I'm going to pick up a 128GB Mini today either in blue or black, just sold my launch SE 2020 for a very decent price, I may even consider selling my Exynos Note 20 Ultra as i don't really need a big phone for what i use them for & can be a chor sometimes due to it's size, we see after i pick up the Mini later today.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 12 mini How many Mini owners here?
- Thread starter DexBell
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Love my mini-256, white . . . battery life is phenomenal, the size/weight is perfect (even with the DefPro case).
I don't anticipate getting a new version in the next few years, but the form-factor is just right for me.
Regards, splifingate
I don't anticipate getting a new version in the next few years, but the form-factor is just right for me.
Regards, splifingate
Apple Watch Hermès 40mm Noir Swift Leather Single Tour - Apple
Apple Store Search Results
www.apple.com
I went with the 12 Pro Max. That said, if Apple were to do a Pro Mini, I might go that direction in the Fall.
Love the pocket friendly size of my Mini, love the weight, or, lack of it, when picking it up for comfortable single hand use! Battery life, being non-power user, is acceptable, 2.5 days easy, could stretch to 4-5 if need be, but dont want to discharge my battery too low too often. My carrier has spotty coverage, so, if I use it outdoors, then, ofcourse, battery life will drop more and Ill get 2 during my normal use and 3.5 days stretched out of it at best.
If they update camera modules this autumn, add more power efficient OLED, perhaps even increase battery capacity a bit, might upgrade to improved Mini, given that Im not that type of person who upgrades yearly, thats means alot to me. If they dont, well, either keep this one or upgrade to regular Pro if they use the same bigger sized camera sensors as in Max.
But the pocket size of Mini cant be beat, not until folding/sliding/rolling form factor takes off.
If they update camera modules this autumn, add more power efficient OLED, perhaps even increase battery capacity a bit, might upgrade to improved Mini, given that Im not that type of person who upgrades yearly, thats means alot to me. If they dont, well, either keep this one or upgrade to regular Pro if they use the same bigger sized camera sensors as in Max.
But the pocket size of Mini cant be beat, not until folding/sliding/rolling form factor takes off.
Naked and carried in a leather wallet sleeve. Got AC+ And a Spigen Liquid Crystal just in case (used with it 2-3 times).
My major complaint is about red product: the red mini is really ugly compared with 8/XR/11 red and that‘s the reason why I choose the white one.
Last edited:
Launch day owner. I hope they keep the smaller form factor around!
I see you. Also white mini naked with glass on front and Apple Care+ 👍🏻
I had a AC+ without glass on the front for the XS but it had one slim scratch. It was bad for selling even though the buyer didn’t care about that. So I even didn‘t trust new ceramic shield. 😅
It’s funny that the mini is selling so badly, since people love it so much!
Of course, it may be a self-selecting group of small phone appreciators who are naturally grateful this thing exists. But I do wonder if there’s something else hurting sales. Like maybe people think “mini” will mean a miniaturized novelty, charming but impractical. And maybe during the pandemic, people are online shopping more than ever, so they’re not getting hands-on to make an informed judgment.
Or maybe my theories are bunk and it’s simply a phone with a small audience. In that case I hope Apple will look at the satisfaction rates and decide the mini is still worth making.
Me, I got a blue 256GB mini in December and it makes me happy every day.
I’d been using a X for 3 years. Loved that phone, one of my favorite Apple things ever. Packed with fun upgrades and never stopped feeling fast. If anything, just a hair big and heavy, but I got used to it. Then one day I picked up my old 5s and even though the screen was tiny it just felt great in my hand. Like, “hey this is really nice”. So I started wishing for a smaller phone.
The lineup this year was super confusing. I wanted a smaller phone but also the best cameras available. I settled on the 12 pro (blue). A compromise from the start.
I expected a device that felt like my X, but with newer cameras and so on. To my shock, the 12 pro felt *much* worse in hand. Like an angry brick. Although its width matched the X, the flat sides and corners made the device bigger diagonally. The marginal weight increase felt much heavier in practice. And the slippery back made one-handed use a risky stunt, the phone threatening to tip out of my fingers when my thumb reached for the far edge.
(One positive: I did like the grippy flat sides when holding it as a camera.)
Most annoying, these hits to usability were all to make it appear more premium. Stainless steel frame, matte glass… it looked honestly gorgeous, but I resented having to expend more effort and energy to care for this burdensome, slippery slab just so it could look like jewelry. I like pretty things but above all give me elegance in use.
With all those reservations I did like the camera and was getting used to my 12 pro. But a few days in, I picked up my old X. Instantly, “hey this is really nice”. Just like I’d felt picking up my 5s some months back.
That was it. I returned the 12 pro and some weeks later ordered a mini. I loved it instantly.
I thought not having a tele lens on the mini was a total deal breaker for me. But I got around that by ordering a couple lenses from Moment (tele and anamorphic) that I take when I go out. It’s less convenient sure, but I’m getting even better images because that 1x sensor with a tele lens attached is higher quality than the 2x sensor in the pro models.
Most of all I just love picking up the mini. It fits my hand. It’s agreeable and cooperative and does everything really well. I don’t even feel like it’s miniature, it’s just a good size for a phone.
Obviously I’m in the “give me a pro mini“ camp. But I don’t want the stainless steel frame. When I pick up my mini with the magsafe paddle on it, I get a sense of what a heavier mini would feel like. This thing is already premium enough. What I want is elegance in use.
Of course, it may be a self-selecting group of small phone appreciators who are naturally grateful this thing exists. But I do wonder if there’s something else hurting sales. Like maybe people think “mini” will mean a miniaturized novelty, charming but impractical. And maybe during the pandemic, people are online shopping more than ever, so they’re not getting hands-on to make an informed judgment.
Or maybe my theories are bunk and it’s simply a phone with a small audience. In that case I hope Apple will look at the satisfaction rates and decide the mini is still worth making.
Me, I got a blue 256GB mini in December and it makes me happy every day.
I’d been using a X for 3 years. Loved that phone, one of my favorite Apple things ever. Packed with fun upgrades and never stopped feeling fast. If anything, just a hair big and heavy, but I got used to it. Then one day I picked up my old 5s and even though the screen was tiny it just felt great in my hand. Like, “hey this is really nice”. So I started wishing for a smaller phone.
The lineup this year was super confusing. I wanted a smaller phone but also the best cameras available. I settled on the 12 pro (blue). A compromise from the start.
I expected a device that felt like my X, but with newer cameras and so on. To my shock, the 12 pro felt *much* worse in hand. Like an angry brick. Although its width matched the X, the flat sides and corners made the device bigger diagonally. The marginal weight increase felt much heavier in practice. And the slippery back made one-handed use a risky stunt, the phone threatening to tip out of my fingers when my thumb reached for the far edge.
(One positive: I did like the grippy flat sides when holding it as a camera.)
Most annoying, these hits to usability were all to make it appear more premium. Stainless steel frame, matte glass… it looked honestly gorgeous, but I resented having to expend more effort and energy to care for this burdensome, slippery slab just so it could look like jewelry. I like pretty things but above all give me elegance in use.
With all those reservations I did like the camera and was getting used to my 12 pro. But a few days in, I picked up my old X. Instantly, “hey this is really nice”. Just like I’d felt picking up my 5s some months back.
That was it. I returned the 12 pro and some weeks later ordered a mini. I loved it instantly.
I thought not having a tele lens on the mini was a total deal breaker for me. But I got around that by ordering a couple lenses from Moment (tele and anamorphic) that I take when I go out. It’s less convenient sure, but I’m getting even better images because that 1x sensor with a tele lens attached is higher quality than the 2x sensor in the pro models.
Most of all I just love picking up the mini. It fits my hand. It’s agreeable and cooperative and does everything really well. I don’t even feel like it’s miniature, it’s just a good size for a phone.
Obviously I’m in the “give me a pro mini“ camp. But I don’t want the stainless steel frame. When I pick up my mini with the magsafe paddle on it, I get a sense of what a heavier mini would feel like. This thing is already premium enough. What I want is elegance in use.
Attachments
I was wondering how the Moment lenses worked on the Mini.I too wish they would have given us a telephoto instead of the useless ultra wide. Any samples from the Moment telephoto lens with the Mini? You can PM me if you want, thanks
I happened to order the iPad 3 on the first day and got rid of it when the iPad mini 5 came along.
The moment lenses work great! I’m having a lot of fun with them.
Only caveat — and I haven’t tested this carefully but it’s my impression — is that stabilization on video doesn’t work as well when you’re really pushing it. If you‘re moving gracefully it‘s fine, but I’ve tried like, running around on a beach chasing the waves and the resulting footage was a little jerky with the Moment tele attached.
Here are some snapshots, nothing too arty but you can see what I’m getting with the mini’s wide lens + Moment telephoto. For the night ones I’ve used a little baby tripod, which makes things notably sharper. (One of these is using the anamorphic lens — you’ll know it when you see it!)
Incidentally, I’ve come to enjoy the ultra-wide for getting weird effects sometimes. I agree though, tele would be far more useful.
Attachments
-
BA48B04C-EDFF-4E2C-B2C7-91DAEE0630B9.jpeg -
1BB76D9F-6082-43C1-B488-89EBBCA8189C.jpeg -
5F717DC5-F31A-400E-AEF8-A771FCB4A2FA.jpeg -
858CE672-32C6-4DE8-912D-CCFF11508B76.jpeg -
0E4D45EF-3EAA-4AF7-A5B0-F56580F73727.jpeg -
79D35901-BD40-4040-B6D8-7DC7F650F388.jpeg -
D7C8CB16-7FB5-4FE3-B2A2-22EBDD98910B.jpeg -
ADA08723-5BF2-492B-8869-8FEEAF41DCDB.jpeg
An hand made one by an italian craftsman. I’m reconsidering it because today, for the first time, I’ve got some problems with my contactless credit card (need to use it instead of apple pay, long story) and I’m scared that the phone could damage the contactless chip.
