The iPhone 13 launched in September 2021 with the A15 Bionic chip and a refined dual-camera system, becoming one of the best-selling iPhones of the decade. Apple removed it from direct sale in 2024 after the iPhone 16 launch. Below are the modern alternatives we recommend in 2026.
Compared to current iPhones, the iPhone 13 lacks the Dynamic Island, ProMotion 120Hz display, USB-C, and Apple Intelligence support. Battery efficiency, camera computational pipeline, and chipset speed have all advanced significantly. If you can still find a new one, it remains a capable phone — but every iPhone since the 14 brings meaningful upgrades.
The iPhone 13 was discontinued in 2024. Compared to current iPhones, the iPhone 13 lacks the Dynamic Island, ProMotion 120Hz display, USB-C, and Apple Intelligence support. Battery efficiency, camera computational pipeline, and chipset speed have all advanced significantly. If you can still find a new one, it remains a capable phone — but every iPhone since the 14 brings meaningful upgrades. If you find one new or refurbished at a deep discount, it can still be a sensible buy — otherwise the alternatives below offer meaningful upgrades for the same money.
Compared to current iPhones, the iPhone 13 lacks the Dynamic Island, ProMotion 120Hz display, USB-C, and Apple Intelligence support. Battery efficiency, camera computational pipeline, and chipset speed have all advanced significantly. If you can still find a new one, it remains a capable phone — but every iPhone since the 14 brings meaningful upgrades. Manufacturers typically retire a flagship after two to three generations to focus engineering and software updates on newer hardware.
Based on our scoring, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the strongest direct Apple successor — see the full list below for scoring and price details.
Apple typically provides software support for several years after retiring a product, but new feature rollouts (such as on-device AI capabilities) are generally exclusive to the newest hardware. Check Apple's official support pages for the current update window.
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