iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 mini hold outs

[1rottenapple]

I think I can comfortably predict the mini will be the last phone apple produces that's small with the recent rumored 6.1 se model. With that being said, any 12 or 13 mini fans holding on to their for years? I have a 128gb 13 mini and I'm constantly running out of space. My drone videos take too much space. That being said, I might go all out and go 512gb mini as my long term phone. Good idea? I'd love to keep all of my photos and videos for years on this thing.

 

[Andeddu]

I have a 12 Mini which I picked up on release and I intend to keep it until it is no longer supported by Apple, which could be a long long time.

 

[arfbsantoso]

I think I can comfortably predict the mini will be the last phone apple produces that's small with the recent rumored 6.1 se model. With that being said, any 12 or 13 mini fans holding on to their for years? I have a 128gb 13 mini and I'm constantly running out of space. My drone videos take too much space. That being said, I might go all out and go 512gb mini as my long term phone. Good idea? I'd love to keep all of my photos and videos for years on this thing.

Planning to upgrade my 64GB SE 2020 to 13 mini 128GB next month.

 

[RagingHamster]

Great idea.
Bought mine the day after the 14 mini wasn’t announced, used it for about a week and then went back to buy a spare. So I’m betting on the 13 being the last mini for a long time.

Coming from an OG SE (2016) it does feel big, but the screen and camera are just so much better, I really like it. I need a phone to be one-hand-able. Even though certain apps put some buttons just out of reach (looking at you Apple Music..).

Intend to use it for the long haul, like the SE. Will have the battery swapped once below 80% life and the spare is there in case of damage past AppleCare coverage (no extendable AC+ here) either for me or my partner, who’s also rocking the 13 mini. I keep the spare charged at around 50% to maintain optimal storage conditions for its battery.
They’re all the 128GB version, I’ve never hit max storage even on 32 or 64GB iPhones.

Slightly crazy? Sure.

I’m also willing to bet that smaller phones will make a comeback once battery tech allows it. Though that might be so far into the future that phones we know today will no longer be a thing.

 

[1rottenapple]

I remember reading about se 2016 hold outs who didn’t want to upgrade to bigger iPhone when I was a big phone fan. But ironic I’m now part of the crowd.

 

[ctjack]

I remember reading about se 2016 hold outs who didn’t want to upgrade to bigger iPhone when I was a big phone fan. But ironic I’m now part of the crowd.

With original se it was slightly different: holdouts usually bought leftovers for $50-$150, at that price i would buy 3 😅 Hopefully 13 mini will hit that mark in 2 years.

 

[lkalliance]

I remember reading about se 2016 hold outs who didn’t want to upgrade to bigger iPhone when I was a big phone fan. But ironic I’m now part of the crowd.

I was one of those. I purchased an SE 2016 right after they launched, and reluctantly moved up to an SE 2020 (it was funny to me how the SE 2020 was reviewed as a "small" phone). But I got a 13 mini in January, and I expect to hold onto it for a while. We'll see what comes of the 2015 or 2016 or 2017 models. I would give up on this size if it meant getting Touch ID back, though.

 

[RagingHamster]

I was one of those. I purchased an SE 2016 right after they launched, and reluctantly moved up to an SE 2020 (it was funny to me how the SE 2020 was reviewed as a "small" phone). But I got a 13 mini in January, and I expect to hold onto it for a while. We'll see what comes of the 2015 or 2016 or 2017 models. I would give up on this size if it meant getting Touch ID back, though.

2016 SE size, full body display and decent battery life would win me over from the 13 Mini, but it’s wishful thinking at this time.

TouchID never did it for me, too easy to circumvent using household supplies. FaceID not so much.

 

[uller6]

2016 SE size, full body display and decent battery life would win me over from the 13 Mini, but it’s wishful thinking at this time.

TouchID never did it for me, too easy to circumvent using household supplies. FaceID not so much.

If you had kids you might feel differently about FaceID. My toddler can grab the phone, point it at my face to unlock with FaceID, then run away faster than I can catch them. At least with touchID they would need to get close enough to get my fingerprint, which is harder to do surreptitiously.

 

[TechLord]

I mean it’s a 1 year old phone, it shouldn’t be seen as an achievement to hold on to it. In the real world there’s still plenty of people still using the iPhone 7 and 8. You could be comfortably still using the mini in 2027 if you wanted.

 

[Andeddu]

I mean it’s a 1 year old phone, it shouldn’t be seen as an achievement to hold on to it. In the real world there’s still plenty of people still using the iPhone 7 and 8. You could be comfortably still using the mini in 2027 if you wanted.

I thought it was a strange post also. The 12 Mini and 13 Mini are still new-ish phones and no one on this planet will give you a funny look for using them.

I have had comments made about my SE’16 in 2022 as they are extremely rare to see in the wild but that is a 6 year old phone so it’s understandable.

 

[TechLord]

I thought it was a strange post also. The 12 Mini and 13 Mini are still new-ish phones and no one on this planet will give you a funny look for using them.

I have had comments made about my SE’16 in 2022 as they are extremely rare to see in the wild but that is a 6 year old phone so it’s understandable.

It’s old for macurmours I guess, phone years on this forum are like dog years. Most people I know don’t even have a 12 but a 8/x/xr.

 

[lkalliance]

I thought it was a strange post also. The 12 Mini and 13 Mini are still new-ish phones and no one on this planet will give you a funny look for using them.

I have had comments made about my SE’16 in 2022 as they are extremely rare to see in the wild but that is a 6 year old phone so it’s understandable.

It’s old for macurmours I guess, phone years on this forum are like dog years. Most people I know don’t even have a 12 but a 8/x/xr.

I think what @TechLord says above is true: that collectively the people posting on MacRumors are more likely to be constant upgraders. So I don't have a problem with the post: the users reading it are part of this community, which are pretty likely to be constant upgraders. If some of them prefer small phones, then that creates an interesting conflict. Assuming the 13 mini is the last small iPhone, then you can either continue having the latest tech or you can have the smaller form factor you like...but not both. So, given the nature of the community here, a relevant and interesting question.

Where I do sometimes have a problem on some posts is the coflation of the community with the market. I don't believe this community is reflective of the market as a whole...which you would expect from a self-selecting sample. So drawing conclusions about whether Apple is on track with their market actions based on reactions here is specious. But I don't think this is what this post is doing.

 

[MM301]

I think I can comfortably predict the mini will be the last phone apple produces that's small with the recent rumored 6.1 se model. With that being said, any 12 or 13 mini fans holding on to their for years? I have a 128gb 13 mini and I'm constantly running out of space. My drone videos take too much space. That being said, I might go all out and go 512gb mini as my long term phone. Good idea? I'd love to keep all of my photos and videos for years on this thing.

I like the idea. If it’s a phone you like (and it has an incredible camera and respectable battery life), go for it. It will be supported for years.

 

[RoadCyclistID]

It's my work phone for a reason. Love the size and weight but the 14 pro max for my everyday driver. Hope to hang on to the 13 mini for as long as it takes me to retire in 2 years 5 mos.

 

[GMShadow]

With original se it was slightly different: holdouts usually bought leftovers for $50-$150, at that price i would buy 3 😅

I still regret not grabbing one when Apple put the remaining stock on clearance.

As for the Mini, it's on my list as an iPod touch replacement once I can't reasonably use my seventh gen anymore, which is mostly dependent on how long YouTube supports iOS 15.

 

[mikext]

I think I can comfortably predict the mini will be the last phone apple produces that's small with the recent rumored 6.1 se model.

Who's to say the mini body still can't become an SE option in a few years?

 

[lkalliance]

Who's to say the mini body still can't become an SE option in a few years?

I would love that outcome, but I wouldn't hold your breath. The first three iterations of the SE have been based on two of the most popular body designs ever in the iPhone line. The last two, particularly, have been based on the single design that Apple has sold the most of in history, I would think. The value proposal of the SE to Apple is just that: they probably have already a backlog of parts, or could produce them very cheaply at this point. Could the same be said of the mini? It's been on sale for only a couple of years (and the 13 mini chassis had to accommodate a differently-shaped camera bump than the 12 mini). And it evidently hasn't been a great seller, anyway.

I know the rumors are saying that the next SE is going to be based on the XR design, and I don't know how that goes. The same arguments against the mini might be made against the XR. But Apple did sell it for three years. I don't know how popular it was...perhaps it was significantly more popular than the mini? Plus with the less expensive LCD screen? Plus only one camera to produce? I'm surprised they don't just keep basing the SE in its current form, with chip updates every couple of years...EXCEPT if they want to get everyone off the home button.

 

[QCassidy352]

I got the 12 mini at launch and enjoyed it for two years. Planned to upgrade to the 14 or 14 pro, but when I went to the Apple Store, I just couldn’t do it. The 13 mini felt sooo much better in my hand.

So, I used my carrier upgrade on a 256 GB 13 mini and love it. Basically the same as the 12 mini but runs cooler, slightly faster CPU, slightly better camera, and (most of all) WAY better battery life. Not sure what I’ll do for my next phone (assuming no more minis), but this should last a long time.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Planning to upgrade my 64GB SE 2020 to 13 mini 128GB next month.

I'd suggest going for the 256GB minimum, makes it much harder (at 256/512GB) for Apple to swap to a regular iPhone of equal value down the road on AC+ when no more 13 mini's are left or viable stock is possible. Stock is very healthy right now still and NOT on refurb.

With original se it was slightly different: holdouts usually bought leftovers for $50-$150, at that price i would buy 3 😅 Hopefully 13 mini will hit that mark in 2 years.

VERY unlikely at 256/512GB storage options of the 13 mini after 2yrs to be that low in price. But for now I'll smoke 2 of what you're having and not have to worry about dropping and damaging my 13 mini like I had with the 14 Pro in just 4 days of having it - that worry and uncomfortability was enough for that monstrosity to be returned.

So, I used my carrier upgrade on a 256 GB 13 mini and love it. Basically the same as the 12 mini but runs cooler, slightly faster CPU, slightly better camera, and (most of all) WAY better battery life.

Exactly what I did! Go the 512GB personally.

Ill purchase another before getting another iPad mini 6 before Christmas at full retail.

 

[azpekt]

Got 13 mini 512 in alpine green - it seems the last variant and the biggest storage one.
Gonna hold to this little dude for years to come.

 

[mikext]

I'd suggest going for the 256GB minimum, makes it much harder (at 256/512GB) for Apple to swap to a regular iPhone of equal value down the road on AC+ when no more 13 mini's are left or viable stock is possible. Stock is very healthy right now still and NOT on refurb.

has this happened to you before?

 

[snipr125]

I got the 12 mini at launch and enjoyed it for two years. Planned to upgrade to the 14 or 14 pro, but when I went to the Apple Store, I just couldn’t do it. The 13 mini felt sooo much better in my hand.

So, I used my carrier upgrade on a 256 GB 13 mini and love it. Basically the same as the 12 mini but runs cooler, slightly faster CPU, slightly better camera, and (most of all) WAY better battery life. Not sure what I’ll do for my next phone (assuming no more minis), but this should last a long time.

I had the exact same plan as you to upgrade to the 14 Pro or 13 mini from my 12 Mini. Anyway Apple made my decision easy by increasing price of the base Pro in the UK by £150. Amazon UK have actually increased the price of the 13 mini in some colours/storage options amazingly as demand has gone through the roof for the 13 mini. Midnight is always sold out! Seeing the comments here i might get a 256 gb version instead of base.

 

[ctjack]

But for now I'll smoke 2 of what you're having and not have to worry about dropping and damaging my 13 mini

Idk, have to ask what is the stuff from my neighbor, it must be good since i am passively enjoying it.

Meanwhile, if you have metro nearby, they sell 13 mini for $430.

 

[JM]

I would love that outcome, but I wouldn't hold your breath. The first three iterations of the SE have been based on two of the most popular body designs ever in the iPhone line. The last two, particularly, have been based on the single design that Apple has sold the most of in history, I would think. The value proposal of the SE to Apple is just that: they probably have already a backlog of parts, or could produce them very cheaply at this point. Could the same be said of the mini? It's been on sale for only a couple of years (and the 13 mini chassis had to accommodate a differently-shaped camera bump than the 12 mini). And it evidently hasn't been a great seller, anyway.

I know the rumors are saying that the next SE is going to be based on the XR design, and I don't know how that goes. The same arguments against the mini might be made against the XR. But Apple did sell it for three years. I don't know how popular it was...perhaps it was significantly more popular than the mini? Plus with the less expensive LCD screen? Plus only one camera to produce? I'm surprised they don't just keep basing the SE in its current form, with chip updates every couple of years...EXCEPT if they want to get everyone off the home button.

I just got done reading through Apple's global green initiative webpage; now I see the SE as a strategy to help them achieve their green goals through recycling and reuse and minimizing manufacturing carbon footprints (through something or another).