Will iPhone 13 fit in your old case?

(Image credit: Joe Keller / iMore)

Will iPhone 13 fit in your old case?

Best answer: No. The iPhone 13 is just slightly thicker than the iPhone 12, the button placement is different, and the camera module on the iPhone 13 is just slightly larger than the iPhone 12.

Just slightly off

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The iPhone 13 is still a very solid phone, even though it's a year old and is now succeeded by the iPhone 14 series. It appears to be about the same size and shape as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. So, will your new iPhone 13 fit in your old case if you're upgrading from the iPhone 12?

Unfortunately, no. Though the handset's overall dimensions are similar, they are not the same. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 have the same height and width: 5.18-by-2.53 inches or 131.5-by-64.2 millimeters. However, the depth of the phone is different. The iPhone 12's depth is 0.29 inches or 7.4 millimeters, while the iPhone 13 is 0.3 inches or 7.65 millimeters. In addition to being slightly thicker, the volume buttons on the iPhone 13 have been moved slightly. Plus, the camera module is just about a millimeter or two wider. This means that the camera cutout in an iPhone 12/iPhone 12 Pro case will not fit around the iPhone 13 camera module.

The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 13 appear to be the same size at first glance, so without trying on a case, it does look like the iPhone 13 would fit into an iPhone 12 case. You might be able to force it on but it won't fit well enough to be functional protection for your iPhone 13.

What about other cases besides the iPhone 12?

If the case you have is older than the iPhone 12, you can forget it. The iPhone 13 isn't even close to the same size and shape as the iPhone 11 or earlier models. Likewise, the newer iPhone 14 cases won't fit the iPhone 13 either.

The one exception is if you have a pouch-style iPhone case or sleeve. Since that case doesn't have an opening for the camera, the ones made for iPhone 12 (and possibly earlier models) and iPhone 13 will be totally interchangeable.

Of course, we have you covered if you're in the market for a new iPhone case. We've rounded up the best iPhone 13 cases for you, including a wide range of price points and styles.

Are the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro cases interchangeable at least?

No. Unlike the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, which share the same physical dimensions, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro do not. While the dimensions of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro handsets are the same, it comes down to the camera module. The iPhone 13 Pro has a substantially larger camera module than the iPhone 13 does. The iPhone 13 Pro's camera module is also much larger than the iPhone 12 Pro, so it definitely won't fit in an older case.

How about the other models, will my old cases fit for the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max?

No. The story is the same for each model: thicker handset, bigger camera module, and different button placement.

Iphone 13 And Mini Pink Cropped Render

iPhone 13

It's a beaut

You'll need a new case, but it'll be worthwhile to protect your amazing new iPhone.

Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. She's also a contributor at TechRadar and Tom's Guide. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for Macworld, CNET, AppAdvice, and WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to spend time with her family, travel the world, and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.

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