The iPhone 13’s speakers are split between two locations: the earpiece speaker at the top front of the device and the main bottom speaker grille on the lower edge, just to the right of the Lightning port. When you’re locating the speaker on iPhone 13, the key detail is that the bottom-left holes are not a speaker at all, they house the microphone, so any sound you expect from that side is actually coming from the right-side grille.
Quick guide to locating the speaker on iPhone 13
For a fast answer: hold the phone in portrait orientation and look at the bottom edge. You’ll see the Lightning port in the center, a grille to its right (that’s the main speaker), and a separate set of small holes to its left (that’s the microphone). At the top front, the thin slit above the display is the earpiece speaker, which doubles as the second half of the stereo system. No other openings on the device produce audio, so if you’re checking for sound output, focus only on those two spots.
Identifying the earpiece speaker at the top
The earpiece speaker sits flush within the top edge of the screen, directly above the front camera and Face ID sensors. It’s easy to mistake this narrow slot for a simple cutout, but it’s a fully functional driver that handles call audio when you hold the phone to your ear. In the iPhone 13’s stereo setup, this tiny speaker also contributes to media playback, adding treble and vocal clarity to the overall mix. When you rotate the phone into landscape mode for videos or games, the earpiece becomes the left channel while the bottom speaker serves as the right channel, creating a wider soundstage than any single driver could produce.
Identifying the main bottom speaker and microphone
On the bottom edge, the main speaker grille is the larger, more visible set of holes on the right side of the Lightning port. This is the primary audio output for music, videos, notifications, and speakerphone calls, it delivers the majority of volume and bass. The smaller holes on the left side of the port are often mistaken for a second speaker, but they are exclusively for the microphone. If you cover the right grille, audio drops dramatically; covering the left holes has little to no effect on sound. To test this yourself, play any track and place a finger over each set of holes, you’ll immediately hear which one is the speaker.
Stereo playback, durability, and the missing headphone jack
The dual-speaker system works in tandem: the earpiece handles high frequencies and the bottom speaker manages mids and lows, giving you a balanced, immersive experience with clear separation between channels. This design also means that when you’re on a call and you switch to speaker mode, the bottom speaker projects your caller’s voice while the microphone on the left picks up your voice, no need to worry about the mic picking up audio from the wrong side. Both grilles are engineered with water and dust resistance, so they can handle splashes and minor debris without immediate damage, but that doesn’t make them immune to blockage. If you notice muffled sound, you can clean a blocked phone speaker grille safely by powering off the device and gently brushing the openings with a soft-bristled toothbrush or a dry toothpick, never insert anything sharp or use compressed air, as that can push debris deeper. For everyday control, the physical volume buttons on the left side manage output, and you can toggle speakerphone during calls by tapping the speaker icon in the call screen, this is also where you’d find options for turning speaker mode on and off, and the same icon serves for turning off speaker on iPhone during an active call. Keep in mind that the iPhone 13 has no 3.5mm headphone jack, so all wired audio must go through the Lightning port or Bluetooth, this makes the built-in speakers even more central to your listening experience, and knowing exactly where they sit helps you position the phone for the best sound in any situation.
