iPhone 13 mini iphone 13 mini: how much longer a viable device?

[fergus2019]

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.

This is not normal. A working phone with a normally working firmware will only heat up in games and the like. During any other use, excessive heating is a consequence of a malfunction. Perhaps the firmware was poorly installed. In any case, there should NOT be any heating.

 

[xxFoxtail]

This is not normal. A working phone with a normally working firmware will only heat up in games and the like. During any other use, excessive heating is a consequence of a malfunction. Perhaps the firmware was poorly installed. In any case, there should NOT be any heating.

I updated my 13 mini on Friday. Over the weekend, seemed to operate normally. Heat, battery and performance haven’t been an issue since then, but I’ve been on WiFi all weekend. Maybe you’re right and it was just a bad firmware update before.

 

[Andeddu]

Sorry, but I’ve been here a while and I’ve never seen that😂

What’s NOS? That’s a new acronym to me.

‘New Old Stock’

 

[RoadWarrior56]

I have used an iPhone 13 mini since its 2021 launch. I absolutely love it. And I still have an actual Apple leather case on it, before they switched to the "finewoven" crap. I recently paid $89 for a new battery, hoping to keep this phone as my primary driver for another 2-3 years. Even the old battery still rated 88% battery health after 3.5 years of heavy usage.

 

[AlanMarron]

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.

My mini gets hot when on a charging pad and when using wired CarPlay + Waze + music. It often charges to 80% and says charging on hold due to heat.

Antenna size matters. My wife often has one bar more on her standard 12 than I do on my mini.

Because repeatedly switching between WiFi and cellular is one of the most complex tasks a cellphone has to do, I reboot my mini every day or so. I typically only reboot my iPad after updating.

Batteries degrade. My M1 MacBook Air had notably shorter runtimes after 9 months. Same with my M2 iPad Air.
I’m surprised that my mini runs as long as it does after 2.5 years of heavy use. Still shows 91%, which is silly. When I know that I’m going to be out for more than 4 hours, I stick my Anker MagSafe battery in my backpack or the car’s glovebox.

I’m so unimpressed with Apple Intelligence, there’s no way to forecast how long I will stick with my minis. My 8 Plus is frozen on ios16 and all the apps still work. I’m not particularly worried about security because, well hell, every half year or so a “trustworthy” company or government agency is compromised and my information ends up on the dark web anyway.

 

[Timpetus]

I've got a 13 mini in red with 128GB storage, great condition since it always stayed in a case for the two years it was my primary phone. I loved it and only upgraded to the 15 Pro because I wanted the Pro features, namely the cameras and ProMotion display. If I could get those in a mini-sized phone, that would be the perfect iPhone.

Make me an offer if you want, it was a T-Mobile phone but has been unlocked since I no longer owe anything on it.

 

[ndouglas]

This is not normal. A working phone with a normally working firmware will only heat up in games and the like. During any other use, excessive heating is a consequence of a malfunction. Perhaps the firmware was poorly installed. In any case, there should NOT be any heating.

Not true, at least not always… there are apps like Canvas Teacher that do nothing but display text documents. Not only does using it for 5, 10 mins heat up the 13 mini a lot, … using the app on my ipad which you’d think would and should be far superior and able to handle (ipad pro 2024), the same app heats up the still pretty new iPad.

Yes I understand this is just one app but it happens with others too, this one is particularly noticeable since i have to use it regularly and since it’s so crazy (to me) to picture people playing intensive-graphics games and such on devices, while I’m simply trying to read text.

 

[ndouglas]

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?

As another poster said, in so many words, if you seriously have been using a 2016 SE (!?) for this long… you can _probably_ endure a 13 Mini and use it til… 2030 or so.

For me personally, having used my 13 Mini for not quite 3 years, I hope to get 1-2 years more out of it… however the slowdowns, glitches, battery drain (mine is at 89%) are certainly more and more noticeable. Nothing too severe, yet, but not worth dealing with, if you have the money and can get a later model SE (or Mini, I guess). Ultimately it seems like it depends most on what you use your phone for, and how many hours a day, i.e. for my own usage, most of the time my ipad and laptop are nearby for 90% of work and other needed tasks, which I like because usually my phone is used for communicating with people, checking weather and email (not writing email just reading it), and mostly very simple stuff.

Good luck with your decision, let us know what you decide. I think many of us on this site welcome either a newer Mini or at least another SE model, but no one seems to know any “Mac rumors” about either of those coming anytime in the foreseeable future. 😥

 

[brilliantthings]

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.

You can get a vent mount and blow cold air onto it

 

[rwh63]

As another poster said, in so many words, if you seriously have been using a 2016 SE (!?) for this long… you can _probably_ endure a 13 Mini and use it til… 2030 or so.

For me personally, having used my 13 Mini for not quite 3 years, I hope to get 1-2 years more out of it… however the slowdowns, glitches, battery drain (mine is at 89%) are certainly more and more noticeable. Nothing too severe, yet, but not worth dealing with, if you have the money and can get a later model SE (or Mini, I guess). Ultimately it seems like it depends most on what you use your phone for, and how many hours a day, i.e. for my own usage, most of the time my ipad and laptop are nearby for 90% of work and other needed tasks, which I like because usually my phone is used for communicating with people, checking weather and email (not writing email just reading it), and mostly very simple stuff.

Good luck with your decision, let us know what you decide. I think many of us on this site welcome either a newer Mini or at least another SE model, but no one seems to know any “Mac rumors” about either of those coming anytime in the foreseeable future. 😥

Yes, I’ve been using a version of the OGSE since 2017. Had a 4s before that. I know the software will eventually start causing issues with compatibility, and the mini is the better longer term refuge from big devices. I like the form factor of the SE, like the home button and headphone jack. I have the replacement shipping now. It will be be new with a 100% battery. Should take me into next year, after I get a new laptop.

 

[FeliApple]

Yes, I’ve been using a version of the OGSE since 2017. Had a 4s before that. I know the software will eventually start causing issues with compatibility, and the mini is the better longer term refuge from big devices. I like the form factor of the SE, like the home button and headphone jack. I have the replacement shipping now. It will be be new with a 100% battery. Should take me into next year, after I get a new laptop.

Which replacement? Did you the Mini in the end?

 

[AlanMarron]

Not true, at least not always… there are apps like Canvas Teacher that do nothing but display text documents. Not only does using it for 5, 10 mins heat up the 13 mini a lot, … using the app on my ipad which you’d think would and should be far superior and able to handle (ipad pro 2024), the same app heats up the still pretty new iPad.

Yes I understand this is just one app but it happens with others too, this one is particularly noticeable since i have to use it regularly and since it’s so crazy (to me) to picture people playing intensive-graphics games and such on devices, while I’m simply trying to read text.

I suspect that Waze is also processor intensive. I only use it because it shows kilometers to toll plazas and Google Maps and Apple Maps don’t. (I never use Apple Maps because the US/UK/metric setting is global. My gringo mind can handle kilometers but I want my weight in pounds and my walking pace in miles.)

 

[FeliApple]

I suspect that Waze is also processor intensive. I only use it because it shows kilometers to toll plazas and Google Maps and Apple Maps don’t. (I never use Apple Maps because the US/UK/metric setting is global. My gringo mind can handle kilometers but I want my weight in pounds and my walking pace in miles.)

This is why Apple didn’t update the Mini: People’s expectations are warped.

Apple has improved battery life immensely with Plus and Pro Max models… yet people keep reporting the same 10-12 hours of SOT.
Why?

Because people’s usage patterns have gotten incredibly heavy. Which iPhone gave 10-12 hours of SOT? The 6s Plus… with moderate use. People use video-heavy social media apps all the time with high brightness and Cellular, they use it for video conferencing, they use it for Maps… there’s no improvement in efficiency that can withstand that at the level people expect.

The 7 Plus gave me 10-12 hours of light use on iOS 10. The 16 Plus on iOS 18 gives me 27 hours of light SOT. Maybe even more. There has been a ridiculous improvement, but people chew through it because their usage patterns are too heavy. In this world of heavy usage, the Mini has no place. It’s too expensive for the battery life it provides, for most heavy users. Those who like the Mini often are light to Moderate users with a SOT of about 4-5 hours. That’s doable. If a light user, maybe you can get 8 hours. But most aren’t, so Apple discontinued the Mini.

 

[rwh63]

Which replacement? Did you the Mini in the end?

No, a space grey 128 gb SE. a replacement/return, so already paid for. I’ll save the mini, maybe next year. Need to decide on what refurb MacBook Pro now.

 

[AlanMarron]

This is why Apple didn’t update the Mini: People’s expectations are warped.

Apple has improved battery life immensely with Plus and Pro Max models… yet people keep reporting the same 10-12 hours of SOT.
Why?

Because people’s usage patterns have gotten incredibly heavy. Which iPhone gave 10-12 hours of SOT? The 6s Plus… with moderate use. People use video-heavy social media apps all the time with high brightness and Cellular, they use it for video conferencing, they use it for Maps… there’s no improvement in efficiency that can withstand that at the level people expect.

The 7 Plus gave me 10-12 hours of light use on iOS 10. The 16 Plus on iOS 18 gives me 27 hours of light SOT. Maybe even more. There has been a ridiculous improvement, but people chew through it because their usage patterns are too heavy. In this world of heavy usage, the Mini has no place. It’s too expensive for the battery life it provides, for most heavy users. Those who like the Mini often are light to Moderate users with a SOT of about 4-5 hours. That’s doable. If a light user, maybe you can get 8 hours. But most aren’t, so Apple discontinued the Mini.

Although I have no inside knowledge of why the 12/13 mini was dropped, I suspect it was battery life. I don’t mind because I’m retired and am rarely away from a charger (home, car) for more than four hours, but I can see where the short life would be a deal breaker for others. Before my 8 plus dropped to 80%, it was a champ of both battery runtime and cellular signal strength.

Everything is a trade off.

 

[geta]

This is why Apple didn’t update the Mini: People’s expectations are warped.

Apple has improved battery life immensely with Plus and Pro Max models… yet people keep reporting the same 10-12 hours of SOT.
Why?

Because people’s usage patterns have gotten incredibly heavy. Which iPhone gave 10-12 hours of SOT? The 6s Plus… with moderate use. People use video-heavy social media apps all the time with high brightness and Cellular, they use it for video conferencing, they use it for Maps… there’s no improvement in efficiency that can withstand that at the level people expect.

The 7 Plus gave me 10-12 hours of light use on iOS 10. The 16 Plus on iOS 18 gives me 27 hours of light SOT. Maybe even more. There has been a ridiculous improvement, but people chew through it because their usage patterns are too heavy. In this world of heavy usage, the Mini has no place. It’s too expensive for the battery life it provides, for most heavy users. Those who like the Mini often are light to Moderate users with a SOT of about 4-5 hours. That’s doable. If a light user, maybe you can get 8 hours. But most aren’t, so Apple discontinued the Mini.

Building larger phones that have more space inside to "improve" battery life is not a big challenge…

Maybe the Mini has no place in your life, but for many others it's the perfect size phone.

 

[drlocomotive2088]

My 13 mini is still going strong with 75% on the original battery. I've turned the animations off which helps. I finally upgraded to a 15 and the size is far too big, but I have noticed a significant performance gain.

 

[rwh63]

Unboxing my new OGSE iPhone!

 

[awshucks]

Unboxing my new OGSE iPhone!

Actually, that's not new.

-The copyright date on the box is 2024.
-I entered the SN on the box on Apple's coverage checker. If it had been unactivated, Apple's page would have said so.
-The text on the box is not the same font Apple has used. Believe me, I collect my Apple boxes.
-The antennas on the front image of the phone are white instead of black.

Was it from China? Practically all of them from China are fake. The seller probably used shrink-wrap a heat gun to make it look new.

I can't help but feel sorry. Hope you're able to get a refund from eBay or wherever it was purchased.

 

[bzgnyc2]

Actually, that's not new.

-The copyright date on the box is 2024.
-I entered the SN on the box on Apple's coverage checker. If it had been unactivated, Apple's page would have said so.
-The text on the box is not the same font Apple has used. Believe me, I collect my Apple boxes.
-The antennas on the front image of the phone are white instead of black.

Was it from China? Practically all of them from China are fake. The seller probably used shrink-wrap a heat gun to make it look new.

I am curious what are people getting when they get one of these? Is it a real but refurbished iPhone or actually not even a real iPhone? I assume it has to be a real iPhone or otherwise it couldn't run iOS and that would be pretty obvious to any buyer.

 

[rwh63]

Actually, that's not new.

-The copyright date on the box is 2024.
-I entered the SN on the box on Apple's coverage checker. If it had been unactivated, Apple's page would have said so.
-The text on the box is not the same font Apple has used. Believe me, I collect my Apple boxes.
-The antennas on the front image of the phone are white instead of black.

Was it from China? Practically all of them from China are fake. The seller probably used shrink-wrap a heat gun to make it look new.

I can't help but feel sorry. Hope you're able to get a refund from eBay or wherever it was purchased.

serial number checks out, like the one being returned. genuine device. listed as june 2018. in perfect condition. battery 100% health. the other one was fine, but top button failed. could be a refurb, or warranty replacement stock.

 

[rwh63]

I am curious what are people getting when they get one of these? Is it a real but refurbished iPhone or actually not even a real iPhone? I assume it has to be a real iPhone or otherwise it couldn't run iOS and that would be pretty obvious to any buyer.

i have no reason to think it is not genuine. advertised as new. time will tell. the other one worked perfect in all ways except top button (many devices do get refurbed at apple due to minor flaws).

 

[rwh63]

Here is a shot of 4 SE box backs. The top right is the new one. The others were bought new at T-Mobile or Walmart in the past. There are some minor differences, such as square vs rounded labels.

 

[ndouglas]

oh wowww, when you wrote “new SE” i assumed you meant the one that’s from… 2022 or so. I think it’s called SE3 on the forums here… (?) … it’s wider than the original one in 2016/2017.

but you really like that smaller size! i must admit i do too, but it would be unfeasible for me to use with various apps. really impressive to see though, i hope you enjoy it and that it’s not too slow, for at least a couple years.

the back looks…. odd, saying it’s non-genuine made sense to me when another poster wrote that, but that’s far beyond my knowledge level. maybe it is real especially if the serial # checks out. very interesting to see this in 2025!

EDIT: the back seems fine, just odd to see it today considering how many years, how many iphone models ago that was 🤯

 

[bzgnyc2]

Where do people recommend one buy a refurb iPhone 13 Mini (iPhone SE 2022, etc)? I see companies advertising "renewed" on Amazon but it's unclear who to trust for this there. There's also Back Market which seems a it more expensive and not sure if any better...

Also is it just me or did the market price for these go up recently?