iPhone 12 mini How many Mini owners here?

[subjonas]

Where are these so-called "anti-touch ID people"? You probably mean people who have long since moved on to, and much prefer, the Face ID technology, and as such see Touch ID as a thing of the past. I haven't heard/seen many complaints regarding Touch ID, except for it not working when your fingers are a tiny bit wet or too dry. Face ID is simply far more convenient in most cases. Many of those hating on Face ID seem to be reluctant to adapt to new technology. I even see people complaining about not having a home-button, whom I'd put in the same category - i.e. they don't want to adapt to the, imo, superior gesture based navigation. Or maybe they are scared of change. After all, I see a surprisingly high number of people here who are still using very outdated iPhones, something I find strange in a tech-forum, but to each their own.

Obviously I don’t remember individuals lol, and anyway I wouldn’t want to do a search and single them out. But they’re very present. Many pro Face ID people are anti Touch ID (and vice versa) though not all necessarily speak out (and exaggerate) how bad they think Touch ID is, but a subset do. Yeah the debates were hot the first couple years and are more seldom these days. Perhaps they’ve adapted to Face ID. Or maybe they just got tired of talking about it. Who knows. Regardless of who has majority, the point just being, it’s the same type of people on both sides who assert their opinion as fact and will bend the truth the try to back up their claim.
I agree Face ID may be more convenient in most cases, but to say it is “far” more convenient even in those cases is in my opinion an over-exaggeration. After all, objectively speaking, the difference we’re really talking about is a thumb movement.
As far as outdated tech, there is a widely believed assumption that new is always better, but that's not always the case (eg. butterfly keyboard). Sure, there are probably people who are biased against change, but some legitimately find certain changes don’t work as well for them. And there is no objective way to say they’re wrong. Edit- also some people just stay on older devices to save money.

 

[subjonas]

I looked pretty hard at the 12 mini, because my terrific SE1 started having a really cataclysmic battery drain problem -- I could watch it drop five percent in a minute -- and I very much like the form factor. But in the end I couldn't get myself to drop nearly a kilobuck on a phone, and went for the SE2.

I had the same problem for my SE1. I changed the battery and it was good for a few months and then started draining fast again. It was inconsistent though so it was hard to narrow down the reason. Certain sites like macrumors seemed to really drain it but not all sites, and not all apps. More recently I also had issues with overnight drainage, like 50%, but that too was inconsistent. I’m a light sporadic user (mostly use my iPad), so that also makes it harder to pinpoint the pattern. These days the battery life seems to be pretty good. Just weird. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Barbareren]

Many pro Face ID people are anti Touch ID (and vice versa)

I find that kind of thinking immature.

Regardless of who has majority, the point just being, it’s the same type of people on both sides who assert their opinion as fact and will bend the truth the try to back up their claim.

I never assert my opinion as fact, just to make that crystal clear, and I can’t stand people who do.

I agree Face ID may be more convenient in most cases, but to say it is “far” more convenient even in those cases is in my opinion an over-exaggeration.

Okay, maybe it’s an exaggeration to you, but I personally (opinion) do find it that much more convenient.

Sure, there are probably people who are biased against change, but some legitimately find certain changes don’t work as well for them. And there is no objective way to say they’re wrong. Edit- also some people just stay on older devices to save money.

I never wrote that they were wrong; hence the: “to each their own”. And of course I get the economic aspect, but I still find it a bit weird how ‘technologically conservative’ many people seem to be here compared to, say, any Android forum… “not that there’s anything wrong with that” 😉

 

[Roadster Lewis]

Having only moved to FaceID this week, I think both FaceID and TouchID are good. It has already got to the point where I pick up my work iPhone 8, look at it and expect it to unlock.

 

[zombierunner]

I love my 12 mini. Yes the smaller battery is noticeable coming from the iPhone 11 but I am not a very heavy phone user and I still have 25-30% left at night so it works for me. Love how light the iPhone is in my hand and pockets.

 

[Okta]

I'm considering a 13 Mini if it has ProMotion in it. Phones are getting too big, I have an iPad if I want a big device

 

[subjonas]

Phones are getting too big, I have an iPad if I want a big device

Totally agree. For me, a phone and iPad serve two different purposes. A phone is for quick necessary communication/tasks/info and audio (audio can be longer and less necessary) while I’m out, therefore small is more ideal. iPad is for all the phone stuff plus a lot more (reading, entertainment, etc.) while I’m home, therefore big is more ideal.
I think the difference between me and most people though is I try to use my phone only when necessary while I’m out because I like to stay engaged with my surroundings as much as possible.

 

[Okta]

Totally agree. For me, a phone and iPad serve two different purposes. A phone is for quick necessary communication/tasks/info and audio (audio can be longer and less necessary) while I’m out, therefore small is more ideal. iPad is for all the phone stuff plus a lot more (reading, entertainment, etc.) while I’m home, therefore big is more ideal.
I think the difference between me and most people though is I try to use my phone only when necessary while I’m out because I like to stay engaged with my surroundings as much as possible.

Yup, thats becoming a bit of a lost art. Phones are becoming what people care about, which is kinda sad

 

[catean]

I think the difference between me and most people though is I try to use my phone only when necessary while I’m out because I like to stay engaged with my surroundings as much as possible.

These days I am going out in the city only with my Apple Watch, even the mini is too much of a distraction for me. Having empty pockets, but still beign able to pay by card, take phone calls and messages, scrolling trough e-mail if necesary is super cool. And all this while tracking fitness. If Apple would give us a way to configure the watch with an iPad, I think I would not need an iPhone anymore. Long phone calls can be carried over AirPods.

 

[subjonas]

These days I am going out in the city only with my Apple Watch, even the mini is too much of a distraction for me. Having empty pockets, but still beign able to pay by card, take phone calls and messages, scrolling trough e-mail if necesary is super cool. And all this while tracking fitness. If Apple would give us a way to configure the watch with an iPad, I think I would not need an iPhone anymore. Long phone calls can be carried over AirPods.

Watch and AirPods only is pretty cool. Personally, there are things I think I still need a phone size screen for, but I admire the minimalism.

 

[sfalatko]

I find that kind of thinking immature.



I never assert my opinion as fact, just to make that crystal clear, and I can’t stand people who do.



Okay, maybe it’s an exaggeration to you, but I personally (opinion) do find it that much more convenient.



I never wrote that they were wrong; hence the: “to each their own”. And of course I get the economic aspect, but I still find it a bit weird how ‘technologically conservative’ many people seem to be here compared to, say, any Android forum… “not that there’s anything wrong with that” 😉

Well if you are a heavy user of Apple Pay Touch ID is much simpler and it the days of masking - even with Watch unlock - Touch ID would be a dream. That is the one use case where Touch ID is much better than Face ID. (Of course in my opinion).

Otherwise I love the 12 mini.

Regards,
sfalatko

 

[eatrains]

My Mini unlocks with my phone held out as far as I can stretch my arm away from my face.

I'm talking about minimum distance, not maximum.

 

[eatrains]

Precisely. All these anti-FaceID people drive me nuts with their whining and lies about how difficult it supposedly is to use.

So please explain why I can use Touch ID when the phone is close to my face but Face ID fails?

 

[Barbareren]

So please explain why I can use Touch ID when the phone is close to my face but Face ID fails?

Why on earth would you stick your phone that close to your face lol

 

[eatrains]

Why on earth would you stick your phone that close to your face lol

So I can read it when I'm not wearing glasses/contacts?

 

[Phone Junky]

So I can read it when I'm not wearing glasses/contacts?

I just unlocked it at about 5 inches with no problem other than it was too close for me to focus on anything on the screen.
So if you need it closer than that, hold it just a bit farther for that split second it takes to unlock.

 

[eatrains]

I just unlocked it at about 5 inches with no problem other than it was too close for me to focus on anything on the screen.
So if you need it closer than that, hold it just a bit farther for that split second it takes to unlock.

Having to blindly wave your phone out away from your face just to unlock it is a downgrade from Touch ID where it just worked no matter what.

 

[Scottsm124]

I’m seriously contemplating returning my 12 Pro for a mini simply for the size difference. Coming from an X…the 12 pro is a fantastic phone but perhaps too large and heavy for my liking.

My one concern would be the “yellow tint” display issue that so many have brought up. I even notice it with my pro while I’m scrolling in the dark. Have you guys been experiencing those same display issues with the mini?

 

[stanza.richi]

After some weeks of leather case, I went back to naked mini. Best of all worlds.

 

[taneff]

I’m seriously contemplating returning my 12 Pro for a mini simply for the size difference. Coming from an X…the 12 pro is a fantastic phone but perhaps too large and heavy for my liking.

My one concern would be the “yellow tint” display issue that so many have brought up. I even notice it with my pro while I’m scrolling in the dark. Have you guys been experiencing those same display issues with the mini?

Yes, as many people have with the whole 12 lineup. It's a lottery. Have it too with all tested devices. The first from apple directly was the worst, I think the yellow tint isn't the biggest problem but the low quality panels with washed out colors which make it hard to read the text sometimes. Yellow tint one thing, low quality in general another. Had this with a 12 Pro max too btw.

 

[Phone Junky]

Having to blindly wave your phone out away from your face just to unlock it is a downgrade from Touch ID where it just worked no matter what.

“Blindly waving”? Talk about over exaggerating.

 

[Barbareren]

My one concern would be the “yellow tint” display issue that so many have brought up. I even notice it with my pro while I’m scrolling in the dark. Have you guys been experiencing those same display issues with the mini?

As long as I keep True Tone OFF I don’t have any issues on mine.

 

[Scottsm124]

As long as I keep True Tone OFF I don’t have any issues on mine.

Interesting…whenever I turn my True Tone off it instantly becomes blue to the point of becoming uncomfortable.

 

[Barbareren]

Interesting…whenever I turn my True Tone off it instantly becomes blue to the point of becoming uncomfortable.

Hmm… not here, it just becomes less ‘warm’…

 

[DeepIn2U]

Having only moved to FaceID this week, I think both FaceID and TouchID are good. It has already got to the point where I pick up my work iPhone 8, look at it and expect it to unlock.

Sounds confusing. I reach for my iPhone 12 mini and it’s unlocked before I even pick it up Couldn’t do that with my iPhone 8, 7, 6S, 6, or 5S/5, or SE OG.

Well if you are a heavy user of Apple Pay Touch ID is much simpler and it the days of masking - even with Watch unlock - Touch ID would be a dream. That is the one use case where Touch ID is much better than Face ID. (Of course in my opinion).

Otherwise I love the 12 mini.

Regards,
sfalatko

Sorry I disagree. I’m a VERY heavy user of Apple Pay - 5x per day for 6days/wk. Phone is locked, pull from my jeans pocket glance and doubletap sleep/wake button boom ready before I bring my phone in one fluid motion over to the pay terminal.

With those against FaceID complaining you have to look at it, funny enough people wtih TouchID + ApplePay STILL look at their iPhone‘s when initiating payment - even though you KNOW what your default payment card is, sometimes people change it or change to AirMiles for points first. So that argument is mute.

So please explain why I can use Touch ID when the phone is close to my face but Face ID fails?

How about a video showing us? Sincerely, not being a clown here but I’m wondering if the movement towards your face is rapid and stops abruptly. Since you’ve stated you bring the iphone so close to your face, maybe the dot matrix field of exposure is too narrow to capture your face - maybe your face has areas of high depths (aka a large pointed nose?)

Sorry maybe you just want it to fail? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Having to blindly wave your phone out away from your face just to unlock it is a downgrade from Touch ID where it just worked no matter what.

LMAO … I did that when the IPhone X debuted and it was returned in 14 days swapped + cash to me for the iPhone 8.

FaceID is MUCH faster and almost as accurate in long field of view away from the face as the 2018 iPad Pro models. It’s super fast and accurate. Maybe you have the setting to look at the phone and you never do so it‘ll not verify you’re wanting to use FaceID.