brighter, and the batteries can comfortably last a whole day, if not more, under heavy use. For the first time, there is also a performance improvement over the cheaper ones. An extra graphics core helped demanding games run somewhat faster than last year’s iPhone 12 Pro in our tests.