Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
If there's one area where the iPhone 13 should try to improve upon the iPhone 12, it's battery life. As good as Apple's most recent flagships have proven to be, only the iPhone 12 Pro Max offered better than average battery life in our testing.
Apple may be addressing that shortcoming with the iPhone 13, as a new rumor suggests the batteries on Apple's upcoming phones will be bigger than what the current iPhones have to offer.
- iPhone 12 review
- iPhone 13 release date, price, specs and leaks
- Plus: iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 12: Biggest differences to expect
According to Twitter user @L0vetodream (via 9to5Mac), an Apple leaker with a high success rate, batteries in the different iPhone 13 models will range from 2,406 mAh to 4,352 mAh, with the largest, found in the iPhone 13 Pro Max, representing an 18% increase in size. The iPhone 12's batteries were 2,227 mAh to 3,687 mAh, depending on the model.
iPhone 13: Rumored battery sizes vs iPhone 12
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Battery size (mAh) | iPhone 12 equivalent |
| iPhone 13 mini | 2,406mAh | 2,227 mAh |
| iPhone 13 | 3,095mAh | 2,815 mAh |
| iPhone 13 Pro | 3,095mAh | 2,815 mAh |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | 4,352mAh | 3,687 mAh |
There are many reasons why Apple might opt for larger batteries with iPhone 13. Obviously, the company is looking to be more competitive with rival phones like the Google Pixel 5 and Samsung Galaxy S21, which sported larger batteries than the iPhone 12.
Of course, that didn’t necessarily translate to longer battery life; the Pixel series continues to struggle in that regard, while the Galaxy S21 bounced from below-average to good depending on the phone’s settings. To put things into perspective, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra landed at No. 15 in our most recent best phone battery life tests while the iPhone 12 models didn’t even rank.
The leading factor concerning battery life are the apps/features being used at a given moment. Turn off all of the power-hungry options and every phone would perform well. Doing so wouldn’t represent a realistic depiction of everyday use, though, as consumers will want to use their phone’s fancy apps as much as possible. And because the iPhone 13 is bound to come with some powerful upgrades, such as better 5G connectivity, new display technology, and a faster processor, having a larger battery to contend with the extra drain makes sense.
Apple will look to compete with rival companies by making sure that its phone batteries continue to provide adequate power. And the A15 Bionic chip expected to power the new iPhones could help in that regard by distributing power more efficiently.
- More: iOS 14.6 users reporting major battery drain issues and overheating
- iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 11: Biggest changes to expect
