Apple iPhone 13 vs Apple iPhone 18 Air
Compare Apple iPhone 13 vs Apple iPhone 18 Air side by side: Apple A15 Bionic vs Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC), 12MP vs 48MP camera, 3240mAh vs 3400mAh battery…
Apple
iPhone 13
$599
2categories won
Apple
iPhone 18 Air
$1,199
15categories won
2 categories tied · 19 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Apple iPhone 18 Air takes the overall win
The Apple iPhone 18 Air proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 13, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the iPhone 18 Air leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the iPhone 18 Air. Choose the iPhone 18 Air if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 13 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
iPhone 18 Air takes battery honors offering 3,400 mAh alongside 35W charging.
iPhone 18 Air provides greater sustained gaming output with its Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC) and 12GB RAM.
iPhone 18 Air takes photography with 48MP optics.
iPhone 13 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $599 vs $1199.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
iPhone 13 vs iPhone 18 Air: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.6" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1260 x 2740Winner |
| Pixel density | 457 ppi | 457 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 3000 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC) |
| Process node | 5 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,240,000 | — |
| Geekbench multi | 5320 | — |
| Maximum RAM | 4 GB | 12 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 512GB | 1TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2Winner | 1 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 24 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps Dolby Vision HDR | — |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,240 mAh | 3,400 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 35 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 20 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 174 g | 148 gWinner |
| Thickness | 7.65 mm | 5.5 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front, glass back | — |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 15 | iOS 20 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 13 | iPhone 18 Air |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | — |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $599Winner | $1,199 |
Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 introduced sensor-shift optical image stabilisation to mainstream phones, reduced the TrueDepth notch by 20%, doubled base storage to 128GB, and delivered outstanding battery efficiency with the 5nm A15 Bionic.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Apple A15 Bionic
- Main camera
- 12MP
- Battery
- 3,240mAh
Apple iPhone 18 Air
The iPhone 18 Air is Apple’s thinnest, lightest smartphone ever made. Measuring just 5.5mm thin and weighing a feathery 148g, it integrates a full 6.6-inch 120Hz ProMotion panel, 2nm A20 Pro performance, and a single versatile 48MP Fusion camera.
- Display
- 6.6"
- Chipset
- Apple A20 Pro (2nm TSMC)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,400mAh