Folks are calling the 13 an "S" tier phone(ala iPhone 5 -> iPhone 5S) disguised as a new device.
Apple decided to take the 12S design and call it the 13 for a two key reasons.
1.) they can get the unlucky number out of the way and save their big new design paradigm for 14.
2.) due to supply chain issues, it is more feasible to source the iPhone 12-esque parts for the next year. Normally they would release an S version mid-year and release the next numbered phone later that year. This gives them more time.
Is it such a big deal with numbers? I mean, yeah, maybe some teenage girl with an astrological sign in her bio will be mad, but anyway, do people really care?
Well, while I was replying, I just remembered that Chinese companies usually skip 4 in their models because it's an "unlucky number."
Maybe you're right. Still, it's a funny thing if it's true.
Apple decided to take the 12S design and call it the 13 for a two key reasons.
1.) they can get the unlucky number out of the way and save their big new design paradigm for 14.
2.) due to supply chain issues, it is more feasible to source the iPhone 12-esque parts for the next year. Normally they would release an S version mid-year and release the next numbered phone later that year. This gives them more time.