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If you’ve finally managed to get your hands on one of the latest iPhone 13 devices then you’re sure to want to get the best out of your flashy, new purchase. To do that you’ll need to perform some of the great iPhone 13 tricks we’ve got for you below.

As if you needed reminding, with such a desirable piece of tech in your hands you’ll definitely want to get the right iPhone insurance in place before you do anything. When you’re putting your new gadget through its paces you don’t want an accident to ruin your fun!

So let’s take a look at how to get the most out of your shiny new handset.

Embrace the dark side

Depending on how familiar you are with display technology this might be a trick you’re already aware of. All the iPhone 13 family of phones boast OLED screens, which means that where there are black areas on the screen the pixels are actually off and not using power. So, to help your battery life you’ll want to turn on ‘Dark Mode’.

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness. Here you’ll have a choice between Light Mode (which makes everything bright but uses more power) and Dark Mode. Choosing Dark Mode will not only save on power but will also reduce eye strain and make everything look way much cooler!

Say yes to the night shift

If you’ve a habit of using your iPhone while in bed (yes, we do too!) then this tip could be useful. By scheduling your iPhone to turn on night shift colours one hour before you go to bed, you’ll reduce levels of blue light and should, in theory, mean you get a better night’s sleep. You can also adjust the levels of warmth or coolness of the blue light as well.

Customise your widget stack

A recent iOS tweak allows widgets to be added to your home screen. By having a customised stack of widgets here you’ll get so much more out of your new iPhone 13. The easiest way to do this is to hold your finger down on an empty part of the screen until a little Plus sign appears at the top. Hit that and it’ll let you choose the widgets you want. Simply drag the chosen widget onto the stack and you’re done.

You’ll now be able to scroll through the stack to bring up that tool or app whenever you want. Be sure to add the ones you use the most. It’ll save you having to continually swipe left and right on the home screen to navigate to the app or tool you want. Anything to save effort while showing off your iPhone 13 is well worth it.

Take a trip to the library

If you’re making the move from Android and this is your first brand new iPhone then here is an important tip. When you download apps, they’ll pop-up on your home screen. However, if you’re downloading 20 or 30 apps then you’re going to end up with far too many taking up space on your home screen.

So, what you want to do is to tell your iPhone to add downloaded apps to your app library only. You’ll save on home screen space and it’ll make searching and managing downloaded apps much easier. Go to Settings > Home Screen and turn that feature on now.

Take back control

Customising your control centre so it contains the most useful tools is well worth your time. Go to Settings > Control Centre and you’ll be able to add useful tools such as low power mode or dark mode. Meaning you can turn them on and off very quickly with just a swipe of your finger. Be sure to consider what other tools might make your life easier. For example, if your eyesight’s not so good the magnifier could be a game-changer.

Add to Face ID security

To add an extra layer of security to Face ID simply go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Halfway down the page you’ll find Require Attention for Face ID. By turning this on your iPhone will only unlock if your eyes are open and looking at the screen.

It may seem unnecessary but it’s an extra security measure well worth having, particularly if you have your bank account all hooked up to your iPhone. You don’t want to fall asleep on the train and have someone else get quick access to your iPhone, data and bank account!

If your iPhone is lost or stolen then be aware that e-Wallet cover is included in iPhone insurance arranged through Gadget Cover. What a great benefit!

Double lock for added security

Another security related tip. Did you know that even if your iPhone is locked someone else can still access tools such as your camera and torch and even mess around with some settings? If you’ve got friends, family or work colleagues who are pranksters, then this might be a tip worth following.

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and scroll down to Allow Access When Locked. Here you’ll find a list of all the things that are available even when your iPhone is locked. Go through and switch them off or back on as you wish.

Unfortunately, the camera tool is not found here. So, to stop that from working when your iPhone is locked go to Settings > Screen Time > Content Privacy and Restrictions > Allowed Apps. Toggle the camera off and it will prevent someone from using it when the iPhone is locked.

Take your photos to the next level

Go to Settings > Camera and switch on grid lines. These will completely revolutionise how you compose photos. They’ll show you exactly where the centre of the photo is and where the human eye is naturally drawn to. By lining up key parts of the photo you’ll really improve the composition of your images. If you’ve ever heard of the ‘rule of thirds’ then this is it! 

Another incredible tweak can be found in Settings > Camera > Format. Here you’ll be able to turn on Apple ProRaw. This is a format that holds way more data than your normal photos and will do wonders for their wow-factor! While it’s probably not wise to use it all of the time (the file sizes are a lot bigger) it is great when you need to take really high-quality photos to show off the minutest details.

Become a style icon

Another camera app trick is the new Photographic Styles feature. While the iPhone cameras are pretty amazing, if you want to add a bit more personal flair to shots then these subtle preinstalled filters are perfect. Simply choose one to suit your personal style and then every shot you take will have the filter applied. Choose from Vibrant, Rich Contrast, Warm and Cool and completely change-up the style of your pictures.

See beauty in even the smallest things

Beauty really is all around us, but it sometimes just requires a little bit of extra attention to find it. Getting into the fascinating world of macro photography with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max cameras is the perfect way to get an extreme close-up of something incredible.

You’ll have great fun using the ultra-wide camera lens and zooming in to see just how detailed a snapshot you can get of even the tiniest subject.

Say goodbye to signal problems

If you go to areas where your mobile signal just isn’t that strong then you’ll know that having just one bar on your phone can really play havoc during calls. But there is a way to cut back on this happening.

Go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling. By default, it’s toggled off. However, by turning it on, when your mobile signal drops below a certain point it’ll switch to Wi-Fi. So, people can still call you and you can call them. That is, provided you’re connected to Wi-Fi!

Film in glorious Dolby Vision for a cinema experience

If you’re a true tech head and followed the coverage of the iPhone 13 launch event then you’ll no doubt have been wowed by the new Cinematic Mode. This video feature means you can focus on a feature or person while the background blurs artfully – just like in the movies!

But if you’re a wannabe filmmaker then the fact your new iPhone 13 supports Dolby Vision HDR video is probably more interesting. To turn this feature on go to Settings > Camera > Record Video. Here you’ll find it’s set by default to 1080p at 30fps. While that’s a pretty good picture, to get the real Dolby Vision experience you need to turn HDR Video on and then you can go all the way up to 4K at 60fps!

While you’re shooting the next blockbuster on your phone, protect your device against theft or damage with iPhone insurance.

Call for emergency back up

With an expensive and oh-so-desirable piece of kit like the iPhone 13 in your hand you can be a target for thieves. A handy tip is to set up an Emergency SOS shortcut so you can dial out quickly if you ever feel in danger.

Go to Settings > Emergency SOS then turn on Call with Side Button. Now, if you press the button five times, it’ll immediately dial out to an emergency contact. Even if you’re not worried about getting your iPhone stolen, you might have a health condition where emergency help might be required.

Protect your iPhone with Safe Mode

When you’ve got a brand-new gadget your kids will want to have a go on it. Let’s face it, it’s a new toy that really needs playing with! However, if you’re handing your iPhone over, you might want to restrict what they can do. For example, you probably don’t want them to have access to your bank account!

To do this go to Settings > Screen Time. Here you can set up a passcode and restrict what they can and can’t do on your iPhone. To be honest, if you let anyone use your iPhone then it’s well worth the effort to set up such restrictions.

If the worst should happen when a family member is using your iPhone then you’ll be pleased you have mobile phone insurance arranged through Gadget Cover. Protection is extended to your immediate family, so if they lose or damage your iPhone you’re still covered!

Adjust the contrast

Your iPhone 13 has an OLED screen with a truly incredible high dynamic range. But to make the most of it you might want to adjust the contrast. To do this go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and (if you want to) you can adjust the contrast. By increasing the contrast, it might help you see things a bit better.  

Tweak those refresh rates

With a 120Hz refresh rate your iPhone 13’s display is refreshing an incredible 120 times per second! Great for playing games, but it uses more power than the 60Hz refresh rate on older iPhones. So, if you want to conserve power the smart way without noticing too much difference in your everyday use, then restrict the refresh rate.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and turn on the Limit Frame Rate option. This will restrict the refresh rate to 60Hz and save on battery power.

However, if you’ve just spent a small fortune on your new iPhone 13, you’re probably going to want to enjoy that 120Hz refresh rate. But it’s well worth playing with this feature to see how much it affects battery life.

Invest in a great case

We’ve said it many times before in other articles, but getting a phone case and screen protector is a must for any iPhone owner. If you don’t fancy an official iPhone 13 case from the Apple store then take a look at these recommendations from the tech gurus over at Wired.

Get iPhone insurance from Gadget Cover

Our dedicated team of insurance specialists are always ready to set you up with an iPhone insurance policy for your iPhone 13.

Policies arranged by Gadget Cover include protection for things like accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, breakdown and unauthorised usage. And for an extra premium it can also be covered against loss, too.

So, what are you waiting for? Get a quick quote for iPhone insurance