Given that the iPhone 13 mini gets its camera technology from the iPhone 12 Pro Max, this is where it shines. While it doesn't have the telephoto lens and Apple ProRAW, the 13 mini does come with wide and ultra wide lenses with sensor-shift optical image stablisation. While we personally prefer to use the automatic settings, the camera also comes with photographic styles which allows you to personalise the look of your images from a choice of four presets—rich contrast, vibrant, warm or cool. You can customise it even further by adjusting the tone and warmth settings. 

We're also amazed by how well the night mode captures scenery shots at night and how it makes images well-lit even in pretty dark conditions. We especially love taking selfies with the portrait mode and while it softens the look of the subject in a more forgiving light, the technology is still behind if compared to other android camera phones that have an in-built photo enhancer that enables one to take insta-worthy pics instantly, as well as the ability to use hand gestures for taking photos instead of using the timer.

It is capable of taking 4K videos as well but the cinematic mode is one of the biggest improvements across the iPhone 13 lineup. This feature is designed to bring a cinematic depth-of-field to your videos for a more professional feel. Overall, the footage looks good and it's amazing how quickly the camera processes a scene in real time with moving subjects. We like how we can change the focus point with a tap on the screen, however, it's not possible to zoom in or out. 

With reviews of the iPhone 12 mini's battery life being a dismal drain fest, we were a bit trepidatious with the iPhone 13 mini's battery performance. Apple has addressed this issue with the use of the lightning-fast A15 bionic chip, which claims to improve battery life by 1.5 hours. 

After using it for about a month , we're happy to report that the iPhone 13 mini has exceeded our expectations. To our surprise and delight, on an average of using it 4-5.5 hours in total, the mini can last a full day, charging it once at night. We're pretty consistent in terms of usage throughout the day, checking messages on WhatsApp and email, scrolling through social feeds, taking photos, transferring files via airdrop. However, when using it extensively like shooting non-stop for social media, the battery dips a little faster especially when it is at 50-60 per cent. Suffice to say, you can safely go out for up to 4-5 hours without a need for a power bank if you're at 100 per cent with casual usage.

Having said that, it does make us mindful of phone usage, which is a good thing considering how addicted most of us are to our devices. 

All in all, the iPhone 13 mini is a good performer at the top of its class. It's a great phone to have if you're all about functionality, portability and pocketability as well as taking great pictures.

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