Apple iPhone 13
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until September 2028 · Buy-by September 2026
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~7-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 13 should be supported until around September 2028. Buying it today still gets you about 2.3 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: endoflife.date (community-tracked) · last verified 2026-06-10 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
35% above the under-$300 median ($6.74/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
At around $249 refurbished, the iPhone 13 is one of the cheapest tickets into the iPhone world — but its clock is ticking: expect roughly two more years of updates, not five.
Pros
- Very cheap entry into iOS (refurbished market)
- Still runs the current version of iOS in 2026
- Reliable cameras and IP68 build that have aged well
- Holds basic resale value
Cons
- Estimated support ends around September 2028 — buy-by window is closing
- Lightning port, not USB-C — accessories are a dead end
- 4GB RAM and A15 will feel slow as apps grow
- No Apple Intelligence support
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP — sensor-shift OIS |
| ultra-wide | 12MP |
| front | 12MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 3,240 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired (50% in ~30 min), MagSafe 15W wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65 mm |
| Weight | 174 g |
| Materials | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 15 at launch — currently runs the latest iOS |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Lightning |
| Update policy | ~7 years of updates (our estimate from Apple's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Is the iPhone 13 still supported in 2026?
Yes — the iPhone 13 still runs the latest iOS in 2026. But it launched in September 2021, and on Apple's typical seven-year pattern its updates will likely end around 2028. It's in the 'buy with care' zone: fine used at a low price, unwise at a high one.
How much longer will the iPhone 13 get updates?
We estimate until roughly September 2028 — about two more years from mid-2026 — based on Apple's historical support pattern. Apple doesn't publish exact end dates, so treat this as an informed estimate, not a promise.
Is the iPhone 13 worth buying in 2026?
Only refurbished and only cheap. At ~$249 with about two years of updates left, it works out to roughly $10/month of safe use — acceptable as a budget or backup phone. Paying much more than $300 doesn't make sense when the iPhone 16e's longer runway costs less per month.
Does the iPhone 13 have USB-C?
No — it uses Apple's older Lightning connector. Apple switched iPhones to USB-C starting with the iPhone 15 in 2023.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-10.