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iPhone Mini Models Hit Apple's Refurb Store Just Days Before Debut of Larger iPhone 14 Series
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🤣 I had an Android phone that would do that! I think it was a bug in Android that would show you texting one person but send the message to a different contact instead.
I think the iPhone Messages app had a similar bug years later but I never experienced it, thankfully.
Well...it's seems guaranteed the future SE is going to be either the mini or the XR!!! I have more interest in the mystery behind this than the iPhone 14.
Not good pricing for a refurbished 12 mini. Better to get a new 13 mini.
Same will be switching to 13 mini from 12 mini. I am never ever going to big device. Been using small phone S10e. Had iPhone X sold it within a month of purchase and waited for mini. I will keep replacing batteries until new normal sized phone launches. Don't care if it's Android either.
Those prices are absurd. The Apple refurb store is no longer a good deal. I'd recommend Swappa.com if you want good deals on used iPhones.
Based on what I have read about battery life alone, the 12 mini is a non starter while the 13 mini is an excellent all around device if that size fits your needs.
Apple may only offer the "regular" iPhone 12 after the 14 launches, and leave the mini to just the 13 model. If so and if new 13 mini prices are reduced $100, that would make the 128GB $629, the 256GB $729 and the 512GB $929.
It wasn’t really meant as a criticism and I’m sorry that it came off that way. When you said that your wife, who had an iPhone 8 felt that the 12’s battery was an issue, it was a little close to all the post I’ve seen saying (incorrectly) that the 12 has the worst battery life of any iPhone. I just wanted to clarify that about the 12’s battery compared to the 8. I do think that the 13 mini is a better choice as Apple did manage to add an extra hour of battery life over the 12 mini.
Agreed
I think Apple pivoted the Refurb store to be the place for a super modest (if any) discount for those with more money than time or care.... but who want to "feel" like savvy shoppers
I have a relative like this.
Very well off but always shopping for "discounts" that usually aren't even a good deal anyhow, but she ends up feeling "savvy" and like a "smart shopper".
One key benefit, however, that should still be mentioned is the fresh 1 year warranty on Apple refurb items. That definitely has value, but I'd argue not nearly the value implied by the ridiculous pricing.
I wouldn't mind that too. A "regular" iPhone 12 for only $529 ($499 with carrier discount) sounds like a good deal.
The Apple pricing is comparable to Amazon "Renewed Premium" but higher than some other resellers:
Unlocked 64GB iPhone 12 mini
- Apple Refurbished - includes 1 year Apple warranty, new battery and outer shell - $529
- Amazon Renewed Premium - includes 1 year Amazon warranty, guaranteed 90%+ battery life - $529 "on sale" (regularly $569)
- Gazelle - excellent condition, includes 1 year Warranty Life device protection plan - $484.99
- Decluttr – pristine, includes 1 year limited warranty - $449.99 "on sale" (regularly $499.99)
If Apple reduced current new prices for regular iPhone 12s by $100, that would bring them down to $629 (64GB) to $779 (256GB).
Yeah that's what will most likely happen. A 2 year old iPhone 12 for $629 is a bit too much, but a 12 mini for $529 doesn't sound too bad.
My wife wanted to downsize her phone and went from an 11 Max to 13 mini and loves the lightness. The 13 mini has very good battery life and the screen is still a decent size. The only drawback is the two cameras on the 13 mini aren’t as good as what the wife was used to on her 11 Max.
I think the whole iPhone 12 lineup was a disappointment compared to other years, especially in the battery life department. I encountered overheating issues regularly with the 12PM too, causing the display to dim so much that the screen became unreadable until the phone cooled sufficiently. Seems many were eager to upgrade to the 13 series. After only 15 months the battery life on my 12 Pro Max was down to 83% whereas my wife’s much older 11 Max was still at 86%. My iPhone 12 Pro Max could no longer make it through the day, whereas my regular 13 Pro gets me through the entire day from wake to sleep with 20% left. I was glad to ditch the 12 Pro Max but still not seeing much in leaks to make me want to upgrade from 13 Pro. Let’s see if Wednesday brings any surprises.
I think the whole iPhone 12 lineup was a disappointment compared to other years, especially in the battery life department. I encountered overheating issues regularly with the 12PM too, causing the display to dim so much that the screen became unreadable until the phone cooled sufficiently. Seems many were eager to upgrade to the 13 series. After only 15 months the battery life on my 12 Pro Max was down to 83% whereas my wife’s much older 11 Max was still at 86%. My iPhone 12 Pro Max could no longer make it through the day, whereas my regular 13 Pro gets me through the entire day from wake to sleep with 20% left. I was glad to ditch the 12 Pro Max but still not seeing much in leaks to make me want to upgrade from 13 Pro. Let’s see if Wednesday brings any surprises.
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Yeah out of those four, I would always choose Apple Refurbished.
The situation is a little different in Australia. We don’t, at least as far as I can generally find, have much in the way of competition for earlier model Macs. A refurb can be a good deal when the same models are still being sold at RRP everywhere else.
Plus I feel like refurbs can be better quality just because they will have gone through a higher degree of scrutiny, than something coming off a line, before being put back onto the market.
It’s a little different again, though, for iPhones where there is a certification process that resellers use to sell refurbs as grey market imports. Still, you’re getting an older model for much cheaper and it’s gone through Apple testing again. It can be an excellent way to bypass telco dominance of devices and get far cheaper mobile data plans here.
IPhone 12 Mini, otherwise known as the iPhone 12 RightSize.
This has been my experience. I won't say "nobody" should buy a 12 mini (mine was excellent in the 18 months I owned it), but the 13 mini does seem to keep a longer charge. Fantastic little phone.
Count me as a happy nobody! AT&T was selling new ones for $5/month (buy to own) for 24 months last year. Supremely happy with it to far, battery life to where I have zero complaints.
Yeah I know that’s a special case, but anyone on a budget who finds a 12 mini at a great price need not stress over that purchase. Unless we got really lucky with ours.
Compared to just buying a newer model, I agree !!