iPhone 16 Plus & iPhone 13 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone 16 Plus rather than the iPhone 13.
Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 16 Plus?
- The iPhone 16 Plus features the A18 chip with a more advanced Neural Engine for faster performance and efficient on-device AI tasks, while the iPhone 13 uses the older A15 Bionic chip with a less capable Neural Engine.
- iPhone 16 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display for a larger and more immersive viewing experience, whereas the iPhone 13 has a smaller 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
- It has a 48 MP wide camera for capturing sharper photos with higher detail and spatial video support, while the iPhone 13 includes a 12 MP wide camera that produces lower resolution images without spatial video.
- The iPhone 16 Plus includes 8 GB of RAM for smoother multitasking and better handling of demanding apps, whereas the iPhone 13 comes with 4 GB of RAM that is more limited in simultaneous performance.
- iPhone 16 Plus supports USB-C charging with faster peak wired power and broader accessory compatibility, while the iPhone 13 uses the Lightning port with slower charging and limited compatibility.
- It has a larger 4674 mAh battery for longer usage times of up to 27 hours video playback, whereas the iPhone 13 has a smaller 3227 mAh battery.
- The iPhone 16 Plus supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for faster wireless speeds and more reliable connections, while the iPhone 13 uses Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
- iPhone 16 Plus features an Action Button and Camera Control Button for customizable shortcuts and instant camera access, whereas the iPhone 13 lacks additional hardware buttons and relies only on touchscreen controls.
Maybe the iPhone 13 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 16 Plus. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.
Side By Side Comparison
| Feature | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 13 |
| Display size | 6.7-inch | 6.1-inch |
| Peak outdoor brightness | Up to ~2000 nits | ~1200 nits |
| Chipset | A18 | A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Neural/AI capability | Much larger Neural Engine and Apple Intelligence support | Legacy Neural Engine |
| iOS at launch | iOS 18 | iOS 15 |
| Apple Intelligence features | Supported | Not supported |
| Rear main camera | 48 MP wide | 12 MP wide |
| Rear camera layout | Vertical | Diagonal |
| Spatial video capture | Available | Not available |
| Video zoom range | Longer digital range | Shorter digital range |
| Photonic/Smart HDR generation | Newer generation and algorithms | Earlier generation |
| Action Button | Available | Not available |
| Camera Control/“Capture” Button | Available (quick capture/mode) | Not available |
| Port | USB-C | Lightning |
| Wired charging | Up to ~25 W peak (USB-C) | ~20 W peak |
| Wireless standard | MagSafe (15 W) + Qi2 (magnetic 15 W) | MagSafe (15 W) + Qi (7.5 W) |
| Battery capacity | ~4674 mAh | ~3227 mAh |
| Video playback (rated) | Up to ~27 hours | Up to ~19 hours |
| Audio playback (rated) | Up to ~100 hours | Up to ~75 hours |
| Connectivity (Wi-Fi) | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Ultra Wideband | Newer UWB | U1 |
| 5G eSIM/SIM | eSIM-only in some regions | nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Satellite features | Emergency SOS via satellite, roadside assist | Not available |
| Maximum storage | Up to 1 TB | Up to 512 GB |
| Microphone system | Improved array and voice isolation | Older array |
| Thermal design | Enhanced/updated thermal design | Conventional |
| Speakers | Updated tuning/spatial audio improvements | Earlier tuning |
| Find My precision tracking | More precise with newer UWB and AI cues | Standard with U1 |
| Price | Check iPhone 16 Plus Price | Check iPhone 13 Price |
What Common Both Can Do?
- Super Retina XDR OLED Displays: Both phones rely on Apple’s high-quality OLED panels branded as Super Retina XDR, providing deep blacks, vibrant colors, and precise contrast, ensuring movies and photos look sharp and immersive.
- 60 Hz Refresh Rate: Neither device introduces ProMotion; both are capped at 60 Hz refresh rates. This creates similar scrolling smoothness and gaming responsiveness, keeping them distinct from Pro models.
- HDR Standards: Support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision is identical, giving users cinematic-grade video playback quality on streaming platforms and when recording HDR video.
- True Tone Technology: Both include Apple’s True Tone sensors, adjusting the display’s white balance dynamically according to ambient lighting for comfortable viewing in different environments.
- Ceramic Shield Protection: Apple equips both devices with Ceramic Shield on the front glass, a nano-crystal infused cover glass for greater drop protection compared to older iPhones.
- Aluminum & Glass Build: Each uses aerospace-grade aluminum frames and glass backs, maintaining Apple’s familiar premium aesthetic and durable construction.
- Water and Dust Resistance: Both carry IP68 certification, meaning they can survive immersion up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, useful for accidental spills, splashes, or short underwater exposures.
- Face ID Unlocking: Security and convenience remain consistent, as both integrate Apple’s TrueDepth camera system for Face ID recognition, enabling biometric authentication for apps and Apple Pay.
- 12 MP TrueDepth Front Camera: Video calls, selfies, and FaceTime performance are similar thanks to the shared resolution and TrueDepth technology, still producing high-quality results.
- 5G Networks: Connectivity for high-speed mobile data is common to both, enabling faster downloads, streaming, and online gaming where 5G coverage is available.
- MagSafe Ecosystem: Both devices integrate Apple’s MagSafe magnets, allowing magnetic attachment of chargers, wallets, battery packs, and cases with precise alignment.
- Qi Wireless Charging: Compatibility with Qi pads remains, letting users charge wirelessly even without MagSafe accessories, ensuring wide third-party accessory support.
- Stereo Speakers with Spatial Audio: Each device includes stereo speaker setups optimized for spatial audio, creating more immersive sound when watching movies or playing games.
- No Headphone Jack: Both phones lack the traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack, steering users toward wireless solutions or wired connections through Lightning/USB-C adapters.
- iOS 18 Software: Despite their generational gap, both support Apple’s latest iOS 18 platform, providing consistent app compatibility, system features, and long-term update potential.
Common Features
| Feature | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 13 |
| Display type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz standard | 60 Hz standard |
| HDR support | HDR10 and Dolby Vision | HDR10 and Dolby Vision |
| True Tone | Supported | Supported |
| Ceramic Shield | Front protected by Ceramic Shield | Front protected by Ceramic Shield |
| Build materials | Aerospace-grade aluminum and glass | Aerospace-grade aluminum and glass |
| Water resistance | IP68 rated | IP68 rated |
| Face ID | Facial recognition via TrueDepth camera | Facial recognition via TrueDepth camera |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth camera | 12 MP TrueDepth camera |
| 5G connectivity | Supported | Supported |
| MagSafe | Magnetic wireless charging ecosystem | Magnetic wireless charging ecosystem |
| Wireless charging | Qi standard compatible | Qi/Qi2 standard compatible |
| Stereo speakers | Dual speakers with spatial audio | Dual speakers with spatial audio |
| No headphone jack | Absent (wireless or Lightning/USB-C) | Absent (wireless or USB-C) |
| Software updates | Supported with iOS 18 and beyond | Supported with iOS 18 and beyond |
| Price | Check iPhone 16 Plus Price | Check iPhone 13 Price |
FAQ
Is the iPhone 16 Plus larger than the iPhone 13? Does the iPhone 16 Plus have a better processor than the iPhone 13? How much RAM does the iPhone 16 Plus have compared to the iPhone 13? Do both phones support 5G connectivity? Are the displays similar on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 16 Plus? How do the main cameras differ between the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 13? Does the iPhone 16 Plus have better battery life than the iPhone 13? Do both phones support MagSafe accessories? Is the iPhone 16 Plus heavier than the iPhone 13? What type of charging ports do the iPhone 13 and iPhone 16 Plus use? Do both phones have Face ID for unlocking? Does the iPhone 16 Plus support Apple Intelligence while the iPhone 13 does not? Are both models water resistant? What is the maximum storage capacity of each model? Do both models run the latest iOS software? |
