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iPhone 12 Pro Anyone undecided between the Mini and the Pro Max?

V

va1984

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Original poster
Jan 27, 2011
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Is anyone else torn between the two extreme choices — the 12 pro Max and the Mini?

I’m someone who loves extremes, all or none, I rarely go for the boring middle.

So I want an iPhone 12 Mini because:

1) it’s just a phone. Before Steve dropped the original iPhone I had never owned a mobile phone and hated them. I still do at some level, even though of course I have had an iPhone since the original came out.
2) it’s not mini! It’s normal. Damn marketing folks! They have been shoving ever larger phones on us for no reason but that it makes for a compelling upgrade...
3) it’s actually an excellent camera for a smartphone, if not as good as the Pro line.

But I want a Pro Max because:

1) it’s the only camera I own and I want it to be the best it can be.
2) I have beastly large hands. How am I going to type on the Mini?
3) my eyes aren’t what they used to be when Steve dropped the iPhone 1!

I honestly could go either way. And I fear I’m going to go for the boring middle and just order the 12 Pro (non Max) to get most of the camera benefits without the ludicrously large bulge in the pocket.

I had never ever had any trouble knowing which tier of iPhone I wanted until this time. So whatever happens, the marketing folks won already.
 
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va1984 said:
Is anyone else torn between the two extreme choices — the 12 pro Max and the Mini?

I’m someone who loves extremes, all or none, I rarely go for the boring middle.

So I want an iPhone 12 Mini because:

1) it’s just a phone. Before Steve dropped the original iPhone I had never owned a mobile phone and hated them. I still do at some level, even though of course I have had an iPhone since the original came out.
2) it’s not mini! It’s normal. Damn marketing folks! They have been shoving ever larger phones on us for no reason but that it makes for a compelling upgrade...
3) it’s actually an excellent camera for a smartphone, if not as good as the Pro line.

But I want a Pro Max because:

1) it’s the only camera I own and I want it to be the best it can be.
2) I have beastly large hands. How am I going to type on the Mini?
3) my eyes aren’t what they used to be when Steve dropped the iPhone 1!

I honestly could go either way. And I fear I’m going to go for the boring middle and just order the 12 Pro (non Max) to get most of the camera benefits without the ludicrously large bulge in the pocket.

I had never ever had any trouble knowing which tier of iPhone I wanted until this time. So whatever happens, the marketing folks won already.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm doing: I kept thinking I want the Mini because small, light, just feels good (I'm comparing to an SE2020,) but I also want all the bells and whistles and that big screen (darn presbyopia.) And I find myself about to order the 12P.

Two reasons:

1. Perpective: if I call it a happy medium, instead of a compromise (or settling), then I get to rationalize that I'm combining the best of both worlds.

2. Reality: The 12P might just be the happy medium. Likely, I will think 'man I'm glad I didn't go bigger' in certain moments and 'gosh this telephoto' is nice in others.
 
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12 mini doesn’t appeal to me; I could never go bellow a 6.1 inch display size now I’m used to it. I love having a larger screen, and it’s just so much easier to text on. I’m torn between the pro and pro max this year. Won’t be ordering till the new year so have lots of time to watch and listen to reviews.
 
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I hear you on this. At the end of the day, a comment from someone on this site made my decision, I think it was something like "its the only camera I own". That made me ultimately realise anything but the max and I'd end up replacing some point after it launched.
 
nyermen said:
I hear you on this. At the end of the day, a comment from someone on this site made my decision, I think it was something like "its the only camera I own". That made me ultimately realise anything but the max and I'd end up replacing some point after it launched.
Click to expand...

I definitely say “it’s the only camera I own” so I see your point...
that said, the reason I don’t own a separate camera is because it would not be worth taking it with me on a daily basis outside of some specific scenarios. As the Max gets larger and larger, the question becomes: how much inconvenience can I take on a daily basis for the sake of a better picture?
If Apple released an iPhone that is 1” thick and 8” long that takes photos as good as a $3000 Nikon, would you accept that and take it with you everyday?

...or put another way: how much are we waiting for the tech to shrink enough to go in our pockets versus stretching our pockets to accommodate said tech?
 
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Between those 2 definitely the mini. I'm strongly considering the regular 12 Pro though. I'm used to the size with my 11 (though was happier with the size of the X). I didn't like the size of the 7+
 
I vacillate as well. Surely the right choice would be to pick something in the middle, but then I'm always feeling like I'm giving something up.

If I'm doing a lot of typing or reviewing documents, or reading eBooks, I want the biggest display and the best battery life I can get. At these times I start to flirt with the idea of my phone being my primary computer, or at least my primary portable computer. An iPhone by itself can do most of the things I need to do. I can type pretty quickly with two thumbs, and whenever I reach an impasse I simply remote into my iMac or PC with Jump Desktop. Windows in portrait mode on a large phone is actually pretty neat. At these times I'll slip my SIM into my 7 Plus.

If I'm frustrated with technology and want to minimize my screen time, or if I'm just sick of carrying around a big heavy phablet in my pants pocket all day every day, I want the smallest, lightest phone available. That a tiny thing like an original SE can do so much for me is amazing, despite the tradeoffs.

And now, if I buy a 12, whichever one it is, I feel like I'll lose the ability to comfortably flip flop between extremes. Because then, if I'm not using it, I'll feel like I've wasted a lot of money!
 
I’m on the fence between both extremes. I’ve decided to treat the delayed release of these two models as an opportunity to daydream and brainstorm about something that is not world events.

This is a job for old school sticky notes on the wall, so I’m going to plot out my pros and cons of each size, as well as the pros and cons of buying now or later.

Because my iPhone X is still pristine with 93% battery health and more phone and more camera than my lifestyle needs, the only way I could justify getting a new phone would be for a size change.
 
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If the mini was a pro model I might have given it more thought. But ultimately the iPhone is my primary device. I want the largest screen. I initially thought getting an iPad air and the mini but I would rather just have one all-around portable device.
 
happy orchard said:
That's what I'm doing: I kept thinking I want the Mini because small, light, just feels good (I'm comparing to an SE2020,) but I also want all the bells and whistles and that big screen (darn presbyopia.) And I find myself about to order the 12P.

Two reasons:

1. Perpective: if I call it a happy medium, instead of a compromise (or settling), then I get to rationalize that I'm combining the best of both worlds.

2. Reality: The 12P might just be the happy medium. Likely, I will think 'man I'm glad I didn't go bigger' in certain moments and 'gosh this telephoto' is nice in others.
Click to expand...
I’m in just about the same boat. The Mini is the only size that feels perfectly sane and portable to me, but I’m increasingly certain I’d wind up missing the tele lens and faster focus of the Pro (and possibly the extra bit of battery life), so I’m hedging in that direction.

The 12 Pro Max is a glorified 80s car phone. Apple have admittedly priced it competitively relative to the rest of the lineup, but I’d still rather have a small phone and a dedicated camera when I need it (ex: used Fuji X100) than be forced to carry an “iPad Nano” with me everywhere I go.
 
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I would suggest going for the Mini if size of the Pro Max worries you. You know the Pro uses the wide lens even for tele photos in poor lights. I have been wanting to go for Mini but concerned with loosing the 2x lens, so I tried some comparison zoomed shots with my 11 Pro and iPad Pro. I was surprised how little difference there was in the quality of the shots from the iPad using wide lens digitally zoomed. It is nice to have the 2x lens, but unless photography is your main use, then probably the Mini will be best to get.

Having been thinking about this a lot of recent, I am sticking with my 11 Pro for now which I think is a good compromise between size and features.
 
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So no one has posted here for a few days: does that mean no one else is 'agonizing' over this choice anymore? Anyone? Bueller? No? Just me. Okay.
 
While the small form factor of the Mini is appealing to some degree, the better cameras, increased in screen size and battery life of the Pros are more appealing to me. Currently have an 8+, not afraid of a big phone, don't particularly love that the Max is slightly larger in form factor but OK I guess. The trade off is a little more real estate on the screen--which my aging eyes appreciate and better camera. Regular Pro has appeal but I'm not sure yet. I need to see these devices with my own eyes, hopefully get my hands on them before making a decision so until they are both readily available I'm not making up my mind to get one or the other. For that matter, staying put with what I have isn't out of the question either.
 
happy orchard said:
So no one has posted here for a few days: does that mean no one else is 'agonizing' over this choice anymore? Anyone? Bueller? No? Just me. Okay.
Click to expand...

Ha I got a 12 Pro after getting a (PRODUCT)RED 12 and hating the color LOL. But I’ve been wanting the Mini since the rumors were swirling but I love the Pacific Blue 12 Pro and I wanted to downsize from the Max and the 12 Pro was the perfect in between.

I did get a preorder ready for a Mini though through the app LOL. So ugh I’m still kind of torn even though I really like the Pacific Blue. If the red this year had actually been a good red it would have been a no brainer for me this year.
 
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swarlos said:
Ha I got a 12 Pro after getting a (PRODUCT)RED 12 and hating the color LOL. But I’ve been wanting the Mini since the rumors were swirling but I love the Pacific Blue 12 Pro and I wanted to downsize from the Max and the 12 Pro was the perfect in between.

I did get a preorder ready for a Mini though through the app LOL. So ugh I’m still kind of torn even though I really like the Pacific Blue. If the red this year had actually been a good red it would have been a no brainer for me this year.
Click to expand...
I thought I wanted to downsize from a Max, too, but now the Pro is that awkward stage where it's not easy to hold and maneuver with one hand but it also doesn't quite take two hands. With the Max, I don't even try to do anything with one hand. With the Mini, it might not be so awful to just hold the thing and reach for even one app. Hopefully, you're not experiencing that issue.

Totally get the color thing. I love white, so that's a definite choice for me every phone, so I know what it's like to not waiver, but then I empathize with your color conundrum because I obviously know what it's like to waiver for other reasons. :)
 
happy orchard said:
I thought I wanted to downsize from a Max, too, but now the Pro is that awkward stage where it's not easy to hold and maneuver with one hand but it also doesn't quite take two hands. With the Max, I don't even try to do anything with one hand. With the Mini, it might not be so awful to just hold the thing and reach for even one app. Hopefully, you're not experiencing that issue.

Totally get the color thing. I love white, so that's a definite choice for me every phone, so I know what it's like to not waiver, but then I empathize with your color conundrum because I obviously know what it's like to waiver for other reasons. :)
Click to expand...

For reals haha. I bought the (PRODUCT)RED 11 last year but then saw the space gray Pro Max at a Best Buy and fell in love LOL. I should have kept the (PRODUCT)RED last year.

The blue mini looks really nice too. but I think I prefer the PB still over the 12 blue haha.
 
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TechLord said:
12 mini doesn’t appeal to me; I could never go bellow a 6.1 inch display size now I’m used to it. I love having a larger screen, and it’s just so much easier to text on. I’m torn between the pro and pro max this year. Won’t be ordering till the new year so have lots of time to watch and listen to reviews.
Click to expand...
I know 6.1 to me is too small when I use my iPhone for so many things. It’s just not a phone.
 
I increasingly use my phone less nowadays and want something small and light. What’s potentially tipping me over to the mini is that the camera is GOOD. Even without the telephoto, which I rarely use anyway, everything else is just about on par with the Pro and I really don’t think the extra Pro Max features will matter. The mini will still take amazing photos.
 
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So those debating, did your debate have a winner?

Mine is presently a tie. I ordered both. Hate to get both knowing I'll return one, but waiting until they're available in store isn't a practical solution. I usually need to live with a phone for a bit to know if it's for me. Thank goodness, I at least know I always like white/silver. It's nice to have one decision be easy. Curious how it's been for others?
 
va1984 said:
Is anyone else torn between the two extreme choices — the 12 pro Max and the Mini?

I’m someone who loves extremes, all or none, I rarely go for the boring middle.

So I want an iPhone 12 Mini because:

1) it’s just a phone. Before Steve dropped the original iPhone I had never owned a mobile phone and hated them. I still do at some level, even though of course I have had an iPhone since the original came out.
2) it’s not mini! It’s normal. Damn marketing folks! They have been shoving ever larger phones on us for no reason but that it makes for a compelling upgrade...
3) it’s actually an excellent camera for a smartphone, if not as good as the Pro line.

But I want a Pro Max because:

1) it’s the only camera I own and I want it to be the best it can be.
2) I have beastly large hands. How am I going to type on the Mini?
3) my eyes aren’t what they used to be when Steve dropped the iPhone 1!

I honestly could go either way. And I fear I’m going to go for the boring middle and just order the 12 Pro (non Max) to get most of the camera benefits without the ludicrously large bulge in the pocket.

I had never ever had any trouble knowing which tier of iPhone I wanted until this time. So whatever happens, the marketing folks won already.
Click to expand...
Not at all... I chose the Max because I don’t like tiny iPhone screens, it’s great for kids though.
 
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