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Apple iPhone 13 mini Audio review

Posted on November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 by DXOMARK, tested by DXOMARK Audio Team

Reading Time: 0 min read

audio

How we test smartphone audio

Position in Global Ranking #6

[glossary_exclude]1. Black Shark 4 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]2. Xiaomi Mi 10S[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]3. Asus ROG Phone 5[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]4. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]5. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]6. Apple iPhone 13 mini[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]6. Apple iPhone 13[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]6. Asus ROG Phone 3[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]6. Huawei Mate 20 X[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. Apple iPhone XS Max[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. Oppo Find X2 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]15. Apple iPhone 12[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]15. Apple iPhone 12 mini[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]17. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]18. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]18. Apple iPhone 11[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]18. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]18. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]18. Xiaomi 11T Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]23. Apple iPhone SE[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]23. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]23. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]23. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]23. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]28. Asus ROG Phone 2[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]28. OnePlus 9 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]28. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]28. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]28. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. Google Pixel 5[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. Google Pixel 4[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. OnePlus 8[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Gaming[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]33. Xiaomi Mi 11[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]40. OnePlus 8 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Asus Zenfone 8[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Motorola Edge+[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. OnePlus 9[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Samsung Galaxy S20+[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Sony Xperia 1 III[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Vivo iQOO 7 Legend[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]41. Xiaomi Mi 11i[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]52. LG V60 ThinQ 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]52. OnePlus 7 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]52. Samsung Galaxy S10+[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]55. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]55. Nubia Red Magic 5S[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]57. POCO X3 NFC[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]57. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]59. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]59. Oppo Find X3 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]61. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]61. Oppo Find X3 Neo[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]63. Huawei Mate 30 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]64. Honor V30 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]64. Huawei P40 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]64. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]64. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]68. Realme X2 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]69. Motorola Razr[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]69. Realme GT 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]69. Sony Xperia 1 II[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]72. Black Shark 3 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]72. Motorola Edge 20 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]74. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]75. Honor 20 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]75. Oppo Find X3 Lite[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]75. Vivo X51 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]78. LG G8 ThinQ[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]79. Black Shark 2 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]79. Vivo X60 Pro+[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]81. Nubia Red Magic 3S[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]82. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]83. Sony Xperia 1[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]84. Nokia 7.2[/glossary_exclude]

Position in Premium Ranking #3

[glossary_exclude]1. Black Shark 4 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]2. Asus ROG Phone 5[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]3. Apple iPhone 13 mini[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]3. Apple iPhone 13[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]5. Apple iPhone 12[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]5. Apple iPhone 12 mini[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]7. Apple iPhone 11[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]7. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]7. Xiaomi 11T Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]10. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]10. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. Google Pixel 5[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. Google Pixel 4[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. OnePlus 8[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]12. Xiaomi Mi 11[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]16. Asus Zenfone 8[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]16. OnePlus 9[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]16. Xiaomi Mi 11i[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]19. LG V60 ThinQ 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]19. OnePlus 7 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]21. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]22. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]23. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]24. Oppo Find X3 Neo[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]25. Honor V30 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]25. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]27. Motorola Edge 20 Pro[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]28. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]29. Vivo X51 5G[/glossary_exclude]

[glossary_exclude]30. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)[/glossary_exclude]

The Apple iPhone 13 mini was released in September 2021 along with the rest of the iPhone 13 line. Except for its size, it shares all the same features as the other iPhone 13 models when it comes to audio, and it is all powered by the same A15 Bionic chipset.

With the device sharing the same audio specs as the other iPhone 13-series phones, one would expect the iPhone 13 mini’s test results and scores to be identical to the others. We have confirmed this by putting the iPhone 13 mini through the DXOMARK Audio test protocol.

Key Audio specifications include:

- Two speakers (up front-firing, and bottom side-firing)
- Audio zoom
- Dolby Atmos
- Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes (for calls)
- User‑configurable maximum volume limit

Test summary

Apple iPhone 13 mini

audio

76
playback

70
recording

Position in Global Ranking #6

1. Black Shark 4 Pro

2. Xiaomi Mi 10S

3. Asus ROG Phone 5

4. Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders

5. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

6. Apple iPhone 13 Pro

6. Apple iPhone 13 mini

6. Apple iPhone 13

6. Asus ROG Phone 3

6. Huawei Mate 20 X

12. Apple iPhone XS Max

12. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

12. Oppo Find X2 Pro

15. Apple iPhone 12

15. Apple iPhone 12 mini

17. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

18. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

18. Apple iPhone 11

18. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro

18. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

18. Xiaomi 11T Pro

23. Apple iPhone SE

23. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)

23. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Exynos)

23. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)

23. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)

28. Asus ROG Phone 2

28. OnePlus 9 Pro

28. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

28. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

28. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G

33. Google Pixel 5

33. Google Pixel 4

33. OnePlus 8

33. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon)

33. Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G (Exynos)

33. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Gaming

33. Xiaomi Mi 11

40. OnePlus 8 Pro

41. Asus Zenfone 8

41. Motorola Edge+

41. OnePlus 9

41. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

41. Samsung Galaxy S20+

41. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

41. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

41. Sony Xperia 1 III

41. Vivo iQOO 7 Legend

41. Xiaomi Redmi K40 Pro+

41. Xiaomi Mi 11i

52. LG V60 ThinQ 5G

52. OnePlus 7 Pro

52. Samsung Galaxy S10+

55. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro

55. Nubia Red Magic 5S

57. POCO X3 NFC

57. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra

59. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G

59. Oppo Find X3 Pro

61. Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

61. Oppo Find X3 Neo

63. Huawei Mate 30 Pro

64. Honor V30 Pro

64. Huawei P40 Pro

64. Lenovo Legion Phone Pro

64. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G

68. Realme X2 Pro

69. Motorola Razr

69. Realme GT 5G

69. Sony Xperia 1 II

72. Black Shark 3 Pro

72. Motorola Edge 20 Pro

74. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition

75. Honor 20 Pro

75. Oppo Find X3 Lite

75. Vivo X51 5G

78. LG G8 ThinQ

79. Black Shark 2 Pro

79. Vivo X60 Pro+

81. Nubia Red Magic 3S

82. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)

83. Sony Xperia 1

84. Nokia 7.2

Position in Premium Ranking #3

1. Black Shark 4 Pro

2. Asus ROG Phone 5

3. Apple iPhone 13 mini

3. Apple iPhone 13

5. Apple iPhone 12

5. Apple iPhone 12 mini

7. Apple iPhone 11

7. Lenovo Legion Phone 2 Pro

7. Xiaomi 11T Pro

10. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Snapdragon)

10. Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Exynos)

12. Google Pixel 5

12. Google Pixel 4

12. OnePlus 8

12. Xiaomi Mi 11

16. Asus Zenfone 8

16. OnePlus 9

16. Xiaomi Mi 11i

19. LG V60 ThinQ 5G

19. OnePlus 7 Pro

21. Nubia RedMagic 6 Pro

22. ZTE Axon 30 Ultra

23. Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G

24. Oppo Find X3 Neo

25. Honor V30 Pro

25. Oppo Reno5 Pro+ 5G

27. Motorola Edge 20 Pro

28. Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro Premium Edition

29. Vivo X51 5G

30. Vivo X60 Pro 5G (Snapdragon)

Playback

Pros

Very consistent performances among all attributes
Pleasant tonal balance, with added low mid warmth compared to previous iPhone generations
Precise localizability and very good wideness despite stereo being inverted

Cons

Stereo is still inverted in Music app, as it is with all iPhones
Bass distortion at maximum volume

Recording

Pros

Natural Timbre, especially consistent in high-SPL scenarios
Accurate envelope rendition
Good localizability and impressive wideness even in portrait mode
Good recording loudness and excellent resilience to high pressure levels
Mostly artifacts-free

Cons

Dark Timbre, lacking brightness and clarity
Below average SNR and intelligibility
Impaired distance rendition

Given the identical results, we are posting only this short article on the iPhone 13 mini. For the full set of measurements and the complete analysis, please click on the link below and read the audio review of the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Go to the audio review of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Test summary

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