iPhone 13 mini Goodbye to my 13 mini

[antonrg]

I've done a similar thing just a couple of weeks back. I've held onto my 13 mini since summer 2022 and, honestly, it has been a perfect device. Its form and size is still the best out there. However, its age was starting to show and even though my battery was also at 80%, I decided not to wait for it to drop to 79% to change it with Apple (the phone was still on Apple care). It took me some time to get used to the 17, but the positives outweigh anything else. It's just a great phone and does feel like it's a proper upgrade from 13 series - something I did not find with previous models. Seeing that Apple is not going back to smaller models, I think upgrading to 17 (not Air, it's too big and uncomfortable, it just feels weird) is the best option on the market now for iPhone users, particularly those with 13 mini. I kept my mini just for personal archive. It's a great phone and I am not planning to part with it, just won't use it as my main device anymore.

PS the guy at the Apple Store in Paris told me he knows and sees a lot of minis either being upgraded to 17 or people just bringing back the bigger phones they bought to go back to using the mini, including his own brother who refuses to let go of it.

 

[graffixnyc]

I had the 13 mini, then got the 14 pro, used that for a little while and then went back to the 13 mini and have been using it up until this past November. I love that little device. I recently got the base 17. I really miss my smaller device but with it not having features that newer models have screen refresh, Apple intelligence (although its not great in the current form) and things like that made me upgrade. I also noticed my 13 slowed down a bit and was more laggy with ios 26.

I really wish Apple would make a new mini. I guess the only chance we have is if they release a flip iPhone.

 

[JanetTheGreat]

I never understood the appeal of the Mini. You have less phone space. Less room to type. Less to see. If you complain about phones being too big, just buy the regular model and not the Pro or Pro Max.

 

[rui no onna]

If you complain about phones being too big, just buy the regular model and not the Pro or Pro Max.

The regular model is the same size as the Pro though. 🤷‍♀️

 

[antonrg]

I never understood the appeal of the Mini. You have less phone space. Less room to type. Less to see. If you complain about phones being too big, just buy the regular model and not the Pro or Pro Max.

To some of us, portability outweighs bigger screen. 5.4 inches is not a small screen. With current tech, Apple could even make it a little larger, but nowhere near the 6.3 inches the iPhones are at now. Mini is an excellent form factor for one handed use, sports, overall portability and it’s more than enough for occasional YouTube while you are commuting.

 

[headlessmike]

I never understood the appeal of the Mini. You have less phone space. Less room to type. Less to see. If you complain about phones being too big, just buy the regular model and not the Pro or Pro Max.

It will depend on how you use an iPhone. I have a 6.1" iPhone 11 and can use it just fine with my big hands, but the most important factor for me is portability when on the go. I don't watch videos on my iPhone and the only browsing I do is to look up information in short bursts. If you ask me, the best iPhone size we've hand so far was the original 3.5" size, and I have a 3GS and 4S here next to me, so it's not just some nostalgic recollection of the past, but I also understand why most people prefer larger iPhones. At home or work I do prefer a larger screen as well, but then I just use an iPad or Mac.

 

[geta]

I never understood the appeal of the Mini. You have less phone space. Less room to type. Less to see. If you complain about phones being too big, just buy the regular model and not the Pro or Pro Max.

If only the regular models had smaller screen size…

 

[bzgnyc2]

I never understood the appeal of the Mini. You have less phone space. Less room to type. Less to see. If you complain about phones being too big, just buy the regular model and not the Pro or Pro Max.

I find the Mini too big for my needs. The regular model is doubly too big. I don't need more screen space. More important to me is something smaller, less obtrusive in my pocket and easier to use one-handed.

If we could all freely mix and match, hardware, OS, and apps, I am sure a smaller player would make a phone that made me happy if Apple didn't.

 

[rwh63]

I find the Mini too big for my needs. The regular model is doubly too big. I don't need more screen space. More important to me is something smaller, less obtrusive in my pocket and easier to use one-handed.

If we could all freely mix and match, hardware, OS, and apps, I am sure a smaller player would make a phone that made me happy if Apple didn't.

"If we could turn back time": iPhone 4s!

 

[bzgnyc2]

"If we could turn back time": iPhone 4s!

Nice

I kept my OGSE as long as I could...

If they took that same form factor and went edge-to-edge on the screen, I would have been good with that. I probably even would have liked something with a 4.5-4.7" screen as long as 0 bezel.

I get however that larger screens are better for influencers and gamers, where Apple get's most of its app store revenue these days. Also if your phone is your primary computer. None of those are me.

 

[a_drive]

Is it bad that I still prefer using my 2016 SE over my 13 mini in 2026? I’m even running iOS 13 and everything functions perfectly except most 3rd party apps. Mine still works well for my needs.

 

[BillyBurke]

Wife signed up for a Lifetime 4 Line Unlimited "Damn near everything" line some years ago with T-mobil and we are still going strong with it. I have a 13 Mini set up as the "House Line". I take it with me when I travel. Just LOVE T-Mobil when traveling. When ever airplane is landing and the phone locks onto a carrier, I get a welcome message from T-Mobil.