Hands-on with ‘iPhone 13’ dummy units: What can we learn about Apple’s next iPhones?

We got our hands on four “iPhone 13” dummy devices ahead of Apple’s planned iPhone update this autumn to see what we can learn about the reported lineup.

Apple’s “iPhone 13 small,” “iPhone 13,” “iPhone 13 Pro,” and “iPhone 13 Pro Max,” if Apple keeps to its numbering strategy and increases as it has in the past — excepting the iPhone X — are the models in question.

We put them up against the iPhone 12 small, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. We don’t expect to see many exterior hardware changes this year because it’s an “S” year. With big redesigns every other year, Apple focuses on performance, cameras, and other distinctive features.

a pinch of salt

These are fake devices, not actual “iPhone 13” versions, to be clear. They were obtained through the same means as in previous years, which proved to be quite reliable.

However, just because last year was correct doesn’t mean this year will be. These are based on recent blueprints that case makers are already using to mass-produce cases for Apple’s yet-to-be-announced smartphones. Those schematics aren’t guaranteed to be accurate, and Apple’s final product may differ significantly.

A slew of speculations has surfaced to support these gadgets. We’ve heard a lot of rumors about the new smartphones’ sizes, the notch’s change, and the camera module’s size growth.

Dummy iPhone 13 devices are put through their paces.

Apple is sticking with the same screen sizes this time around, according to our early impressions of the lineup: a 5.4-inch “iPhone 13 small,” 6.1-inch “iPhone 13” and “iPhone 13 Pro,” and 6.7-inch “iPhone 13 Pro Max.”

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will discontinue the 5.4-inch model in 2022, so the “iPhone 13 tiny” might be your final shot for a little iPhone.

We can see that the TrueDepth camera technology on the fronts of the phones will be changing in some way across all models. The earpiece has been moved all the way to the top edge, leaving the camera somewhat off-center.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the size of the notch will alter, as recent reports have claimed, but it will vary in some fashion. We can’t see the precise size of the notch because these fake units don’t have genuine displays, just pieces of black glass on the front.

Apple’s ‘iPhone 13 mini’ vs. Apple’s ‘iPhone 12 mini’

When comparing the “iPhone 13 small” to the “iPhone 12 mini,” they appear to be virtually identical. The camera module is the only visible difference from the outside. The wide and ultra-wide lenses are now catty-cornered rather than layered atop one another, according to Apple.

Other than that, they’re the same size and have the same button arrangement.

The ‘iPhone 13’ vs. the ‘iPhone 12’

We can see that Apple has begun to make some adjustments to the “iPhone 13.” The cameras are catty-corner, just like the “iPhone 13 tiny,” although they don’t appear to be that much smaller.

Apple has moved the side button down slightly, most likely to make it more ergonomic for those with tiny hands. The mute toggle, as well as the volume controls, have also been moved lower. The SIM card tray, on the other hand, has risen significantly.

Apple’s ‘iPhone 13 Pro’ vs. Apple’s ‘iPhone 12 Pro’

With “iPhone 13 Pro,” things start to get interesting. In terms of button arrangement, the chassis is identical to the “iPhone 13,” but the cameras are what we’re most interested in.

The camera bulge on the “iPhone 13 Pro” is much bigger than on the “iPhone 12 Pro.” This confirms what we witnessed in a recent case release, which also highlighted this shift. The wide and ultra-wide lenses both look to be bigger.

This higher increase might be attributed to a new ultra-wide camera with better focusing. Because the wide lens is likewise bigger, it might indicate that the camera will be improved as well.

The tele lens on the “iPhone 13 Pro” has remained the same size. As a result, two of the cameras are bigger and one is smaller. This suggests that Apple will retain the enhanced tele lens unique to the “iPhone 13 Pro Max,” as it did with the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

‘Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max’ vs. ‘Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max’

The “iPhone 13 Pro Max,” the largest of the group, is a carbon copy of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Except for the SIM card tray, which has shifted up a little, all of the buttons are in the same place.
When it comes to the camera, the hump is somewhat greater than the one before it, which means that covers designed for the iPhone 12 Pro Max won’t fit the new model. However, because all three cameras are bigger, the 2021 model might see significant improvements to all three cameras.

According to Kuo, Apple is using a new wide-angle camera with an f/1.5 aperture, as evidenced by the supply chain. This is quicker than the iPhone 12 version’s f/1.6 aperture.

We may expect some modifications from the previously updated 2.5X model on the 2020 Max-sized iPhone because the tele lens is bigger.

Furthermore, both the “iPhone 13 Pro” and “iPhone 13 Pro Max” look to be somewhat thicker than the iPhone 12 models; maybe.

The thickness ranges from 5mm to 1mm.

We’ll find out as soon as possible.

These models offer us a decent idea of what Apple has planned for the “iPhone 13” series, and thankfully, we won’t have to wait long to find out.

According to the newest reports, Apple is preparing shipments ahead of the iPhone 12, indicating a return to the September release schedule.