iPhone 13 mini vs iPhone XR: three generations apart but does that really matter?

The iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone XR are 3 generations apart but does the XR have any strengths over the newer iPhone 13 mini? We dig deep into the specifications to find out! The iPhone 13 mini unveiled September 2021 alongside the other models of the 13 series, while the iPhone XR was released in September 2018.

iPhone 13 mini vs iPhone XR: camera quality

When it comes to camera quality, the iPhone 13 mini has a dual 12 MP camera system compared to just a single 12 MP lens on the XR. The selfie camera is also better on the 13 mini with a 12 MP camera, as opposed to the 7 MP selfie camera for the XR. This means that photos taken with an iPhone 13 mini will be of higher quality than those taken with an XR.

iPhone 13 mini vs iPhone XR: battery, resolution, and storage

The battery life of both phones is also quite different; while both have pretty decent battery life, the newer model is actually inferior to the XR as it has a 2438 mAh battery in comparison to 2942 mAh on the older model. This means that you can expect longer usage time from the XR over the 13 mini - web browsing or video streaming should last around 10 hours and 15 hours respectively on each device however. In terms of display size and resolution, there's a clear difference between these two models; while both have good displays, they differ significantly in size - 5.4 inches for the 13 mini vs 6.1 inches for XR - as well as resolution (1080 x 2340 px vs 828 x 1792 px). Both phones come in a variety of colors but storage capacity differs significantly; while 13 mini offers up to 512 GB storage capacity, XR only offers up to 256 GB. In terms of RAM capacity there is also a difference between the two models; 4 GB RAM on iPhone 13 mini vs 3 GB RAM on the iPhone XR, which makes the 13 mini easier for users who need more multitasking capabilities from their phone. Finally when it comes to design and operating system both devices offer similar features but again due its newer release date one can expect better performance from its chipset and processor speed when using an iPhone 13 Mini over the iPhone XR.

iPhone 13 mini vs iPhone XR: verdict

For it's camera quality, resolution, plus portability benefit, we're inclined to go with the iPhone 13 mini. However, if you're after something simple and cheap that will last you a longer time when out and about, then maybe your preference is for the iPhone XR - the choice is yours. At Back Market we believe that buying refurbished products is not only great value but also helps reduce our environmental impact by reducing waste production and energy consumption associated with manufacturing new products – so why not save up between 30-70% off the cost of buying brand new all year round?