iPhone 12 iPhone Mini First Impressions

[Seanm87]

Did you use it at all or was it in sleep mode with the screen off?

Edit: I think the pic includes my iPad actually.

but yeah I think I’ve used it quite a lot today.

 

[Robbosan]

you know what's crazy about this phone? how the screen size of apple's current smallest phone is almost the exact same size as apple's previous LARGEST phones (mini =5.4", 6/7/8+ = 5.5"). i compared my new mini against my mom's 8 plus and the usable screen size is virtually indistinguishable.

Until you watch a video on it..

 

[LongWayHome]

The iPhone 4 and 5 (also 1st gen SE) feel like toys. My gf jokes that the Mini is a demo phone. It’s just so light.

Its ridiculously light. Its cool and all but not sure I could ever use it as my daily. Granted I have large hands but its nice to have this little phone.

Switching back and forth between this and the 12 Pro Max is jarring.

 

[joeptp]

Love the Mini. So happy with it. Switching from 11 Pro.

 

[rhylin]

Not sure yet myself, I’m coming from a 11 pro so I really never worried about battery life. Right now phone is at 34% with nearly 3 hours SOT. I do have a job that puts me in different parts of the city so cellular activity is more active. I won’t make a decision for at least a few days. I’ll be sure to have my power bank handy though.

 

[Ladybug]

Just curious how everyone purchased their mini. I was thinking of going to an Apple store here to see it in person and compare the colors, but my friend told me that he was just there and was turned away as they are not allowing anyone to enter without an appointment. There is no information regarding this on Apples website.

I walked into Best Buy and they had loads of them yesterday.

 

[MorganHiller]

Thanks! Same here, I wanted to see one at Apple store, but couldn't without an appointment. I will check BestBuy.

 

[TotalMacMove]

Does anyone know much about dolby vision? Will it be a better bet for my to set default recording to 4k 30fps to utilize this?

 

[Cryates]

Does anyone know much about dolby vision? Will it be a better bet for my to set default recording to 4k 30fps to utilize this?

If you’re using a Mini, DV video will be capped at 4K/30 so definitely use that if you want DV. Cinematic film is filmed at 24fps, so IMO 30fps is great.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I’m blown away. It took me all of four minutes to say “this is perfect” while it took me a week to say “I’m actually really starting to like it” when I went from my 11 Pro to the 12 Pro.

Luckily Verizon has a 30 day return policy so I get to save myself some serious $$.

I got the white because I use my phones naked and the white glass doesn’t show fingerprints at all.

Edit: Oh yeah. That aluminum frame is absolutely perfect as well.

 

[yticolev]

Interesting. I’ve had my Verizon account for awhile now and still was being required to pay $40. Guess it’s an “upgrade” fee. Either way that’s pretty cool you were able to get the phone without the extra charge.

If you got a discount on the phone, then yes, this is their way of clawing back some money. Probably some accounting trick for their books.

I still don't have service. Took a very long call, my sister the family account manager stayed on the phone after they disconnected the call on the 6S and the phone no longer had service. An hour or so later, I rebooted the Mini and did get a message that activation was in progress and may take some time. The rep said he would call me, and he did - but on the 6S which was silenced. The website was impossible. They made me log in and the chat digital assistant said they were getting a rep, and nothing. I think it was after hours: 7:30. So another phone call just directed me to the website.

I haven't been so frustrated since Sprint charged me a $250 termination fee while I had continuous service and wouldn't return it. They did credit my account. Not sure what I can do. Corporate Verizon Store is closed tomorrow, would have to make an appointment for Monday. Not sure if phone customer service is available or not.

 

[yticolev]

how the screen size of apple's current smallest phone is almost the exact same size as apple's previous LARGEST phones (mini =5.4", 6/7/8+ = 5.5").

No, the 6/7/8/SE 2020 have 4.7" screens versus 5.42 on the Mini. However you are partly right in that those two numbers are not directly comparable. Those earlier phones had square active screens, the Mini has rounded corners and Apple used a measurement as if the corners were square on the Mini (actual round corner diagonal is 5.2" by my measurement) In addition, there is the notch. So total screen area may be closer than the specs suggest but I think the Mini comes out ahead. However in pixels, no contest with the much higher density on the Mini.

Edit: sorry never mind! Missed the + part of your post.

 

[Cryates]

No, the 6/7/8/SE 2020 have 4.7" screens versus 5.42 on the Mini. However you are partly right in that those two numbers are not directly comparable. Those earlier phones had square active screens, the Mini has rounded corners and Apple used a measurement as if the corners were square on the Mini (actual round corner diagonal is 5.2" by my measurement) In addition, there is the notch. So total screen area may be closer than the specs suggest but I think the Mini comes out ahead. However in pixels, no contest with the much higher density on the Mini.

Edit: sorry never mind! Missed the + part of your post.

They said “6/7/8+”, as in, the plus-sized models of those phones. Which did have 5.5” screens.

 

[yticolev]

The iPhone 4 and 5 (also 1st gen SE) feel like toys.

The 4 is my favorite form factor by far. Classic proportions that are good to look at. My perfect phone would be the 4 full screen, no notch, thick to the point there would be no extruding camera hump for the best camera. Happy to have more battery in the extra thickness. All iPhones since do not have that golden rectangle look, and are not so nice to look at.

 

[Cryates]

This is only on the first full charge, but I’ve already determined battery life is great for my typical use. I’m usually about 3 hrs total SOT daily on average. Some days get into the 4-5 hour range but that’s pretty rare. Currently sitting at 52%. A lot of this was on 4G, I have 5G turned off because I don’t care about it. Can’t wait to be told this is terrible battery life cause I’m not pacing 10 hrs SOT.

I said I’d update this, so here it is:



I’m sitting at 18% with just over 5 hours SOT. Excellent for only the first full charge, and on a day that is intentionally much more than my normal use of a phone. My low power shortcuts automation kicks in at 30%. Lots of 4G use today, with an hour of Spotify streaming on 4G and Bluetooth. Light/Dark mode on automatic (switched at 5pm for sunset), and auto brightness on. Good stuff. I could probably push this to 6 hours SOT by the end of the night and still have just a bit to spare.

edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention that I had an Apple Watch connected via Bluetooth all day.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I said I’d update this, so here it is:

View attachment 1667265

I’m sitting at 18% with just over 5 hours SOT. Excellent for only the first full charge, and on a day that is intentionally much more than my normal use of a phone. My low power shortcuts automation kicks in at 30%. Lots of 4G use today, with an hour of Spotify streaming on 4G and Bluetooth. Light/Dark mode on automatic (switched at 5pm for sunset), and auto brightness on. Good stuff. I could probably push this to 6 hours SOT by the end of the night and still have just a bit to spare.

That is very good battery the first full day.

Speaking of automation, I created two battery automations. One audibly alerts me when the battery reaches 100% and the other audibly alerts when the battery drops below 35%.

 

[v386]

I'm at 40% battery after about 5 1/2 hrs SOT and 1hr 8min screen off which included 45 minutes of GPS tracking. Also had about 40 minutes of phone calls during the day. This was 90% on wifi, and my cellular is 4g only. This was abnormally high usage for me I was playing with my new phone all the time. I also run my screen relatively dim (at about 25% brightness) and dark mode set for Dark Until Sunrise. My normal use is 1 1/2hrs SOT leaving 10% battery by 9pm on my old SE, so being at 40% at 11pm after more than triple my usual usage is crazy good.

 

[TotalMacMove]

If you’re using a Mini, DV video will be capped at 4K/30 so definitely use that if you want DV. Cinematic film is filmed at 24fps, so IMO 30fps is great.

Thanks! If i’m recording videos for memories to have in the future, do you think recording in dolby is going to be superior to 60fps? I have tried researching this but its unclear!

 

[Jacobi]

The 4 is my favorite form factor by far. Classic proportions that are good to look at. My perfect phone would be the 4 full screen, no notch, thick to the point there would be no extruding camera hump for the best camera. Happy to have more battery in the extra thickness. All iPhones since do not have that golden rectangle look, and are not so nice to look at.

I am 100% on board with you. That is my ideal as well. And I'm happy to give up SOME camera quality for no camera bump. I want that seamless, pocketable rectangle.

 

[Cryates]

Thanks! If i’m recording videos for memories to have in the future, do you think recording in dolby is going to be superior to 60fps? I have tried researching this but its unclear!

I’d say so. I think long-term you’ll appreciate the higher fidelity colors/contrast vs more frames. DV content from this camera at 24/30fps looks incredible.

It’s all subjective of course, and I’d mess around for yourself to see the difference between DV at 30fps and non-DV at 60fps. I like lower frame rates because I appreciate a more cinematic feel.

 

[rKunda]

I saw the mini in the local Walmart. Oh man. That size is a gem. I wish they made a mini pro.

 

[Anthony T]

So glad I went with the mini. This is the iPhone I’ve been dying for. Perfect size for one-handed use, fits easily into my pocket, super light, and has all the features I need.

Maybe next year we will get a “mini Pro” or “Pro mini” but I’m starting to realize that for me, the “pro” features are really not a necessity.

This might be my favorite iPhone yet. Or perhaps my favorite since the iPhone 5 at least.

 

[Supermallet]

Thanks! If i’m recording videos for memories to have in the future, do you think recording in dolby is going to be superior to 60fps? I have tried researching this but its unclear!

Personally I think HDR is more apparent and has more of a wow factor than 60 FPS, but keep in mind that right now there are very few displays that can properly play back the version of Dolby Vision Apple is using. In the long term though I think DV is the better choice over high frame rates.

 

[Jacobi]

Following up on my original post: I've been using the Mini for a day now, and just compared it again to the original SE I upgraded from. A couple of new thoughts:

- I still think the Mini is a bit too large and prefer the size of the old SE.
- I think the Mini feels cheaper overall. The way the sides look, and something about the one-color back with no "iPhone" text, just doesn't feel as premium to me as the old SE in my hand.

Still enjoying it overall -- but the truth is that at this moment, I still like my old SE better from a "feel" and design standpoint.

 

[Robbosan]

So I guess none of you are using a case and gsp then?