The iPhone 11, 12, and 13 are still three of the most popular refurbished iPhones sold in the UAE โ but the real differences between them go well beyond "good, better, best." Here's an honest, spec-by-spec breakdown to help you pick the right one for your budget and how you actually use your phone.
Full Spec Comparison
| Spec | iPhone 11 | iPhone 12 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | September 2019 | October 2020 | September 2021 |
| Chip | A13 Bionic | A14 Bionic | A15 Bionic |
| Display | 6.1โณ Liquid Retina LCD, 1792ร828, 326ppi | 6.1โณ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532ร1170, 460ppi | 6.1โณ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532ร1170, 460ppi, smaller notch, brighter |
| Front cover | Standard glass | Ceramic Shield | Ceramic Shield |
| Rear cameras | Dual 12MP (f/1.8 wide + f/2.4 ultrawide) | Dual 12MP (f/1.6 wide + f/2.4 ultrawide), Night mode on both lenses | Dual 12MP with larger sensor + sensor-shift stabilization on the wide lens, Cinematic mode, Photographic Styles |
| Video | 4K60 recording | 4K60, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K60, Dolby Vision HDR, Cinematic mode (auto depth-of-field) |
| Battery | 3110mAh ยท up to 17h video playback | 2815mAh ยท up to 17h video playback ยท MagSafe | 3227mAh ยท up to 19h video playback ยท MagSafe |
| 5G | No | Yes | Yes (wider band support) |
| Storage options | 64 / 128 / 256GB | 64 / 128 / 256GB | 128 / 256 / 512GB |
| Water resistance | IP68 (2m / 30 min) | IP68 (6m / 30 min) | IP68 (6m / 30 min) |
| Weight | 194g | 164g | 174g |
| Original launch price (base model) | $699 | $799 | $799 |
The Real Differences That Matter
Screen: the biggest jump is 11 โ 12
This is the single most noticeable upgrade across the lineup. The iPhone 11 uses an LCD screen, while both the 12 and 13 switched to OLED โ deeper blacks, better contrast, and noticeably richer colors. If you watch a lot of video or scroll Instagram/TikTok often, you'll see this difference immediately. The 13's screen is a modest refinement over the 12's (a smaller notch, higher peak brightness for HDR content), not a generational leap.
Camera: 12 โ 13 matters more than 11 โ 12
The 11-to-12 camera upgrade is fairly small (a faster f/1.6 wide lens and Night mode extended to the ultrawide). The 12-to-13 jump is bigger: Apple fitted the 13 with a physically larger sensor and sensor-shift stabilization on the main camera โ previously a Pro-only feature โ which noticeably improves low-light photos and reduces blur from hand shake.
5G: only relevant if your UAE carrier plan uses it
The iPhone 11 has no 5G at all. Both the 12 and 13 support it. In the UAE, Etisalat and du have solid 5G coverage in most cities, so this is a real practical difference if you want to use it โ though most day-to-day tasks (browsing, streaming, messaging) run perfectly fine on a strong 4G connection too.
Battery life: the 13 pulls ahead
On paper the 12 actually has a smaller battery than the 11 (2815mAh vs 3110mAh), but Apple's efficiency gains kept real-world battery life about the same. The 13 is the one with an actual improvement โ a bigger battery and roughly 2 extra hours of video playback per charge, which is meaningful if you're a heavy user.
Storage: the 13 dropped the 64GB option
If you're storage-conscious, note that Apple discontinued the 64GB tier starting with the 13 โ its smallest option is 128GB. If you shoot a lot of photos/video or install many apps, this alone might tip your decision toward the 13.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone 11 if:
- You want the lowest price and don't mind an LCD screen
- You don't need 5G
- Your usage is mostly calls, messaging, and browsing
Choose the iPhone 12 (or the 12 Mini, see note below) if:
- You want the OLED screen upgrade without paying iPhone 13 prices
- You want 5G support
- You want MagSafe accessory compatibility
Choose the iPhone 13 if:
- You take a lot of photos, especially in low light
- You want the longest battery life of the three
- You'd rather have more storage headroom (128GB minimum)
Renewed vs Pre-Owned Original โ Which Grade Should You Pick?
All three models are available at Renewed.ae in two condition grades. Renewed devices are in like-new cosmetic condition with high-quality replacement parts used where needed. Pre-Owned Original devices keep their original screen and battery, with light signs of use. See our full Grading Guide for the exact battery health and cosmetic criteria for each grade.
Current Pricing at Renewed.ae
Prices below reflect current listings and vary by storage, color, and condition grade โ check the product page for exact current pricing.
- iPhone 11 (Renewed) โ from AED 720
- iPhone 12 โ currently, we stock the iPhone 12 Mini (Renewed), from AED 670, as our available iPhone 12-generation option. It has the same chip, camera system, and OLED display as the standard iPhone 12 in a smaller 5.4โณ body.
- iPhone 13 (Renewed) โ from AED 1,150
Why Buy Refurbished in the UAE?
All three of these models are several years old at this point, which means buying refurbished gets you the exact same hardware and software experience as new, at a meaningful discount. Every device at Renewed.ae passes our full quality inspection, ships with a 12-month warranty, and can be returned within 10 days โ full details in our Grading Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the iPhone 11 too old to buy in 2026?
No โ it still runs current iOS updates and handles everyday tasks (calls, messaging, browsing, social media, most apps) comfortably. The main things you give up versus the 12/13 are the OLED screen and 5G.
Is 5G actually worth paying more for in the UAE?
If your carrier plan includes 5G and you're often in areas with 5G coverage (most UAE cities), you'll notice faster download speeds. If you mainly use WiFi at home/work and don't stream heavy content on the move, you likely won't notice much difference day-to-day.
Does the iPhone 12's smaller battery mean worse battery life than the 11?
Not in practice. Despite the smaller battery capacity on paper, Apple's improved chip efficiency keeps real-world battery life on the 12 roughly in line with the 11 โ both rated for up to 17 hours of video playback. The 13 is the one that offers a genuine improvement, at up to 19 hours.
What's the real camera difference between the 12 and 13?
The 13 has a larger main camera sensor with sensor-shift stabilization โ a feature that was Pro-exclusive on the iPhone 12 lineup. This means noticeably better low-light photos and steadier video on the 13 compared to the 12.
Should I buy the smallest storage option to save money?
Only if you're confident you won't run low. If you keep large photo/video libraries or use several storage-heavy apps, going up a tier is usually worth it โ running low on storage is one of the most common reasons people trade in a phone earlier than they'd like to.