Other iPhone Mini future

[badarihp]

There’s no iPhone 15 “mini”: Here’s why

There Is No iPhone 15 Mini: Here's Why

The iPhone 15 lineup noticeably lacks a model with a display size below six inches, just two years after Apple extolled the virtues of a 5.4-inch device. So why did Apple eliminate the "mini" device that some iPhone customers had come to love.

www.macrumors.com

Small screen size was not the reason why iPhone mini didn’t not sell.

 

[JPack]

There’s no iPhone 15 “mini”: Here’s why

There Is No iPhone 15 Mini: Here's Why

The iPhone 15 lineup noticeably lacks a model with a display size below six inches, just two years after Apple extolled the virtues of a 5.4-inch device. So why did Apple eliminate the "mini" device that some iPhone customers had come to love.

www.macrumors.com

Small screen size was not the reason why iPhone mini didn’t not sell.

Actions speak louder than words. We know iPhone 14 Plus beat iPhone 13 mini by about 55% based panel shipments over a comparable 12 month period. We also know from Ross Young that iPhone 16 and 17 will continue with the Plus sizes. Clearly, Plus size is doing better than mini and generates more sales or Apple would change their strategy.

iPhone 16 Pro to Feature Taller Aspect Ratio, Regular iPhone 17 to Follow and Add ProMotion in 2025

The iPhone 16 Pro models will feature a taller aspect ratio of 19.6:9, a change that will trickle down to the standard iPhone 17 models the following year, new forecasts from display analyst Ross Young claim. The iPhone 14 lineup has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, a specification that is expected to...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Carlsberg69]

There’s no iPhone 15 “mini”: Here’s why

There Is No iPhone 15 Mini: Here's Why

The iPhone 15 lineup noticeably lacks a model with a display size below six inches, just two years after Apple extolled the virtues of a 5.4-inch device. So why did Apple eliminate the "mini" device that some iPhone customers had come to love.

www.macrumors.com

Small screen size was not the reason why iPhone mini didn’t not sell.

It’s not the screen size directly, it’s the phone size, which means less battery. I think that “most” customers seam to go for as big phone as they comfortably can, handlingwise and monywise, to find their balance there, and unfortunately the mini took a hit. I personally love the mini but my user case isn’t working with it either.

 

[badarihp]

It’s not the screen size directly, it’s the phone size, which means less battery. I think that “most” customers seam to go for as big phone as they comfortably can, handlingwise and monywise, to find their balance there, and unfortunately the mini took a hit. I personally love the mini but my user case isn’t working with it either.

If it was battery life, then check stacked battery technology which missed on this year’s iPhone 15 but might be implemented next on iPhone 16. This years iPhone 15 battery has 3349mah which is lot better compared to iPhone 13 3227mah & iPhone 3279mah. All this without using stacked battery technology.

Check below chart of iPhone 15 would be if stacked battery technology was used.

This technique will add significant battery capacity increment compared to little additions Apple has been increasing battery capacity by redesigning motherboard compatible for newer A-chips making more room for battery every year on an iPhone.

So in the future Apple can possibly increase mini battery capacity & battery life combined with future A-chip & iOS efficiency in saving power.

Am just saying Apple can do, but am not predicting the launch of mini in future. It’s up to Apple to decide.

 

[one more]

If it was battery life, then check stacked battery technology which missed on this year’s iPhone 15 but might be implemented next on iPhone 16. This years iPhone 15 battery has 3349mah which is lot better compared to iPhone 13 3227mah & iPhone 3279mah. All this without using stacked battery technology.

Check below chart of iPhone 15 would be if stacked battery technology was used.

This technique will add significant battery capacity increment compared to little additions Apple has been increasing battery capacity by redesigning motherboard compatible for newer A-chips making more room for battery every year on an iPhone.

So in the future Apple can possibly increase mini battery capacity & battery life combined with future A-chip & iOS efficiency in saving power.

Am just saying Apple can do, but am not predicting the launch of mini in future. It’s up to Apple to decide.

Apple has an advantage of being able to tweak both their hardware and software simultaneously, so yes, battery life will be improving as time goes by, no doubt about it. Besides, iPhone 15 battery is meant to last us “all day” as it is already.

However, considering the current smartphone screen trends towards going even bigger, in a few years time from now mini’s screen will be tiny, similar to how a 4” screen is today. Websites, web apps and apps alike just won’t be optimised for them anymore.

IMO, a quality fold from Apple could offer a good balanced solution between a compact size (when folded) and good battery life, all in one.

 

[bandrews]

The thing is, even 3% of Apple's total sales is more than some manufacturers' entire sales. Not sure about sales of lower model Samsung or Pixel phones but 3% of a f*** load is still a lot of phones sold. I've not missed an upgrade since I bought my first 3G but decided to miss out the 14 because to me the small form factor was more important to me than the incremental updates.... now same with the 15. It's not that I'm being dogmatically stubborn about upgrading because they cancelled the mini, it's just I don't have a need to. It's not really going to hurt Apple but I doubt they made a loss on the mini - they just didn't make enough profit and I find that quite sad.

I wouldn't ever step outside Apple's walled garden - the seamless integration between all my products is just too convenient - but I am starting to lust after the Motorola and Samsung flip phones.

 

[badarihp]

The thing is, even 3% of Apple's total sales is more than some manufacturers' entire sales. Not sure about sales of lower model Samsung or Pixel phones but 3% of a f*** load is still a lot of phones sold. I've not missed an upgrade since I bought my first 3G but decided to miss out the 14 because to me the small form factor was more important to me than the incremental updates.... now same with the 15. It's not that I'm being dogmatically stubborn about upgrading because they cancelled the mini, it's just I don't have a need to. It's not really going to hurt Apple but I doubt they made a loss on the mini - they just didn't make enough profit and I find that quite sad.

I wouldn't ever step outside Apple's walled garden - the seamless integration between all my products is just too convenient - but I am starting to lust after the Motorola and Samsung flip phones.

The thing is, even 3% of Apple's total sales is more than some manufacturers' entire sales. Not sure about sales of lower model Samsung or Pixel phones but 3% of a f*** load is still a lot of phones sold. I've not missed an upgrade since I bought my first 3G but decided to miss out the 14 because to me the small form factor was more important to me than the incremental updates.... now same with the 15. It's not that I'm being dogmatically stubborn about upgrading because they cancelled the mini, it's just I don't have a need to. It's not really going to hurt Apple but I doubt they made a loss on the mini - they just didn't make enough profit and I find that quite sad.

I wouldn't ever step outside Apple's walled garden - the seamless integration between all my products is just too convenient - but I am starting to lust after the Motorola and Samsung flip phones.

By increasing screen size, I think Apple is focusing on console quality gaming on mobile platform. They are launching assassin creed & Resident evil which has full game versions equivalent to PS 5 & XBOX (am not a gamer).
All models screen size are becoming very big & ugly. Now, only small screen iPhone is 6.1” standard iPhone e.g: iPhone 15. Even this standard iPhone is going to be increased to 6.3” from iPhone 16 & 6.9” for iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple have to rethink about a professional user iPhone. All iPhones are becoming what was once considered as Phablets! It’s just that the masses are used to it. But they are still Phablets.

 

[powerbook911]

By increasing screen size, I think Apple is focusing on console quality gaming on mobile platform. They are launching assassin creed & Resident evil which has full game versions equivalent to PS 5 & XBOX (am not a gamer).
All models screen size are becoming very big & ugly. Now, only small screen iPhone is 6.1” standard iPhone e.g: iPhone 15. Even this standard iPhone is going to be increased to 6.3” from iPhone 16 & 6.9” for iPhone 16 Plus.

Apple have to rethink about a professional user iPhone. All iPhones are becoming what was once considered as Phablets! It’s just that the masses are used to it. But they are still Phablets.

Yet the phone screens are still too small (even on pro max size) for me to want to play a AAA console game on it.

 

[badarihp]

Yet the phone screens are still too small (even on pro max size) for me to want to play a AAA console game on it.

Mobile phone was introduced to the world to make/receive calls & SMS only when it was important & necessary. Slowly technology changed and capabilities grew larger.

If u want entertainment & gaming. Pls buy an iPad. You will be completely satisfied & on the other hand small screen iPhone users will get enough of what they need. But making Apple to push small screens into Phablets is completely not a wise choice.

 

[one more]

The thing is, even 3% of Apple's total sales is more than some manufacturers' entire sales. Not sure about sales of lower model Samsung or Pixel phones but 3% of a f*** load is still a lot of phones sold.

I don’t think Apple are needing to compare themselves with other manufacturers, as they are large enough to figure it out for themselves.

Imagine that you are selling five similar products and one of them only sells 3%, yet still takes similar parts and manufacturing energy to make. 3%! Would you seriously consider keeping on making it, or just redirect these parts and energy to your better selling products? For me the answer is quite obvious.

 

[one more]

Mobile phone was introduced to the world to make/receive calls & SMS only when it was important & necessary. Slowly technology changed and capabilities grew larger.

If u want entertainment & gaming. Pls buy an iPad. You will be completely satisfied & on the other hand small screen iPhone users will get enough of what they need. But making Apple to push small screens into Phablets is completely not a wise choice.

We also need to remember that it was not Apple who started bigger smartphone trends, but Android phone makers, who have about 75-80% global smartphone market share. So, in a way, Apple did not have much choice but to follow these global trends or lose customers. If I remember correctly, there was quite a large number of upgrades once iPhone 6 was introduced, as people perceived it as a better value jump compared to, say, 5 to 5S.

 

[one more]

If u want entertainment & gaming. Pls buy an iPad. You will be completely satisfied & on the other hand small screen iPhone users will get enough of what they need.

I think you would need a much bigger screen for a good immersive gaming experience. 😉

 

[badarihp]

We also need to remember that it was not Apple who started bigger smartphone trends, but Android phone makers, who have about 75-80% global smartphone market share. So, in a way, Apple did not have much choice but to follow these global trends or lose customers. If I remember correctly, there was quite a large number of upgrades once iPhone 6 was introduced, as people perceived it as a better value jump compared to, say, 5 to 5S.

Agree with you, it was because of Samsung screen sizes during its initial stages of their android copycat phones. Samsung jet was the biggest screen with Samsung OS phone at the time iPhone 3GS was launched. 3.5” inch iPhone 3GS was bigger than Samsung jets 16:9 ratio screen. Later Samsung started to increase the screen size bigger to 4”inch. They learnt from one & only iPhone. Their phones were looking dumb & laggy compared to iPhone’s robust design & iOS software.

Even today I love the way a basic iPhone 4 of 2010 works with its Retina display (it just works, without a hitch)

But from iPhone 6 4.7inch to Pro Max iPhone 16 6.9” (just one inch smaller than an iPad mini). A Phablet.

 

[one more]

But from iPhone 6 4.7inch to Pro Max iPhone 16 6.9” (just one inch smaller than an iPad mini). A Phablet.

Well, Apple will observe how well (or not) they big iPhones sell and respond accordingly. Also do not forget that it is iPhone Plus second year, so if it does not sell so well, it might be discontinued, same as mini. Apple will still have 6.1”-6.7” iPhones on offer to match Android offerings and as soon as they are ready will probably also come up with a fold.

 

[bandrews]

I don’t think Apple are needing to compare themselves with other manufacturers, as they are large enough to figure it out for themselves.

Imagine that you are selling five similar products and one of them only sells 3%, yet still takes similar parts and manufacturing energy to make. 3%! Would you seriously consider keeping on making it, or just redirect these parts and energy to your better selling products? For me the answer is quite obvious.

Depends if it was cannibalising sales of another product or additional sales on top of sales of the other products.

 

[one more]

Depends if it was cannibalising sales of another product or additional sales on top of sales of the other products.

Nah, just look at it this way - A15 was used in both iPhone 13, accounting for, say, 40%* of overall sales, iPhone SE 2022 (5% of sales) and 13 mini (3% of sales), so why “waste” A15 and all other cross-model components on the product that does not sell well enough?

* These numbers are not accurate, just to illustrate the idea

 

[bandrews]

Nah, just look at it this way - A15 was used in both iPhone 13, accounting for, say, 40%* of overall sales, iPhone SE 2022 (5% of sales) and 13 mini (3% of sales), so why “waste” A15 and all other cross-model components on the product that does not sell well enough?

* These numbers are not accurate, just to illustrate the idea

Make more components?

 

[one more]

Make more components?

It would cost them more then. Apple are trying to maximise their profits, instead of pleasing a very small portion of their customers.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

As long as Apple sees iPhone mini having or contributing less than their expected revenue and the low contribution is not favorable, they will not reproduce it. It is common for corporations to reevaluate how profitable their products are and if the profit is below expectations and the low profit is not tolerable then the product is discontinued.

 

[TBoneMac]

There’s no iPhone 15 “mini”: Here’s why

There Is No iPhone 15 Mini: Here's Why

The iPhone 15 lineup noticeably lacks a model with a display size below six inches, just two years after Apple extolled the virtues of a 5.4-inch device. So why did Apple eliminate the "mini" device that some iPhone customers had come to love.

www.macrumors.com

Small screen size was not the reason why iPhone mini didn’t not sell.

6.1 inch is way too large. this is truly sad

I owned an iPhone 11 and it was nice but definitely too big to be comfortable. Yes you get used to it but compared to the iPhone SE 3 or the iphone mini it’s a whole other universe. I can comfortably do everything with one thumb. Not to mention the difference in feel when they’re in your pockets. the iPhone SE 3 actually fits nicely in my pocket I don’t even realize it’s there. iPhone 11 not so much

 

[infomofo]

I feel like I'm finally coming to the "Acceptance" phase a little bit. So I originally bought the iPhone 13 pro- going from the old SE to the Pro, the weight totally caught me off guard- after two days of almost dropping the phone and feeling awkward in my hand I took it into the apple store and traded it in for the mini and I've been happy ever since.

Obviously skipped the 14 for the same reasons, and I'm not planning on getting a 15. However, my husband did get the 15 pro and I tried it out in my hand- with the titanium frame the weight is not that noticeable and and I found I could hold it pretty comfortably unlike the 13 pro previously. So while I'm not upgrading this cycle, I am no longer quite as dire about this situation- I feel pretty confident that as long as apple is being conscious about weight on their new phones I will probably find a phone in the 16 lineup that works for me.

 

[andresandiego]

That ship has sailed :-/

 

[macphoto861]

I'm a full-fledged "huge phone" guy now (which is amusing, considering I ridiculed the Galaxy Note when it first came out), so I'll never buy an iPhone Mini for myself. But in addition to the people who prefer smaller phones, it's also ideal for kids, with mid-sized iPhones being perhaps a bit too big for their little hands and little pockets.

 

[JPack]

iPhone 15 Pro will be as mini as it gets.

Next year's Pro models will start at 6.3-inches. Better to accept 6.1-inches today rather than revert back to the anger and bargaining stages in September 2024.

 

[badarihp]

iPhone 15 Pro will be as mini as it gets.

Next year's Pro models will start at 6.3-inches. Better to accept 6.1-inches today rather than revert back to the anger and bargaining stages in September 2024.

iPhone 15 Pro will be as mini as it gets.

Next year's Pro models will start at 6.3-inches. Better to accept 6.1-inches today rather than revert back to the anger and bargaining stages in September 2024.

The post below is the main reason I created this thread “iPhone Mini future” (small screen iPhones)

We are from the days of Steve Jobs. So am a 4-inch screen fan still using iPhone SE 2016 128gb sole model (am not after “feature-rich” updates making us buy latest models!)

Why 4-inch iPhone :
Because very slowly bigger screen makes us “addict to social media & entertainment” which making us sit for hours! So am firm on avoiding BIG screen at all costs.

What we get :
iPhone.
4-inch small screen (6-inch fans should try holding it once & feel it).
iOS - Apple’s most encrypted OS.
Privacy.
Beautiful smooth system-wide UI & keyboard feel! (used android when iPhone was gone for repairs, saw huge difference in iOS UI).

In the future I will shift to iPhone Mini ONLY when essential apps stops iOS 15 support & we are forced to move to iOS 16.

iPhone 13 Mini iOS version update will be supported by Apple till 2027. Later, there will minor iOS updates similar to what iPhone SE 2016 is still getting even today e.g: 2 weeks ago there was iOS 15.7.9 update.

If production stops we can always get a used one in good condition & replace with Apple genuine battery. Even today the Apple battery for iPhone SE 2016 is still available at Apple planet care.