If you like small phones, the 13 mini is literally the perfect phone, as it finally gives a mini phone with good battery life with flagship specs. The 2020 SE is just not a good phone (battery life) other than the launch price.
Agreed except for the price.
The same form factor but less features for a lower price is what many people wanted.
People who want a phone sized phone are going to use the device as a phone. Not as a touch screen PC that can also make calls.
Captain obvious, I know, but that is really it. The Mini is totally overkill for the physical size of device it is. These customers just want phone, email, calendars, contacts and maybe an app or two. Nothing fancy. Just a phone that is still in the Apple ecosystem.
The Mini is phone sized and amazing. However the customers wanted, phone sized and gets the job done. The difference between the two is a cost many (myself included) were not willing to pay.
Older tech in a phone sized form factor is fine. As long as it is supported for enough years. That still gets the job done and at a physical size people actually want.
For those saying the mini flopped sales wise, well it did. Not because of the physical size of the device. It flopped because overall it was not what the customers wanted, as I have explained above.
The customers wanted something like a phone sized SE. Not a phone sized (almost) flagship quality phone.