iPhone 13 release date, price, specs and every new iPhone leak
The iPhone 13 is coming this year, and we're now learning lots about Apple's next iPhone thanks to leaks and rumors. Don't expect the iPhone 13 range until September 2021 at the earliest, but we're now getting a good picture of what the new handsets will bring.
We're expecting a new iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max. Leaks and rumors keep rolling in, revealing everything from the likely iPhone 13 release date to the probable design, expected specs and some exciting new features.
These include things like upgraded cameras, a 120Hz refresh rate screen, 1TB of storage, brand new colors and a more powerful chipset. It's looking likely that these phones will mirror the iPhone 12's design, and there's also a chance we could see the phones launch under the iPhone 12S name instead of the iPhone 13 moniker.
Want the full picture of the iPhone 13 leaks so far? You'll find it below where we run you through each element of the upcoming phones. Expect this article to be consistently updated with all the latest iPhone 13 news ahead of the big reveal later this year.
Latest iPhone 13 news
Earlier this month, an official database showed the new iPhone 13 models which suggests they're on track for the rumored September launch. Plus, Apple has given us the full details of iOS 15 that is expected to land on the iPhone 13 range later this year.
What is the iPhone 13? Apple's next iPhone, perhaps iPhone 12S
When is the iPhone 13 out? Most likely September 2021
What will the iPhone 13 cost? Expect $699 / £699 / AU$1,199 or more
iPhone 13 release date
The iPhone 13 release date is likely to be in September 2021, and we expect it to hit stores on either the third or fourth Friday of the month (which makes it September 17 or 24).
Before 2020, Apple has often announced its new iPhones on either the first or second Tuesday of September. If that happens again in 2021, we'd expect the iPhone 13 range to be revealed on September 7 or September 14.
September 7 may seem early in the month for Apple to reveal its new iPhone, but the company did use that date in 2016 to reveal both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
The iPhone 12 Pro(Image credit: TechRadar)
There's no guarantee this will be the iPhone 13 release date though, and that's mostly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro were pushed back to October in 2020, and the other two devices – the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max – were released in November of that year.
Plus, apparently the 2020 delay resulted in increased sales for the phones. That may mean Apple decides to keep to this new window, but there's no real indication of that.
Indeed, other rumors suggest the iPhone 13 range is seemingly on track for a September launch. In June for example we saw what appears to be model numbers for the iPhone 13 range listed on a Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database. These listings always happen before launch, and usually within a few months of launch.
Little is known about the price of the iPhone 13, but we’d expect it to be a similar level to the iPhone 12 family. Those handsets cost more than the 2019 phones – the iPhone 11 series – but that’s because of the addition of 5G and a few other technical elements.
We’ll be sure to include more 2021 iPhone price leaks and rumors as we hear them, but below you can see the prices for the iPhone 12 series that we’re relatively confident will be similar on the iPhone 13.
If anything though prices might rise slightly this year, especially outside the US, with rumors that much of the world will get the mmWave 5G tech that US iPhone 12s already support, pushing the price up in the process. But we wouldn't expect a big change.
iPhone 12 prices
Phone model
US
UK
Australia
iPhone 12 mini
$699
£699
AU$1,199
iPhone 12
$799
£799
AU$1,349
iPhone 12 Pro
$999
$999
AU$1,699
iPhone 12 Pro Max
$1,099
£1,099
AU$1,849
iPhone 13 leaks and what we know so far
First off, we're expecting four members of the iPhone 13 family. Those are likely to be – but this isn't guaranteed – the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The company focused on three models until 2020, when it introduced the mini model as the fourth handset in the iPhone 12 family. Most rumors suggest that'll continue in 2021.
The below is our best picture of specs we expect so far for each model. Note that everything here is based on leaked information, and there is no guarantee we'll see similar from Apple when the phones are unveiled.
iPhone 13 leaks so far
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Screen size
5.4-inch
6.1-inch
6.1-inch
6.7-inch
Resolution
2340 x 1080
2532 x 1170
2532 x 1170
2778 x 1284
Refresh rate
60Hz
60Hz
120Hz
120Hz
Camera
12MP + 12MP
12MP + 12MP
12MP + 12MP + 12MP
12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Selfie camera
12MP
12MP
12MP
12MP
Chipset
A15
A15
A15
A15
Battery
2,406mAh
3,095mAh
3,095mAh
4,325mAh
Storage
Up to 1TB
Up to 1TB
Up to 1TB
Up to 1TB
iPhone 13 design
We're expecting similar designs to the iPhone 12 family across the iPhone 13 range, but a recent rumor suggests that Apple will manage to trim down the camera bump this year, as well as introduce a matte black option for the Pro models of the phone, reworked from the current graphite.
Indeed, far more sources point to it shrinking than staying the same size, so a smaller notch seems likely, with one source adding that the Face ID sensor has apparently also been shrunk, which would allow for a smaller notch.
We've now also seen a couple of leaked photos reportedly showing the screen glass for the iPhone 13 range, and there's a visibly smaller notch, achieved by moving the earpiece to the bezel above.
iPhone 13 Front Glass Reveals Smaller Notch With Earpiece Relocated to Top Bezel https://t.co/3eAmyPSCq0 by @rsgnl pic.twitter.com/0xnzkYVuoSMarch 23, 2021
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Similarly, a 3D-printed iPhone 13 mock-up also shows a smaller notch. Specifically the notch here is 26.8mm wide (compared to 34.83mm on the iPhone 12), but it's also 5.35mm deep, making it stick out a tiny bit more than the 5.3mm one on the iPhone 12.
The mock-up also shows that the contents of the notch may have been moved around a bit, with the selfie camera shown on the left rather than the right, and the earpiece moved into the bezel.
How the iPhone 13 notch may look(Image credit: Mac Otakara)
iPhone 13 & iPhone 13 Pro design finalized according to leaked CADs by @mysmartprice & @91mobiles Here's our concept for the 2021 iPhonesAny thoughts?#iPhone13 #iPhone13Pro #iPhone12S #iPhone12SPro pic.twitter.com/Oylnu2g8FWApril 14, 2021
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An iPhone 13 Pro Max dummy unit - created based on leaked schematics and other leaks - also shows a smaller notch, as well as larger camera lenses (more on which further down).
However, the design and even the size is otherwise more or less the same as the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
A dummy unit that may show the iPhone 13 Pro Max design(Image credit: Unbox Therapy)
These include a larger, flatter camera bump than on the iPhone 12 Pro, plus larger camera sensors, a smaller notch, and an apparently less fingerprint prone stainless steel frame.
Say hi to your first look at the finalized version of the iPhone 13 Pro.Thanks again to @ld_vova for the amazing work he has done with this.(Note that some things could be changed during mass production as what happened with AirPods Max, but that isn’t likely). pic.twitter.com/WMl9fIbTNmMay 21, 2021
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Leaked CAD files also show a smaller notch, plus a diagonal camera layout for the iPhone 13. They appear to show a slightly thicker build too, likely to accommodate the larger batteries that have been rumored.
Some sources suggest this change is further out, but an iOS 15 leak suggests the company's next major software update will arrive with support for dual biometric authentication – a feature which would only be possible to implement on a device with both Face ID and Touch ID. Still, we wouldn't count on this.
One thing that probably won't be changing is the sizes of the phones, with leaks suggesting we'll see four models, with the same screen sizes as the iPhone 12 range.
That said, the dimensions may vary slightly, with a report suggesting that the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro will be 7.57mm thick, making them 0.17mm thicker than their predecessors.
An example of camera bumps on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13(Image credit: MacRumors)
The same report suggests the camera blocks will stick out much further, with the iPhone 13 Pro's apparently sticking out by 3.65mm (compared to 1.7mm on the iPhone 12 Pro), and the iPhone 13's by 2.51mm (compared to 1.5mm on the iPhone 12). You can see how that difference might look in the image above.
iPhone 13 colors
We've now heard multiple times that the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max might come in a matte black shade. Apparently this will be a reworked version of the graphite iPhone 12 Pro, but a lot darker.
Other rumored iPhone 13 colors include rose pink, purple, and orange, though these all sound less likely so far, with the former two coming from a source without much track record, and orange apparently probably not making it past the prototype stage.
In general, we're expecting a similar set of shades as you get on the iPhone 12.
That means you're likely to see more color options with some brighter shades on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, while the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are more likely to have fewer choices with more sedate shades like silver, graphite and gold.
iPhone 13 colors: what shades to expect from your 2021 Apple phone
iPhone 13 display
One thing heavily rumored for the iPhone 12 that didn't come to fruition was the addition of a 120Hz refresh rate display. Rumors suggest that may be introduced on the iPhone 13, and that'll make the display look smoother when playing games or scrolling through your social media feed.
Most important development on the iPhone 13 models from my perspective will be ProMotion with variable refresh rates through LTPO adoption on the Pro models.October 2, 2020
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That technology may also work in a similar way to what we've seen on the company's iPad Pro range, where it is able to vary the refresh rate depending on what activity you're doing on your phone.
Multiple rumors have suggested the 120Hz refresh rate feature may be incoming, and that includes reports from DigiTimes as well as well-placed analysts that have further suggested this tech might only be on two of the four anticipated iPhone 13 models.
Korean site The Elec added that industry sources say the top two models will get a 120Hz screen, so this may just be a Pro model feature in 2021. That site has also now added more details, claiming that Samsung will be the sole supplier of these 120Hz panels.
In fact, there's a chance it will have an even higher refresh rate than 120Hz, as an Apple patent talks about a phone with multiple refresh rates, possibly topping out at 240Hz - which is a rate no mainstream phone currently offers. But patents often don't develop into features, so we'd take this with a pinch of salt.
Another upgrade the screen might get is the addition of an always-on display, with a reliable leaker saying this could be in the works. Android phones have offered this for years, so it's about time Apple got on board.
What sizes should you expect for the iPhone 13 family? The same as last year's models, based on rumors, meaning a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max.
As for the camera, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo – who is often right about Apple information – has suggested the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max's ultra-wide camera may be bumped to a f/1.8, six-element lens from the current f/2.4, five-element lens on the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.
We've also heard the same change in aperture from analysts at Barclays, though they claim this upgrade will come to all four iPhone 13 models. This should allow for better low light performance - though potentially also a shallower depth of field, which can be less desirable in the landscape shots ultra-wide cameras typically excel at.
The Barclays analyst note also mentioned that the iPhone 13 Pro could get the same telephoto snapper as the iPhone 12 Pro Max, allowing for 2.5x optical zoom, up from 2x on its predecessor.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max's camera(Image credit: Future)
Kuo meanwhile has said the telephoto camera will get a similar six-element upgrade to the ultra-wide one, at least on the "high-end" models.
As for the main camera, Kuo also has news about that, claiming that on the iPhone 13 Pro Max it will be switched to an f/1.5 aperture (from f/1.6 on current models). This should improve low light performance and the bokeh effect for portrait shots, but it's a change that apparently won't be coming to the rest of the iPhone 13 range.
A report has also suggested that all four iPhone 13 models might get a LiDAR scanner, rather than just the Pro models having it as on the iPhone 12 range. The same site has since reiterated that claim more than once, as has another source, so this seems likely.
The same source has also said that all four iPhone 13 models will get sensor-shift OIS (optical image stabilization), which would be an upgrade for all but the Pro Max, which already has that, and that the two Pro models will get a larger main lens. Another rumor also suggests that sensor-shift OIS and autofocus will be added to the ultra-wide cameras in the new phones, but potentially only the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models.
Elsewhere, sources have claimed that Apple is ordering far more voice coil motors (VCMs) than normal. This is apparently for improvements both to the rear cameras (likely the addition of sensor-shift, which uses a VCM) and for improvements to the 3D sensors for Face ID.
We've also heard rumors about potential redesigns of the two rear cameras on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini: instead of being aligned vertically, they may be arranged diagonally.
A purported iPhone 13 mini prototype, uploaded to Weibo.(Image credit: Weibo )
A purported photo (above) of an iPhone 13 mini prototype was uploaded to Weibo showing what the final phone - and those redesigned cameras - might look like. You can also see the new camera design in some of the leaks further up.
Finally, there are reports that Apple is looking into adding a periscope camera to a future iPhone. This would allow for a greater zoom range than current models, maybe up to 10x optical zoom, potentially without making the camera components any thicker. However, based on rumors this might not arrive until the iPhone 14 or an even later device. Kuo says not to expect it until 2023.
iPhone 13 software
A variety of the iOS 15 upgrades you can expect(Image credit: Apple)
One thing we already know a fair bit about is the iPhone 13's software, since it's sure to run iOS 15, and while the next-gen software isn't out yet it has been announced by Apple.
Highlights of iOS 15 include various FaceTime improvements, such as the ability to join calls via a web link which even Android users can access, plus spatial audio and voice isolation coming to it.
Messages meanwhile is getting statuses, a live text feature will allow you to translate text in images or copy it to a document, the weather app has been redesigned, Maps is getting new details for commercial districts and buildings, and more.
On the battery front, we've heard from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that the iPhone 13 might switch to soft board technology, which could allow for physically smaller batteries without reducing the capacity
In fact, Kuo has since said that the iPhone 13 might have a higher capacity battery than the iPhone 12. Kuo has repeated that claim again saying Apple is experimenting with a "space-saving design", so he seems certain that this is an improvement we'll be seeing later in the year.
A leak from Digital Chat Station on Weibo claims a similar thing, and it also provides us with potential battery capacities. If the leak is correct, we may see the below in each of the models (plus we've included the sizes of the equivalent 2020 models too).
iPhone 13 leaked battery capacities
Model
Size
Last-gen size
iPhone 13 mini
2,406mAh
2,277mAh
iPhone 13
3,095mAh
2,805mAh
iPhone 13 Pro
3,095mAh
2,805mAh
iPhone 13 Pro Max
4,325mAh
3,687mAh
There's also an Apple patent that talks about a 'protective charging' mode, which would stop you overcharging the phone even if you leave it plugged in for long periods (such as overnight). However, patents don't always get used, so don't count on this.
iPhone 13 specs and performance
One source (leaker Jon Prosser) has also suggested that 2021 may be when we see the introduction of 1TB iPhones. That's a storage size the company hasn't experimented with yet, at least for its smartphones, and we'd expect it to be an option on the most expensive Pro handsets.
If Prosser's information is correct, that may well make for the most expensive iPhone ever as that's a lot of storage on one handset. This kind of option would be more useful for professionals than average users, but for now it's just a prototype Apple is testing apparently.
An Oppo concept device made by the company to show a portless phone design(Image credit: Future)
Performance should be boosted as it normally is every year, but we've heard talk that advanced vapor chamber cooling is going to be deployed in the iPhone 13 – though if it's not ready this year, we might have to wait until the iPhone 14 to see it.
We've also heard that the A15 chipset expected to power the iPhone 13 range has entered mass production. The source of a report on that topic also says that it's a 5nm chipset, which is the same size as the A14, possibly meaning the improvements here won't be massive.
Another source has also now said that the iPhone 13 range will have a 5nm chipset, with 3nm expected for the iPhone 14.
Other iPhone 13 leaks
Expect 5G support to continue in 2021 iPhones of course, but a source suggests that mmWave models will be more widely available than they were with the iPhone 12 range (which only got mmWave in the US), with both the UK and Australia (among other places) potentially getting them.
We've since heard this again, with over 50% of the world's iPhone 13 models supposedly getting mmWave support. This is potentially far faster than the sub-6GHz 5G that iPhone 12's in most of the world are stuck with, but it also requires the right infrastructure and spectrum to be available, which it isn't yet in most places.
Staying with wireless technologies, we've also been led to understand that the iPhone 13 is going to come packing some Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for an even faster link to the web and the cloud.
This was first predicted by analysts and they've since said the same again with more certainty, even naming the apparent suppliers of the Wi-Fi 6E tech.
Finally, an Apple patent details a system allowing an iPhone to track your gaze, so it can see what part of a document you're reading and obscure the other parts, by swapping or rearranging the letters in words.
This would mean you could read sensitive documents in public places without much risk of snoopers. However, we're not convinced this will make it to the iPhone 13.
iPhone 13 name: will it be the iPhone 12S?
The iPhone 12 Pro (left) and iPhone 12 Pro Max(Image credit: TechRadar)
There’s every chance the next iPhone won’t be called the iPhone 13, and there are a few reasons for that.
For one thing, reports so far suggest that this upcoming model could be a relatively modest upgrade, with a similar design and only slight camera improvements. Indeed, the only big change might be the rumored move to a 120Hz screen - and not all of the models will probably even get that.
With that in mind, Apple might call these phones the iPhone 12s and iPhone 12s Pro range. While we haven't seen the 'S' used in the last couple of years, it's something that Apple has a history of using to mark out more minor upgrades.
Not only that, but the number 13 could be an issue, as it's seen as an unlucky number in many parts of the world, including the US, so it may be that Apple wants to skip this numeral when it comes time for a new iPhone.
Of course, calling this year's phones the iPhone 12s range doesn't solve the problem of the number 13, it just delays it, so either this year or next year it's possible Apple will skip past 13 straight to the iPhone 14 range.
