The rumor mill churns at full speed every time we approach the season of upgrades, aka the launch of a shiny new iPhone. Those smooth, gleaming edges, the sleek stainless body, the premium feel, and an aura so powerful, you can hear the silence at Apple Park. It’s definitely tempting. 

But at what cost? An upward of $2000 for an A16 Bionic chip instead of the A15 in the iPhone 13 and the A14 in the iPhone 12? That’s a steep investment for most users, especially parents and caregivers. And if you’re a regular with Apple events and read up on the spec details for most releases, you understand the concept of incremental improvements quite well. 

Whether you need these barely-there intangible changes in exchange for a hefty $2000+ investment, is a decision only you can make. However, in a world where we want our customers to make smart, planet-friendly choices, we encourage you to think twice before deciding. 

The decision we’ve made, you ask? iPhone 13 more than suffices for the basic as well as the not-so-basic needs of casual users. It offers inexpensive value with exceptional features, especially if you’ve been eyeing it for a quick, affordable, and meaningful upgrade in the refurbished market. 

The iPhone 13 and Its Seasoned Specs - Appreciated and Inherited by iPhone 15 

Seasoned - perhaps, the best way to describe iPhone 13 and its value proposition. Been there, done that, seen the world - this one knows exactly what you like and need. It’s tried, tested, and reliable. It’s money well spent. 

Rumor mill aside, critics claim that the iPhone 13 is one of the most reliable upgrade options in the market today. From specs, features, and design to the size and color options - you will not be left yearning for more.

Let’s take a closer look at the seasoned specs sported by the 13th gen. Rumor has it that the 15th series siblings will also be inheriting them 

Excellent OLED Display 

At the end of the day, it’s all about the screen. Isn’t it? The clarity, brightness, sharp contrast, and too-good-to-be-true colors - that’s what you interact with day in and day out. That’s the true upgrade you’re looking for. 

Well lucky for you, the brilliant Super Retina XDR OLED Displays on the 13th series will stay the same on the new release. A resolution of 2532 x 1179 and a refresh rate of 60Hz - the highest in the entire Apple lineup. 

iPhone 13 boasts a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio for blacks and whites and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. Streaming movies and TV shows? It’s the best of the best. Going up that hike for pictures of the Pacific? Experience the Edge of Intelligent Photography with the 12MP dual lens. 

A15 Performance Levels

The iPhone 15 will likely boast the A16 bionic chip compared to the A15 in the iPhone 13. However, when pitting these two powerhouses against each other, it’s unrealistic to observe a tangible difference. 

It goes without saying that upgrading to any device in the 15-gen lineup will deliver exceptional performance. The processor will be capable of handling intense multitasking while delivering the best speeds and load times. Therefore, searching for a faster and smoother smartphone experience is, perhaps, not reason enough to spend a fortune for the latest launch.

Upgrading to a refurbished iPhone 13, starting at NZ$993, or an iPhone 12, starting at NZ$685, will give you inexpensive value plus performance longevity - making your investment worthwhile. 

The 12MP Front Camera

Rumor has it that the 15th Gen will see back camera updates, however, the front 12MP lens will remain the same. Say hello to crisp selfies and high Facetime quality. It’s a standout feature of the iPhone 13 series that has made communication and connectivity all the more pleasant.

The iPhone 13 and Its Hidden Gems - Features You’ll Love

Not a new release but undoubtedly boasts the ‘wow’ factor - that’s the iPhone 13 for y’all. If you’re still looking for reasons to opt for a sustainable upgrade with this model, you’ll be surprised to know that there are plenty of ‘hidden’ or unexplored features to discover.

With 73% of smartphone users simply using their devices for texting and picture-taking - exploring innovative features and off-the-beaten-path functionality can elevate user experience and give you so much more value for your investment. 

You’d want to pin these on a trusty post-it 📒

Back-tap Gestures 

A feature you may not have heard or used is the Back-tap Gesture on the iPhone 13. With a few changes in settings, you can map an action to the back of the phone and access features like taking screenshots, turning on the torch, or opening the camera. 

It’s a neat little trick that adds a ton of one-hand functionality and ease for the users with a double or triple tap gesture. 

Simply follow these steps to activate it: 

Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap → Double Tap or Triple Tap

Calming Background Sounds

You can also use your refurbished iPhone 13 upgrade to play calming background noises to relieve stress and improve concentration. Choose from a variety of options like rain, ocean, or white noise.

Simply follow these steps to activate it: 

Settings →  Accessibility →  Audio/Visual  →  Background Sounds.

Live Text Feature 

The Live Text feature on iPhone 13 uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to pinpoint text from images. Once extracted, this text can be copied, translated, or shared.

Simply follow these steps to extract live text: 

Settings  → Camera  → Show Detected Text (ON)

FaceTime Eye Contact 

Not sure where to look while video calling? Quit worrying about eye content with the FaceTime Eye Contact toggle. Whether you’re looking directly at the lens or not, this handy feature creates an illusion that your eyes are focused on the speaker. 

Simply follow these steps to activate it:

Settings → FaceTime → Eye Contact

Swipe-Up Captions

Taken a bunch of photos with your refurbished iPhone 13? The Captions feature makes photography fun and interesting. Without downloading third-party apps, you can now add captions and doodles to the pictures with a simple gesture. Simply swipe up on each picture or video to see the collection of fun elements to add.

Hide Away Apps

Don’t want to see some apps on your screen? You can easily hide them by clicking ‘Remove App’ from the quick actions menu, and then selecting ‘Move to Library’ option. 

The iPhone 13 and Its Inexpensive Value

Refurbished iPhone upgrades are a great example of inexpensive value - a concept we talk about often. Instead of settling for a model that doesn’t deliver or overspending on one that doesn’t provide enough tangible benefits - you get to invest in one that gives you the best value for your money. 

The internet is buzzing with leaked pictures and speculative rumors about the iPhone 15. There’s no dearth of information. You’ll find plenty of comparisons and wishlists, and we’ll see what the fuss is all about come September 12th, 2023. 

However, we can say with absolute confidence that these upgrades don’t make much of a difference from a practical standpoint. They’re aspirational and nice to have - but will not bring a tangible change to the performance or perks of the iPhone 13 and 14 series. 

So, the question now is, will the iPhone 13 be good enough for you?