iPhone 13 series battery life revealed
Apple's iPhone 13 series looks a lot like the iPhone 12 family, but offer some very meaningful upgrades on the inside, so there's actually a lot to be excited about.
Faster performance, upgraded cameras (especially on the Pro models), and more storage on the base models are just some of these new things.
But what we focus on here is the improved battery life. The biggest beneficiary of that change is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which now qualifies for the title of the longest lasting iPhone for all models released before 2021. Not bad, right? And all the other models, even the 13 mini get some welcome battery life upgrades too.
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Does iPhone 13 have better battery life?
Yes, the iPhone 13 family does have a longer battery life than previous generations.
We have tested all four iPhone 13 models using our three independent battery tests (performed at identical conditions and controlled brightness), and below you can see the results for each new iPhone.
iPhone 13 battery test results
*Disclaimer: iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max tested with ProMotion active (10-120Hz variable display refresh rate).
As you can see all four iPhones score various improvements in battery life over their predecessors.
Below, you will also find the official iPhone battery life numbers by Apple itself:
iPhone 13 series battery improvements (official numbers):
Yes, this means that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the longest battery life in an iPhone at the time of its release. And in our real-world experience with the phone, we can safely say that it has the longest battery life of any mainstream phone of its generation.
- iPhone 13 mini delivers 1.5 hours increase over iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 13 delivers 2.5 hours increase over iPhone 12
- iPhone 13 Pro delivers 1.5 hours increase over iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers 2.5 hours increase over iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 Pro Max — 25 hours
- iPhone 13 Pro — 20 hours
- iPhone 13 — 15 hours
- iPhone 13 Mini — 13 hours
- iPhone 12 Pro Max — 12 hours
- iPhone 12 Pro — 11 hours
- iPhone 12 — 11 hours
- iPhone 12 Mini — 10 hours
Apple also provides a few other metrics for battery life like music playback and offline video playback, and the differences there are not quite as dramatic, but there is obviously a lot in terms of improvements.
How much battery does the iPhone 13 have?
Teardowns have revealed the battery capacity on iPhone 13 / mini / Pro and Pro Max
Apple does not officially provide battery capacity numbers on its website, but teardowns of the devices reveal the exact numbers for each model.
Interestingly, the iPhone 13 turns out to have a larger battery than the Pro model. Additionally, if you are wondering which model has the biggest battery increase, that would be the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 13 mini is also getting a nearly 10% battery boost over the 12 mini.
Here is the exact battery capacity on each iPhone 13 model:
| iPhone battery capacity | iPhone 13 | iPhone 12 | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 mini battery capacity | 2,406 mAh | 2,227 mAh | +9% |
| iPhone 13 battery capacity | 3,227 mAh | 2,815 mAh | +15% |
| iPhone 13 Pro battery capacity | 3,095 mAh | 2,815 mAh | +11% |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max battery capacity | 4,352 mAh | 3,687 mAh | +19% |
Obviously, the sheer size of each phone contributes to different possibilities for battery upgrade, but those are some pretty solid numbers across the board.
Does this mean we needn't worry about iPhone 13 battery drain?
An iPhone charging via MagSafe
All iPhone 13 models have improved battery life. We have not seen any reports of battery drain issues.
Apple officially says these iPhones have an "all-day battery life", a pretty vague statement indeed. In our experience, the 13 Pro Max can even last two days between charges.
Does the iPhone 13 have reverse wireless charging?
The iPhone 13 does NOT officially offer a feature called reverse wireless charging.
That feature is common on Android flagships where the phone can act as a battery bank and charge up other gadgets like a smartwatch or wireless headphones. The iPhone 13 series cannot do that.
Does iPhone 13 have MagSafe?
All iPhone 13 models come with MagSafe wireless charging. Thanks to magnets placed in a circle on the back of the iPhone, each of the phones can snap tightly to compatible chargers and maximize wireless charging efficiency.
The actual power and shape of the magnets has remained the same as on the iPhone 12 series, and so has the top 15W charging speed of MagSafe. Keep in mind that to get that maximum speed you need to have a compatible MagSafe charger.
What charger does the iPhone 13 use?
The iPhone 13 series supports 20W charging, just like the iPhone 12 family. Unofficially, the 13 Pro Max models supports 27W charging speeds, but the other models max out at 20W.
Unfortunately, there is no charger included in the box. The phones only come with a Type C to Type C cable included, but no charging brick.
You can find out more about the batteries of all iPhone 13 models in our full reviews and additional coverage.
Suggested reading: iPhone 14 series battery capacities
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