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

[splifingate]

It’s always fun to read the Mini vs Pro banter since the height of 12Mini vs 12Pro is less than the diameter of a dime.

Amusing to me, also.

Particularly-so since I run a MP 5,1 with two 27" displays for Primary Consumption (I carry an iPhone 13-mini while I'm on the about-and-about).

I am teased by the reduced weight of the new iPhone 15Pro, a but--well--my day-to-day priorities are not based on the latest, or even swayed by the advent of the recent Biggus Dickus

 

[splifingate]

But the Plus is the real waste of resources. It may sell better, but all it does is cannibalizes on other iphones. And doesn't really fill a void, anybody who wants a large phone could just buy a pro with a longer replacement cycle, for which it's better hardware is well suited.

Consensus is 'larger'.

Unfortunately, that desire does not always reach parity with said one's wallet

Personally, I need tidy&mighty, so my concerns don't really ever entern'toit.

To each their own, Bro-Sis

 

[japanime]

Well we are all gonna miss the 1/2 day Battery Life for sure.


..


Not.

I still get 24 to 36 hours per charge out of my launch-day 12 mini.

 

[Chuckeee]

I still get 24 to 36 hours per charge out of my launch-day 12 mini.

All depends on what you do, 2-way text messaging is a lot different than high resolution video streaming from any phone. ½ day vs 2 day duration is meaningless without additional context.

 

[mectojic]

I was an avid Apple hater, but I couldn't find a small android phone, and I ended up buying the original iphone SE, and that was the best phone I ever had. So I've already did it once, and it made Apple a handy profit, since now I have an iPad, Macbook, Apple Tv and the services that come with them. With a dedicated minority it's never about how much you can make on a single product.

I'm still on the original iPhone SE. Nothing else beats it, to this day.

 

[bousozoku]

What no Ultra Mega Super Double Plus?

🤪

You forgot the "turbo on the end".

 

[bousozoku]

I have seen the articles. They post something controversial that Apple could be doing in a headline and all the people that are hating on Apple will just eat it up and then you get a whole bunch of people that have to rush in and defend their favorite brand. Some guy owning the website is counting the ad clicks and cashing in.

I don’t think Apple would artificially limit transfer speed. I can see them putting better hardware on the Pro models so the transfer speed is faster but not some artificial limitation. Of course I could be wrong and I haven’t actually watched the Apple event because I was working so I guess I’ll find out.

They did exactly what I was reading. By putting better hardware USB support into the Pro models, they elevated them to much, much better speeds. Everything with an A16 is stuck, including the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as everything indicated. It's not surprising.

However, I'm still amused that the 2022 iPhone SE has such good hardware, even with the low resolution display.

 

[japanime]

All depends on what you do, 2-way text messaging is a lot different than high resolution video streaming from any phone. ½ day vs 2 day duration is meaningless without additional context.

Precisely. Which is the why posts saying the mini only gets a half-day's worth of battery life are also meaningless without additional context.

But if it's context you want, well ... I begin every morning with a two-hour Nike Run Club workout on my 12 mini, which is also playing podcasts during that time. I also use my mini frequently throughout the day as an Apple Music player, a camera, calculator, maps atlas, and dictionary. Throw in several dozen text messages and quite a few website visits, and I'd say the 24 to 36 hours I'm still getting out of my mini on a single charge is pretty impressive.

But yeah, I don't sit on my couch for hours on end watching "high-resolution" videos on my mini's cinema-like 5.4 inch screen. 🤣

 

[bluecoast]

I don't get this "Apple logic" they also use for Macbooks. And they wonder why 15" Air for $200 more doesn't sell well while with PC manufacturers that form factor is the cheap entry level. Bigger screen is not something I'm willing to pay for in any device except a desktop display or a tv, on the contrary.

Yeah I suspect that the iPhone 15 plus still won’t do that well for the reasons you point out.

 

[russell_314]

They did exactly what I was reading. By putting better hardware USB support into the Pro models, they elevated them to much, much better speeds. Everything with an A16 is stuck, including the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as everything indicated. It's not surprising.

However, I'm still amused that the 2022 iPhone SE has such good hardware, even with the low resolution display.

I saw the MKBHD video where he talked about they upgraded the controller on the Pro but not the regular iPhone. I’m no electronics expert but this doesn’t sound like some type of artificial limitation Apple put on the regular iPhone.

Either way the upgrade from 14-15 on all seems slight. I guess for someone that wanted USB-C to match their other devices it might be worth it but I can’t seem to get excited about any of the changes.

I’m surprised Apple still makes the SE. At least for the US market.

 

[mectojic]

I saw the MKBHD video where he talked about they upgraded the controller on the Pro but not the regular iPhone. I’m no electronics expert but this doesn’t sound like some type of artificial limitation Apple put on the regular iPhone.

It is artificial, in the sense that it would only cost Apple a few $ to include that controller. A USB-C speed controller isn’t breakthrough tech.
Remember, they put this fast speed USB-C on the iPad mini 6 in 2021, despite it using the A15 chip. So yeah, it can be done.
This is about as artificial as it gets, to force more Pro sales.

 

[bousozoku]

I saw the MKBHD video where he talked about they upgraded the controller on the Pro but not the regular iPhone. I’m no electronics expert but this doesn’t sound like some type of artificial limitation Apple put on the regular iPhone.

Either way the upgrade from 14-15 on all seems slight. I guess for someone that wanted USB-C to match their other devices it might be worth it but I can’t seem to get excited about any of the changes.

I’m surprised Apple still makes the SE. At least for the US market.

The iPhone 15/15 Plus seemed to get two significant changes: the USB, type C port and a much brighter display. The camera was re-worked but that's probably because older photographic equipment tends to be less used and therefore, more expensive.\, and Apple is all about saving themselves money, while charging a premium.

That said, a proper iPhone SE replacement will cost Apple more, even if they keep a display smaller than 5 inches. A fingerprint reader that is in the power button or under the display will cost more than the current button assemblage. Cameras for Face ID are even more expensive. OnePlus does a nice job of making phones that seem to cater to former iPhone users. Their hardware is where Apple should be going with the iPhone SE.

 

[JustAnExpat]

I made this comment here once before. Apple should alternate every two years between the mini and Plus.

12 mini, 13 mini, 14 Plus, 15 Plus, 16 mini, 17 mini…

Sadly, the plus has much higher demand than the minis. Big phones are extremely popular in East Asia.

 

[ninecows]

I guess I’m just annoyed that I have to pay 40% extra to get a phone that doesn’t fit in my hand or pocket and a screen size I don’t need. And the same goes for when having to buy a phone for my kids. The SE is a poor choice. Lacks faceid for starters and a lot of wasted space for home button. It’s physically larger than the mini but with less screen area.

 

[mectojic]

I guess I’m just annoyed that I have to pay 40% extra to get a phone that doesn’t fit in my hand or pocket and a screen size I don’t need. And the same goes for when having to buy a phone for my kids. The SE is a poor choice. Lacks faceid for starters and a lot of wasted space for home button. It’s physically larger than the mini but with less screen area.

Pray that the next SE gets the 13 mini form factor in 2024.
I don't care for faceid, but yes the home button is an absolute waste of space now.

 

[El Szomorito]

Sitting on a huge pile of cash? Tim didn’t win the lottery. He’s running a business. Just hire more people? Oh man… I don’t think you understand how this works. Apple spends money on products with one goal. That goal is a return on their investment.

Sure Apple could make a product and take a loss on it but why?

You haven't understood the part about services revenue, have you?

It's painfully obvious that Tim's vision stops in the near future, when he'll retire. Only cares about short-term profitability, and not about the long term damage to the brand. Not updating iMac to M2 to save on resources, but spending it on a flopping 15" Air? Unacceptable. No Intel to blame this time.

 

[mazz0]

Really? There’s loads of complaints about the iPhone weight. For the pro’s anyway.

Odd, most people I know put them in stupid big bulky heavy cases. It's madness if you aks me.

Tell you what though, they could have made the Mini even lighter by switching to the colourful plastic they used in the 5C. I loved that. In fact the more I think about it the more perfect that form factor was - it looked pretty, it felt lovely, it was the perfect size. <sigh>

 

[El Szomorito]

The stock price when he was named CEO and the price today?

I was sure you'll say this. First of all, most of it came from general market trends, ie Wall Street inflation. Of course not f*cking up is something, but doesn't equate not losing money. When I talk about that, I mean compared to the potential of Apple, not it's competitors. Sitting on cash that does nothing is losing money. Especially that most of it happened in a near zero-rate environment. Maximizing product margins looks good in reports, but hurts free cash flow. Which is the only thing that matters in the end.

 

[mazz0]

I have no problem with battery life. But I read these comments before buying it, and was worried. It was totally unfounded. Wonder how many people were scared away.

You on the 12 or the 13? I heard it was much improved for the 13. My 12 dies when I'm out all day (fortunately I have a MagSafe Battery).

 

[El Szomorito]

You on the 12 or the 13? I heard it was much improved for the 13. My 12 dies when I'm out all day (fortunately I have a MagSafe Battery).

13 mini. I was excited for the 12 mini, but during covid I saw no point of upgrading my phone when I've barely touched it sitting in a lockdown.

 

[russell_314]

It is artificial, in the sense that it would only cost Apple a few $ to include that controller. A USB-C speed controller isn’t breakthrough tech.
Remember, they put this fast speed USB-C on the iPad mini 6 in 2021, despite it using the A15 chip. So yeah, it can be done.
This is about as artificial as it gets, to force more Pro sales.

No, that doesn’t even make sense. By that logic you could say a 60 Hz display is an artificial limitation or not having titanium is an artificial limitation. It’s a cheaper component.

 

[russell_314]

The iPhone 15/15 Plus seemed to get two significant changes: the USB, type C port and a much brighter display. The camera was re-worked but that's probably because older photographic equipment tends to be less used and therefore, more expensive.\, and Apple is all about saving themselves money, while charging a premium.

That said, a proper iPhone SE replacement will cost Apple more, even if they keep a display smaller than 5 inches. A fingerprint reader that is in the power button or under the display will cost more than the current button assemblage. Cameras for Face ID are even more expensive. OnePlus does a nice job of making phones that seem to cater to former iPhone users. Their hardware is where Apple should be going with the iPhone SE.

Do you feel a brighter display will be very useful? I have the 14 PM and haven’t found a situation where I couldn’t see the display in sunlight.

I would like to see a modern version of the SE.

 

[russell_314]

You haven't understood the part about services revenue, have you?

It's painfully obvious that Tim's vision stops in the near future, when he'll retire. Only cares about short-term profitability, and not about the long term damage to the brand. Not updating iMac to M2 to save on resources, but spending it on a flopping 15" Air? Unacceptable. No Intel to blame this time.

What? You think not updating the iMac to M2 and coming out with a larger Air is causing long term damage to the Apple brand? Of all the things you could have criticized Tim for doing those two are weird choices.

 

[Chuckeee]

It is artificial, in the sense that it would only cost Apple a few $ to include that controller. A USB-C speed controller isn’t breakthrough tech.

Since the part is already used in Apple production I would be surprised if the increased cost associated part purchasing, logistics and assembly is even that much. But not having it is not costing Apple any lost business (I don’t see people switching to an Android phone or not upgrading just because of this) and when they do eventually add it Apple will be able to charge a premium price for the “improvement”. So providing it now would cost Apple significant $$$, as compared to when they finally do provide it.

 

[El Szomorito]

What? You think not updating the iMac to M2 and coming out with a larger Air is causing long term damage to the Apple brand? Of all the things you could have criticized Tim for doing those two are weird choices.

The lack of M2 iMac relates to the conversation about the percieved lack of resources. It's unacceptable for a company the size of Apple to have irrational update schedules just because they don't give a sh*t.