Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 12 mini If you are thinking of upgrading to 12... don't

MacBH928

MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
9,162
4,191
I upgraded from iphone 7 all the way to iphone 12 mini(4 years). Its not worth it. If you have a newer device its even worse since you will see less benefit.

Everything works just the same and while performance is snappier its not $800 snappier. Also if you are a notch hater and home button lover dont. The phone is also heavier and thicker than iphone 7. You are way far better off with SE.

The only people I would recommend to upgrade to the 12 are the following:-
1-You have to have the latest and greatest

2-Camera is most important part of the phone for you, every pixel count

3-You want the most powerful chip to run the greatest and most demanding apps.

4-If you feel iphone 7 screen is too small

If you are a smartphone user who uses social media, emails, web browsing, phone calls...There is no reason to upgrade. If you have to upgrade get SE or wait for the 13 if you feel just fine with the current phone.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: PilotWoo, ElectronGuru, dukebound85 and 14 others
I probably have no choice. I have an iPhone that won't be able to get the new OS that will be released later this year. I've had my 6s since the day after its official release. Please don't tell me to switch to another phone other than from Apple. My first phone was the 5c. (Yeah, my 6s is still kicking. I figure its not going to be worth it to get a new battery now since I won't be able to update OS.

However, I don't know when or how I will be able to update to a newer iPhone since the Apple store is closed because of covid, but then again, I got mine directly from my mobile carrier and I am not sure if they're closed because of Covid, too.
 
Op, your iphone 7 is a good solid phone, but the iphone 12 mini is quite a substantial upgrade over it in my opinion. The big advantage of the classic iphones though is touch id.

edit - notchless screen of the classic iphones is also another advantage of course ;)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: eltoslightfoot and QueenTyrone
a-m-k said:
I probably have no choice. I have an iPhone that won't be able to get the new OS that will be released later this year.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you do have a choice. Your current phone will continue to work after it stops receiving iOS updates (so you can continue to use it), or if you wish you can purchase another iPhone (either new from Apple, a carrier, or second hand). Ultimately the choice is up to you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tagbert
MacBH928 said:
I upgraded from iphone 7 all the way to iphone 12 mini(4 years). Its not worth it. If you have a newer device its even worse since you will see less benefit.

Everything works just the same and while performance is snappier its not $800 snappier. Also if you are a notch hater and home button lover dont. The phone is also heavier and thicker than iphone 7. You are way far better off with SE.

The only people I would recommend to upgrade to the 12 are the following:-
1-You have to have the latest and greatest

2-Camera is most important part of the phone for you, every pixel count

3-You want the most powerful chip to run the greatest and most demanding apps.

4-If you feel iphone 7 screen is too small

If you are a smartphone user who uses social media, emails, web browsing, phone calls...There is no reason to upgrade. If you have to upgrade get SE or wait for the 13 if you feel just fine with the current phone.
Click to expand...

Are these facts that it’s not worth it, or just your opinion?

I ask as you are making it seem like it’s a fact.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arefbe, QueenTyrone, RRC and 1 other person
I upgraded to a 12 from an 8 Plus. I was shocked once I got the 12 just how good my 8 Plus still was I must admit. The speed difference was incredibly small.

However I really like the 12 for the camera improvements and am pleased I have it. I wouldn’t say it’s hugely better on the whole and I think the 8 Plus i had was testament to how good iPhones have become in recent years. I certainly didn’t need to upgrade, I just did.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Broadus, d.o.p., MacBH928 and 1 other person
ericwn said:
I mean it’s an iPhone, the functionality is known to you, what exactly were you expecting to be different?
Click to expand...
Exactly. The OP has been on the forum in the mini threads. The 12 is faster and has much better performances specs. There are no super secret options with the mini. The OP should have had realistic expectations.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arefbe, tt061282, EM2013 and 5 others
MacBH928 said:
I upgraded from iphone 7 all the way to iphone 12 mini(4 years). Its not worth it. If you have a newer device its even worse since you will see less benefit.

Everything works just the same and while performance is snappier its not $800 snappier. Also if you are a notch hater and home button lover dont. The phone is also heavier and thicker than iphone 7. You are way far better off with SE.

The only people I would recommend to upgrade to the 12 are the following:-
1-You have to have the latest and greatest

2-Camera is most important part of the phone for you, every pixel count

3-You want the most powerful chip to run the greatest and most demanding apps.

4-If you feel iphone 7 screen is too small

If you are a smartphone user who uses social media, emails, web browsing, phone calls...There is no reason to upgrade. If you have to upgrade get SE or wait for the 13 if you feel just fine with the current phone.
Click to expand...
Ok
 
  • Like
Reactions: tt061282 and eltoslightfoot
For me there was definitely a speed increase in apps coming from the 11 to 12. Especially web/internet dependent based apps (I mostly use). It would take 4-5 minutes for email to fetch on my 11 pro max versus 30 seconds on my 12 pro max. Games loading time to connect to the server would take 2-3 minutes on my 11 pro max and 15-30 seconds on my 12 (the games I play connected just as slow on my moms 11. I know the intel modem was the culprit for me though.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: eltoslightfoot and Momof2.1107
QueenTyrone said:
For me there was definitely a speed increase in apps coming from the 11 to 12. Especially web/internet dependent based apps (I mostly use). It would take 4-5 minutes for email to fetch on my 11 pro max versus 30 seconds on my 12 pro max. Games loading time to connect to the server would take 2-3 minutes on my 11 pro max and 15-30 seconds on my 12 (the games I play connected just as slow on my moms 11. I know the intel modem was the culprit for me though.)
Click to expand...
Where have you been hiding? I haven't seen you around much at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: QueenTyrone
Except for the faster CPUs, more RAM and better camera and speakers, the iPhones have progressively gotten worse every year since the iPhone 6.

iPhone 6/6+ was peak iPhone (barring the above)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: PlayUltimate
I felt quite a big jump between upgrading from the 8 to the 11; it really felt like a completely different experience honestly and it took me a long time to fully adjust and get over how different it felt. Upgraded from the 11 to the 12 recently also, and it truly is a much better phone for me. So I cannot really identify with what the OP is saying what so ever; I just think some people have too many expectations, but each to their own and we're all entitled to our subjective opinions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jetcat3, eltoslightfoot, The1andOnly and 1 other person
now i see it said:
Except for the faster CPUs, more RAM and better camera and speakers, the iPhones have progressively gotten worse every year since the iPhone 6.

iPhone 6/6+ was peak iPhone (barring the above)
Click to expand...
Better water resistance, better impact resistance on the front and back glass. My wife has the iPhone 12 Pro Max and it is better in every way over her iPhone 6S+. Yes, it does have a slight green tint to the screen under very dark conditions with the brightness under 20%. However, does not have the yellow tint issue. The thing is simply stunning to look at and use.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: amirhkk, Barbareren, TechLord and 1 other person
now i see it said:
Except for the faster CPUs, more RAM and better camera and speakers, the iPhones have progressively gotten worse every year since the iPhone 6.

iPhone 6/6+ was peak iPhone (barring the above)
Click to expand...
iPhone 6 series are by far the least desirable iPhone ever made
Awful design, ugly as fluck, bentgate...
iPhone 12 series reminds me the era of iPhone 4/5
In every aspect, iPhone 12 series is way better than 6
OLED screen display, A14 Bionic, camera, water resistance, Magsafe, Wireless charging, battery life, 5G...
 
  • Like
Reactions: amirhkk, eduschean, Jetcat3 and 3 others
saber32au said:
Don't worry, you do have a choice. Your current phone will continue to work after it stops receiving iOS updates (so you can continue to use it), or if you wish you can purchase another iPhone (either new from Apple, a carrier, or second hand). Ultimately the choice is up to you.
Click to expand...
It's old anyway. It'll probably be 6 years old when the new iPhone comes out in the fall. If that is the case, I'll be 3 times as old as my 5c that I only had for two years. I'm probably going to go through my cell service carrier so I can pay for the phone the same time I pay the bil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back