Oh yeah, I know the other product cycles can vary wildly, but I was thinking specifically iPhones, which are pretty much clockwork annual updates.
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iPhone 13 mini I switched back to the 13mini and wow
- Thread starter FlyingTexan
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*hushhh* . . . such statements are like acid on the screens of those who eventually succumbed to the BOGO carrier contracts
I've bailed out of smartphones altogether, but my last one was a Mini 12 which was perfect physically but let down by dismal battery life. I had hung on to my 8 for years until the Mini 12 came out as I refused to countenance anything larger.
But if I was going to return to smartphone zombiedom today, even though the 13 Mini is on the refurb store, I'd reluctantly go for a regular 15—just for a battery I could depend on.
But if I was going to return to smartphone zombiedom today, even though the 13 Mini is on the refurb store, I'd reluctantly go for a regular 15—just for a battery I could depend on.
I'm not delusional, the chance that Apple brings back another mini sized phone is almost non-existent. But, they do have the data to show how many people are using what phones. If enough people don't upgrade for a while, there is a possibility they could create another smaller sized phone several years down the road.
If they did, I would buy one for sure, just to future proof myself as long as I can.
But aside from that, the main reason I've upgraded my phones in the past is the additional cellular bands that have come out. The original SE wasn't great in this regard as there was a Sprint version & a Verizon/ T Mo/ ATT version. I don't remember all of the specifics but I believe the Sprint one was missing some bands that the other carriers used & Vice versa. But as time went by and new bands were introduced, I upgraded to get better reception (I live in a Sprint/ T Mobile border area) and the newer bands have always helped out. Now that things have kind of stabilized in that way, I think I'll be happy with the 13 Mini for quite some time.
If they did, I would buy one for sure, just to future proof myself as long as I can.
But aside from that, the main reason I've upgraded my phones in the past is the additional cellular bands that have come out. The original SE wasn't great in this regard as there was a Sprint version & a Verizon/ T Mo/ ATT version. I don't remember all of the specifics but I believe the Sprint one was missing some bands that the other carriers used & Vice versa. But as time went by and new bands were introduced, I upgraded to get better reception (I live in a Sprint/ T Mobile border area) and the newer bands have always helped out. Now that things have kind of stabilized in that way, I think I'll be happy with the 13 Mini for quite some time.
Me too. I carry my 13 Mini in my shirt pocket, and I want them to be able to button up to prevent the phone falling out or being stolen. I specifically choose shirts with large button up pockets to be able to do that.
Even the SE model is now too big to fit in them (and button up).
That said, small screens have down sides, especially for ageing eyes. There is a significant reduction in usability and functionality, and that probably reduces the amount of use I make of my iPhone. So between that and not having a Mini option I might have to go for a bigger one next time.
It is either that or return to cheap (<$100) phones just for voice calls and text messages.
Have you guys actually expressed your small iPhone admiration to Apple themselves? A 100+ posts on Macrumors are very unlikely to change much, yet a 100+ product feedbacks fed directly to Apple just might start them considering it. Express yourselves here 😉
Please also don’t forget that Apple got burned with mini 12, with majority of reviewers saying “A neat iPhone, but a battery life is meh!”, recommending people go with a regular 12 instead. This is why Apple made an extended battery life of iPhone 13 series a major selling point next year. Even that, however, did not help mini’s fate and it just did not sell well enough (by Apple’s standards).
Feedback - iPhone
Apple wants to hear from you. Send us your comments and feedback about iPhone.
www.apple.com
Please also don’t forget that Apple got burned with mini 12, with majority of reviewers saying “A neat iPhone, but a battery life is meh!”, recommending people go with a regular 12 instead. This is why Apple made an extended battery life of iPhone 13 series a major selling point next year. Even that, however, did not help mini’s fate and it just did not sell well enough (by Apple’s standards).
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The thing is, it wasn't a disaster to those of us who like it. The problem IMO was that it had to compete against the cheaper SE 2020. My wife wanted to have a home button on her new phone, so when we went to buy two 12 minis when they became available, she ended up opting for the SE instead.
My mini is great. The battery complaints I just don't get, because after four years my original battery still lasts all day, which is what I expected of it. I hope I can use it another four years.
Then you have a very minimalistic iPhone usage pattern, which does not correspond to a vast majority of smartphone users. I can make my iPhone 12 mini last all day too (with 84% of original battery capacity remaining), but it will be a very light touch experience.
You never know whats is the main decision to buy one or another as the models has different key features.
This features are ordered by me but all of us has different preferences:
1- cameras
2-battery life
3-screen size
+price
presbyopia comes at 45 and that could means from that age, screen size could be number one feature to choose
Under 25, use the phone as main computer, so larger screen is a must, as well as battery life.
This features are ordered by me but all of us has different preferences:
1- cameras
2-battery life
3-screen size
+price
presbyopia comes at 45 and that could means from that age, screen size could be number one feature to choose
Under 25, use the phone as main computer, so larger screen is a must, as well as battery life.
Great idea, just done that.Have you guys actually expressed your small iPhone admiration to Apple themselves? A 100+ posts on Macrumors are very unlikely to change much, yet a 100+ product feedbacks fed directly to Apple just might start them considering it. Express yourselves here 😉
Feedback - iPhone
Apple wants to hear from you. Send us your comments and feedback about iPhone.www.apple.com
Please also don’t forget that Apple got burned with mini 12, with majority of reviewers saying “A neat iPhone, but a battery life is meh!”, recommending people go with a regular 12 instead. This is why Apple made an extended battery life of iPhone 13 series a major selling point next year. Even that, however, did not help mini’s fate and if just did not sell well enough (by Apple’s standards).
Not sure they will listen to one guy telling me “bring it back“ but if the numbers increased it might help.
Hear, hear!
Apple could have charged me practically any price for the best camera, OLED and ProMotion in a hand-sized phone.
People say mini is a niche product but if you look at every iPhone Apple is selling, they do offer a lot of niche price levels. I really wonder how many people opt for iPhone 13 for example given the small difference in price to 14. Why not throw in more screen options? Or offer two sizes SE small and large?
iPhone 15 Pro Max $1199
iPhone 15 Pro $999
iPhone 15 Plus $899
iPhone 15 $799
iPhone 14 Plus $799
iPhone 14 $699
iPhone 13 $599
iPhone SE $429
iPhone 15 Pro Max $1199
iPhone 15 Pro $999
iPhone 15 Plus $899
iPhone 15 $799
iPhone 14 Plus $799
iPhone 14 $699
iPhone 13 $599
iPhone SE $429
I left my feedback to them last summer, asking them to consider bringing 5.8” screen sizes back. I think mini 12-13 was a technical miracle of a sort, as they managed to fit good camera setup and sufficient enough battery into such a small body. However, this came with overheating, further depleting battery’s lifespan. I also remember that iPhone 11 Pro had a really good battery life, so they could make it work really well, especially with the latest stacked battery tech. But then the size difference between 5.8” and 6.1” is so small that Apple might be thinking “why bother”. FWIW, my “transition” from iPhone 12 mini to a regular 15 lasted for the duration of iPhone transfer. I only notice it when I hold them both side by side. When I use 15, which is my main iPhone, I do not feel that it is big, heavy or uncomfortable to use in any way.
I personally think that Apple are selling way too many iPhone models already, especially considering their Mother Nature talk. A reasonable thing to do today, IMO, would be:
iPhone 15 Pro Max $1199
iPhone 15 Pro $999
iPhone 15 Plus $899
iPhone 15 $799
iPhone 14 $699
iPhone SE $429
So come 2024/2025 models, they could do:
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 15 (dropping it once SE 2025 is out)
iPhone SE (dropping it once SE 2025 is out)
This way their entire lineup will have enough RAM for AI and USB-C ports.
Personally, though, I will stick to my iPhone 15 for now and will be curious to see what they do with iPhone 17-18 lot.
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The present/near future should make engineering a proper mini device even easier and with less compromise than before.
We've got much more efficient chips now. More efficient OLED screens. Stacked battery tech for a lot more battery density. In-house 5g modems that could be more efficient as well (soon).
I really do hope they bring it back like once in 5 years just to rack up sales from the mini crowd.
Make it a mini Pro for all I care, charge half a kidney and it could still work.
Maybe unpopular, but I’d like a phone with the body of a 5c with a modern display.
Yesterday evening I switched on my old 12 mini after one year and half of 14 Pro Max. Despite the light weight and the possibility of reaching each point of the screen easier, the 12 mini’s screen is far way lower quality compared with 14 PM. At the same time, a lot less of screen estate.
I don’t know if I will be brave enough to go back to 12 o 13 mini, maybe I will appreciate more a foldable iPhone 🤷🏻♂️
I don’t know if I will be brave enough to go back to 12 o 13 mini, maybe I will appreciate more a foldable iPhone 🤷🏻♂️
I was briefly tempted by the 13 mini (because of the weight), but I don't regret the longer battery life and the larger screen of my 13 pro max. It's just a liberating feeling knowing that my phone has enough juice to last through the day no matter that I do.
Unfortunately there will likely not be another mini lineup unless the battery issue is fixed.
The next iPhone SE was going to be based on the mini, from what I heard from industrial sources, but unfortunately Apple never were able to fix the battery issue, simply because 5G modems uses lot of power. Hence next SE will have the standard 6.12 inch display to allow for bigger battery instead of smaller battery that mini had.
Will Apple revisit the mini if they could figure out power issue when they make their own modem? Yes they will likely will. But it’ll probably be a while.
Doesn’t mean there can’t be both a small and regular SE though.
iPhone 16 sizes have already been rumored and will be probably be like below. SE with last year’s chips fits right in.
iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9”
iPhone 16 Pro 6.3”
iPhone 16 Plus 6.7”
iPhone 16 6.1”
iPhone SE 6.1”
iPhone SE Mini 5.4”
Late last year, my wife had her iPhone 13 Pro snatched in CDMX and later that day went to the Apple store in Polanco (Mexico City’s snazziest colony) where she bought an ordinary 12. It was north of $750, not $499 as it would have been in the USA.
When flying in Mexico, I mostly see iPhones with Dynamic Island, however, in town I see Androids and older iPhones.
Multiple price points may not mean much to affluent Americans, however …
Given the total number of Mac sales, there must be some Mac models that sell in similarly “small” numbers as the iPhone mini did.
But I suspect the reasoning for Apple isn’t sales alone. It’s also that having to accommodate a mini model limits them in what they can do in the larger models, unless they want to make it a completely separate model feature-wise, which has other drawbacks like increased cost and reduced appeal in the market (given how many state they would really want a mini Pro).
Hence iPhone SE, which will get a bigger OLED screen, a modern chip and other goodies and will still remain affordable.
Japan is not high on that list purely due to the lower population than the US or Europe, otherwise Apple are doing rather well there.