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

[BuffaloTF]

1. Bigger IS better. Consider people who use mainly their iPhones for everything from productivity to entertainment. And larger means better battery life. Cannot cheat physics.

I don't quite get that one - I don't mean that I doubt that you're correct, I just don't understand what would drive that logic.

The screen size is basically the same as what used to be the "Plus" size screens last seen on the 8 and seemed massive at the time - that's how big these things have gotten in a few short years. I think there's just too damn many iPhones on sale and in production right now. 4 just in the 12 line, and the SE2, XR, and 11 are all in production and sold at a lower price. They need to skinny down their offering.

 

[jtrenthacker]

Love mine. My wife and lots of our friends have gotten one too. Nice to be able to one hand the screen and easily fit into my front pocket.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Not surprising. The very loud but minority small phone crowd duped even Apple into thinking that everyone wants a small phone.

No, not everyone. But some folks do.

 

[Dionte]

I have the pro max and the mini, the mini is my favorite to take out the car with me.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I don't dispute the reports, but I would think, on the retail end, specifically with carriers and third parties, if the phone wasn't selling "well enough," I'd see it discounted. I've been looking, as this is my next phone, and I just don't see the deals out there. If anything, it is with a trade-in and a new line. Nothing straight off the price, or included store gift cards or anything.

 

[B4U]

Those of us who are demanding have been asking for a small flagship not a strip down small phone.
What was so hard to understand?

 

[pbGuy]

Apple is cutting orders for all iPhones by around 20% compared to its plans in December, with the iPhone 12 mini making up the majority of the cutback, according to Nikkei Asia. In line with previous reports, the publication claims that demand for the iPhone 12 mini has been "far lower than Apple initially expected."

The report claims that Apple initially aimed to secure components for up to 96 million iPhones for the first half of 2021, including the entire iPhone 12 lineup and older models like the iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE, but the company is apparently now targeting production of around 75 million units during that period. That is still slightly higher than iPhone shipments in the same period last year, the report adds.

iPhone 12 mini demand has been so lackluster that Apple even asked some suppliers to temporarily stop building components specifically for the 5.4-inch device, according to Nikkei Asia. Some of the components and parts for the iPhone 12 mini have been reallocated to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, a source told the publication.

Apple is still believed to be seeing healthy demand for its three higher-end iPhone 12 models, with strong sales of the devices helping to contribute to Apple's record-breaking $111.4 billion revenue reported in the December quarter.

While demand for the iPhone 12 mini may be lower than Apple initially expected, the company is still expected to release a so-called iPhone 13 mini this year.

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

I got mine last November; really happy with the size. ...It's too bad the Mini seemingly is not selling as  expected; but the question now, is whether the Mini stays or is dropped. ...I normally keep an iPhone for 2 years & would like the Mini form factor as an option when I next purchase.

 

[smulji]

Maxed out? Not going to happen, unless it becomes the basis for an 'SE' at some point. Presumably later this year it will get a base/64GB price cut to $599 when the 12S series launches though. It will be interesting to see if it becomes more popular as it slides down the lineup.

I didn’t say maxed out. Starting price.

 

[Runs For Fun]

And the Mini is overpriced.

It's really not though. It's still a flagship phone only smaller. Just because it's small doesn't mean it should be cheaper especially considering it has all of the same features of the standard 12. The SE is low cost option.

 

[bluecoast]

They should cut the price next.

Agreed.

As the mini is in the middle of the pricing range for the iPhone, I suspect that there’s more of a consumer perception that:

‘smaller = (much) cheaper’.

Especially when the smallest phone is below $500 (the SE) and you have bigger phones (XR and 11) just beneath the mini.

Also I suspect that consumers are ‘leapfrogging’ over the mini to the larger 12 ie:

‘If I’m mentally prepared to spend $699, for just $100 more I could get the bigger phone (ie perceived better value for money).

I think we see this too with the iPhone 12 Pro & the Plus version.

However, I suspect that the regular pro sales are holding up ok:

If you’re prepared to spend that much on an iPhone, you’re not price sensitive - it’s very much about what size of iPhone you want, not the cost.

So all in all, I suspect that the original price of the iPhone 11 ($650) will work better for the mini.

Also, I’ve said in other threads, that the mini is likely suffering as people are not going to the stores to try it out i.e.

‘Is its screen to small for me?’.

Who wants to go to the bother of returning products via pick up in a pandemic?

 

[4jasontv]

Well I don’t “feel guilty” at all choosing the Pro Max, I know what I’ve signed up for, it’s a hefty phone for sure. But yeah, we can agree on that point. The Mini is somewhat a phone you can buy and forget although I don’t think $699 isn’t an impulsive buy for most people.

But yeah Mini and Max serves two opposite spectrums. For people like me who wants to keep the phone usable for years I’d get the Max. For others who love compact phone and upgrade more frequently, get the Mini.

I guess my point was, while the mini will get you years you could replace it if something better would come along because the price is so much lower. It's not an impulse price, but it's far easier to swallow. Plus, the percent from MSRP resale value on a mini is going to be a lot higher than the max pro.

 

[bluecoast]

I’ve heard the mini’s battery struggles to get through a whole day - when brand new. After a year or two usage : it will be useless. I wish Apple had tried this after battery technology had ramped up quite a bit more.

Really good point. Perhaps it’ll feel a better buy with the efficiencies in the next gen of the 5G modem.

 

[anthogag]

mini demand for the mini

 

[bluecoast]

Well, lots of places have had lockdowns of various sorts.

And a lot of people are being cautious about going to busy public places generally, even if shops are open.

For example, I visited Apple stores here in London over the summer when things were open and everything was way quieter than usual. Everything was way less busy.

Likely, we won’t ever see data from Apple, but it seems probable that store visits will be down significantly around the world. Fewer visits means fewer people seeing the new size in person.

Fewer social interactions means fewer people seeing their friends new phone.

All in all, this was probably the most difficult year to launch a new phone size.

In the UK too & I’ve not seen any of the Apple 2020 products ‘in the flesh’.

I’ve not been in an Apple Store since early March 20 & the mobile network resellers have had restrictions on how many people can gone into their stores when they reopened in summer 20, so I’ve not been into any.

I suspect that my experience is pretty typical.

 

[mrat93]

You people need to realize that smaller size =/= lower price. Mini is far more advanced than 11 and XR. It has iPhone 12's internals in far smaller case. And pricing it 100$ less than iphone 12 is a great deal for a great phone.

yes i know what phone i bought, thank you for explaining to me.. i’m saying it’s confusing for a lot of everyday folks.

 

[Zdigital2015]

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

It’s as mini as Apple is going to go. So the question is whether consumers want it or not. The mini is as edge case as Apple is going to get and if it doesn’t sell enough, then it’s gone and edge cases will be tossed to the side as well moving forward. For a business as huge as Apple, it’s that simple.

 

[Runs For Fun]

No, not everyone. But some folks do.

Like I said, a minority.

 

[ray6088]

Why people complain about the mini battery. I have been using mini for 3 months and battery is good for 1.5 day usage.

 

[ray6088]

I am rarely charging my mini at home now during weekdays, also charge at office. My 6s, 7, 8 SE2 can't do that. If I forgot to charge at office, I just charge during my driving and boost up another 4 hours battery.

 

[xxray]

I say it shouldn’t cost more than $599

I say it should be free!

 

[ian87w]

Those of us who are demanding have been asking for a small flagship not a strip down small phone.
What was so hard to understand?

How is the 12 mini stripped down? It has the same hardware features as the iPhone 12.
Or did you mean a 12 Pro mini? Are you willing to pay $1000 for that? People are already complaining how overpriced the current mini is, despite it being cheaper than the regular 12.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Mini apologists are never going to accept that the vast, VAST majority of users/consumers no longer want a phone that small, no matter the features or the market positioning. But sure, keep denying reality, blame Apple, blame the pandemic, blame the pricing, blame the battery life, blame the camera module, blame the lack of a Pro mini model (ROFLMAO, like anyone here would pay for THAT!!!). The market has spoken, Apple gave you its best shot at what you wanted. Except what you wanted was just something cheaper and if smaller meant cheaper, that was fine. It’s the same old tired flock of birds here - cheep, cheep, cheep!!!

 

[ian87w]

I say it should be free!

Apple should give me money for using their phone!!

 

[bbowser12]

Self sabotage with the release schedule. Would have sold more if it released a month before the 12 instead of after. The 12 hit everyone's upgrade cycle from the previous year and was the cheapest option. If the mini was given the same advantage, things would be different.

 

[bbowser12]

Mini apologists are never going to accept that the vast, VAST majority of users/consumers no longer want a phone that small, no matter the features or the market positioning. But sure, keep denying reality, blame Apple, blame the pandemic, blame the pricing, blame the battery life, blame the camera module, blame the lack of a Pro mini model (ROFLMAO, like anyone here would pay for THAT!!!). The market has spoken, Apple gave you its best shot at what you wanted. Except what you wanted was just something cheaper and if smaller meant cheaper, that was fine. It’s the same old tired flock of birds here - cheep, cheep, cheep!!!

It's best shot would have released it the exact same day as the 12, with same availability. Self sabotage on the release schedule, sets up perfectly for an "I told you so".