Apple iPhone 13 Mini, 128GB, Midnight – Unlocked (Renewed)

Ordered this phone as an emergency replacement after my wife woke up to a completely dead phone. Was next day delivery and reasonably priced, and my wife loves the mini line that Apple has unfortunately discontinued. Overall the phone was nearly flawless, 89% battery health, however: it did arrive with about a half-inch gouge towards the bottom of the screen. Given the nature of our situation, a return would have been a massive headache to deal with, and the wife was okay with just rolling with it, especially with the addition of a white stone some screen protector. I did reach out to the seller for a partial refund to accurately reflect the condition of the phone and it was taken care of within a matter of minutes. Can’t express how refreshing that level of customer service is. Wouldn’t hesitate to make this emergency purchase again lol.

I was on a waiting list for a ‘Renewed Premium’. Seems to be a long waiting list. I finally gave up and went with a ‘Renewed’ advertised in excellent condition. Given Amazon’s generous return policy, I would have been able to easily return it if there were issues. I probably wouldn’t have tried this with an online retailer other than Amazon or Apple.

It arrived with no scratches, dings, or apparent wear. Looks like new. That said, anyone buying a ‘Renewed’ phone should expect varying degrees of condition within the parameters of Amazon’s advertising. I’d suggest buying a ‘Renewed Premium’ if you want a phone that’s in like-new condition. I probably got lucky with a ‘Renewed’.

It shipped in *very* well designed and protective packaging designed for phones. Not likely to be damaged in transit short of extremely heavy crush damage. If you plan on trading in your phone or storing a back-up phone, I’d suggest keeping it. The box has spacers to accommodate different sizes. Kudos to the packaging engineers that designed this. Well done.

It was delivered with 100% battery health which almost certainly means that the phone was opened up and the battery replaced. The likelihood of a ‘renewed’ 13 Mini arriving with battery health at 100% is slim to none. I assume that they did this because the phone was traded in with < 80% battery health. The advertising states that the phone will arrive with battery health of ≥ 80% battery health.

Immediately after receiving it, I ran two diagnostics to check functions. In both cases, no issues. One of the diagnostics is built into iOS. You’ll need iOS 17 or later and not a beta release. Search for ‘built in iPhone diagnostic’ for instructions. There’s another which makes doing this quite a bit easier. From the Apple app store search for ‘Phone Doctor Plus’. There’s a free and paid version. It simplifies the process.

There are other diagnostic apps but these are the only two I’ve tried. Alternatively, you can take it to an Apple store and ask them to do it for you.

The advertising states that an MFi certified charging cable and a U/L certified charger are included. Don’t expect Apple branded accessories. Mine shipped with a 3ft aftermarket USB C to Lightning charging cable but not a charger. I removed the interior packaging to check. Not a deal breaker but for those that are expecting a charger, fyi.

Also advertised as an included accessory is a sim removal tool. I didn’t find one in the box. If yours shipped with a SIM card, I’d read through the pros and cons of SIM vs eSIM. If eSIM meets your needs, I’d recommend removing the SIM, physically destroying it and switching to eSIM. Switching to eSIM can be done in your phone’s settings. No expertise or hardware required. Although unlikely if buying from Amazon (I assume), SIM cards can be compromised. If you need a SIM card, probably best to get one from your carrier instead of a mystery SIM.

You’ll need a case. Without, it’s not a matter of if you’ll drop it but when. This is my second mini, the first being an iPhone 12 Mini. Slippery and with a smaller form factor than other iPhones, very easy lose grip especially if you have large hands. Further, without a case the camera lenses and screen make contact with whatever surface you place them on.

The Apple leather case has been my go-to for the last 3-4 phones. Very well designed, doesn’t add significant bulk and the drop protection has proven to be excellent. Great case for all but extreme circumstances.

Note that the iPhone 12 and 13 mini cases are not interchangeable. The camera lens housings are different. The 12 mini case will not fit the 13 mini. The 13 mini case will fit the 12 mini but there will be a gap on the right side of the lens housing.

Not to overstate it but If you’re considering an iPhone 12 mini or 13 mini, battery life may be problematic for heavy users and those who regularly use power hungry apps. GPS apps especially – Apple Maps, Google Maps, Uber, etc. If you’re on the move a lot without convenient charging options, a small power bank (≤ 5000mAh) will bring some peace of mind. True of all phones but somewhat more so for a Mini. In my experience with the 12 Mini, especially once battery health drops into the 80% range.

If you’re looking at both the 12 and 13 Minis, the 13 Mini uses an A15 processor which is more energy efficient and slightly faster. It also has a slightly larger battery. There are other differences including an upgraded camera in the 13 Mini. There are quite a few side by side comparison reviews. Worth checking out before buying.

Happy customer. I’m fully committed to the Mini form factor/dimensions. I carry it all day in a front or back pocket and barely know it’s there. When I need to replace it, perhaps Mini’s will be back in the menu from Apple. Hope so.