iPhone 12 Mini Reviews: The Best Small Smartphone but Battery Life 'Leaves Much to Be Desired'

[kovalchuk71]

I'm just not sure I'll be able to read the phone text without going to accessibility settings ( which throw everything off) . I'll use zoomed view, and find out on Friday.

I currently use zoomed view on my iPhone X, and it looks nice. Some apps still haven't been re-formatted, but I will chalk that up to Apple not releasing the final iOS 14 to developers in time.

 

[iApple_man]

It's really a lot harder to do such comparisons than you may think. That would require the reviewer to have fully charged phones and run the exact same apps until the battery drops. During this time they have to also make sure the screens are not an automatic brightness, and there are various other factors that affect battery life. It's not worth a reviewers time. Who's getting the benefit of doing that? You, not them.

Instead of that, how about just use the phone and report their experience.

 

[iApple_man]

All sounds very promising then and pretty much what I'd hoped-for. Its really difficult to compare battery life without knowing someone's typical daily usage, but I'd guess those of us buying the Mini aren't wanting a device to watch movies with, play the latest games or even use as their main device.

Also, pandemic working aside, charging is so much more convenient in today's world of wireless chargers, USB ports everywhere, CarPlay etc.

At some point the pandemic will end and then the reality of having the mini truly kicks in. Great points. I however like watching movies, YouTube etc but it’s not constant.

The se2020 was a horrible battery experience for me and yes I’m a above average user, meaning I do more than text and read emails.

I never thought I would have a breakfast, lunch and dinner routine of charging the phone, well maybe remove lunch.

I already put in my preorder so I will enjoy getting it but I feel it will be back to the 12 or maybe 11 pro. I like that 5.8 but I will say, if the Mini is 2 hours longer than the se2020 then maybe it’s a keeper.

Creating "battery needs charging" anxiety is something I don’t want to do again.

 

[IndyRobb]

2 hours longer battery life than iPhone X and iPhone SE 2. Please. Get some perspective.

Exactly. And INSANELY better than the dang little first gen SE I’ve been using for the last FOUR AND A HALF years while waiting for a sensibly sized replacement!

 

[IndyRobb]

So glad this thing is finally on the market. I’ve been waiting for four and a half years to replace my trusty first gen SE, but there wasn’t anything that was sensibly sized to be used one-handed and to fit in a pocket (as God and Steve Jobs intended).

The target market for smaller phones probably doesn't sit around eagerly awaiting each incremental bump in tech specs, and they probably don’t use their phones to stream movies or play games. (Hello, isn’t that why they make iPads and TV screens?) So the battery life of this thing is probably adequate.

I’m guessing the target market does want the maximum amount of screen you can fit into a small form factor, and I’m guessing it will also want the best cameras money can buy.

Frankly, I wouldn’t mind it being even smaller, but I’m not going to wait around for something that will never come. I’m all over this thing. 😊

 

[iApple_man]

You and I have the same type usage pattern. I am crossing my tech fingers that Apple releases a Smart Battery case for the mini. It would be good to have just in case.

That’s the thing for me, if the mini has to become a transformer then nope. The battery case takes away from the new mini form and so much for the lite weight.

 

[Apple_Robert]

That’s the thing for me, if the mini has to become a transformer then nope. The battery case takes away from the new mini form and so much for the lite weight.

I may not need the battery case but, there are times I may need it when I can’t charge.

 

[Zagor13]

At some point the pandemic will end and then the reality of having the mini truly kicks in. Great points. I however like watching movies, YouTube etc but it’s not constant.

The se2020 was a horrible battery experience for me and yes I’m a above average user, meaning I do more than text and read emails.

I never thought I would have a breakfast, lunch and dinner routine of charging the phone, well maybe remove lunch.

I already put in my preorder so I will enjoy getting it but I feel it will be back to the 12 or maybe 11 pro. I like that 5.8 but I will say, if the Mini is 2 hours longer than the se2020 then maybe it’s a keeper.

Creating "battery needs charging" anxiety is something I don’t want to do again.

I would be very skeptical about 2h more battery life compared to se2020 (btw se2020 was horrible experience, I returned it the next day was draining without even using it with everything shut down) went back to xr and have battery 1 to 1 1/2 day most of the time. I love small phones but I don't think will get 12 mini simply because of the battery..I'm not about to carry chargers, battery pack etc etc as buying a bigger phone will still result in less weight compare dot all those extra items people carry and I'm not a fan of large phones but I do appreciate larger screen for sure.

 

[Zagor13]

it all comes down to usage. i don't play games or watch videos on my phone (outside of a few minutes here and there). that's what i have an Ipad for.

i want a phone that allows me to check email, my calendar, scroll through twitter/fb/insta, send a text or two and make a call with one hand. if i can get through a day with that, then i'm golden.

you can do that with 39$ retro nokia hehe

 

[imola.zhp]

Many people commute and uses this time for exactly this.

Yeah, its too bad no one talks to each other anymore. Too into their screens.

 

[Zagor13]

I HATE TINY SCREENS THAT ARE AS SMALL AS ANCIENT IPHONES. APPLE SHOULD JUST KEEP INCREASING SCREEN SIZES, NOT GOING THE OTHER WAY ROUND

some people like to use phones with one hand and not carry a brick in pocket (ala miami vice 1980s but think so can fit in pocket hehe); you can easily use iPad as a phone if want huge communication device why bother announcing it on thread for small phones to novel size book-sized phone...wow

 

[iApple_man]

I would be very skeptical about 2h more battery life compared to se2020 (btw se2020 was horrible experience, I returned it the next day was draining without even using it with everything shut down) went back to xr and have battery 1 to 1 1/2 day most of the time. I love small phones but I don't think will get 12 mini simply because of the battery..I'm not about to carry chargers, battery pack etc etc as buying a bigger phone will still result in less weight compare dot all those extra items people carry and I'm not a fan of large phones but I do appreciate larger screen for sure.

I can confidently tell you that you will not need a battery case for the mini. I measure by how many times I charge in a day and it’s once at night but I know some of you like SOT stuff too. Yes the XR is great with battery. The mini is not the se2.

The entertainment is basically YouTube and safari.

Oh and all WiFi at least 95% of the day. The rest is LTE. The 10hrs has been consistent so after two weeks, this is what I do.