iPhone 13 mini *iPhone Mini - Jewel in the crown* The perfect, perfect phone. Ode and natural solutions to executive inaction

[snipr125]

Not sure why people keep bringing this up as an alternative.
Yes it is smaller (but fatter) in your pocket, but once you fold it open to use it, it is harder to use one-handed than the 15 Pro..
Plus you get a crease in the display and a "glass" that feels cheap to the touch.

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Its a personal preference for me. Nice and compact when folded and i can use the small screen to do simpler tasks like respond to messages etc. Based on my usage i will be using it folded a lot i reckon. When i want to do 'heavier' tasks, i then have the 6.7" 120hz display (same size as Pro Max), yes may not be fully one handed when opened, but i can accept the trade off. Its basically like having a 13 mini and Pro Max in one device, and i love the look of it also and am not bothered by the crease.

I wont even go into all the fun ways you can take pics with this thing!.

I want Apple to release something similar and i will be all over it, but if they have nothing compact on the horizon in the next few years then I will do what Lioness and NT1440 have said and get a Galaxy Flip, but still use my Mac and iPads.

 

[snipr125]

I understand what you are saying, but come on this is a iPhone discussion forum, so let people discuss phones, even if its a discontinued one. You got to admit though, us Mini enthusiasts have a strong voice and we like to make our presence felt! Also any discussion thread regarding the Mini seems to pick up traction quickly!

PS - I responded to someone who was saying that all Mini owners should be put into a Sub Thread so that we could basically keep our opinions to ourselves, as he claims it was 'depressing'. The member seems to have deleted their post, so just wanted to provide context for my post.

 

[radiologyman]

I bought one mini 13 for each family member. One mini 13 is a spare so 6 total. Several mini 12 handed down to relatives and friends. Best phone ever made IMO as size trumps iterative improvements. I will upgrade when Apple returns to this form factor.

 

[Jobsian]

I understand what some are saying, but come on this is a iPhone discussion forum, so let people discuss phones, even if its a discontinued one. You got to admit though, us Mini enthusiasts have a strong voice and we like to make our presence felt! Also any discussion thread regarding the Mini seems to pick up traction quickly!

I wish they didn’t delete their post/s...

 

[Jobsian]

Across the iPhone Mini threads we seem to have become pied pipers of corporate ruminators, hellbent on reminding us that the machine is a machine. The immediate financials isn’t the point.

 

[SalisburySam]

Across the iPhone Mini threads we seem to have become pied pipers of corporate ruminators, eager to remind us the machine is a machine. The immediate financials isn’t the point.

Sadly, the immediate financials are exactly the point. At least for Apple. However, we remain part of the brave legion of 13mini owners and we love them. And we’re quite happy with the money saved by NOT being able to get newer Apple phones with the same size. When they finally die, they die, and we’ll look around for what to do then. But for now? Two very happy campers.

 

[blairh]

Apple screwed up the pricing of the iPhone Mini. It was too close to the standard iPhone 12/13. Should have removed some features and made it cheaper. It's a niche device. Should have offered it at $500 and simply called it the 'iPhone Mini'. Update the hardware every 3-4 years.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Perfect phone for some users do not mean perfect for others and Apple. iPhone mini appears not fitting with profitability threshold requirement to keep it in place. So, it is a reasonable business decision to discontinue it. Perhaps, iPhone mini users can find an alternative to filling the void. I understand it is our human nature to be unhappy when our want is not fulfilled. Hence, to be happy again, we need to move on by finding a replacement of the one we cannot have.

 

[Jobsian]

On a scale with its peers the iPhone Mini is a perfect device in its engineering essence, its milles technologique. It is perfect, objectively, and in the instance of subjective tension an aesthetic recalibration would be remedial, I mean how incorrect.

 

[snipr125]

One of the top tech utubers (MKBHD etc) or tech magazines (Verge etc) should straight up ask Tim Cook, or one of his heads during interviews, about the iPhone Mini and Apples future plans for small phone users and see what they say. Really press them on this issue and get a straight answer.

 

[LSUstang05]

The only reason I did not buy the iPhone Mini is they hamstrung it and didn't give it the good camera's. I essentially want an iPhone Mini Pro, I guess. And I imagine at the price point you could produce and sell it, it would sell better than a standard iPhone Mini 15. All of the phones since the iPhone X have been too large for my hands - and the Max phones are just phablets that don't even fit in a pocket and I refuse to wear a phone holster on my belt to carry a phone.

 

[subjonas]

I understand it is our human nature to be unhappy when our want is not fulfilled. Hence, to be happy again, we need to move on by finding a replacement of the one we cannot have.

This is merely a long fancy way of saying “Suck it up”.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

Been using the iphone mini 12 and 13 over the past 3 years. It's been nice because i use it as my wallet/phone combo and then carry another big phone for other times. The battery life has been the weakest but overall, i have really enjoyed my phone. Even the battery complaintwasn't that bad, i can get the phone charged up in under 30 minutes.

This will be the first year where i'm going back to the regular size and i dread I will hate it.

 

[NT1440]

Apple screwed up the pricing of the iPhone Mini. It was too close to the standard iPhone 12/13. Should have removed some features and made it cheaper. It's a niche device. Should have offered it at $500 and simply called it the 'iPhone Mini'. Update the hardware every 3-4 years.

One of the original benefits of the mini was it was the full fledged iPhone, but smaller. Granted, my usage would easily be covered by a stripped down version.

 

[Jpoon]

Pours one out for the iPhone Mini.

 

[Asiatic Black Hebrew]

I'm always quite surprised to see the battery life complaints. I assume that most who purchase a Mini, know ahead of time that there will be a trade-off. However, with MagSafe, wireless, docks, etc...it's never been easier to charge a phone. If you're a heavy user, why not take 15 mins to just top up the phone during the day, or pack a MagSafe battery if needed? Whether you're outdoors, in the car, at work, there's a quick & easy charging solution for you.

I'm coming from a Pro Max & have had zero issues getting through a day with the Mini.

 

[DakotaGuy]

One of the top tech utubers (MKBHD etc) or tech magazines (Verge etc) should straight up ask Tim Cook, or one of his heads during interviews, about the iPhone Mini and Apples future plans for small phone users and see what they say. Really press them on this issue and get a straight answer.

The thing is you’ll never get a straight answer on future products. You’ll get some standard corporate line like “Apple continues to evaluate market conditions in relation to new product designs and launches. At this time we have nothing to report. Stay tuned…” Pressing them on that issue will just get the statement reworded.

 

[JamesMcFlyJR]

Maybe that is the solution. We should all use a Pro Max for a month and then the Pro will feel like heaven. 😂

I know you're joking but I've been using Max iPhones since the XS Max (now on the 13 Pro Max), and I just looked at the 6.1in 14 Pro a few weeks ago and I kid you not... If someone told me that was the iPhone Mini, I would have believed you. It looks absolutely tiny in relative to my Pro Max.

I cant believe I used to be a big phone hater as well back in the 3.5in iPhone and 4.7in iPhone days 😂😂

 

[Jobsian]

The only reason I did not buy the iPhone Mini is they hamstrung it and didn't give it the good camera's. I essentially want an iPhone Mini Pro, I guess. And I imagine at the price point you could produce and sell it, it would sell better than a standard iPhone Mini 15. All of the phones since the iPhone X have been too large for my hands - and the Max phones are just phablets that don't even fit in a pocket and I refuse to wear a phone holster on my belt to carry a phone.

Any utility or enjoyment lost because of the worse camera is obscenely dwarfed by that offered due to the form factor. Just use one.

 

[Jobsian]

Been using the iphone mini 12 and 13 over the past 3 years. It's been nice because i use it as my wallet/phone combo and then carry another big phone for other times. The battery life has been the weakest but overall, i have really enjoyed my phone. Even the battery complaintwasn't that bad, i can get the phone charged up in under 30 minutes.

This will be the first year where i'm going back to the regular size and i dread I will hate it.

I’m still in between the idea of an iPhone 15 pro or a bigger capacity 13 Mini. I just know I’ll regret the 15 for the form factor, so leaning towards the Mini with every passing day.

 

[galahan]

I think the minis were very poorly marketed. I’ve had the 12 and 13, and hardly anyone even knew they existed. I’ll show someone something on my phone and they’re like “wait what iphone is that?”. Some people think I’m rocking some old iPhone 5 or something. And yet so many comment on what a great form size it is.

 

[Jobsian]

I think the minis were very poorly marketed. I’ve had the 12 and 13, and hardly anyone even knew they existed. I’ll show someone something on my phone and they’re like “wait what iphone is that?”. Some people think I’m rocking some old iPhone 5 or something. And yet so many comment on what a great form size it is.

This is where I feel that Jobs would’ve deviated from the current strategy. I should know given my username. He was devoted to ultimate form, often maddeningly.

 

[jm31828]

Its a personal preference for me. Nice and compact when folded and i can use the small screen to do simpler tasks like respond to messages etc. Based on my usage i will be using it folded a lot i reckon. When i want to do 'heavier' tasks, i then have the 6.7" 120hz display (same size as Pro Max), yes may not be fully one handed when opened, but i can accept the trade off. Its basically like having a 13 mini and Pro Max in one device, and i love the look of it also and am not bothered by the crease.

I wont even go into all the fun ways you can take pics with this thing!.

I want Apple to release something similar and i will be all over it, but if they have nothing compact on the horizon in the next few years then I will do what Lioness and NT1440 have said and get a Galaxy Flip, but still use my Mac and iPads.

Is that smaller external screen OLED as well, or is it LCD?

 

[TroyBoy30]

says the little handed people

 

[Supermallet]

I was so on board with the 12 Mini when it was first announced. I bought one, I loved the size in the hand. I loved that it was a no compromise iPhone (alas not a Pro). But after the honeymoon period, I ended up passing it to my wife and getting a 12 Pro Max. Here's what I found:

1. I use my phone to consume a lot of media, including reading ebooks and articles. This was all harder to do on the Mini.

2. The battery life. I'm sure the 13 Mini was better with the improved 5G modems but on the 12 it was really bad.

3. The heat. This little phone had a full size processor in it and things like Zoom calls or taking a lot of video in a short period would noticeably heat up the phone. My wife often has to hold the phone up to our AC vents when using the phone in the car.

4. I might have been able to put up with the above three things, but this fourth one was an absolute dealbreaker. Photos. Prior smaller iPhones had smaller lenses. With the bigger lenses on the 12, they were catching the top of my index finger at the bottom of the photo. A lot. I had to change how I was holding the phone to avoid the issue and it made it awkward in the hand, and the last thing I want to do is have to stop and think about how I'm holding the phone when I'm trying to take a photo.

I think the Mini could make a comeback when battery tech is better/more efficient to compensate for the smaller battery size, and some kind of liquid cooling system could be applied to reduce the heat coming out of the chassis. The photo issue I have no clue how they would resolve.