iPhone 12 Mini Faces Production Cut Due to 'Far Lower' Demand Than Expected

[Abstract]

The problem is the iPhone mini isn’t even that mini.

Hmmmm....true. I bought my wife one and thought it was quite large conpared to her original SE.

On the bright side for Apple, my wife would have just replaced the battery of her SE if they hadn’t released the Mini. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Anyway, I’ve been holding out for the 13 Mini since the 12 Mini was released. I’m 90% sure I’ll get one. It’ll either be a 13 Mini, or 13 Pro. Price isn’t an issue.

 

[bubulol]

I think why most of people think its mini/too small because when you go in physical shop, you can see all iPhone 12 series all together
iPhone 12 Mini next to iPhone 12, you may think its a shrunk version of 12
iPhone 12 Mini next to iPhone 12 Pro Max, its even worse, 12 PM literally dwarf 12 Mini
But keep in min iPhone 12 is much bigger than 11 Pro, its size of iPhone 11, over 6.1 inches, that's a big boy
12 Pro Max is even way too big

 

[snipr125]

Just like Trump won, by a lot.

But just like that this is just misinformation and the iPhone 12 mini didn't and doesn't outsell the 12 pro. No idea where you think you got that information from but the 12 pro (non-max) outsells the mini by about 3 to 1.

Here is the link with analytical data from Omdia:

Most Shipped Smartphones in 2020: iPhone 11, Galaxy A51, Redmi Note 9 Pro & more - Gizmochina

Market research firm Omdia has published a report on most shipped smartphones in 2020. As per the report, only three brands made it to the top 10, just like 2019. These companies were none other than Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi. According to the chart released by Omdia, the iPhone 11 was the most...

www.gizmochina.com

12 Mini sold 14.8 Million units in 2020, even after being released in mid November.

The 12 Pro did not make the top ten according to Gizmochina.

 

[ericwn]

No they don't.

If you want or need telephoto and/or LiDAR and/or 512 GB capacity and/or Night mode .... you're forced to a bigger minimum screen size.

Someone above mentioned it already, Apple is back to where they were in the early 90s when Steve Jobs had to come back to save the company.

They have way too many different models.

What exactly is the point between the 12 and the 12 Pro? A 'cheaper' option for those who don't need all the functionality of the Pro? Fair enough.

But it makes zero, absolute zero, sense that the Pro comes in sizes 1 and 2, while the non-pro models of the same year come in sizes 0 and sizes 1.

It's confusing and inconsistent as f and the only reason they do this is trying to force you to spend more money by going "Pro" if you want certain features. Still missing the point that size =/= features.

But reading through this and similar threads in the past, a lot of people don't seem to get this.

The fact that allegedly the Mini isn't selling as well is proof enough that Apple did in fact not exactly know what they were doing.

Apple probably knew that even less market is there for the smallest size with pro features. The mini is expensive as it is because it’s a low volume run. Adding more to the price would have the potential of driving even more people away.

Maybe it’s just another niche that they’ll explore next year, just like the mini and the SE were in the past.

 

[ericwn]

... before Steve Jobs came back in.

You know. When they almost went bankrupt. And he saved Apple.

Because they had too many goddamn product categories and versions.

Steve Jobs concept of drastically streamlining products worked wonders and did so well until he died and Tim Cook took over, who's trying to satifsy just about every last one's wishes.

You either do it right or you don't do it. What Apple is currently doing with its products is a massacre.

As I said in an earlier comment, it's confusing and inconsistent af. You don't need like 3 different "budget" versions and 2 different "current" versions that are fragmented beyond any system.

Let’s not compare a low selling of market alternative from the 90s to the company that SJ and TC rebuild afterwards. Jobs cancelled the stuff that didn’t make them money and he was the first to break his own matrix by again expanding on the same product line.
MacBook Air - Jobs
Cube - Jobs

 

[ericwn]

Give us a model with the same camera as the big boys. Stop gimping the smaller phones.

Wonder why the 12 regular is so popular. What would you like to pay extra on tip of the current mini price to get pro specs?

And what photography enthusiasts would pick the smallest viewfinder/screen and the smallest battery as a platform for their camera hobby?

 

[HandITOVER]

SMH.

 

[I7guy]

... before Steve Jobs came back in.

You know. When they almost went bankrupt. And he saved Apple.

Because they had too many goddamn product categories and versions.

Steve Jobs concept of drastically streamlining products worked wonders and did so well until he died and Tim Cook took over, who's trying to satifsy just about every last one's wishes.

You either do it right or you don't do it. What Apple is currently doing with its products is a massacre.

As I said in an earlier comment, it's confusing and inconsistent af. You don't need like 3 different "budget" versions and 2 different "current" versions that are fragmented beyond any system.

This is the year 2021. Apple in the past was criticized for lack of choice in their product line, vis-a-vis android. So apple recognized that and now there is choice….and they still get criticized.

Got it’s your opinion, but apple has moved on.

 

[Wahlstrm]

Uh, yes? And how does the SE1 size not “work with the web and apps?” I used mine for browsing/Redditing/normal phone stuff for 5 years with no problems.

Mine worked perfectly fine for the first few years as well. But today there are a lot less developers who make the 4” experience a priority when they design apps and websites.

(As an example: I’ve come across a lot of apps and websites in the last couple of years where half the screen is taken up by some banner or other things and if you need to enter text the keyboard cover what’s left so you can basically not see what you type..)

There is no way Apple could guarantee a “high end Apple experience” for the next 3-4y if they released another 4” device today.

They made the best decision with keeping the size as small as possible while still providing a good experience

 

[LordVic]

The iPhone mini is by far simply the best iPhone I have ever owned.

 

[ascender]

I don't understand some of the ire the Mini attracts. I've switched to it after buying the Pro model annually for the last while because I was fed up of the ever-increasing size. These are all subjective views rather than objective, so your mileage may vary.

The battery lasts all day although the usual apps hammer the battery as they do on all iPhones. Even after a day of lots of Zoom calls and some exercise, I'm only ever at 25% or so.

iPhone batteries have for the most part got a lot better these last few years haven't they? I know there's been slight ups & downs year to year recently, but the situation is nothing like it used to be.

I've never understood why people don't consider this a fully fledged iPhone. Its almost identical in terms of feature sets to the other ones. Are the cameras that much better in the Pro? I love taking photos with my iPhone, but other than the optical zoom, I don't miss anything from the Pro. The 12 Mini photos look better than my 11 Pro ones, so I'm happy with that.

The pricing seems fair to me? I know people have asked for an iPhone Mini Pro, but it strikes me that the real "pro" features its missing are just the ones that physically won't fit in the form factor?

 

[LordVic]

This is the year 2021. Apple in the past was criticized for lack of choice in their product line, vis-a-vis android. So apple recognized that and now there is choice….and they still get criticized.

Got it’s your opinion, but apple has moved on.

Apple finally releasing a flagship phone spec, in smaller size got me back in iPhone land... (for now, still getting annoyed daily by iOS)

 

[ian87w]

The hardware upgrades are so abysmal that people won't dish out that much money for a Mini if they can buy an 11 or 11 Pro with a much better camera and a bigger battery. Heck, there's even the XR that costs less, and those on a budget who want a smaller form factor will buy the SE. That's why.

And yet the more expensive iPhone 12 is best selling. I wonder...

 

[LordVic]

And yet the more expensive iPhone 12 is best selling. I wonder...

Because it's the "Default" phone. go into any shoppe to sign up for a contract. they all list "iPhone 12" as the default packaged phone. Most people just accept it and take it.

Users who want the Pro, know they want the pro. Users who want the mini, Know they want the mini. People buying these products make a conscious decision to switch to and select those different SKU.

 

[incoherent_1]

Wonder why the 12 regular is so popular. What would you like to pay extra on tip of the current mini price to get pro specs?

And what photography enthusiasts would pick the smallest viewfinder/screen and the smallest battery as a platform for their camera hobby?

I would pay the same price as a comparable 12. More actually, but most wouldn’t.

If you’re asking about screen size, I don’t think you understand what’s required to take pictures. My 5D IV has a screen probably a quarter of the size of my iPhone, but it’s more than sufficient to frame shots and navigate menus...

 

[BuffaloTF]

I've never understood why people don't consider this a fully fledged iPhone. Its almost identical in terms of feature sets to the other ones. Are the cameras that much better in the Pro? I love taking photos with my iPhone, but other than the optical zoom, I don't miss anything from the Pro. The 12 Mini photos look better than my 11 Pro ones, so I'm happy with that.

To this... what baffles me is they went with an ultrawide instead of the 2x optical lens for the 2nd one. Why? I wouldn't say I constantly use my 2x today, it most certainly gets far less burn... but what I know I've only ever used for novelty is the ultrawide.

 

[I7guy]

Because it's the "Default" phone. go into any shoppe to sign up for a contract. they all list "iPhone 12" as the default packaged phone. Most people just accept it and take it.

Users who want the Pro, know they want the pro. Users who want the mini, Know they want the mini. People buying these products make a conscious decision to switch to and select those different SKU.

I actually wanted to address a similar point in my previous post.

Somehow people are able how to buy a car, which as we know, is a pretty horrible and disingenuous process. People are able to figure out how to buy TVs, through the myriad of manufacturers, technology, sizes and cost. But somehow when it comes to Apple, people are too stupid to figure out how to buy an iphone and what the cost to value ratio is for them?

 

[fat jez]

No they don't.

If you want or need telephoto and/or LiDAR and/or 512 GB capacity and/or Night mode .... you're forced to a bigger minimum screen size.

Someone above mentioned it already, Apple is back to where they were in the early 90s when Steve Jobs had to come back to save the company.

They have way too many different models.

What exactly is the point between the 12 and the 12 Pro? A 'cheaper' option for those who don't need all the functionality of the Pro? Fair enough.

But it makes zero, absolute zero, sense that the Pro comes in sizes 1 and 2, while the non-pro models of the same year come in sizes 0 and sizes 1.

It's confusing and inconsistent as f and the only reason they do this is trying to force you to spend more money by going "Pro" if you want certain features. Still missing the point that size =/= features.

But reading through this and similar threads in the past, a lot of people don't seem to get this.

The fact that allegedly the Mini isn't selling as well is proof enough that Apple did in fact not exactly know what they were doing.

This. Apple have 7 iPhone models currently. They’re priced confusingly in that the 11 and Xr are cheaper than the mini but have bigger screens.

Personally, I would keep the 12 mini and call it the 12. I’d drop the 12 altogether. I’d then have the 12 Pro and the 12 Max (lose the Pro from the Max’s name). I’d also keep the SE2 as the budget phone and that’s it. Lose the 11 and the Xr.

Jobs was right when he came back to Apple and said they had too many products and should have a max of 2 per segment. 2 is perhaps too few, but the iPad is another area that I see as too crowded. That maybe needs the Mini, iPad and Pro ranges and no more.

 

[iksnirks]

I'd have bought it had they not released the SE2 earlier in the year. I was waiting for a smaller phone and that was the first one released.

Still tempted to 'upgrade' to it. A price drop would be nice. These things are still $650 on Swappa.

 

[Ankaa]

Apple probably knew that even less market is there for the smallest size with pro features

Or maybe the 12 Mini isn't selling as expected because people actually want a Pro Mini - which isn't offered. This really is such a strange thought that it doesn't even occur to you?

Y'all say Apple knows what they're doing and has done their research. The company that proudly brought you the voice-controlled iPod nano, iTunes Ping, or the Newton.

Apple in the past was criticized for lack of choice in their product line

Choice is good. The current product line is beyond choice, though.

My husband spend an entire day on the weekend comparing the different models - most people don't go to that length and either buy the cheapest, the flagship (because 'the best') or what's thrown at them through their cell phone carriers (as someone else commented, and most of them default to the 12).

Have you even looked at ALL the currently available options for "iPhone"? There's FIVE different models (12 Pro, 12, SE, 11, XR), each with different sub-options for e.g. screen size, GB, etc.

For example, why have THREE options that I assume are supposed to be "budget options"? Great, offer choice of FaceID vs. TouchID. You still don't need two options for the basically same size (11 vs. XR).

Why have inconsistent sizes between the "Pro" and the "standard" "latest model" line? (12 vs. 12 Pro) It's purely marketing trying to get more money out of people and to be able to say that in theory they offer choice. It's not that they actually listened to people.

It's fragmented, inconsistent, and confusing. But if you always default to the Pro flagship of either size, you wouldn't realize this anyways because you didn't have to bother.

 

[LordVic]

I actually wanted to address a similar point in my previous post.

Somehow people are able how to buy a car, which as we know, is a pretty horrible and disingenuous process. People are able to figure out how to buy TVs, through the myriad of manufacturers, technology, sizes and cost. But somehow when it comes to Apple, people are too stupid to figure out how to buy an iphone and what the cost to value ratio is for them?

Sadly from what I have experienced (as a IT manager / System admin) this is true though. Most people just don't care. They base their phone (at least around here) purely on the contract price for service. And most of the contracts, just by default around built around the regular iPhone, or S lineup as their "best deals!" and what they advertise the most.

yes, you can always switch to another device, usually around the same price (Mini was a bit cheaper for me). But you generally have to ask. And most people at least I work with and support from a corporate stance do not give a flying fridge about tech. They just wanna know it works.

 

[sracer]

The problem is the iPhone mini isn’t even that mini.

Bingo. It makes me think that Apple produced this half-measure "mini" as "proof" that people don't want smaller phones. How well would an iPhone 5/5S/SE chassis with updated internals sell? I know that for me, I'd ditch my current Galaxy A20 for one even though I'm delighted with the A20.

But I also know that I'm some what of an oddball.

 

[fat jez]

Bingo. It makes me think that Apple produced this half-measure "mini" as "proof" that people don't want smaller phones. How well would an iPhone 5/5S/SE chassis with updated internals sell? I know that for me, I'd ditch my current Galaxy A20 for one even though I'm delighted with the A20.

But I also know that I'm some what of an oddball.

They tried that with the original SE, didn't they? Did it not sell quite well? Mind you, there were not umpteen other options available at the time.

 

[drlunanerd]

These supply chain reports usually turn out to be wrong - they’re just making stuff up.

After the launch of the iPhone 12 range there were multiple reports of supposedly lacklustre sales across the range, which proved to be totally wrong when Apple returned blockbuster sales figures.

 

[sracer]

They tried that with the original SE, didn't they? Did it not sell quite well? Mind you, there were not umpteen other options available at the time.

Yes they did. It sold well and at the time had the highest customer satisfaction of all the iPhones being sold at the time.

But you bring up a great point about the number of options that can dilute demand.