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Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 5, 2010
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I switched from the 12 mini to the 13 pro this year because of Promotion, Battery life and camera updates but it’s just so damn hard to get used to the size. I loved the mini and thinking of returning the pro for the mini. Anyone else having the same struggles?
 
I switched from the 12 mini to the 13 pro this year because of Promotion, Battery life and camera updates but it’s just so damn hard to get used to the size. I loved the mini and thinking of returning the pro for the mini. Anyone else having the same struggles?

Last year I had the 12 pro, returned it for a 12 mini. It was simply too heavy and large to comfortably use one handed for extended periods.

This year I ordered a 13 pro as I wanted better battery and camera, but it got lost in transit. Took this as a sign, and ordered a 13 mini.
The new mini has much better battery life and the main camera from the 12 pro max, which was superb!!

To me, the 13 mini is almost a 13 mini pro this year.
 
I have a launch iPhone 7. I’ve been waiting 5 years for promotion. It’s finally here. But. It’s on a huge big chungus phone. My wife has the 11Pro and I feel like could not tolerate a phone that is any bigger than that… the 12 pro is slightly bigger!:(

If only the mini had the 120hz it would be perfect! I feel like I may hold on to my 7 again because it wouldn’t be a big enough change going to the13 mini. Same 60hz screen. Way better everything else. I dunno! Maybe when I see one in person I’ll change my mine. But for now my 7 feels fast still after all these years. I really want that 120hz screen though without the hand bursting size!!
 
ugh the struggle is real. the mini is the dream form factor to me. but i foolishly got the pro instead for cameras, battery and screen.

but coming from a 7, i can't help but feel like i've gone backwards. it feels like trading in a flatscreen tv for a crt, or a macbook air for a G5 powermac. it just feels at odds with the purpose of a mobile device (at least to me).

i've been trying to convince myself its worth trying a round with a larger phone just to see whether the so called perks of a bigger device are really worth it to me, but it doesn't help that the screen has such a dim, muddy yellow tint (true tone and night mode off) that its wholly unappealing to look at, even if promotion is really nice. :(
 
Had the 12 mini from launch for 5 months, then went to a 12 Pro for 5 months. I didn't find the 12 Pro uncomfortable but I did miss the mini, not having to shuffle it around in my small hands as much to navigate around and how the mini almost disappears in your pocket.

Was temped by the 13 Pro cameras, but taking a step back seeing the 13 mini having the same main camera as the 12 Pro Max in the mini form factor.

I could get by with a 12 mini battery wise each day without being careful about usage, but with the 12 Pro I could really hammer it and be completely fine. So the extra capacity of the 13 mini should make a little step forward to that. The main thing I notice from Pro to mini, is 6 vs 4GB ram. On the Pro I could have Safari open with some tabs and never see a refresh when switching back, but with 4GB I do. Not really a big deal but it happens. Other than that, happy to be back with a mini!
 
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Had the 12 Mini, sold it to buy a cheaper 12 Pro, now returned the 12 Pro and gone back to a 12 Mini.

I just don't get how people can put up with using a phone the size and weight of the 12/13 Pro, let alone the Pro Max. It's heavy, and you can't use it with one hand. Sure, if you're sat down or in bed then a larger phone is a nice luxury, but practically day-to-day, carrying something like that in your pocket is cumbersome. Putting a case on it makes the problem even worse.

I only wanted to try the 12 Pro due to the rumours that Apple aren't going to make a 14 Mini so thought "may as well get used to it now" but my plan now is to stick with a 12 Mini until this time next year and then pick up a cheaper 13 Mini.
 
Oh no, I won't make the same mistake again; I'm sticking with the Mini (12).

I like the Pro camera system, but to be honest, I never tried to take a macro shot and said "damn, it can´t focus".

If I order the 13P I will take 100 macro shots in one day and then never again.

Same with the "cinematic"; I never found myself filming someone and telling them "Ok now look back please!"....
 
Sure, if you're sat down or in bed then a larger phone is a nice luxury, but practically day-to-day, carrying something like that in your pocket is cumbersome.

This!

On hands for a couple of minutes the Pro or Max is beautiful, of course, bigger screen, a delight to watch a video or edit a photo. But then, when the phone goes to the pocket, the annoying starts.

I really enjoy how can I took off the mini of my shorts while cycling (yes yes, get a Watch... no thanks, no more screens for me).
 
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Just looking at this objectively, the 13 mini has last year’s 12 Pro Max camera (with no telephoto) and better battery life than last year’s regular 12. If this device had actually been released last year Apple would have had no trouble calling it a 12 mini Pro.

I know that’s not how technology works, but it’s a mindset that helps me easily pass on this year’s Pro line in favor of the 13 mini. The benefits of the mini greatly outweigh the drawbacks of moving to the larger and heavier phones. I get a Pro-features phone in the size I want, but from last year.
 
I don't want to hijack Elektrophone's thread, but I've got a poll assessing this exact question. It's here. Conversation is more active on this thread, by all means keep commenting here, but I am really curious to see how the division is. At the moment the "Regret it" and "Don't regret it" are equal, though that's on very few votes so who knows.
 
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It would be interesting to hear from more users who have switched from 12mini to 13Pro.
I haven't gotten many votes here. Not enough to get a clear picture of what people who have made the switch think. I'm very curious as well. I'm expecting to upgrade from my SE 2020, and trying to decide between the mini and the Pro.

Though to be fair, between production delays and long wait times, it'll probably be a while before we've got a lot of people who specifically made that leap.
 
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Bought the 12 Mini on launch day and loved the form factor so much (which is surprising because I had only purchased Plus/Max models as soon as Apple started offering them). Then the hype of the 13 Pro got to me. I needed the ProMotion, better camera, and big battery.

Now, after using the 13 Pro for a few days, I just can't handle it. It's too heavy and feels like I'm dragging a brick around the house. Comfort, weight, and portability is far more important than a marginally improved camera setup and screen. I am returning my 13 Pro for a gorgeous 13 Mini in Midnight today.
 
Bought the 12 Mini on launch day and loved the form factor so much (which is surprising because I had only purchased Plus/Max models as soon as Apple started offering them). Then the hype of the 13 Pro got to me. I needed the ProMotion, better camera, and big battery.

Now, after using the 13 Pro for a few days, I just can't handle it. It's too heavy and feels like I'm dragging a brick around the house. Comfort, weight, and portability is far more important than a marginally improved camera setup and screen. I am returning my 13 Pro for a gorgeous 13 Mini in Midnight today.
Sometimes the best thing about Apple's 14-day returns policy is the chance it gives us to gain that kind of clarity.
 
I've gone the other way! For context, I loved my iPhone 7 Jet Black and kept it longer than any other iPhone I've had. I couldn't justify the cost of the X when it was launched, which would have been on my regular upgrade cycle. I eventually bought a refurbished X when the XS/XR was launched and while I did eventually grow to like it, it always felt a little too big. I upgraded that to a 12 Pro on launch day, and there's no doubt it's a great iPhone, it was even bigger and heavier and I never really felt the love. So, somewhat out of the blue, I decided to give the 13 mini a spin and already I love it! I still have the iPhone 7 and the 13 mini is slightly smaller, although a little wider and ever so slightly heavier. It feels just as powerful as the 12 Pro did though, and while I am missing the telephoto lens, I don't miss the size or most noticeably, the weight. It's just about the perfect iPhone, so much so I've even put a case and screen protector on it as I suspect I might be keeping it for a little longer this time!
 
I went the other way as well. Going from a 12 Pro Max to a 13 mini. Honestly, I was just going to deal with the 12PM (bc of the battery and screen), but I've always loved the size of the mini. I was steered away from the 12 mini because the reviews on the battery just was not good, but reading some of the upgrades the 13s have in general (including the 13 mini), I felt like this was my opportunity.

So far, I love the 13 mini. The portability is so amazing, and the phone is really fast. I was also surprised how good the camera is too.
 
I had the 6+ 7+ and androids even bigger. Came back to Apple last year for the 12 mini and loved everything about it except battery life. I hope to receive my 13 Pro by Monday and will see how it works for me.

I figure worst case I return it for the 13 mini or a regular 13 for the bigger screen. My thumbs touch each other a lot typing on the mini and I’ve had more typos on it than my 6 and 7 plus models.

That all said I still think the mini is a prefect size and weight for use and pickets and for walks/runs/cycling. If Apple drops the notch on the 14 i wish that they would have a mini but doubt it based on early reports. Maybe the mini will replace the iPhone SE series…
 
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I started out with a 12 Pro and was having a hard time getting used to the increased size while at the same time eyeing the 12 Mini and it's compact form factor so I ended up selling the 12 Pro second-hand since it had been more than 14 days. Probably would have anyway since I bought it at Verizon and their restocking fees are a sad joke.

I used my white 12 Mini for a couple of months until I was out in CO on a snowboarding adventure and the Mini gave me some battery trouble since we were on the mountain all day and I was taking a ton of photos and video. A buddy had the 12 Pro in Pacific Blue that he took out of it's case and let me use for a bit and after that I had one waiting for me at the Apple Store that I picked up on my way home from the airport. Going up in size a second time, the 12 Pro nudged out the 11 Pro as my all-time favorite iPhone. There wasn't a single time that the size bothered me so I think the first time round it was the intrigue of the Mini that made it feel cumbersome.

Fast forward to today, I'm absolutely blown away by this year's offerings. The 13 Pro is lightning quick and buttery smooth at the same time and the battery life is ridiculous. I'm not a serious photographer but I do like to snap photos of our puppy and I'm always the guy with his phone out taking pictures at family gatherings or when it's just a bunch of people hanging out doing whatever. I appreciate how Apple makes improvements every year, no matter how incremental they are. The midnight leather case on the graphite phone is just gorgeous and it feels/smells like high quality leather.

The 12 Mini is now the wife's phone and I've already started telling myself this is the one. This will be the phone I'll be able to hold on to for a few years. Til next year...
 
Doing my darndest to try to evaluate the weight by running an experiment: I taped a heavy coin to the back of my current SE 2020, which up to now is the heaviest phone I've ever had (and will continue to be if I end up getting the mini).

Several days in now, and I'm definitely getting used to the weight. Because these extra 55 grams are concentrated into this single round coin, the weight distribution is not what it will be, so it's not a perfect experiment. But It's something. That still leaves getting a feel for the SIZE and for the camera bump, which I expect will protrude outside a case unless I get something really thick.
 
Gave the wife the 12 mini and picked up the 13 pro best move I made lately. Wish my betting was that good can’t go wrong with the pro model this year perfect size IMHO.
 
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