iPhone 13 vs. iPhone X: Should you upgrade?

If you're still pocketing an iPhone X, you may be getting that oh-so-familiar itch to get your hands on a new iPhone. Your wait may now be over, with the iPhone 13 announcement.

If you're coming up to the end of a plan, or you're just hoping to wrap your fingers around Apple's latest tech then this guide will show you what separates the two handsets, and whether it is worth the upgrade. If you're a year ahead and have the iPhone 11 then you can compare the iPhone 13 and 11 here.

While iPhone changes can seem small year to year, after three upgrade cycles you're bound to see some major improvements. It will come as no surprise that the iPhone 13 is a more advanced piece of tech, but see if it measures up to what you want below.

Here are how the iPhone X and iPhone 13 compare:

• Specs
• Price
• Camera
• Connectivity
• Design
• Display
• Performance
• Battery

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Specs

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Price

Chances are that if you're checking out this article, you're not thinking about purchasing an iPhone X - rather you're hoping to justify the money for the iPhone 13.

If you are looking to buy a new iPhone X, you're out of luck because the handset is no longer available. You may be able to find a refurbished version but a brand-spanking-new one is out of the question.

Below are the outright prices for each of the iPhone 13 models. If you go through one of Australia's telcos you'll still pay the same price, but the cost will be split up into monthly repayments over either 12, 24 or 36-months. Your SIM-only plan will then be added on top of that to make your monthly phone bill.

• iPhone 13 mini (128GB): from $1,199
• iPhone 13 (128GB): from $1,349
• iPhone 13 Pro (128GB): from $1,699
• iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB): from $1,849

Here is every iPhone 13 plan available.

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Camera

Since the iPhone X, Apple has made some big jumps in cameras. Where the iPhone X has a wide, and a telephoto lens, the iPhone 13 comes with a 12MP wide + 12MP ultra-wide lens, both which have significant upgrades from the iPhone 12.

The iPhone 13 comes with night mode, optical image stabilisation, and a more advanced bokeh and depth control in portrait mode. Both lenses will also perform better in lowlight than it's predecessors. Where the iPhone X has no night mode at all, the iPhone 13 has a long exposure night mode on both lenses as well as a bigger sensor, and better stabilisation over last year's model.

Compared to the iPhone X, the iPhone 13 will take vastly greater photos in all conditions with sharper, clearer and more vibrant images all around.

Apple has also introduced a brand new 'Cinematic Mode' on all iPhone 13 devices. The setting is said to auto focus, and be able to predict when to shift that focus for example when your subject looks away. 

iPhone X vs iPhone 13: Connectivity

5G came to iPhones last year, and it makes sense the Apple has continued to roll out this technology even further.

Where the iPhone X has 4G connectivity, the iPhone 13 has access to Sub 6 5G frequencies, but we won't get the mmWave versions yet. Sub 6 was introduced in the iPhone 12 and is the most common 5G frequency used in Australia's budding networks. While mmWave is far from ubiquitous, Telstra has already begun rolling out the small cell technology in populace dense areas.

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Design

An iPhone looks like an iPhone - it is one of life's great consistencies. The iPhone X and iPhone 13 don't have many major design differences apart from Apple's decision to revert back to a squared-off design, sharpening the iPhone X's pillowy edges. 

The camera bump on the latest iPhone is more pronounced, and the colour finishes are now far more varied. Where the iPhone X came in just silver and black, you can now get a range of technicolour devices including blue, pink, and red.

It is also worth noting that the iPhone 13 has the same Ceramic Shield glass front that came out in the iPhone 12. Apple says this makes the iPhone 13 four times more drop-resistant than earlier phones. With this upgrade comes further water-resistance as well with the handset now rated to six metres for up to 30 minutes, as opposed to the one metre for 30 minutes on the iPhone X.

You'll also be able to use MagSafe accessories with the iPhone 13.

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Display

The iPhone X and iPhone 13 both have similar quality displays, but you'll get a little extra out of the iPhone 13. While the iPhone X had a 5.8-inch inch display, the iPhone 13 measures in at 6.1-inch, despite being pretty similar in size. The iPhone 13 display can also reach a higher brighter, and has better contrast, which should lead to a more natural viewing experience. 

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Performance

Equipped with the latest chipset, the iPhone 13 should naturally be much faster than the iPhone X which is now four processors behind. 

Last year the A14 chip made the iPhone 12 50% faster than the iPhone 11, and before that the A13 and A12 made performance better each time as well.

There will be a noticeable improvement in speed and performance on the iPhone 13 compared to the iPhone X, especially when using more demanding apps. 

iPhone X vs. iPhone 13: Battery

Apple has amped up its battery capacity for the iPhone 13, but that may just be to counteract the extra power needed for 5G and higher refresh rates.

In saying that, even according to Apple's stats the iPhone 13 is likely to outwit, outplay, and outlast the iPhone X on its best day. The iPhone X battery can last for 13 hours of video playback while the iPhone 13 is said to hold out for 19 hours.

When we tested the iPhone X back in 2017 we found that you'd get through the day with a decent buffer of around 30% battery remaining. Hopefully, the larger battery on the iPhone 13 will see the new device fare just as well, but until we have our hands on a device it is impossible to practically tell.

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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