iPhone 12 is Most Popular Model in Flagship Lineup, Apple Also Seeing Strong Sales of Pro and Pro Max

You seem to be missing my point. The mini isn’t competing with those cheap devices. No other manufacturer had a premium model even in the top 10, which means the mini outsold even Samsung’s flagship models. I have no doubt Apple is proud of that fact. The only way to spin the mini being the 6th most popular smartphone as a bad thing is by being intentionally absurd.

The fact the iPhone 12 mini is selling the same volume as those cheap devices is what makes it embarrassing. If you look at how 2018 and 2019 iPhone models performed, Apple grabbed the top with the XR and 11. The iPhone 12 mini is a mainstream device and should be at the top with iPhone 12.

It should be outselling Samsung's flagship models. It should be outselling Redmi. That is completely expected for a $2T+ company.

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The fact the iPhone 12 mini is selling the same volume as those cheap devices is what makes it embarrassing. If you look at how 2018 and 2019 iPhone models performed, Apple grabbed the top with the XR and 11. The iPhone 12 mini is a mainstream device and should be at the top with iPhone 12.

It should be outselling Samsung's flagship models. It should be outselling Redmi. That is completely expected for a $2T+ company.

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It makes zero sense to claim that the mini has embarrassing sales figures because it doesn’t shift as many units as a couple cheap, volume models, while simultaneously outselling products it actually competes with by significant numbers. Ferrari should be embarrassed because they don’t move as many cars as Honda, right?
 
Apple's homepage says iPhone 12 starts "from $699 before trade-in." There are plenty of consumers who want a current generation 5G iPhone at an entry level price.

It's not black white. There are $399 shoppers an there are $699 shoppers. Both of them can be frugal.

I suppose that's possible, but given the importance of screen size, most would probably spend the extra $100.
(There's nothing special about 5G, but I'll give you that the average consumer doesn't understand that, and Apple was certainly pushing it. But, again, I don't think the primary sales-point of the mini is price, just because Apple lists a 'starting from'.)

... which means the mini outsold even Samsung’s flagship models. I have no doubt Apple is proud of that fact. The only way to spin the mini being the 6th most popular smartphone as a bad thing is by being intentionally absurd.

And a straw man, in that I don't remember anyone ever making the argument it was supposed to turn out as outselling the other models in the lineup. I suppose one could have debated whether the Pro or mini would sell more, but given the camera advantages, I don't think anyone would have debated that.

It's one of these things again where Apple's 'failed' product sells better than most whole other companies' enter product line. If that's a failure...

(That said, looking at the chart above, I am surprised the Pro and Pro Max combined sell so many. I'd have thought the regular 12 would outsell them by more than that. I guess that comes down to the camera?)

Apple is not in the business of selling semi-successful products. The HomePod wasn't successful, so they discontinued it. The 12" MacBook wasn't selling, so they stopped making it. If they tried making everybody happy, Apple would be like Samsung and have countless models launched every year.
Sure they are, cf. Mac Pro, Pro XDR, Mac mini, Apple TV, Hermes Apple Watches, etc. How many of the big iPad Pros does Apple sell compared to the rest of the models?

The HomePod failed because Apple made it an overly-expensive streaming/smart-speaker, when the competition were practically including them in cereal boxes. If it had an aux-in, it would have done much better, as it would have been useful (or if it had a good digital assistant, but that's a whole other issue). The 12" MB didn't work all that well for a number of reasons.

The 'try to make everyone happy' is a silly argument, as that isn't what we're talking about here. Of course Apple isn't going to make every crazy product to suit everyone. But, they need a reasonable range/line-up for a product that covers the market and use-cases.

Again, i'll go back to the SUV/sedan/pickup analogy. Everyone isn't going to drive an SUV just because they are (currently) most popular. And car makers would be hurting their customer-base if they decided to cut the 'failures' based on sheer numbers.
 
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There have been multiple reports suggesting that the iPhone 12 mini has not been as popular with consumers as expected, and Tim Cook's commentary seemingly confirms that it is the least popular of the four iPhone 12 models that Apple has released.
You guys really gotta bring this up every. single. time you talk about iPhone 12 sales.

We get it. It’s redundant. You don't have to keep repeating it. We get it. It’s redundant. You don't have to keep repeating it. We get it. It’s redundant. You don't have to keep repeating it. We get it. It’s redundant. You don't have to keep repeating it. We get it. It’s redundant. You don't have to keep repeating it.
 
Why?

One can argue that the Mac Pro is important because there are people who use it to develop for the rest of the Apple ecosystem. So there is strategic value in supporting that 1% of Mac Pro users so they can in term benefit the other 99% of Apple users.

What’s the value add of the iPhone mini to other Apple users?
size and comfort?
 
Looking at the last decade, it's obvious why screens keep getting larger. Did your parents or grandparents jump on the smartphone train back in the iPhone 4 days? No, they didn't. Average age of smartphone user has gone up considerably since the early adopter phase and therefore eyesight is playing a major role in screen size increasing. Software development is also prioritizing mobile now so you can literally do more with a smartphone now, so the bigger the better. I was the target market for an iPhone mini five years ago but I'm in my mid-forties now and not sure I want to make that choice today. Still, it's an incredible phone that a company like Apple can "afford" to offer.
 
The fact the iPhone 12 mini is selling the same volume as those cheap devices is what makes it embarrassing. If you look at how 2018 and 2019 iPhone models performed, Apple grabbed the top with the XR and 11. The iPhone 12 mini is a mainstream device and should be at the top with iPhone 12.

It should be outselling Samsung's flagship models. It should be outselling Redmi. That is completely expected for a $2T+ company.

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I feel like you're unfairly lumping all iPhones into the "should outsell everybody" category. If you want to argue the mini adds production and supply chain challenges that don't warrant its existence then ok, but it's in the top ten overall so good luck with that. I'm glad the option exists.
 
I feel like you're unfairly lumping all iPhones into the "should outsell everybody" category. If you want to argue the mini adds production and supply chain challenges that don't warrant its existence then ok, but it's in the top ten overall so good luck with that. I'm glad the option exists.

The $749 - $699 category has traditionally been very successful for Apple. The iPhone 12 mini, given the $699 price, should be performing close to the $799 iPhone 12. I would have expected it to rank #5 or #6. But it falls in at #8, and the data is for January 2021, which means only 3 months since launch. Given the context of it being a brand new phone with a new form factor, and 5G, that's a pretty poor showing. Keep in the mind the competitors are 6 month old 4G devices with MediaTek and LCD.
 
Funny, I will be ordering a 12 mini for my daughter later today. 128 Gb so not the cheapest model even.

Will probably get another for the wife in a couple months on contract renewal.

There's this demographic that has no purses or purses smaller than an 80L backpack, and small pockets also (because that's how they make women's clothing) that prefers small phones still.

Even I would consider the mini, but I don't need to change my phone atm and hopefully not in the next few years either.
 
The $749 - $699 category has traditionally been very successful for Apple. The iPhone 12 mini, given the $699 price, should be performing close to the $799 iPhone 12. I would have expected it to rank #5 or #6. But it falls in at #8, and the data is for January 2021, which means only 3 months since launch. Given the context of it being a brand new phone with a new form factor, and 5G, that's a pretty poor showing. Keep in the mind the competitors are 6 month old 4G devices with MediaTek and LCD.
Jpack, it’s clear to everyone that you just don’t like the 12 mini and you want it erased from existence for some reason. At least give the 12 mini some credit in that as a non mainstream ‘niche’ product, it has still managed to make the top ten in terms of sales. Calling the phones sales as embarrassing in this context is quite harsh you have to admit.
 
Jpack, it’s clear to everyone that you just don’t like the 12 mini and you want it erased from existence for some reason. At least give the 12 mini some credit in that as a non mainstream ‘niche’ product, it has still managed to make the top ten in terms of sales. Calling the phones sales as embarrassing in this context is quite harsh you have to admit.
Yeah, saying the mini’s sales are low relative to the other 12 models is reasonable. Calling them embarrassing is just being intentionally absurd and indicates a severe lack of understanding of the context of those sales figures.
 
Not surprising the iPhone 12 is the most popular, I see no value in the pros because honestly there is nothing really pro about them in true comparison against the iPhone 12, wasting money on useless camera tech when cameras have been great for past few years.
 
got rid of my 12 Max after I got screwed out of money for my Trade in.
Now I'm all Android.

Apple tells you up front what you can expect to get for the trade-in if the condition you claimed the phone is in is accurate. You'll always get more by just selling the phone outright. Strange reason to switch platforms.
 
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