currently operating an OGSE (1st gen SE). i prefer small phones. the 13 mini, though larger, is still much smaller than other options. apple no longer sells the. i know it gets the latest software updates, unlike my phone. if i purchase one (used or refurb), can i expect 3-5 years of use?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 13 mini iphone 13 mini: how much longer a viable device?
- Thread starter rwh63
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah, you have a few more years. Even if unsupported, staying (or being) behind on iOS updates only shows when you’re about 4-5 versions behind. Before that, it’s pretty much completely fine.
If you choose to update it, the 13 Mini has several more years of updates anyway, so it has a while still.
If you choose to update it, the 13 Mini has several more years of updates anyway, so it has a while still.
I’m still using a refurb 12 mini, and I’ve no plan to replace it any time soon. Had Apple brought out a small / affordable replacement, maybe I’d be thinking differently but, as they didn’t, my 12 mini is staying with me until its battery becomes intolerable. So long as my apps get updated, I’m not looking elsewhere.
iOS 19 will apparently support the 12 mini (and the 11, and 2nd gen SE) - https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-19/ - so I figure I’ve got a while to go yet.
iOS 19 will apparently support the 12 mini (and the 11, and 2nd gen SE) - https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-19/ - so I figure I’ve got a while to go yet.
I wonder the same for my SE3, what has the same chip and was released a few months later but has a smaller display. It was sold new until this year.
Normally you should get at least the next two main iOS versions. I think it's always 5-6 years after release. And then security updates for at least two years for the last working version (maybe iOS 20).
When I am more than two versions behind I can't use some important banking apps anymore. Many of those don't support an iOS version that doesn't get guaranteed security updates.
I have an SE1 with 15.x and most banking apps stopped working lately and the update to a working version requires iOS 16.
But it took until March or beginning of April I think. Not directly after the iOS 18 release. There was even an update for iOS 15 lately.
Normally you should get at least the next two main iOS versions. I think it's always 5-6 years after release. And then security updates for at least two years for the last working version (maybe iOS 20).
When I am more than two versions behind I can't use some important banking apps anymore. Many of those don't support an iOS version that doesn't get guaranteed security updates.
I have an SE1 with 15.x and most banking apps stopped working lately and the update to a working version requires iOS 16.
But it took until March or beginning of April I think. Not directly after the iOS 18 release. There was even an update for iOS 15 lately.
Last edited:
I prefer a lot of things about my new Apple refurbished 13 mini compared to my 14 Pro. Unfortunately, I decided last week to (at least temporarily) switch back to my 14 Pro for now. I bought the 13 mini to cut back on screen time, which helped a lot.
But, I found some issues I have with it that's not really a problem on the 14 Pro for me. Firstly, the lower amount of memory. Websites and apps refresh/restart a lot more often on the 13 mini. As my goal was to cut back on screen time, this was sort of a reminder that it was time to put down the phone for a while.
Secondly, thermal management. The 13 mini heats up pretty quickly using it for mundane tasks, like texting. Normally, I wouldn't mind this, but with summer coming up, I’m a bit worried about the hot weather with it. In my car, this is very noticeable with wireless charging and wireless CarPlay. When Carplay starts to stutter a lot, I know my phone is getting hot.
Third, I've had two instances since I bought it where phone calls just didn’t go through. The first time, the person calling me received some kind of error (I got the same error with an outbound call), and the next time, the phone was ringing on their end, but nothing appeared on my screen. Both times were fixed with a phone reboot. I’m not sure if this was the phone itself, or my cheap carrier (Visible), I’ve never had this problem with the 14 Pro. Data and SMS both worked during these times.
Fourth, the battery life. I incorrectly stated in a thread about a month ago that my 13 mini with 100% capacity lasts longer than my 14 Pro at 82% capacity. Without looking at any numbers, just using it day to day, the 14 Pro definitely still gets through the day just fine, while the 13 mini needs at least a small charge during the day at some point. I use always-on-display and the 120hz frame rate on the 14 Pro.
And lastly, just using it. No fault of the 13 mini itself, but in every way apart from the size and weight, it's just an inferior product to the 14 Pro. The camera is passable, I’m not using it for anything other than baby and pet photos right now. The font size is a little larger matching what I use on the 14 Pro, and almost every app has words and notes with "..." somewhere that's impossible to expand or scroll.
I think the 13 mini is still a great phone, especially coming from the 2016 SE. It'll still get years of updates and I’m likely to continue switching back and forth between my two phones depending on whatever is coming up. Some days, I just prefer to use the smaller phone despite of everything I just said above. And other days, the larger one suits me better. Though, I need to admit that having two phones is very redundant.
But, I found some issues I have with it that's not really a problem on the 14 Pro for me. Firstly, the lower amount of memory. Websites and apps refresh/restart a lot more often on the 13 mini. As my goal was to cut back on screen time, this was sort of a reminder that it was time to put down the phone for a while.
Secondly, thermal management. The 13 mini heats up pretty quickly using it for mundane tasks, like texting. Normally, I wouldn't mind this, but with summer coming up, I’m a bit worried about the hot weather with it. In my car, this is very noticeable with wireless charging and wireless CarPlay. When Carplay starts to stutter a lot, I know my phone is getting hot.
Third, I've had two instances since I bought it where phone calls just didn’t go through. The first time, the person calling me received some kind of error (I got the same error with an outbound call), and the next time, the phone was ringing on their end, but nothing appeared on my screen. Both times were fixed with a phone reboot. I’m not sure if this was the phone itself, or my cheap carrier (Visible), I’ve never had this problem with the 14 Pro. Data and SMS both worked during these times.
Fourth, the battery life. I incorrectly stated in a thread about a month ago that my 13 mini with 100% capacity lasts longer than my 14 Pro at 82% capacity. Without looking at any numbers, just using it day to day, the 14 Pro definitely still gets through the day just fine, while the 13 mini needs at least a small charge during the day at some point. I use always-on-display and the 120hz frame rate on the 14 Pro.
And lastly, just using it. No fault of the 13 mini itself, but in every way apart from the size and weight, it's just an inferior product to the 14 Pro. The camera is passable, I’m not using it for anything other than baby and pet photos right now. The font size is a little larger matching what I use on the 14 Pro, and almost every app has words and notes with "..." somewhere that's impossible to expand or scroll.
I think the 13 mini is still a great phone, especially coming from the 2016 SE. It'll still get years of updates and I’m likely to continue switching back and forth between my two phones depending on whatever is coming up. Some days, I just prefer to use the smaller phone despite of everything I just said above. And other days, the larger one suits me better. Though, I need to admit that having two phones is very redundant.
I'm hoping to get at least 3 years out of mine as I only bought it 2 months ago (refurbished)!
With my previous refurbished iPhone 8, I got 2 years of 'major' software updates and then some of my apps started to glitch about a year after that. After a total of 3 years and 6 months I switched to the 13, mainly because of the glitchy apps but also because security updates were becoming less frequent.
With my previous refurbished iPhone 8, I got 2 years of 'major' software updates and then some of my apps started to glitch about a year after that. After a total of 3 years and 6 months I switched to the 13, mainly because of the glitchy apps but also because security updates were becoming less frequent.
I am noticing that iOS apps are increasingly only supporting versions N-2 to N just like Apple. Just recently Duo Mobile dropped support for iOS 15. Somehow an update caused it to switch to German and instead of fixing it they said it was a bug in iOS 15 and dropped support for it. Downloaded versions still work (albeit in German) for but if you didn't know you needed it, you can't download without upgrading iOS (which in the case of an OGSE means buying a new phone).
I tried out some earbuds in December and ran into similar trouble with the control software.
Yeah, devs suck when it comes to that. People don’t help either, considering everyone updates. They don’t provide much incentive for supporting older iOS versions.
Perhaps you run into some issues with a specific app, but in my experience thus far (I never update anything) it’s been possible to stay behind for several years. I think the Mini still has a while left, especially considering it has some years left of support still.
I think 13 is the one of the oldest phones to still get iOS 18. I just upgraded to 16e not that long ago the battery on the 13 goes really fast.
Agree with all that and your conclusion. I'm just starting to notice a shift with 3rd-party app support, and no longer sure how much longer my OGSE will be viable. If I replace it with an iPhone, I would still likely go for something like a 13 Mini but would do so knowing its practical life will be shorter than I would like due to the combination of these support policies.
Yeah, there would have to be a massive shift in which people, for performance and battery life reasons, stay on original iOS versions. Once nobody updates devs would be forced to support older iOS versions even if they don’t want to. Once nobody can use their apps, they would have to support them.
But it’s a utopia, that will never happen. People didn’t stop updating when devices were completely destroyed back in the 32-bit days. They won’t stop now when all you get is some lag and worse battery life.
So if you want the 13 Mini, I agree with you: get it ASAP and use it for as long as you can. The sooner you get it, the longer you can use it as your main iPhone.
I have a friend who's rich enough that he drives a Maybach but doesn't want to buy an iPhone 16 Pro Max. He still uses a 7 Plus.
Last edited:
I could kick myself for getting rid of my 12 Mini! I traded it in for a 15 Pro. That was a bad decision. The 15 is a very heavy phone to carry in my purse. The Mini was just right for the size of my hands and it didn't make my purse weigh a ton!
The XS will reportedly drop support for iOS 19 this fall.
That generation was released with iOS 12 in 2018.
3 years later the 13 mini was released, so you have to figure it'll get at least 6 iOS revisions. By my math, it should be fine for at least 3 more years.
I should mention that an iPhone will likely be fine for at least a couple years after it stops receiving new .0 iOS updates, as well.
That generation was released with iOS 12 in 2018.
3 years later the 13 mini was released, so you have to figure it'll get at least 6 iOS revisions. By my math, it should be fine for at least 3 more years.
I should mention that an iPhone will likely be fine for at least a couple years after it stops receiving new .0 iOS updates, as well.
FYI: Many older devices get security updates, even if they don't get new features.
I went from an iPhone SE 1st gen to an iPhone 13 mini, and I'll be keeping it for as long as I can.
I went from an iPhone SE 1st gen to an iPhone 13 mini, and I'll be keeping it for as long as I can.
We all pick our poisons but one that I cannot do is use a device that no longer receives even security updates and it’s rare that I keep a device that no longer receives OS updates. The security risk is too great.
If, like my father, I did not have any sensitive data on the device, and did not surf the web, fine. His use case is a glorified feature phone and he keeps mulling going back…
If, like my father, I did not have any sensitive data on the device, and did not surf the web, fine. His use case is a glorified feature phone and he keeps mulling going back…
I did the same thing with my 12 mini to a 14 Pro. I justified the trade because it also replaced my iPad and DSLR camera at the time, and partially my laptop with a Bluetooth keyboard. A nice all-in-one device. At some point shortly after buying it, I realized I didn’t like the size and weight. The 14 Pro is heavier than the 15 Pro. My brother has one and I think that titanium vs stainless steel makes a huge difference in both weight and looks.
I'm slowly heading back to my old set up with my newly purchased refurbished 13 mini, M4 iPad and a new camera. Not sure what I’ll do when the 13 mini stops getting updates in a couple years, though my previous comment here has me second guessing this decision whether or not I even want to keep it or sell it off. Too bad that rumored iPhone Air is so large, I would have at least considered that if it was the same size as my 14 Pro. I suppose I’d have to see and use it in person though.
I bought the 13 Mini in Oct 2022. Still works like a charm 2.5 years later. I don't plan to upgrade anytime soon.
my situation: been using on OGSE for several years. damaged, so bought a NOS on ebay. sealed in box, 100% battery. everything good. then, the top button wasn't working. buyer will give refund. was going to buy a replacement from them, do a data transfer, then return the defective one for credit. costs about $150 for 128gb.
saw apple refurb started having 13 mini in stock for about $450. started thinking about that. happy with SE, but know clock is ticking louder than mini. need a new laptop, so was going to stay with the SE and spend that $300 on the laptop. maybe get a mini next year.
saw apple refurb started having 13 mini in stock for about $450. started thinking about that. happy with SE, but know clock is ticking louder than mini. need a new laptop, so was going to stay with the SE and spend that $300 on the laptop. maybe get a mini next year.
Ok I can make it work as a current device but they have totally gimp Siri in my 13 mini. It works fine on my 16 but Siri isn’t working correctly. There’s way more mistakes and failure when it worked perfectly fine a year ago. And yes I did a software install.