I can delete the bloated apps on the Samsung hardware. I would rather have bloated than half baked software. Also, during Black Friday, Samsung was offering big $ for Apple hardware, even if it was older.
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iPhone 13 mini Goodbye to my 13 mini
- Thread starter ger19
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Fair. I don't know a lot about Android and was under the impression that with Samsung you got apps that you couldn't get rid off. It's able to be cleaned up then? Peaks my interest a little more as the hardware always looks great.
What the OP really wanted to hear, rather than a digression into the many merits of the phone they just stopped using 😅
Congratulations and enjoy your A19 beast! 😁 🙌
The iPhone 17 is such great value for money, I’m curious to see how well it does in 2026 if the end of 2025 is any indication then Apple really have knocked it out the park.
I'm just clearing out some old apps now and then, and my mini gets new life 🔥
I wait until it comes a phone I want - probably after Timmy stepoed down.
So no godbye to my mini yet 😤
I wait until it comes a phone I want - probably after Timmy stepoed down.
So no godbye to my mini yet 😤
Actually iOS 26.2 runs fantastically on the iPhone 13, 13 mini and SE 3, and my guess is that it runs even better on the iPhone 14. It seems to me that iOS 26.2 has been fine-tuned for the A15 SoC, after the disaster that was 26.1 for this chip.
I’m really happy with 26.2 on my iPhone SE3 and, believe me, it works better and gives me better battery life than on iOS 18.7
I'm seeing the same thing with my 13 mini. No complaints for sure! Running this iPhone since December when I first got mine, I have realized I can reasonably use my 17 Air and Pro for the next few years without issue. I'm still using my Air as my daily iPhone and have not had any issues using this iPhone for my use case.
You know what? You’re right. We’re so proud of our 13, 13 mini and SE 3 holding so well on 26.2, that we almost forgot the awesome device OP just got.
Because if you can handle those 6.3” -and apparently OP can-, the iPhone 17 is the best value Apple has ever released.
I suspect if that was the case, the OP would have titled the thread something like "Hello to my 17" and would not have spent half the post talking about the 13 mini.
The 13 mini is the end of the small phone era, and as such, moving on is changing the way you interact with the phone moreso than moving from a 15 to a 16 or whatever.
I understand the op's need/ desire to move on, and also the fact that the marketplace has spoken, but the minis are still a pretty special phone for a lot of us, I suspect the op included.
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The small phones are absolutely not dead, even if Crook have killed them at Apple for now - They will absolutely live on!
I will wait and see what hapoens after Tim is gone?
If nothing appealing will happen at Apple, It's absolutely a possibility to buy a small phone of another brand. I absolutely loved the Samsung I once had.
It's also easier to mix brands today, and not be 'locked in at the Apple-park' ✌️
They’re not dead, yet, with the SE 2, 12 mini, SE 3 and 13 mini. But the SE 2 is already dragging its feet to move Liquid Glass and will probably be killed with iOS 27 along with the iPhone 11. In a couple of years (iOS 28 probably) the iPhone 12 12 and 12 mini will be slashed. And either by 2029 or 2030 at best, the iPhone 13, 13 mini and SE 3 will be out of support. And my guess is by then, iOS 29 will be so “optimized” for chips such as the A18, that the A15 will suffer if it gets support. Especially with just 4GB of RAM.
What I mean is that, while our A14 and A15 devices are still running quite well, time is ticking and it’s not too far away the day we get out of software support.
I’m still really hopeful for iOS 27 to be a good fit for the 13 mini and SE 3, because it will be a solid update if they focus only on stability and performance, and probably a good version to stay on for the foreseeable future (that’s what I said about iOS 18 and here I am typing on Liquid Glass).
Still, maybe in the far future Apple releases a more compact size, given that the Plus and the Air haven’t been a commercial success either. But if they go smaller, I don’t think they will go with less than 6”. Maybe 5,9” but as many of you said, the market has spoken with their wallets.
Still running the 13 mini, with battery that I changed myself (it's actually not that difficult). The mother of my kids got one too. The kids are running the SE1. As long as the iphone hooks fine to the network, does a decent hotspot and plays the music, I'm fine. I much prefer using a state-of-the art Mac than a state-of-the-art phone anyway, you can't do much serious work on phones.
There are no small Android phones anymore, other than some niche models with outdated tech specs and outdated Android versions. Even the 6.1” iPhones are still smaller than all current Android phones with comparable tech specs, I believe.
hilariously I just switched from a 14 pro max to a 13 mini. the first day was brutal, with apps crashing left and right. however it may have been due to the fact that my restore from a 512gb phone down to a 128gb phone caused storage issues. after getting rid of some big apps I don't use, so far the 13 mini has been pretty solid.
First day feedback. Pro's of the 17: It's definitely faster. I didn't think I'd notice, but it absolutely is. The screen is better and being that it is bigger, I may end up using my iPad less. Neutral: It does fit into my front jeans pocket just fine, even with the case I bought. Cons: No surprise, it feels like a beast compared to the mini. That will take some getting used to.
As for the comments about why I posted. Sure, I like the congratulations on your new phone sentiment but the main reason I posted is just to commiserate on the process. I'm not a mini fan boy, but I did like it a lot. Unfortunately, I'm also an upgrade junkie. I hope Apple does come out with another small phone, but I couldn't wait any longer. I just don't have the patience. One thing about the mini that I was struggling with is that it's a bit harder to control (type) on the smaller screen. Being in my 60's, my motor skills and eyesight are just a little challenged by the smaller size. Still, if there's an 18 mini, I'd probably trade my 17 in.
As for the comments about why I posted. Sure, I like the congratulations on your new phone sentiment but the main reason I posted is just to commiserate on the process. I'm not a mini fan boy, but I did like it a lot. Unfortunately, I'm also an upgrade junkie. I hope Apple does come out with another small phone, but I couldn't wait any longer. I just don't have the patience. One thing about the mini that I was struggling with is that it's a bit harder to control (type) on the smaller screen. Being in my 60's, my motor skills and eyesight are just a little challenged by the smaller size. Still, if there's an 18 mini, I'd probably trade my 17 in.
Ok, you can believe what you want in your world 😂
I like however Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 - somthing I definitely could buy for sure. But it woul'd hurt to leave iOS.
Hope Apple catch up a bit soon.
Flip phones aren’t smaller just because you can fold them.
The Flip7 is 11 mm wider and 35 mm taller unfolded than the iPhone mini, and a third heavier. It’s actually 1 gram heavier than the iPhone 15 Pro. The Flip7 is larger in weight, width, and unfolded height than the iPhone 17.
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Ok, I get your point - but you hardly won't run around with the phone unfolded 😂
1 gram heavier than the 15 Pro, wow, and I have a 13 mini now, so I have to increase my workouts significally before I buy one of these 'heavy-weight-phone's'.
Thanks for the heads-up 😅
It’s when using the phone that the size and weight is most important IMO. People who like small phones often do so because they can be operated one-handed. That’s not practical with the Flip unfolded, not to mention that you do have to unfold it first for full operation. The extra thickness when folded also isn’t great in pants pockets. Regarding weight, it’s not about ability, but about feeling effortless, and not pulling down your shirt/blazer/shorts. I still miss the lightness of the OG SE.
The Flip 7 unfolded is actually larger than the iPhone Air in all three dimensions, except for the camera bump.
It seems that you want Apple to make a flip phone. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's a different form factor from the small-screen iPhones that we used to have, and isn't a comparable replacement.
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Same.
I use an SE1 every night for podcasts/audiobooks and it feels amazing all over again, every single day.
It's size and light weight evoke what I'd thought "the future" of tech would be more like.
Most people in that age bracket go biggerFirst day feedback. Pro's of the 17: It's definitely faster. I didn't think I'd notice, but it absolutely is. The screen is better and being that it is bigger, I may end up using my iPad less. Neutral: It does fit into my front jeans pocket just fine, even with the case I bought. Cons: No surprise, it feels like a beast compared to the mini. That will take some getting used to.
As for the comments about why I posted. Sure, I like the congratulations on your new phone sentiment but the main reason I posted is just to commiserate on the process. I'm not a mini fan boy, but I did like it a lot. Unfortunately, I'm also an upgrade junkie. I hope Apple does come out with another small phone, but I couldn't wait any longer. I just don't have the patience. One thing about the mini that I was struggling with is that it's a bit harder to control (type) on the smaller screen. Being in my 60's, my motor skills and eyesight are just a little challenged by the smaller size. Still, if there's an 18 mini, I'd probably trade my 17 in.
First day feedback. Pro's of the 17: It's definitely faster. I didn't think I'd notice, but it absolutely is. The screen is better and being that it is bigger, I may end up using my iPad less. Neutral: It does fit into my front jeans pocket just fine, even with the case I bought. Cons: No surprise, it feels like a beast compared to the mini. That will take some getting used to.
As for the comments about why I posted. Sure, I like the congratulations on your new phone sentiment but the main reason I posted is just to commiserate on the process. I'm not a mini fan boy, but I did like it a lot. Unfortunately, I'm also an upgrade junkie. I hope Apple does come out with another small phone, but I couldn't wait any longer. I just don't have the patience. One thing about the mini that I was struggling with is that it's a bit harder to control (type) on the smaller screen. Being in my 60's, my motor skills and eyesight are just a little challenged by the smaller size. Still, if there's an 18 mini, I'd probably trade my 17 in.
I'm currently using the 17 as my daily driver. If the 17e has similar size to the 15 Pro (~X/Xs), I'll probably switch. The extra ~1mm in width and ~3mm height makes a noticeable difference for me. The 15 Pro was already a stretch for me for one-handed use so bigger is more difficult. Honestly, my main gripe with the SE3 and 13 mini is battery life. Using a bluetooth CGM increased my power consumption.
For bigger screen, 2-handed use, I always carry a cellular iPad mini anyway.