iPhone 12 Mini Reportedly Accounted for Only 5% of Sales in First Half of January

[bklement]

That’s an interesting point but I think most customers aren’t likely to change ecosystems if they don’t have to.

The 2016 SE is my first and only iphone, and I am not the only one among my acquaintances who switched because there were no small androids around. I'd even consider a cellular ipad mini plus a feature phone, since I find mainstream phones being too big and too small at the same time.

And the ecosystem works both ways, imessages is one of the few remaining selling points giving an edge for macs over pc for me, especially with m1 bringing compatibility issues too. Apple would still be in the green with all the money I spend on Macs, iPads and services if they were sending me a mini iphone every 3-4 years for free. And I'll make a not-so-brave guess that the Mini is overrepresented among people with multiple Apple devices.

 

[mhdena]

iPhone SE 2020 sold well because it was cheap not because of the small size.

Apple also f'd up by calling it the "mini".

Compact. That would have quadrupled sales.

 

[iJustines]

I only buy phones every 4 years so had I not just bought the SE in my pursuit to get a smaller phone I'd have this in a heartbeat. Apple can't expect people to just instantly drop money like good consumer suckers the first year they release a new line.

Exactly, Apple is just greedy because the iPhone Mini 12 will sell in a substantial amount of quantity if Tim Cook didn't release the 2020 iPhone SE. The 5.4’ iPhone 12 can be better by pricing at $549 rather than $699 being so close to the price of 6.1’ at $799

In the next few weeks, some analysts claim that iPhone MAX 12 represented just 9% of the sales over 2 years and might sell significantly worse in 2021

 

[iJustines]

Traded in my 11 max for a mini and love it. Finally a phone that fits in my pocket and is easy to carry around.

That's why a significant amount of people will buy the 5.4’ model. It's cheaper to produce but Apple didn't price it right.

 

[iJustines]

1. It was priced slightly above expectation, $699.

2. People who want a smaller phone do not have the buying pattern of buying a new Phone whenever it is out.

3. Next year it will be $599.

4. 5% of Apple volume is still a very good business.

5. Battery life was causing some bad press. People do want smaller phones, just not at the expense of battery life. It is contradicting. But that is consumer behaviours.

6. Worst case Apple just discontinue the iPhone 12 Mini, And introduce a New iPhone SE in 2022 March which is basically the iPhone 12 Mini with single camera.

Agreed. The iPhone MINI 12 is a stellar success despite being in the market for less than 3 months. The pandemic make it inconvenience for people try it out and therefore reduce the overall sales as well.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Conclusion: Don't base your products on forum requests.

No one told Apple to price the phone at $699 bucks. No one is going to pay that for a smaller phone. At $500 bucks these phones would be flying off the shelf for people who arent buying the latest thing.

 

[iJustines]

Frankly, Apple needs to repair the price and name of the iPhone 13.

5.4’ iPhone 13 price start at $549

5.4’ iPhone Pro 13 price start $599

6.1’ iPhone 13 price start at $799

6.1’ iPhone Pro 13 price start at $899

6.5’ iPhone MAX 13 price start at $999

We don't need to call it a ”Mini’ at all. There is nothing ”Mini” about the 5.4’ screen size.

iPhone SE: Despite my 4.7’ screen size is smaller than 5.4’ Apple did not call it a ”Mini”

 

[Abazigal]

No one told Apple to price the phone at $699 bucks. No one is going to pay that for a smaller phone. At $500 bucks these phones would be flying off the shelf for people who arent buying the latest thing.

The problem is that it isn’t feasible to price the iPhone mini any smaller.

The SE can be the price it is because Apple has had 4 years to write off the design and production costs associated with it.

The iPhone 12 mini is identical to the iPhone 12 in every way, so it should cost about as much.

You want it to hit the $4-500 mark, maybe wait another 3-4 years.

 

[iJustines]

Really, this is not complicated. Apple came out with the SE 2 months before the mini. I bought an SE 2 and have little reason to buy a mini now.

If Apple had not released the SE 2, most of those sales would likely have gone to the mini.

Really, this is not complicated. Some people are very biased against smaller model of iPhone.

 

[aknabi]

I'm 54 and the older I get the more I feel I need a bigger phone or phablet size. My eyes are ok but it seems a lot of app makers, etc. still don't make text or response areas big enough.

It's interesting and get your point... in my case (same age as you) I have the Max and the Mini... the Max is just too big... I love the Mini (especially for running)... my hand muscles are now starting to heal from the stretching and abuse from the Max...

I'm hoping that the sales are enough for Apple to continue to have flagship small form factors.

 

[sfkeepay]

Hopefully this doesn't cause Apple to bail on the design; it's the first iPhone I've felt comfortable buying since they killed off the 4" iPhone SE and if I'm forced into gianto-phones in the future I'm gonna be super bummed.


And for the individuals that want a compact, modern iPhone with a great camera but don't sit around watching feature length films on their devices all day? Just SOL I guess?

I just want a phone that I can comfortably use one-handed (and even the iPhone 12 Mini is barely reaching that most days) and doesn't feel like I'm trying to fit a small baking sheet into my pocket at any given moment.

“...baking sheet into my pocket...” Yes, exactly. We laugh today at those precambrian satellite phones with telescoping antennas almost indistinguishable from a police baton, yet we lug around iPhones the size of welcome mats. It's all fine, and depends on the person. But isn't that the point? The Mini is there for those who prefer it. Is Apple losing money on it? They differentiated their line so as not to surrender customers to competing brands, which has externalities beyond just cell phones, and that 5% probably represents worthwhile revenue while encouraging adoption of, and loyalty to, their entire ecosystem.

 

[mrboult]

Oh no. I hope this doesn’t affect the future of the line! I love the smaller size, soooo happy with mine.

Maybe It will sell better at a reduced price next year? Or maybe this form factor needs to become the future of the SE ‘value’ line?

hope they keep it or I’ll be rocking this one for another 5 years

 

[Td1970]

If you want one buy it. If you like a big phone buy that one. Simple.

 

[snipr125]

Why would you need "high-power" if you are not going to do heavy media consumption or gaming - i.e. if you are only going to use it to make phone calls and quick, lightweight tasks?
You can just use an older, smaller iPhone and you wouldnt need the A14 at all.

The entire IOS experience is fuelled by the A14 chip, not just gaming and media consumption. Gaming and Media consumption are more battery intensive anyway.

 

[Chlloret]

Why would you need "high-power" if you are not going to do heavy media consumption or gaming - i.e. if you are only going to use it to make phone calls and quick, lightweight tasks?
You can just use an older, smaller iPhone and you wouldnt need the A14 at all.

What older smaller iPhone? There is no smaller iPhone going back 5 to 6 years? That is the problem. The Last one was the SE 2016 and that is not on sale anymore. All other iPhones are bigger with smaller screens.
The mini is mini in size. It is NOT mini in performance or screen. It is mini in relation to 2020-2021 phablet phones. It is still the size of a iPhone 6,7,8 plus if you put the bezels around it and those where “big” screens? Frankly, if I plan to watch “immersive” movies on a phone (right) 5,4” or 6,1” are not going to cut it. 7,9” on the iPad mini are NOT a cinema. I mean, I watch movies on a big screen. Even if I stream from the iPhone, it’s still on a big screen.
The mini display has the highest dpi of all iPhone 12, higher then the 12, 12pro or the pro max.
Mext to each other there is absolutely no difference at all in text or icon size, it can be changed anyway.
I am far from 20/20 vision going on 70, but a better screen is hard to find. The SE had half the resolution, my iPhone (just iPhone, the thing that started it all and still going) with it’s “massive” 3,5” screen at the time struggles big time on most websites today.
Just because everyone needs a bathroom tile size phone these days does not mean, its better. It is much cheaper for the company’s to build those huge phones, they make more money, gone are the days where smaller size with the SAME tech was more expensive. Thats why nobody puts out flagship devices in a small package. People pay MORE for the big screen thats actually cheaper to make. Small has become less, if you buy a small phone it has less memory, less Mhz, less RAM, less camera then its bigger brother. So it costs less.
Here we have an equal phone thats smaller AND cheaper. But people do not believe it.

 

[Chlloret]

That's why a significant amount of people will buy the 5.4’ model. It's cheaper to produce but Apple didn't price it right.

How do you get that idea? It is NOT cheaper to produce. On the contrary. If they can make it for the same money then the 12, they would have an amazing deal, probably it cost’s more. The cheapest to make would be the 12. Highest margin of all.

 

[Chlloret]

Frankly, Apple needs to repair the price and name of the iPhone 13.

5.4’ iPhone 13 price start at $549

5.4’ iPhone Pro 13 price start $599

6.1’ iPhone 13 price start at $799

6.1’ iPhone Pro 13 price start at $899

6.5’ iPhone MAX 13 price start at $999

We don't need to call it a ”Mini’ at all. There is nothing ”Mini” about the 5.4’ screen size.

iPhone SE: Despite my 4.7’ screen size is smaller than 5.4’ Apple did not call it a ”Mini”

Because its a bigger phone? The beauty of the mini is the big screen with a small body. The PHONE is mini, not the screen, the tech or the price. Well, the price is actually mini as well.

 

[Frantisekj]

I dunno why. all the older people and people who don't wanna spend a grand on a phone are buying them... its just lame they don't have a zoom lens

Here is statistic prom previoous MR article. People wanting smaller one are part ones who want cheaper one. Ithat is my opinion. Cheaper models influence sales numbers. I thing 599 proce would be much more appealing. Will see whether Apple will keep it is in production alongside iPhone 13 that may not be done as mini. But 12 mini could be sold for 599.

 

[ericwn]

The 2016 SE is my first and only iphone, and I am not the only one among my acquaintances who switched because there were no small androids around. I'd even consider a cellular ipad mini plus a feature phone, since I find mainstream phones being too big and too small at the same time.

And the ecosystem works both ways, imessages is one of the few remaining selling points giving an edge for macs over pc for me, especially with m1 bringing compatibility issues too. Apple would still be in the green with all the money I spend on Macs, iPads and services if they were sending me a mini iphone every 3-4 years for free. And I'll make a not-so-brave guess that the Mini is overrepresented among people with multiple Apple devices.

I know that the ecosystem works both ways and still believe that hardly anybody jumps out of theirs. The fact that folks on an enthusiast forum differ is the typical exception to the rule.

 

[ericwn]

Compact. That would have quadrupled sales.

Because the others all bought bigger phones I have doubt releasing an even smaller one would have any positive impact.

 

[ericwn]

That's why a significant amount of people will buy the 5.4’ model. It's cheaper to produce but Apple didn't price it right.

Neither the SE not the mini will gain major traction other than the price sensitive sectors. The majority want big phones.

 

[ericwn]

Agreed. The iPhone MINI 12 is a stellar success despite being in the market for less than 3 months. The pandemic make it inconvenience for people try it out and therefore reduce the overall sales as well.

If 95% of your customers buy something else stellar becomes a very stretched term. By the measures of non Apple folks it’s still a lot of money. But anything Apple does has to make them tons of money.

 

[ericwn]

Really, this is not complicated. Some people are very biased against smaller model of iPhone.

And some the other way around.

 

[Billyk711]

BS. I know at least seven people who were thrilled about the Mini and bought one on launch day, and it’s not like I live in some weird commune of tiny handed people.

Wow 7 people, enough said

 

[iJustines]

Imagine they had introduced the 5.4" as the iPhone 12, and the 6.1" as the iPhone 12 max. Most people would have bought the 5.4" because they just want the "regular" iphone.

You do have a point and it's right that the 5.4’ can be view as a regular iPhone 12 without any codification.