iPhone Air iPhone Air Mini

[sleep/to/dream]

Wouldn’t it be nice with a smaller iPhone Air? Phones are getting too big and heavy these days. Can somebody call Tim Apple and tell him to make one?

What the heck, I was LITERALLY thinking the same thing yesterday! If it had a ~6.1 inch screen, they could even make it a mm thicker or so for some extra battery, and I think it’d be a hit and feel really futuristic

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

Unfortunately the mini only made up less than 5% of iPhone sales and couldn’t justify the R&D. The foldable phone outer display will be the same size, albeit not even remotely close to the same price and thickness. Battery life will be STELLAR compared to the mini tho

 

[Abydos]

The Apple Watch already does that, so no need to modify it. I think most people would use AirPods if they were going to have a phone conversation with an Apple Watch, but you can just do it via the little speaker and mic if you really want 🙂

just being sarcastic we all seem to want free cold beer

 

[awshucks]

Made a quick render. Corner radius with the radius of the plateau are more unequal, but something Apple could fix. Using the same size of camera and height of plateau. They would probably need to make the plateau taller since it is less wide, so less room for the components. Of course unless they take advantage of the rumored thinner Face ID module.

 

[ignatius345]

As I said, I believe there is a market for a smaller phone. Maybe not a big one (pun intended), but it is there.

I think the thing is that it must cost a pretty insane amount of money to get a new device into production to the standards Apple has. Design, testing, sourcing components... not to mention the fact that production lines have limited capacity and they’re probably very careful about how they use them.

So sure, maybe X number of people would buy a Mini or an Air Mini or whatever -- but maybe that comes at the expense of using up bandwidth they could be using for products that are likely to sell in much larger numbers.

 

[jimmirehman]

Wouldn’t it be nice with a smaller iPhone Air? Phones are getting too big and heavy these days. Can somebody call Tim Apple and tell him to make one?

I talked to him about it, The issue right now is battery life in a smaller footprint device that is so thin.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

View attachment 2604131
Made a quick render. Corner radius with the radius of the plateau are more unequal, but something Apple could fix. Using the same size of camera and height of plateau. They would probably need to make the plateau taller since it is less wide, so less room for the components. Of course unless they take advantage of the rumored thinner Face ID module.

For some reason I couldn't help but make this. Just make it even smaller. Just a thin strip that barely holds the camera. Would this be functional? 🤣

 

[awshucks]

For some reason I couldn't help but make this. Just make it even smaller. Just a thin strip that barely holds the camera. Would this be functional? 🤣

Reminds me of this that I saw a while back.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

I know plenty of people with small hands and fingers happily braving phones with 6+” screens, it has nothing to do with it. Apple are very down-to-Earth practical when it comes to their products, so if they do not sell well enough (for Apple), they just drop them.

In my wife’s case it has everything to do with it. For people who don’t like to fumble larger phones, don’t want to pocket larger phones, don’t like the weight of larger phones, it has everything to do with it. If those numbers don’t equate to enough sales then yeah Apple won’t bother. What’s even the point of your comment lol?

 

[one more]

In my wife’s case it has everything to do with it. For people who don’t like to fumble larger phones, don’t want to pocket larger phones, don’t like the weight of larger phones, it has everything to do with it. If those numbers don’t equate to enough sales then yeah Apple won’t bother. What’s even the point of your comment lol?

My point is that it has nothing to do with your wife’s anatomy, just her personal preference. It is not that she cannot use a larger phone, she simply does not want to. Unfortunately for her, the masses go for larger screens, but she still has a choice between iPhone SE and regular 16-17.

 

[tinkerskates]

What I'd love to see is an iPhone Pro Mini. Give it all the features of the Pro. If it has to be a tad thicker, so be it.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Imagine walking into a new product proposition meeting in Cupertino and pitching this idea:

“I’ve got a brilliant idea for a new iPhone: the iPhone Air Mini!!! It combines two ultra-niche devices that didn’t exactly fly off the shelves, thoughtfully merging their most questionable design trade-offs into a single phone with an even more specialised audience than either of its predecessors.”

 

[snipr125]

If no Mini, then Apple just needs to at least keep a slim bezeled 6.1” phone in the lineup, like the E. Basically like a lighter 15 Pro.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

My point is that it has nothing to do with your wife’s anatomy, just her personal preference. It is not that she cannot use a larger phone, she simply does not want to. Unfortunately for her, the masses go for larger screens, but she still has a choice between iPhone SE and regular

No **** it’s her personal preference, influenced by her desire to use a smaller phone due to the size of her hands. It’s not difficult to understand. And it’s one single example of why she and others may prefer a smaller phone. Like I said, I have no use for smalller phones and never criticized Apple’s decision to discontinue it. Maybe reread my original comment cause you got tripped up somewhere.

 

[tonmischa]

My point is that it has nothing to do with your wife’s anatomy, just her personal preference. It is not that she cannot use a larger phone, she simply does not want to.

So your argument is: Apple should not care about preference, just about ability?
She COULD live on bread, so there is no need to try to sell her fancy cake?
She COULD survive on water, so there is no need to try to sell her champagne?
What point are you trying to make?

If we would go for what a person really NEEDS, instead of what a person really WANTS, we would have no mobile phones, no internet and no computers at all.

the masses go for larger screens

Because there are simply no more small phones left to buy. As I explained earlier, the 12 Mini was doomed from the start, because Apple saturated the market six months earlier by releasing the SE2 after 3 years without a smaller phone.
I am convinced, that there is an untapped market for a smaller phone today.
Apple might not be going for it, because it is probably not as profitable. As I said earlier: In other areas we are happily paying more to have things made smaller, but the companies haven't found a way to apply that formula to a mobile phone yet.

 

[ab2c4]

While not "mini" I would love to see the Air in a 5.8" or 6.1" and with rounded sides. That would be the perfect iphone to me. My Air is my favorite iphone I have ever owned but I would definitely like one noticeably smaller and lighter (5.8 ounces is still too heavy for my liking, prefer phones around 5 ounces).

 

[one more]

So your argument is: Apple should not care about preference, just about ability?
She COULD live on bread, so there is no need to try to sell her fancy cake?
She COULD survive on water, so there is no need to try to sell her champagne?
What point are you trying to make?

I am saying that if there were not enough people buying fancy cakes and champagne we would not have them either, as the market is driven by customer demand, pure and simple.

If we would go for what a person really NEEDS, instead of what a person really WANTS, we would have no mobile phones, no internet and no computers at all.

You are wrong here, as without mobile phones, internet and computers modern life would barely be possible, so nowadays it is actually a need.

Because there are simply no more small phones left to buy. As I explained earlier, the 12 Mini was doomed from the start, because Apple saturated the market six months earlier by releasing the SE2 after 3 years without a smaller phone.

Apple tried again with 13 Mini and that one also did not sell well enough for Apple.

I am convinced, that there is an untapped market for a smaller phone today.
Apple might not be going for it, because it is probably not as profitable. As I said earlier: In other areas we are happily paying more to have things made smaller, but the companies haven't found a way to apply that formula to a mobile phone yet.

It is not just Apple “not going for it”, nobody is going for it, including a vast Android crew, as the market is just too niche to put so much effort into.

 

[ab2c4]

You are wrong here, as without mobile phones, internet and computers modern life would barely be possible, so nowadays it is actually a need.

Life would go back to the 1970's-1980's. I have to say, that would be ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! Life was so much better then.

 

[tonmischa]

I am saying that if there were not enough people buying fancy cakes and champagne we would not have them either, as the market is driven by customer demand, pure and simple.

That is not what you said. And you know it.

Apple tried again with 13 Mini and that one also did not sell well enough for Apple.

The 12 mini was released six months after SE2, which - in my theory - saturated the "small phone" market.
The 13 mini was released one year later. It should be obvious that the market was still saturated.
The people who bought an SE2 would not replace that phone for an 12 Mini after six months and also not for a 13 Mini after 18 months.

as without mobile phones, internet and computers modern life would barely be possible

Wondering how modern man survived up until the 1990s... it must have been an absolutely dreadful and unbearable time.

 

[macbookj0e]

The iPhone Air Mini: The same lack of battery as the Air but with even fewer abilities! Coming soon for two grand!

Quick question - why weren’t people saying the 15 pro and most other older models etc had a lack of battery when the air’s is superior? The air only lacks vs the 17 lineup (and some older max’s for obvious reasons) yet is better than almost all other iPhones that came before it, which are many. Those phones never got a false and unfair slating like the air does, I find it odd.

My phone before the air was the 15 pro and it wasn’t as good in the battery department.

 

[JPack]

Quick question - why weren’t people saying the 15 pro and most other older models etc had a lack of battery when the air’s is superior? The air only lacks vs the 17 lineup (and some older max’s for obvious reasons) yet is better than almost all other iPhones that came before it, which are many. Those phones never got a false and unfair slating like the air does, I find it odd.

My phone before the air was the 15 pro and it wasn’t as good in the battery department.

Because expectations change. People want to buy today's technology.

The chip in iPhone 15 Pro wasn't slow when it first launched. But now, nobody would choose A17 for their new phone.

Why should someone buying a new iPhone in 2026 accept the same battery performance from 2023?

 

[Macdctr]

Why should someone buying a new iPhone in 2026 accept the same battery performance from 2023?

sometimes, less is more . . .

 

[JPack]

sometimes, less is more . . .

Why do people buy new phones? Because they want new tech. If they were satisfied old tech and old battery life, they wouldn't upgrade.

How do people see the Air? Something with battery life from a couple years ago, a single camera from iPhone 8, and a mono speaker from who knows when.

Most are unwilling to move one step forward and two steps back.

 

[Macdctr]

Why do people buy new phones? Because they want new tech. If they were satisfied old tech and old battery life, they wouldn't upgrade.

How do people see the Air? Something with battery life from a couple years ago, a single camera from iPhone 8, and a mono speaker from who knows when.

Most are unwilling to move one step forward and two steps back.

I’m happy with my Air. I just cycle thru the few iPhones I have because I actually like using them. I like the Air not because of its 6.5 inch screen but because it is so thin and light. I have several Pros and Pro Max iPhones to use including my 17 Pro if I want. Sometimes I just prefer using my 13 mini and I do use mine.

 

[JPack]

I’m happy with my Air. I just cycle thru the few iPhones I have because I actually like using them. I like the Air not because of its 6.5 inch screen but because it is so thin and light. I have several Pros and Pro Max iPhones to use including my 17 Pro if I want. Sometimes I just prefer using my 13 mini and I do use mine.

I get it, lots of people here legitimately love the Air because form factor is important. And it is nice.

It's just when people say, "it has the same battery life as a 2023 iPhone," it's silly. They think it's a good thing, but the vast majority of consumers see it as a bad thing.