iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 13: Should you upgrade?

Dylan Crismale - Digital Content Editor

Last updated 10 September 2024

Contents

In this iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16 guide:

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Price
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Camera
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Connectivity
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Design
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Display
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Performance
iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Battery
Should you upgrade to iPhone 16?

You might've just seen the announcement of the iPhone 16 and might be questioning if now is the time to upgrade to the latest thing. To help you make your decision we're here to break down the key features between the iPhone 13 and the brand-new iPhone 16.

Before we dive deeper spec-by-spec check out how the iPhone 13 stacks up against the iPhone 16.

Note: This comparison is for the base models.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16

	iPhone 13	iPhone 16
Display	6.1-inch OLED	6.1-inch OLED
Resolution	Liquid Retina HD with 60Hz	Super Retina XDR with 60Hz
Rear Cameras	2x 12MP	48MP + 12MP
Front Camera	12MP	12MP
Processor	A15	A18
Storage	128GB - 512GB	128GB - 512GB
Water resistance	IP68 - Up to 6m depth	IP68 - Up to 6m depth
Connectivity	Sub 6 5G	Sub 6 5G
Battery	Up to 19 hours video playback	Up to 22 hours video playback
Charging Port	Lightning	USB-C
Action button	No	Yes
Camera control	No	Yes
Price	No longer available	From $1,399

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Price

One of the most important factors in deciding if you want to upgrade is how much it's going to cost you.

You'd be paying between $50 and $80 more for your iPhone 16 than what you paid for your iPhone 13 if you choose to upgrade. Depending on the condition of your iPhone 13 you could always trade it in and get some credit towards your iPhone 16 purchase.

Here's the launch pricing for the iPhone 13:

iPhone 13 (128GB): $1,349
iPhone 13 (256GB): $1,519
iPhone 13 (512GB): $1,869

The iPhone 16 is slightly more expensive with prices starting from $1,399:

iPhone 16 (128GB): $1,399
iPhone 16 (256GB): $1,599
iPhone 16 (512GB): $1,949

Decided to upgrade? Here's how much the cheapest storage variant of each iPhone 16 costs on a 36-month repayment plan from Vodafone, Telstra and Optus:

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $73.68/mth Min. cost $1,287.48 Go to Site	$73.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,287.48	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: Upgrade & Protect included when you add a phone on a payment plan. Plus, get up to $10/mth SubHub credit for 12 mths. T&Cs apply. $103.68/mth Min. cost $1,317.48 Go to Site	$103.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,317.48	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments $104.68/mth Min. cost $1,318.48 Go to Site	$104.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,318.48	Go to Site
#4	Telstra	Telstra $84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan 180GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Essential Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26 $111.47/mth Min. cost $1,422.92 Link not supplied	$111.47/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,422.92	Link not supplied
#5	Telstra	Telstra $74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan 50GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments $111.47/mth Min. cost $1,422.92 Link not supplied	$111.47/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,422.92	Link not supplied
#6	Telstra	Telstra $99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan 300GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices 36 mths device payments Deal: Get $15 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Premium Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26 $121.47/mth Min. cost $1,432.92 Link not supplied	$121.47/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,432.92	Link not supplied
#7	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $124.68/mth Min. cost $1,338.48 Go to Site	$124.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,338.48	Go to Site

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $77.86/mth Min. cost $1,437.96 Go to Site	$77.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,437.96	Go to Site
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: Upgrade & Protect included when you add a phone on a payment plan. Plus, get up to $10/mth SubHub credit for 12 mths. T&Cs apply. $107.86/mth Min. cost $1,467.96 Go to Site	$107.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,467.96	Go to Site
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments $108.86/mth Min. cost $1,468.96 Go to Site	$108.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,468.96	Go to Site
#4	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $128.86/mth Min. cost $1,488.96 Go to Site	$128.86/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $1,488.96	Go to Site

#1	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $98.68/mth Min. cost $2,187.48 Out of stock	$98.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,187.48	Out of stock
#2	Optus	Optus $69 Optus Promo Plan 360GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments Deal: Upgrade & Protect included when you add a phone on a payment plan. Plus, get up to $10/mth SubHub credit for 12 mths. T&Cs apply. $128.68/mth Min. cost $2,217.48 Out of stock	$128.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,217.48	Out of stock
#3	Optus	Optus $70 Optus Choice Plus Plan 240GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments $129.68/mth Min. cost $2,218.48 Out of stock	$129.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,218.48	Out of stock
#4	Optus	Optus $90 Optus Choice Plus Plan 480GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device 36 mths device payments SubHub: Receive up to $20/mth SubHub credit when you have an active SubHub account with subs greater than $0. T&Cs apply $149.68/mth Min. cost $2,238.48 Out of stock	$149.68/mth (plan + phone) Min. cost $2,238.48	Out of stock

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Camera

Camera design-wise the obvious difference is the cameras are now stacked on top rather than diagonally across from each other. It's what's inside that really matters though. The iPhone 16 has a 48MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide camera compared to the dual 12MP lenses on the iPhone 13.

Each has a 12MP selfie camera but the iPhone 16 has the improved setup introduced on the iPhone 14, which has also been further tweaked. The iPhone 16 also has up to 2x optical zoom (via the primary "Fusion" lens) compared to 1x optical zoom on the iPhone 13.

With improvements to the camera software, iPhone 16 should outclass the iPhone 13 in every aspect. We'll be able to say more about the camera quality on the iPhone 16 camera after we've had a chance to test it.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Connectivity

As the iPhone 15 established, the iPhone 16 also sports a USB-C charging port. The iPhone 13 on the other hand has the older proprietary Apple Lightning connector.

In terms of network, both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 16 support 5G connectivity and both have eSIM as an option alongside a physical SIM card slot.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Design

Apple has set a trend of slowly drip-feeding bigger swings from the Pro models one year to the base models the next. Apple broke the mould this year.

The iPhone 16 has the action button introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro models, and also the new camera control button is available on the iPhone 16 Pro models. It also sports the Dynamic Island instead of the camera notch which was first introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro range. The iPhone 16 features contoured sides compared to the flat sides on the iPhone 13.

All of these adjustments, plus the previously mentioned change with the camera arrangement mean the iPhone 16 and iPhone 13 are pretty different design-wise. Although, the iPhone look is pretty firmly established so nothing is a major departure.

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iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Display

Display-wise we're still looking at a 6.1-inch display on both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 16. The Dynamic Island is a notable point of difference. It's able to morph and display incoming calls, show directions, timers, music and more.

The iPhone 16 also comes with the latest-generation ceramic shield display. Apple says the glass on the iPhone 16 is 50% more durable than that on the iPhone 13.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Performance

Rather than last year's Pro A17 processor the iPhone 16 has jumped straight to an A18 processor. The iPhone 13 uses Apple's A15 chip.

The iPhone 13 is no slouch itself but the iPhone 16 will of course run rings around it.

iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 16: Battery

According to Apple, the iPhone 13's battery is rated for 19 hours of video playback. Apple has managed to squeeze three extra hours in for the iPhone 16 at up to 22 hours of video playback.

If you've been using the iPhone 13 since launch it would have lost some of its capacity by now, so moving to the iPhone 16 should represent a solid improvement.

We'll be able to say more about the iPhone 16's battery after we've been able to test it.

Should you upgrade to iPhone 16?

Compared to the iPhone 13 the iPhone 16 is a substantially better product. You get the last few years of updates such as the Dynamic Island and action button, plus the new camera controls, and everything going on under the hood.

If money is no issue and you want the latest thing then upgrading to the iPhone 16 is a fairly easy decision to make. If the iPhone 16 isn't exciting enough but you still want a newer iPhone you could consider an iPhone 15 or 14 which all just became cheaper. Upgrading from an iPhone 13 to an iPhone 14 wouldn't really make sense, however. The pair are largely too similar.

It's also fine if you want to wait another year to see what Apple offers next. Apple averages around seven years of support for its iPhones meaning the iPhone 13 should still be supported with new iOS and security updates for another four years.

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Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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