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Both my parents and Aunt who all had the iPhone 5s style SE all upgraded to new 2020 SE rather than the iPhone Mini because of the price. They prefer the smaller iPhone, and wanted the 12 Mini but would not pay iPhone mini prices. I upgraded my 8 to a 12 Mini as I prefer smaller phones, but I am willing to pay the iPhone 12 Mini price, though I think it is too expensive.
 
It's sad (almost to the point of being funny) to read this so often from (probably) non-iPhone 12 mini owners. It's a totally false claim. In reality, the iPhone 12 mini has great battery life. Much better compared to iPhone 8, X, XS, SE2020. Only when you compare it to physically huge phones, like the 11 and normal 12, with (obviously) larger batteries, it's performs a little less, which is plain obvious.

Coming from any of the above mentioned models, you will enjoy a very noticeable improved battery life!
For the short time I owned a 12 mini, I found the battery life to be slightly better than the X with an original battery. The problem is that the 12 mini isn't being compared to an X or even 11, it's being compared to the last small phone Apple released; the SE. When it was new, the SE would last me for 2 days if I pushed it.

I had to return the phone because the refresh rate on the screen backlight didn't agree with my eyes, I would have kept it otherwise simply because I love the smaller form factor, but the fact is that the battery life is crap compared to what people who like small phones will inevitably compare it to.

There's also an after market high-capacity battery for the SE, which can give you even longer battery life.
 
My wife loves the size of her 12 mini. She had a 7+ before and I can’t see her going back to a full size phone again.
My wife has an XR and she really wants a Mini (12 or possible future model) when she upgrades.

And I have to admit I like the size of the iPhone Mini 12. But I just bought an XR a few months ago (and I really like it), so I have a longer to wait until I upgrade.
 
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There were SO many comments over the years on MR about how people wanted a smaller phone. I guess more noise on the internet doesn't translate to reality.

Or people just simply got used to having to buy larger phones, for better performance & battery life, and got used to the form factor.
 
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I’d have to agree. I know the SE cannibalized some Mini sales.

Also, despite the performance, the price and battery life kills it.
If it it did my hunch would be only a very few, I suspect mostly people just wanted a bigger phone (which the market has indicated anyway with the large phone trend). Both myself and my mum bought a mini and neither of us would have considered the SE me for the display my Mum for the camera and they are pretty obviously in two different leagues in my opinion when you factor in CPU, camera, display, 5g, battery life.

Anyone who thinks the battery on the mini is poor hasn't used one or is likely not the target for this phone (or even the regular 12), it is leagues ahead of my old X and my Mums old 6s in battery.
 
I’d have to agree. I know the SE cannibalized some Mini sales.

Also, despite the performance, the price and battery life kills it.
Yes. I had this very discussion with some people who couldn't wait for the Mini to be released and got an SE. I waited and I don't regret it.

The battery life is pretty much what one expects in this form factor. I'd even say it's a slight upgrade in battery life from my 7.
 
I value portability as #1
Touch ID second
Battery life third

I wanted the mini but was tired of bulk & weight of my 8+ and the SE came out first
Very happy with everything about my SE -
 
The market confirmed what most of us already knew, that for the most part people no longer want smaller phones. If Apple does a 13 mini they’ll likely manufacture a lot less units now that they’re seeing what the demand for this size device is.
 
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The mini failed because its too small for big screeners, and too big for people seeking a small form factor.

People say the market no longer wants small screens, then how do you explain the SE being around since 2016 and got a new release? If price is the issue then they could always get an older Xr for cheaper. The SE should be the mini.


Although the reasons may be legit, it seems like mini fans will look for every reason other than people just aren't into small phones anymore. I mean its ok to like the mini and admit this.

They are shocked because there were so many people demanding for a smaller phone if you follow these forums. Now that its here it sales are lackluster. As I said above, I think it didn't sell well because it was not small enough in the first place. The screen is actually larger than iphone 8.
 
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The Mini isn’t mini. It’s still too big. The original SE was small, inexpensive and powerful. The new mini is neither small nor inexpensive. The new SE isn’t either.

There is no iPhone that meets the criteria of what the original SE was.

Also, having the buttons opposite of each other like that is awful imho.
 
While I love my mini, I understand I am in the minority. We truly have pocket PCs. Outside of for work reasons, an iPhone may be the only internet device someone owns. If I was in that boat, I probably would prefer a larger Max and just call it a day.
 
The Mini isn’t mini. It’s still too big. The original SE was small, inexpensive and powerful. The new mini is neither small nor inexpensive. The new SE isn’t either.

There is no iPhone that meets the criteria of what the original SE was.

Also, having the buttons opposite of each other like that is awful imho.

I completely disagree. It is not much larger than the original SE.
 

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There has to be something at the higher level for 5.8" people who would rather go smaller than bigger. I didn't feel like the 12 mini was enough of a bump from the 11 Pro for me to upgrade, but a 13 mini probably would be.
 
This actually makes sense, assuming the SE and the XR are dropped, the new range will look something like this:
12S Pro Max. $1,099
12S Pro $999
12S $799
12S Mini $699
12 $699
12 Mini $599
11 $499
iPhone 12 Mini Sales Lackluster Compared to Other Models | MacRumors Forums

This is exactly the pricing for iPhones in the Fall that I speculated a month ago. Though I think the SE 2 will stick around for another year before being phased out. Folks have to remember that Apple isn't going to keep that ancient form factor around forever. Eventually they're going to need phones that fill in the lower price range gaps as older models get discontinued. The older mini models are a perfect vehicle to do that.
 
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The next iPhone Mini that is not a camera downgrade from my 11 Pro will be my next iPhone for sure.

I LOVE that form factor, but the camera is important to me, because we take many photos/videos of our kids.

That's debatable. Reviews I have seen generally show at least the same quality for photo, and better quality for video. So you are probably only missing out on the obvious (additional telephoto).

But we've waited this long into the new year - might as well wait for the next round. It's not like the 11 Pro is ancient. They could end up adding that 3rd lens, or totally reworking the lenses in general.
 
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From what I have been reading the material cost for the iPhone 12 is about $373, which is about 47%. 6% of 81M iPhone sold in 4Q 2020 ≈ 4.8M. That is about $3.8B gross, maybe $1.57B net. From a sales perspective, that is not bad.
 
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i am 5' 6" and the fashion industry do not design anything proportionate to people around 5'5" and 5'8". all of their designers assume that everyone on this planet is at least 6' tall. i think it is the same with industrial designers. they make similar assumptions in their design choices. it is as though they are punishing people similar to my size by producing products that work best for larger people.

the smaller of the Pro model still feels like a phablet in my hands. it feels uncomfortable to hold. perhaps if Apple designers would stop "punishing" users with small hands or users who prefer a mini Pro version instead of a mini form that's strip down of all the best features of the Pro models, then they might see improved sales of this mini form.
 
The sell millions of the 12 mini. And it gets people into the stores who then go on and buy a bigger phone - Apple is quite happy with that. I mean it's common sense that ONE iPhone 12 model must be the one with the lowest sales, but as long as it adds to the bottom line it's all good.
 
everybody who saw my 12 mini was really jealous of the size/weight but didn't like that it didn't have the tele lens like the pro.
I would agree that the tele lens is better to have than the wide angle, but I dont care about photos so the 12 mini is perfection for me.
 
Though I think the SE 2 will stick around for another year before being phased out. Folks have to remember that Apple isn't going to keep that ancient form factor around forever. Eventually they're going to need phones that fill in the lower price range gaps as older models get discontinued. The older mini models are a perfect vehicle to do that.

Agree with you on the SE lifespan and the Mini form factor being a good candidate for its successor - I've been leaning the same way in all of these discussions.

The bit of uncertainty in the mix is whether or not the cost difference between the 5.4" Mini form factor and the 6" standard form factor is great enough to outweigh the presumably lower demand for the smaller device. That is to say that, as the phones age, if costs become so similar as to be nearly a wash, you have to wonder if the larger phone doesn't get the nod for the next SE. And I should add that this assumes for the time being that the next SE does not come soon enough for the XR/11 form factor to get tapped for duty instead. I think this phenomena will also influence whether both sizes are kept in the lineup not just next year but the following year as well.

The SE is a obviously a cost sensitive device first and foremost - it's primary purpose for existing is to be the most affordable iPhone. But who actually wins the race to the bottom? Figure that, costs also depend to some degree on volume of units produced, so does still Mini win out in the end on those terms? I don't think we can say for sure yet that it will, but I hope it does.
 
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