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iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Mini - IOS 18 or 26?

dmccombs

dmccombs

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
May 13, 2013
956
2,185
I have a 17 Pro for my main phone, but I needed a small inexpensive phone a couple types of workouts. My needs were pretty basic (good wifi, bluetooth 5, small in size, inexpensive in case it gets beat up a bit). So, I got a 13 Mini with 83 % battery life, and I'm happy with decision.

So my question is I am better off leaving IOS 18 on the 13 Mini or upgrading to IOS 26. I don't care about the new IOS 26 features, but I'd like to know which IOS will provide better battery life and overall smoothness/stability.

Has anyone with a 12 Mini or 13 Mini made the switch from IOS 18 to IOS 26? If so, what do you think?
 
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Stay on 18 is my advice. Micro stutters and easily 10% battery hit on my 12 Mini. Since you mentioned bluetooth so I'll toss this in: I haven't had time firgure it out yet but on 26 my 12 is draining battery much more than before while connected to my Mini Cooper's bluetooth handsfree system. Will do a wipe and clean install soon to see if that fixes the problem.
 
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goodthymes said:
Stay on 18 is my advice. Micro stutters and easily 10% battery hit on my 12 Mini. Since you mentioned bluetooth so I'll toss this in: I haven't had time firgure it out yet but on 26 my 12 is draining battery much more than before while connected to my Cooper Mini's bluetooth handsfree system. Will do a wipe and clean install soon to see if that fixes the problem.
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Yea, another iPhone Mini user. Thanks for the feedback. The iPhone Mini certainly can't afford worse battery life.

Good Luck with the battery drain in the car. Hopefully the wipe helps.
 
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It’s horrible. Stick to 18. I posted a thread about this but my 13 mini with 84% battery life became borderline horrible. Battery drops fast (search my post history) when on 5g. It’s bad.
 
I have a 13 mini and was tricked or forced into upgrading to iOS 26 when I moved back to that phone from an iPhone 17 I had to return (I was prompted to update the OS before transferring my data; not sure if I could have said no – certainly it wasn’t an obvious choice).

Battery life definitely took a hit. Phone also heats up more (two sides of the same coin).

Besides, the new OS offers nothing useful while breaking a few things that were just fine.

You might eventually be forced to upgrade for security reasons, but I wouldn’t do it voluntarily, especially on a 12 mini.
 
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Moreplease said:
I have a 13 mini and was tricked or forced into upgrading to iOS 26 when I moved back to that phone from an iPhone 17 I had to return (I was prompted to update the OS before transferring my data; not sure if I could have said no – certainly it wasn’t an obvious choice).

Battery life definitely took a hit. Phone also heats up more (two sides of the same coin).

Besides, the new OS offers nothing useful while breaking a few things that were just fine.
Click to expand...

Moreplease said:
You might eventually be forced to upgrade for security reasons, but I wouldn’t do it voluntarily, especially on a 12 mini.
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heat too, my iPhone mini is just warm when it’s on 5g. basically anytime I use the phone outside the house it’s really warm. I use it caseless.

I’m keeping my iPad mini 6th gen on iOS 18. No way I am updating. It works fine as is and given what it did to my 13 mini I’m afraid it might meet the same fate.
 
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1rottenapple said:
It’s horrible. Stick to 18. I posted a thread about this but my 13 mini with 84% battery life became borderline horrible. Battery drops fast (search my post history) when on 5g. It’s bad.
Click to expand...
Moreplease said:
I have a 13 mini and was tricked or forced into upgrading to iOS 26 when I moved back to that phone from an iPhone 17 I had to return (I was prompted to update the OS before transferring my data; not sure if I could have said no – certainly it wasn’t an obvious choice).

Battery life definitely took a hit. Phone also heats up more (two sides of the same coin).

Besides, the new OS offers nothing useful while breaking a few things that were just fine.

You might eventually be forced to upgrade for security reasons, but I wouldn’t do it voluntarily, especially on a 12 mini.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the feedback. I guess there isn't much of an upside to going to IOS 26, and most folks like yourselfs are saying the performance and battery are worse. I guess I will keep the phone on IOS 18 for now. 👍
 
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The 13 Mini is my "backup phone" I'm keeping it on 18 for good. I have an Air on 26 and love the phone & screen but iOS26 is STILL a mess full of bugs..
 
Moreplease said:
I have a 13 mini and was tricked or forced into upgrading to iOS 26 when I moved back to that phone from an iPhone 17 I had to return (I was prompted to update the OS before transferring my data; not sure if I could have said no – certainly it wasn’t an obvious choice).

Battery life definitely took a hit. Phone also heats up more (two sides of the same coin).

Besides, the new OS offers nothing useful while breaking a few things that were just fine.

You might eventually be forced to upgrade for security reasons, but I wouldn’t do it voluntarily, especially on a 12 mini.
Click to expand...
Keep a backup on iCloud of the Mini on iOS18 and you should be fine .
 
rui no onna said:
Nah, not iCloud. Should archive the backup on PC/Mac. Alas, once Apple stops signing iOS 18, restoring the backup only works if the device you're restoring to is on the same iOS 18 version or higher.
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Speaking of which what will the options given that the IPSW for iOS 18.7.1 isn't available? I think my Mac only has the IPSW for iOS 18.6 or so. I have a feeling if I ever need to restore I will be forced to iOS 26+...
 
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bzgnyc2 said:
Speaking of which what will the options given that the IPSW for iOS 18.7.1 isn't available? I think my Mac only has the IPSW for iOS 18.6 or so. I have a feeling if I ever need to restore I will be forced to iOS 26+...
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I believe no computer IPSWs are still signed. There are no options. iOS 18.7.1 via OTA or iOS 26.
 
bzgnyc2 said:
Speaking of which what will the options given that the IPSW for iOS 18.7.1 isn't available? I think my Mac only has the IPSW for iOS 18.6 or so. I have a feeling if I ever need to restore I will be forced to iOS 26+...
Click to expand...

If the device you're restoring to already has 18.7.1 installed, then you're good.

If the device is on older iOS, for now you can do manual setup with wifi (skip the iCloud sign-in and restore), install the OTA update for 18.7.1 first, erase all content and settings, and then setup again this time restoring from 18.7.1 backup.

As long as your backup is 18.7.1 and your device has 18.7.1 or newer, you'll be able to restore without being forced to upgrade.
 
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I have been riding 26 betas all along with a 13 mini and can't complain. I like the new features and have great battery life with some adjustments to Settings. No drama here.
 
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my iPhone 13 mini still running iOS 17 , some app must run under iOS 18 such as apple support .. really don't want to update to iOS 18 .its have charging problem sometime , apple advise me that update software to at least iOS 18 , how do you think all you guy ?
 
I've been running 26 from the first beta. I don't have any complaints. For some, though, running an archaic phone with an archaic OS is important.
 
firemenhon said:
my iPhone 13 mini still running iOS 17 , some app must run under iOS 18 such as apple support .. really don't want to update to iOS 18 .its have charging problem sometime , apple advise me that update software to at least iOS 18 , how do you think all you guy ?
Click to expand...

I'm been fine with iOS 18 on my iPhone 13 Mini as much as any recent iOS. I ended up going iOS 15 on my OGSE to iOS 18 on my iPhone so can't speak to the tradeoffs between iOS 17 versus iOS 18 on that device. I can say that with a 90% battery on my iPhone 13 Mini running iOS 18.7.x, I could get 4 days battery life with my (relative light) usage. More typically I charge it to ~ 80% every 24-36 hours. I do make a habit of disabling a lot of stuff that seems like bloat/junk to me and don't use my phone for games. On the flip side nothing drains my battery faster than using this phone as a phone.

Otherwise, I can't remember the things i don't like about iOS 18 versus previous and there are a few things that seem better/cleaner.

Your challenge now is upgrading to iOS 18 and not iOS 26. I suspect you won't like that jump. Most likely you'll need to signup for the Developer Beta channel and jump to iOS 18.7.3.
 
firemenhon said:
my iPhone 13 mini still running iOS 17 , some app must run under iOS 18 such as apple support .. really don't want to update to iOS 18 .its have charging problem sometime , apple advise me that update software to at least iOS 18 , how do you think all you guy ?
Click to expand...

The 13 mini runs fine on 18. I suggest updating now while you still can before 26 becomes your only upgrade option.

The clock is ticking on iOS 18 firmware signing. Apple recently rolled out 18.7.3 but on my phones, it was only showing 26.2 until I switched to iOS 18 Public Beta.
 
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bzgnyc2 said:
I'm been fine with iOS 18 on my iPhone 13 Mini as much as any recent iOS. I ended up going iOS 15 on my OGSE to iOS 18 on my iPhone so can't speak to the tradeoffs between iOS 17 versus iOS 18 on that device. I can say that with a 90% battery on my iPhone 13 Mini running iOS 18.7.x, I could get 4 days battery life with my (relative light) usage. More typically I charge it to ~ 80% every 24-36 hours. I do make a habit of disabling a lot of stuff that seems like bloat/junk to me and don't use my phone for games. On the flip side nothing drains my battery faster than using this phone as a phone.

Otherwise, I can't remember the things i don't like about iOS 18 versus previous and there are a few things that seem better/cleaner.

Your challenge now is upgrading to iOS 18 and not iOS 26. I suspect you won't like that jump. Most likely you'll need to signup for the Developer Beta channel and jump to iOS 18.7.3.
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Thanks , ISI use my 13 mini for gaming , the battery is running fast
 
rui no onna said:
The 13 mini runs fine on 18. I suggest updating now while you still can before 26 becomes your only upgrade option.

The clock is ticking on iOS 18 firmware signing. Apple recently rolled out 18.7.3 but on my phones, it was only showing 26.2 until I switched to iOS 18 Public Beta.
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Thanks man, i can only update to ios18 through MacBook Pro , there only option to jump to iOS 26 on the software update setting on the 13 mini , I guess I will do it through MacBook Pro asap before no more option
 
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