A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a compact phone with a smaller screen and don't mind a lower refresh rate, the iPhone 13 mini with its 5.4-inch display and 60Hz refresh rate could be the choice for you. However, if a fluid and smoother scrolling experience is important to you and you prefer a slightly bigger screen, the Samsung Galaxy S23 with a 6.1-inch display and a 120Hz refresh rate would be more suitable. The Galaxy S23 also offers longer battery life, which may be beneficial if you tend to be away from a charger for extended periods. For photography enthusiasts, the Galaxy S23 boasts a higher overall camera quality, so if photo and video capabilities are critical for you, it might be the better option. Keep in mind that the iPhone 13 mini runs iOS, while the Galaxy S23 operates on Android, which may affect your decision based on your ecosystem preference. The choice ultimately comes down to the size, display refresh rate, battery life, camera performance, and the operating system that you prefer. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 13 mini
- The Apple iPhone 13 mini has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Apple iPhone 13 mini has good overall camera quality.
The iPhone 13 mini's cameras are highly praised for their selfie capabilities, thanks to robust software that enhances the shooting experience, produces good detail across a range of lighting conditions, and maintains consistent quality in various situations. While also excelling in these areas, the Samsung Galaxy S23 leads with its superb photo software, dynamic range, and low light performance, and offers a more versatile camera setup, making it favored for its excellent selfie quality and overall camera performance.
Photo Quality
7.5
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Apple iPhone 13 mini takes good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is rated higher in selfie quality than the Apple iPhone 13 mini, contributing to its 'excellent' photo capabilities, which is reinforced by its superior ratings in areas like camera versatility, low light performance, and dynamic range. Conversely, the iPhone 13 mini, while still delivering 'very good' selfies, falls short in versatility and low light performance, resulting in a 'very good' overall photo performance relative to the S23.
Battery
5.6 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has 5.6 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a screen size of 5.4 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$600
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple iPhone 13 mini has a price of $600 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Phone
Find your new phone
Key similarities
Video Quality
8.0
7.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple iPhone 13 mini to have very good videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 delivers a superior video experience with excellent stabilization and video low light performance, supported by a higher video software experience. Meanwhile, the Apple iPhone 13 mini, while still offering very good video capabilities, including robust video stabilization and high mic quality, does not match the S23's overall video performance.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple iPhone 13 mini and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 mini | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 5.4" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 476 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2438 mAh | 3900 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 12 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.18" x 2.53" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.97 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Green, Red | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 mini
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Jordan Palmer | May 2022
"It’s the best small phone you can possibly buy, outpacing anything Android can offer. With the A15 Bionic system-on-chip, which includes a quad-core GPU, the iPhone 13 mini is a very powerful little phone. Fans of smaller handsets will love this phone, as it fits in many a pocket."
Samsung Galaxy S23
See more
Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 13 mini or the Samsung Galaxy S23
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Phone guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about phones
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
Featured in
