iPhone Mini Might Be Discontinued Following Apple Event This Week After Three-Year Run

[MacRumors]

Fans of smaller phones rejoiced when Apple introduced the iPhone 12 mini in 2020, followed by the iPhone 13 mini a year later. However, after nearly three years of availability, the end of the road might be near for the 5.4-inch device.

As noted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iPhone 13 mini stock is running low, with Apple's online store in the U.S. quoting a 2-3 week shipping estimate for some models, and even 6-8 weeks for a few others. The shortage suggests that the iPhone 13 mini might be discontinued after Apple announces new iPhones at its "Wonderlust" event on Tuesday.

Apple did not release an iPhone 14 mini last year, but it kept the iPhone 13 mini available as a lower-cost option, with pricing starting at $599 in the U.S. If you are interested in buying the iPhone 13 mini, now might be your last chance, as it is looking likely that Apple will discontinue the device on Tuesday after unveiling the iPhone 15 series. Apple's new lineup will likely consist of the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max, 4.7-inch iPhone SE, and the 6.1-inch iPhone 13.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1699471555695370384

While there initially appeared to be pent-up demand for a smaller iPhone, actual data suggested that the iPhone mini had low sales relative to other iPhone models. In April 2022, research firm CIRP estimated that the ‌iPhone 13‌ mini accounted for just 3% of ‌overall iPhone 13‌ sales in the U.S. in the first quarter of that year.

Going forward, customers who want a small iPhone from Apple will have to settle for the entry-level iPhone SE, but even that device is rumored to be updated with a larger 6.1-inch display in the next year or two. At least for the time being, it appears that Apple has realized that smaller phones just aren't that popular after all.

Article Link: iPhone Mini Might Be Discontinued Following Apple Event This Week After Three-Year Run

 

[pshufd]

I'm an iPhone 13 mini fan and this is disappointing.

 

[Six0Four]

Gonna be a lot of tears in the comments..

 

[seanmcbay]

Shame. I’ll be sticking with mine for the foreseeable future.

 

[actripxl]

Gonna be a lot of tears in the comments..

No, just a small minority that somehow think there is demand for a mini sized phone and Apple is making a mistake.

 

[MICHAELSD]

iPhone 13 mini was a marvel of engineering for those that that gave it a chance. RIP to the iPhone I didn’t know I wanted, and liked more than iPhone 13 Pro.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

What massive disappointing news. iPhone Mini will missed. One of a kind! This is a different moment Apple thought of. You can just tell from the reveal video.

“Something only Apple would do.”

 

[jashsayani]

I am still using my 12 mini and will not upgrade till there is a new mini. Maybe the next iPhone SE will be the mini with a new chip.

 

[russell_314]

Very small phones that are also very expensive, don't have much of a market.

 

[krspkbl]

I am still using my 12 mini and will not upgrade till there is a new mini. Maybe the next iPhone SE will be the mini with a new chip.

i thought the next SE was going to be 6.1” lol

I guess the 12 mini will be your last iPhone then? Off to android??

 

[jashsayani]

i thought the next SE was going to be 6.1” lol

I guess the 12 mini will be your last iPhone then? Off to android??

Those are rumors

I am never going to Android, lol. I have used iPhone since the first one running iOS 1.1.2

 

[jz0309]

While the mini is not for me, my wife has one and loves the form factor.
Seems like a dumb move if Apple really wants to maintain volume and grow market share.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

i thought the next SE was going to be 6.1” lol

I guess the 12 mini will be your last iPhone then? Off to android??

The next iPhone SE model should take the iPhone Mini legacy.

 

[krspkbl]

Those are rumors

I am never going to Android, lol. I have used iPhone since the first one running iOS 1.1.2

oh thanks didn’t realise I was on MacRumors… They might be rumors but are usually accurate.

Well, I hope your 12 Mini lasts for the rest of your life.

 

[pshufd]

Very small phones that are also very expensive, don't have much of a market.

Another solution would be to drop the price.

I replaced the iPhone 7+ with the 13 mini so I figure I can wait another 6 years or so for my next iPhone.

 

[hybrid_x]

Super disappointing, but I guess those of us who like to use our phones one-handed without a PopSocket or some other ergonomic aid are in the minority.

 

[jashsayani]

oh thanks didn’t realise I was on MacRumors… They might be rumors but are usually accurate.

Well, I hope your 12 Mini lasts for the rest of your life.

Haha, my battery is at 82% capacity. New one is $69+tax. Holding out for a new mini. Otherwise I might need to get one down the line.

 

[Radeon85]

Waste of manufacturing resources that could go to the most popular sizes. Problem with the mini is the screen is too small, battery life is bad, doesn't get all the latest cameras or largest storage capacities.

It's an iPhone with way too many compromises and this is why it's not a great seller. A minority might love it but the majority has spoken, people want larger phones.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Let it be known..

iPhone 13 mini has the same battery life as the iPhone 11 which sold super well.

 

[krspkbl]

The Mini mob are so obnoxious lol. We’re never going to hear the end of this are we?

Based on the rumors it seems all iPhones are going to get bigger. 6.1” SE, 6.3” standard/pro , and 6.9” Plus/Pro Max.

You’re going to need to decide between a “huge” phone or iOS. We all know you’ll pick iOS though, right? lol

 

[pshufd]

Waste of manufacturing resources that could go to the most popular sizes. Problem with the mini is the screen is too small, battery life is bad, doesn't get all the latest cameras or largest storage capacities.

It's an iPhone with way too many compromises and this is why it's not a great seller. A minority might love it but the majority has spoken, people want larger phones.

iPhone sales were about 55 million in Q1 2023. So 3% of iPhone marketshare would still be 1.5 million phones or close to a billion dollars in revenue.

 

[Red Oak]

They should keep it the line-up another year and lower the price to $499, in-line with the prices decreases for the rest of the 13 models

 

[jmonster]

Perhaps it's wishful thinking, but I find it unlikely that Apple would just abandon this entire demographic. The iPhone SE will probably, basically, be an iPhone 16 Mini -- they'll wait and let demand pent up to make it worth it.

I mean, why wouldn't they do this? It's a bigger display than the current SE which is a hit product.
It occurred to me this week how great it is that Android exists and actually pushes Apple a little bit. They'd swoop right into this vacuum if Apple leaves it

Why would anyone buy an iPhone 16 if the iPhone SE looked exactly the same (size)? I suspect that would cannibalize sales

The pricing lines up well too, with the SE currently at $479 w/128GB and a $100 drop on the mini would be $499.

And while I'm ranting I think they'd do even better with an iPhone Pro Mini, as the pro features are the main reason my friends don't get minis. I'd pay a premium for the size reduction

 

[actripxl]

iPhone sales were about 55 million in Q1 2023. So 3% of iPhone marketshare would still be 1.5 million phones or close to a billion dollars in revenue.

That's how many sold during the most feverish buying quarter, which means demand dies down after that. It is a huge waste of resources because these are phones that are just sitting there unsold.

I used to work as a store manager for AT&T and the mini's would not sell, not even when we had promotions giving the thing away with no trade ins.

 

[4087258]

The iPhone mini was a great strategy to rise iPhone prices, because the base price was used for the mini and not for the regular, meaning the regular iPhone had it’s price updated.