UP
Our takeEditorialAt $199, the iPhone 13 offers more iPhone per dollar than anything currently on the market - the A15 chip and OLED display punch well above this price.
Red, Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink
Apple
Apple iPhone 13
7.5/10 UpPhone score
The iPhone 13 at $199 is one of the sharpest value propositions in the Apple lineup - A15 Bionic, OLED, and 5G at an entry price.
Verified for iOS
Screen
6.1"
Chip
Apple A15 Bionic
Camera
12 MP
The verdict, & two little voices
Should you actually get the Apple iPhone 13?
The editor weighs in — flanked by the optimist on her shoulder and the cynic on the other.
“The same A15 chip that's in the iPhone 14 at $199 outright is the best-priced path into the Apple ecosystem.”
“Apple's 60 Hz stubbornness on a 2021 phone would be embarrassing if it weren't still outselling half the industry.”
Our take
The iPhone 13 at $199 is one of the sharpest value propositions in the Apple lineup - A15 Bionic, OLED, and 5G at an entry price.
The Apple iPhone 13 launched in fall 2021 and has aged remarkably well. As of May 2026, it's available starting at $199 through Straight Talk - a price that would have seemed impossible when it launched at $799. The 6.1-inch OLED display at 2532 x 1170 and 1200 nits peak brightness still holds its own against phones twice the price. The A15 Bionic chip, shared with the iPhone 14's non-Pro tier, handles everything in iOS 18 without hesitation. Dual 12 MP rear cameras cover wide and ultrawide angles; no telephoto, but Apple's computational photography extracts impressive detail from the sensors in good light and decent results through Night Mode in low light. Battery at 3227 mAh was a meaningful improvement over the iPhone 12, and Apple reported roughly 2.5 hours of additional life compared to its predecessor. At $199, the iPhone 13 sits in a rare spot: genuine flagship build quality and software support at a price that undercuts most current midrange Android phones. The tradeoff is a 60 Hz display, no USB-C (Lightning only), and a camera system two generations behind the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro.
What we love
- A15 Bionic chip delivers iPhone 14-level performance
- 1200 nits peak brightness OLED reads well in full sunlight
- IP68 water resistance at a budget-tier price
- Available across multiple carriers including Straight Talk and Verizon
- Apple's software support extends this phone's useful life
- Dual-SIM (physical + eSIM) gives carrier flexibility
What we don't
- 60 Hz display - no ProMotion
- No telephoto lens; relies on digital crop for zoom
- Lightning connector, no USB-C
- A15 with 4 GB RAM misses Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18
- 3227 mAh battery is adequate but not standout for daily heavy use
- Camera hardware two generations behind current iPhone 15/16
Full specifications
Display
Size6.1"
TypeOLED
Resolution2532 x 1170 px
PPI460
Performance
ChipApple A15 Bionic
RAM4 GB
Storage128 GB
OSiOS
Camera
Rear camera12 MP
Rear camera 212 MP
Front camera12 MP
VideoYes
Battery
Wireless charging15W wireless
Design
Dimensions146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm
Weight174
ColorsRed, Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink
Form factorSlate
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0
NFCYes
USBLightning
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Apple iPhone 13 on individual carriers
All 17 plans with Apple iPhone 13
Carrier: Any ▾Lines: 1 ▾Sort: Lowest ▾
CarrierPlanDataTermMonthly
Unlimited
24-mo term
$249.12/mo
total $289.12 over term
Unlimited
24-mo term
$249.12/mo
total $309.12 over term
Frequently asked questions about the Apple iPhone 13
What kind of display does the Apple iPhone 13 have?
The iPhone 13's 6.1-inch OLED delivers 2532 x 1170 at 460 PPI - a pixel density high enough that individual pixels disappear at normal viewing distances. Peak brightness at 1200 nits handles direct sunlight reading, and Apple's True Tone adaptive color matching adjusts to ambient light for comfortable indoor use. The Super Retina XDR panel covers P3 wide color gamut, so photos and video look accurate and vivid. The display runs at 60 Hz - Apple reserved ProMotion for the 13 Pro models. Scrolling and animation feel smooth but not as fluid as the 120 Hz experience on Pro and many Android alternatives at similar current prices.
What kind of camera does the Apple iPhone 13 have?
Two rear cameras: a 12 MP wide with f/1.6 aperture (wider than iPhone 12 for better low light) and a 12 MP ultrawide. The 12 Pro's telephoto is absent. Apple's sensor-shift optical image stabilization on the main lens reduces camera shake meaningfully, a feature the standard iPhone 12 lacked. Night Mode processes low-light scenes with natural color and reasonable detail. Photographic Styles let users set a persistent color tone without post-processing. Video supports 4K at 60 fps with Cinematic Mode at 1080p - a genuinely useful video mode that pulls focus between subjects. The camera system is competent and better than the raw megapixel count suggests.
What is the battery life of the Apple iPhone 13?
The 3227 mAh cell was Apple's biggest upgrade going from the iPhone 12 to the 13, adding roughly 2.5 hours of real-world life. Apple's efficiency work between the A14 and A15 chips helps too. Heavy use reaches end of day on a full charge; very heavy use may need a mid-day top-up. Wired charging at 20W is not the fastest in the industry. MagSafe wireless at 15W is convenient for desk or car mount charging. The 20W adapter is not included in the box.
What processor does the Apple iPhone 13 use?
Apple's A15 Bionic is the same chip that shipped in the iPhone 14 standard (non-Pro). It runs iOS 18 with no friction across apps, camera processing, and system tasks. The 4 GB RAM configuration is the limiting factor - Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 requires the A17 Pro or newer, so the iPhone 13 does not access the on-device AI features. For everything else - apps, gaming, multitasking, photography - the A15 remains fast in 2026. Longevity looks good: Apple typically supports chips for 6-7 years, meaning iOS updates through approximately 2028.
How much storage does the Apple iPhone 13 have?
The available configuration carries 128 GB. For the iPhone 13 at this price, 128 GB is comfortable - enough for a few thousand photos, a normal app collection, and some downloaded video. ProRes video or extensive offline media libraries will need 256 GB or more, but those configurations are harder to find at entry prices. No expandable storage.
What kind of speakers does the Apple iPhone 13 have?
Stereo speakers use the earpiece and bottom-firing driver in a configuration that Apple tunes for wider stereo separation than single-speaker setups. Spatial Audio through the speakers works with compatible Dolby Atmos content. Volume and clarity are good for phone-sized drivers. The improvement from the iPhone 12 stereo tuning is incremental but present.
Does the Apple iPhone 13 support fingerprint or face unlock?
Face ID handles biometric unlock and Apple Pay authentication. The TrueDepth system in the notch reads faces in low light and at angles, with attention-aware features that detect whether the user is actively looking at the phone before unlocking. No Touch ID. The notch on the iPhone 13 is 20% smaller than the iPhone 12's notch, giving slightly more screen real estate.
Is the Apple iPhone 13 water-resistant?
IP68 rated to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The iPhone 13 was Apple's toughest water resistance at the time on the standard model. In practice this covers rain, pool splashes, and bathroom accidents. Apple does not cover water damage under warranty regardless of IP rating, and used units may have compromised seals.
