Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 13

Updated Jun 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the Apple iPhone Air is the better pick — it scores 76/100 to the Apple iPhone 13's 61, leading on Chip and Memory. Choose the Apple iPhone 13 instead if you want to spend less.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Apple iPhone Air leads overall

Apple iPhone Air

Apple iPhone 13

Why it stands out

Memory RAM capacity: 12 GB (200% more)
Storage capacity: 256 GB (100% more)
Display Refresh rate: 120 Hz (100% more)

Watch-outs

Compromises to know before you buy

Apple iPhone Air

No notable compromises found.

Apple iPhone 13

60 Hz display — less smooth scrolling than 90/120 Hz rivals.

Winner by category for Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 13
Category	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13	Winner
Chip	88	68	Apple iPhone Air
Memory	96	41	Apple iPhone Air
Storage	55	35	Apple iPhone Air
Display	69	52	Apple iPhone Air
Rear Camera	70	70	Tie
Front Camera	82	55	Apple iPhone Air
Cellular	85	87	Tie
Connectivity	78	47	Apple iPhone Air
Sensors	85	85	Tie
Design & Weight	72	56	Apple iPhone Air
Power & Battery	56	57	Tie
Benchmark	92	59	Apple iPhone Air
Miscellaneous	68	62	Apple iPhone Air
Security	85	85	Tie

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Jun 2026.

Apple iPhone Air

The iPhone Air is positioned as a premium smartphone designed for users who prioritize minimalist aesthetics without compromising performance. It features an exceptionally thin and lightweight profile while housing high-end components like the A19 Pro chip and advanced camera systems. This model aims to deliver flagship features in a highly portable, elegant form factor.

Best for design-conscious usersBest for media consumptionBest for premium portability

Pros

The device is notably slim and light, offering a comfortable feel despite its large display size.
It incorporates a durable Grade 5 titanium frame made with recycled materials.
Advanced cameras include a 48MP main sensor and an 18MP front camera for high-resolution capture.
The display is a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR panel featuring ProMotion up to 120Hz.

Cons

While thin, its design incorporates multiple advanced technologies internally, which might limit physical build or serviceability.
Connectivity includes high standards like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, making it a modern but potentially complex device to manage.

Official

Official product pageOfficial product specs noted its thinness (5.6 mm), weight (165 grams), and high-density battery.

Source

Wikidata: iPhone Air

Video — reviews used (2)

Wikipedia provided detailed dimensions, chipset (A19 Pro), display resolution, and specific camera sensor resolutions.

Generated Jun 28, 2026

Apple iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 is a smartphone released by Apple in September 2021. It features an upgraded chipset, a larger battery, and enhanced camera sensors compared to its predecessor (Source 2, 4). The device maintains the familiar flat design of previous models while offering improved performance features like water resistance (Source 1, 2).

Best for general useBest for users upgrading from older iPhone modelsBest for budget-minded buyers

Pros

Features a smaller notch cutout for selfie cam and Face ID than previous models (Source 2)
Includes IP68 rated water and dust resistance (Source 2)
Has a Super Retina XDR OLED screen protected by ceramic shield, with the standard model offering outstanding color accuracy (Source 2)
Improved max brightness measurement of around 800 nits compared to older models (Source 2)
Offers a more diagonal arrangement for rear camera lenses (Source 4)

Cons

The phone feels slightly heavier, about 10 grams, than previous iterations (Source 2)
The regular model sticks to a standard 60hz refresh rate, whereas the Pro model offers 120hz (Source 2)
Some reports note visible downsides related to age, such as problematic buttons (Source 4)

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.

Apple iPhone Air

Check Price on Amazon

Apple iPhone 13

Check Price on Amazon

Battery capacity

Larger cell — a hardware spec, not battery life

Apple iPhone Air3,149 mAh

Apple iPhone 133,240 mAh

Capacity is the raw battery size. Real-world battery life depends just as much on the processor, software and display.

Physical Comparison

Weigh them up, then compare real dimensions in 3D

Apple iPhone AirApple iPhone 13

Apple iPhone 13 is 9 g (5%) heavier than Apple iPhone Air.

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Chip

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Model

Memory

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
RAM capacity	12 GB200% more	4 GB
Memory technology	N/A	N/A

Storage

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Storage capacity	256 GB100% more	128 GB
Is expandable	No	No

Display

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Size	6.5 in7% more	6.1 in
Resolution	1260 × 2736 px	1170 × 2532 px
Pixel density	460 PPI	460 PPI
Refresh rate	120 Hz100% more	60 Hz
Display technology
Protection
Has pen support	No	No
Screen-to-body ratio	89%	87%

Rear Camera

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Rear camera (megapixels)	48 MP300% more	12 MP
Rear camera aperture	1.6	1.6
Optical zoom	0	1
Has High Dynamic Range (HDR)	Yes	Yes
Has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)	Yes	Yes
Number of cameras	1	2
Other cameras	None	12 MP ultrawide f/2.4

Front Camera

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Front camera (megapixels)	18 MP50% more	12 MP
Front camera aperture	1.914% less	2.2

Cellular

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Cellular technology
SIM type	N/A
Has dual-sim support	Yes	Yes

Connectivity

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Bluetooth technology
Wi-Fi technology
Connector
Has a headphone jack	No	No

Sensors

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Has a NFC sensor	Yes	Yes
Has an accelerometer sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a gyroscope sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a magnetic field sensor	Yes	Yes
Has an atmospheric pressure sensor	Yes	Yes
Has a GPS sensor	Yes	Yes

Design & Weight

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Color
Dimensions	7.47 × 15.62 × 0.56 cm	7.15 × 14.67 × 0.765 cm
Weight	165 g5% less	174 g

Power & Battery

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Battery capacity	3,149 mAh	3,240 mAh3% more
Has wireless charging support	Yes	Yes
Has fast charging support	Yes	Yes

Benchmark

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Antutu score	N/A	775,519
Geekbench single-core score	3,77570% more	2,222
Geekbench multi-core score	9,49795% more	4,880

Miscellaneous

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Release date	September 19, 2025	September 24, 2021
SAR (Head)	1.19 W/kg	1.18 W/kg
SAR (Body)	1.19 W/kg	1.19 W/kg
Dust & Water resistance
Operating system

Security

Feature	Apple iPhone Air	Apple iPhone 13
Has a fingerprint scanner	No	No
Has an advanced face scanner	Yes	Yes

Specification Note

Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Apple iPhone Air vs Apple iPhone 13 comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Apple iPhone Air rates higher at 82/100 versus 67/100 for Apple iPhone 13 — a 15-point lead. Apple iPhone Air is the stronger overall pick, though the right choice still depends on which specs matter most to you; the full spec table above breaks down every difference.

Apple iPhone Air and Apple iPhone 13 are compared side by side above across every spec in the smartphones category — including performance, features and design — each scored 0–100 so you can see exactly where one leads the other. Our overall scores are 82/100 for Apple iPhone Air and 67/100 for Apple iPhone 13.

At launch, Apple iPhone 13 was the more affordable option ($799) versus Apple iPhone Air ($999). Weigh that against the overall scores (82/100 vs 67/100) and the value-for-money meter above to judge whether the higher-rated model justifies its price for your needs. Current retail prices vary — check the retailer.

If you want the higher-rated smartphones option overall, Apple iPhone Air (82/100) edges out Apple iPhone 13 (67/100). But if Apple iPhone 13 is cheaper or stronger on the specific specs you care about, it can still be the better buy — use the spec table and strengths profile above to decide.