iPhone 12 iPhone 12 Mini compared to 6/7/8/SE: smaller, but with more usable screen space?

[cybertruck]

Hello,
the `Mini` branding is somewhat confusing to me – the iPhone 12 Mini has smaller form factor, but larger screen size compared to SE2020. On practice it has larger usable screen space, i.e. more screen in smaller body. For people coming from 6/7/8/SE that don’t find the 4.7” screen size small – do you sacrifice anything in terms of usability?

 

[macher]

Hello,
the `Mini` branding is somewhat confusing to me – the iPhone 12 Mini has smaller form factor, but larger screen size compared to SE2020. On practice it has larger usable screen space, i.e. more screen in smaller body. For people coming from 6/7/8/SE that don’t find the 4.7” screen size small – do you sacrifice anything in terms of usability?

I’m coming from an SE2020 and loved the form factor and it being very comfortably pocketable and compact. I was really comfortable with the screen size too. The most annoying part of having the SE2020 was the battery life which stinks big time. Yea it’s because it’s a small battery but since I’m a heavy user I had to charge my SE2020 at least 2x within an 8-10 hour period which was very inconvenient and annoying.

On launch I got the 12 actually for my wife and was going to wait until the mini came out then get the mini and give the 12 to my wife. The thought of a smaller phone with a larger screen was what was attracting me HOWEVER I really wanted the exact same form factor as the SE2020 with a larger screen not something smaller.

After using the 12 for 2 weeks I decided not to get the mini. I slowly started to like the 12 size and with a case wasn’t that much larger in form than my SE2020 in a case.

Ok so now form factor is settled. The MOST important factor now is battery life. The 12 battery life is an absolute beast compared to the SE2020 not even in the same league. Now it’s said that the mini will be 20% the battery life of the 12 which for my usage is significant. Doesn’t sound like a lot but it is depending on your usage. Like I said I’m an extremely heavy user using lots of apps etc that are battery drainers.

So in my case I basically sacrificed being comfortably compact / pocketable to being compact / pocketable for battery life.

Yea the mini will no doubt be comfortably pocketable but I’ll settle for being pocketable for battery life.

 

[RRC]

From the device you are coming from, everything will be better.
Because the device is narrower and shorter you'll be able to reach the extended areas of the screen over your SE2020.

Battery life is estimated to be around 20% more than the SE, but OLED in dark mode with the newer A14 chip should result in a better optimised experience.

Remember you do have 14 days to return if you find the Mini isn't right for you, and you'd actually like a larger screen with larger battery.

One thing that's worth remembering though, is a smaller battery always takes less time to fully charge as well - the original SE had a tiny battery but barely took any time to charge even with the old 5w charger because of it's size.

 

[macher]

From the device you are coming from, everything will be better.
Because the device is narrower and shorter you'll be able to reach the extended areas of the screen over your SE2020.

Battery life is estimated to be around 20% more than the SE, but OLED in dark mode with the newer A14 chip should result in a better optimised experience.

Remember you do have 14 days to return if you find the Mini isn't right for you, and you'd actually like a larger screen with larger battery.

One thing that's worth remembering though, is a smaller battery always takes less time to fully charge as well - the original SE had a tiny battery but barely took any time to charge even with the old 5w charger because of it's size.

Even at 20% better battery yea it’s better than the SE2020 that’s true. However it depends on your usage.

I was dead set against a phone the size of the 12. Then I figured my wife needed a phone anyway, I’ll get the 12 and use it until I get the mini. I didn’t like the 12 at first because of the size. Slowly I started to get really used to it. Now I’m totally used to it. It’s pocketable but not comfortably pocketable as the SE2020 of that makes sense. And watching video and Netflix is an awesome experiment. But what really pushed me to not consider the mini after I got used to the 12 was battery life. The mini is said to have 20% the battery life of the 12 which in my case is significant. If it’s not significant then the mini would work.

 

[RRC]

The mini is said to have 20% the battery life of the 12 which in my case is significant.

Do you mean 20% less than the 12? As it no way has just 20% the battery life of the 12. It's still likely going to be better battery than an XS which for many, was already fine (when healthy).

 

[C. Robert]

I’m coming from an SE2020 and loved the form factor and it being very comfortably pocketable and compact. I was really comfortable with the screen size too. The most annoying part of having the SE2020 was the battery life which stinks big time. Yea it’s because it’s a small battery but since I’m a heavy user I had to charge my SE2020 at least 2x within an 8-10 hour period which was very inconvenient and annoying.

On launch I got the 12 actually for my wife and was going to wait until the mini came out then get the mini and give the 12 to my wife. The thought of a smaller phone with a larger screen was what was attracting me HOWEVER I really wanted the exact same form factor as the SE2020 with a larger screen not something smaller.

After using the 12 for 2 weeks I decided not to get the mini. I slowly started to like the 12 size and with a case wasn’t that much larger in form than my SE2020 in a case.

Ok so now form factor is settled. The MOST important factor now is battery life. The 12 battery life is an absolute beast compared to the SE2020 not even in the same league. Now it’s said that the mini will be 20% the battery life of the 12 which for my usage is significant. Doesn’t sound like a lot but it is depending on your usage. Like I said I’m an extremely heavy user using lots of apps etc that are battery drainers.

So in my case I basically sacrificed being comfortably compact / pocketable to being compact / pocketable for battery life.

Yea the mini will no doubt be comfortably pocketable but I’ll settle for being pocketable for battery life.

Awesome recommendation with all valid points. The only way I would get the mini is if I was a light user or worked at a desk where I can have it charging.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Battery life is subjective and will change from person to person. While the mini has a bigger battery than the SE, that may be negated depending on individual 5G and app usage.

 

[aneftp]

I’m coming from an SE2020 and loved the form factor and it being very comfortably pocketable and compact. I was really comfortable with the screen size too. The most annoying part of having the SE2020 was the battery life which stinks big time. Yea it’s because it’s a small battery but since I’m a heavy user I had to charge my SE2020 at least 2x within an 8-10 hour period which was very inconvenient and annoying.

On launch I got the 12 actually for my wife and was going to wait until the mini came out then get the mini and give the 12 to my wife. The thought of a smaller phone with a larger screen was what was attracting me HOWEVER I really wanted the exact same form factor as the SE2020 with a larger screen not something smaller.

After using the 12 for 2 weeks I decided not to get the mini. I slowly started to like the 12 size and with a case wasn’t that much larger in form than my SE2020 in a case.

Ok so now form factor is settled. The MOST important factor now is battery life. The 12 battery life is an absolute beast compared to the SE2020 not even in the same league. Now it’s said that the mini will be 20% the battery life of the 12 which for my usage is significant. Doesn’t sound like a lot but it is depending on your usage. Like I said I’m an extremely heavy user using lots of apps etc that are battery drainers.

So in my case I basically sacrificed being comfortably compact / pocketable to being compact / pocketable for battery life.

Yea the mini will no doubt be comfortably pocketable but I’ll settle for being pocketable for battery life.

I go through all the phones. Pro max 11 will be the standard bearer by which all iPhone battery life should be. It’s a beast

I had iPhone se 2020 also. I don’t know what you are doing. But I’m a heavy user as well. I can get easily 7-8 hours of screen time before the 20% mark hits. So can make it 10 hours. But if you play games all day or use the camera etc. your usage may vary. I’m mainly internet on iPhone.

I had iPhone 12 pro the last 2 weeks. Battery is a little better than the SE. I can make it around 9-10 hours before the 20% mark hit with true screen time

 

[macher]

I go through all the phones. Pro max 11 will be the standard bearer by which all iPhone battery life should be. It’s a beast

I had iPhone se 2020 also. I don’t know what you are doing. But I’m a heavy user as well. I can get easily 7-8 hours of screen time before the 20% mark hits. So can make it 10 hours. But if you play games all day or use the camera etc. your usage may vary. I’m mainly internet on iPhone.

I had iPhone 12 pro the last 2 weeks. Battery is a little better than the SE. I can make it around 9-10 hours before the 20% mark hit with true screen time

I’m mainly streaming and internet. No way I can get through 7-8 hours with the SE2020 at 20%.

 

[RRC]

I’m mainly streaming and internet. No way I can get through 7-8 hours with the SE2020 at 20%.

Are you mostly using WiFi or cellular?

 

[macher]

Are you mostly using WiFi or cellular?

Cellular because I’m not stationary at my job.I don’t sit at a desk. When I get home I’m on WiFi.