Na it’s not a tiny group. We are talking millions of phones sold. My guess is people using smaller iPhones dont upgrade as often but even with that it’s still doing well it’s just not as good as the obviously more popular models. I don’t think Apple went into this thinking the mini would sell better than the 12/12 Pro.
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iPhone 12 Mini Sales Lackluster Compared to Other Models
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LOL at anyone who thinks 6% of sales since Nov 13 for the Oct to December period represents some sort of failure, especially when the 2020 SE sold only 8% for the entire period. Apple knew very well with the Mini that they were dividing the 2016 SE crowd....the only question was at what percentage. I’m guessing that the Mini sales so far have exactly met Apple’s expectations.
I like to think that the 5 turned into 5S. The 5C was a "new" version of iPhone, then Apple killed it after a year. I hope the iPhone mini doesn't suffer the same fate.
I don’t think apple would want the mini to sell 99% of all iPhones. Frankly they would probably see negative stock growth and unhappy management if the mini was their number one selling phone. Their margins are smaller on the mini. They want people to buy the max, it’s the most profitable one but most get the middle range model due to financial reason.
They targeted the mini to the small
sample of people who want a no compromise in processor powerful small phone who wouldn’t want a bigger phone. They’re trying to capture all of the market and the mini does that. I think 6% to them is good! They wouldn’t want it to be 25% imho.
I'd be curious to know how many people use the ultra-wide lens. I've noticed amongst my peers (late 30's and early 40's) that a lot of people either don't use the ultra-wide on their 11's and 12's because they don't like it, and many of them don't even realise the zoom capability exists until I show them. Coming from my iPhone X I immediately missed the telephoto on a 12 mini, but the ultra-wide (which feels like a fisheye) is a bit meh. If I want to really take photos I'll use my camera. The phone is just a convenient point and shoot, and with a small sensor, low resolution phone camera a zoom lens so I don't have to digitally zoom is far more useful for me.
In my experience most people seem to use their phones to take photos of their kids of other people in a social situation. They're not doing the inside of cathedrals or mountain vistas. for those people a ultra-wide is redundant.
Everyone I've handed my work 12 mini to, and then my personal 12 Pro to, prefer the form factor of the mini in the hand. The mini may sell better once more people get their hands on them to try them out. I also know of other people (in addition to myself) who purchased the pro due to the lack of a telephoto in the mini.
I'm 6 foot three with in proportion hands, I don't need a massive phone.
Some other comments allude to the possibility for it becoming a slow ramp up hitter... probable.
However, I do wonder if the 12 mini didn’t exist, would users have bought any of the other 12s? Maybe not.
In any case, I hope this doesn’t make Apple ditch these smaller form factors in the future... are these sales justifiable enough to keep’em coming?
The 5c was the iPhone 5 in a plastic case. Exact same internals as the 5.
5c came out one year after the 5 as the cheaper alternative to the 5s, which introduced Touch ID and a 64-bit ARM SoC for the first time in an iPhone.
That’s just the thing though, my Xs was noticeably bigger and heavier than my girlfriend’s 7– and the 6.1” 12 is even bigger... and also you still get a bigger screen going from 6,7,8 to the mini. She’s planning to get the mini when she does the upgrade. Mini is just like taking a cookie cutter rounded corner rectangle thing to a 6,7,8 and just removing the bowed out sides, and everything left behind is display (save the notch, natch).
No I don’t actually. The 5C was just an iPhone 5 with a plastic body. That’s what I’m referring to. The aluminum body iPhone 5 was only available for one year.
That’s going to be a minority view. Most people would consider the 5s the successor to the 5, not the 5c. The 5c was simply Apple’s first attempt at a lower-priced, non-flagship phone.
I'm not an inter webs fiend and I get 48 plus hours out of a charge on my mini. I really think the battery complaints are an unfair internet meme. I had a 2019 SE (for a week - returned it) and with the exact same usage pattern didn't get anything close to what I'm getting with the mini.
Personally, would have been happy if the new SE had been a bezel-less upgrade of the original (which I owned until the mini was released) and priced accordingly but the better camera and the smaller size I very much prefer sealed the deal for me and I couldn't be happier that Apple made the Mini.
The feeling of, "where my phone????" looks around the room, on the table, and then discover that its in my pocket is priceless. Love the mini.
I don’t think anyone said that the 5S was a successor to the 5C. The iPhone 5 was the first time Apple did not sell the previous year iPhone at a reduced price, but instead, retooled it into the 5C. Since then they have used this method with the X, XS, and 11 Pro (outside of refurbished models). It is possible Apple would put the Mini into a cheaper body and use it to replace the XR or 11 in their lineup. Or they could just leave it the way it is. I’m not saying it’s likely, just that it is possible. Personally, I’m planning on replacing my original SE with a Mini eventually.
There was too long of a gap between the original SE and the mini. Months prior to the mini coming around, I'd finally accepted that I'd have to get a bigger phone and got an iPhone 8.
Now I have an iPhone 8 to deprecate before I move on to the mini.
Now I have an iPhone 8 to deprecate before I move on to the mini.
Well, those of us who read Macrumors are probably not representable, but: I had the 11. It was to bulky for me. Bought 12 mini, but it is a bit too narrow so that you have to hold it closer to your face to read text on many websites comfortably. Pictures are also small because of the narrowness of the device.
Changed into 12 regular - a lot better, and though not much - it is noticeably smaller than the 11 and easier to live with.
But I must admit, I am still looking a bit towards the 12 mini - I loved the form factor in itself. The "Phone"-part of it is just fantastic, but typing is better on the 12 and the bigger screen is a plus in many cases - just not the size when pocketed.
Changed into 12 regular - a lot better, and though not much - it is noticeably smaller than the 11 and easier to live with.
But I must admit, I am still looking a bit towards the 12 mini - I loved the form factor in itself. The "Phone"-part of it is just fantastic, but typing is better on the 12 and the bigger screen is a plus in many cases - just not the size when pocketed.
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I’m waiting, hoping that the 13 Mini has better battery life.
Battery life is my only issue with the 12 Mini. I bought a 12 Mini for my wife, but was willing to wait another year for myself.
Battery life is my only issue with the 12 Mini. I bought a 12 Mini for my wife, but was willing to wait another year for myself.
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the mini would be PERFECT for me if the battery life was bigger. Still happy with mine though.
Agreed. I realized that I was leaving my pre mini phone all over the place just because it didn’t really fit in a pocket or felt bulky. My mini is almost always with me. Months later I still say to myself “wow” every time I pick up the mini.
I don’t think you deserve an iPhone. Get an iPad and call it a day. Much bigger and costs less.
Price is never an excuse and never a problem either. Battery life is though.