iPhone 12 mini Is the iPhone 12 mini a good choice or not?

[satchmo]

As someone who has used and tested both the 12 and 13 mini quite a bit, here are the only things that are NOTICEABLY different between the 13 mini and 12 mini:

• The battery life on the 13 mini is noticeably better/longer-lasting than the 12 mini. I'd say I'm getting on average an extra 1.5-2 hours a day more.
• The 13 mini is noticeably a little heavier than the 12 mini
• The diagonal lens arrangement on the back is different to 12's vertical arrangement
• You get those nice exclusive live wallpapers on the 13 mini (and 13) that you don't get on the Pro or any other iPhone model (including the 12 mini)

In terms of what is noticeable between the 12 and 13 mini - that's it. In real day-to-day usage it isn't any faster or any brighter, the camera takes similar quality pictures and the screens look great on both. Those bullet points are the only things I can genuinely say are noticeably different between the two. Even the notch size difference isn't really noticeable. I used the 12 mini again just now and didn't notice the increase in notch size at all.

In terms of whether a 12 mini is worth it - it comes down to one consideration. Battery life.

If you're a 'power user' dependent on tons of battery life, perhaps coming from a larger phone, that is constantly streaming stuff, using lots of widgets and apps, bluetooth and other things that run the battery down, the 12 mini is NOT for you. If you rely on your phone that much then you'll probably be charging it at least a couple of times a day.

If you're a casual phone user, occasionally browsing the internet, checking/sending the occasional message, not streaming video all the time then the 12 mini is a great phone and a bargain at the moment used. In the UK you can pick up a mint condition one for around £400 or less.

The 13 mini isn't exactly for power users either, but it comfortably has a full day's battery life for the average user. I'm very impressed with the 13 mini.

I agree entirely.

With price discounts on the 12, you’re really now just paying more if you need longer battery life in the 13.
And the price difference between the two is substantial.

I might even suggest the 12 (if you’re a light user), and put the savings into an Apple Watch or future Mac purchase.

 

[macintoshmac]

I agree entirely.

With price discounts on the 12, you’re really now just paying more if you need longer battery life in the 13.
And the price difference between the two is substantial.

I might even suggest the 12 (if you’re a light user), and put the savings into an Apple Watch or future Mac purchase.

True that.

In my country, the iPhone 12 mini is now on sale by some online retailers for as low as USD 550, whereas the price of a 13 mini is USD 1,000 - just like the 12 mini at launch.

 

[satchmo]

True that.

In my country, the iPhone 12 mini is now on sale by some online retailers for as low as USD 550, whereas the price of a 13 mini is USD 1,000 - just like the 12 mini at launch.

I got my 128gb iPhone 12 mini through my carrier at a ridiculously low price of $9/mth for 24 months. Worked out to just over $250 CDN after taxes.

For me, it was a no-brainer not to go with the 13.
Luckily, I'm also not a heavy user.

 

[ray6088]

Wish to have Pro mini, 6gb ram and pro motion. Keep the current battery size and cameras.

 

[macintoshmac]

I got my 128gb iPhone 12 mini through my carrier at a ridiculously low price of $9/mth for 24 months. Worked out to just over $250 CDN after taxes.

For me, it was a no-brainer not to go with the 13.
Luckily, I'm also not a heavy user.

Yes, and come on, even if we were to be heavy users, we will charge more often. We can't expect to climb trails with a Ferrari. In other words, a phone is a phone, it must not become a 7 inch behemoth just to keep people from charging twice a day.

I do wish they keep this form factor alive. It really is amazing and works very well. Slightly smaller than the 8, and it makes all the difference. I saw the 12 at the Store, and it looked like a slate. Sure, that's because it is all-screen, for in reality it is only a notch taller than the 8, but the mini being a shade shorter than the 8 makes a wonderful difference to ergonomics. I love this 12/ 13 mini form factor.

 

[Barbareren]

The 13 mini sometimes gets a little warm but no more or less than the 12 mini. When the 12 mini got warm it wasn't ever hot or a concerning temperature to me.

My 12 mini doesn’t get hot either. The only way it would get somewhat hot would be during some intensive game or app, but that’s perfectly normal and happens to any phone. I’ve had my 12 mini for around 11 months, and I’m still perfectly happy with it. Personally I see no rational reason to upgrade to the 13 mini, but that’s me. I’ve never once ran into a situation where I’ve been worried about the battery not lasting throughout a long day when away from an electrical outlet. But I’m usually near a socket anyway, so I’ll top off the battery for around 30 minutes, and boom,
then I’ll have 50-60% more juice. I’m a pretty heavy user. I use this phone in exactly the same way as I’ve used all my previous big screen phones. I find no hindrances using a smaller screen, it’s just a matter of getting accustomed to it.

 

[jm31828]

My 12 mini doesn’t get hot either. The only way it would get somewhat hot would be during some intensive game or app, but that’s perfectly normal and happens to any phone. I’ve had my 12 mini for around 11 months, and I’m still perfectly happy with it. Personally I see no rational reason to upgrade to the 13 mini, but that’s me. I’ve never once ran into a situation where I’ve been worried about the battery not lasting throughout a long day when away from an electrical outlet. But I’m usually near a socket anyway, so I’ll top off the battery for around 30 minutes, and boom,
then I’ll have 50-60% more juice. I’m a pretty heavy user. I use this phone in exactly the same way as I’ve used all my previous big screen phones. I find no hindrances using a smaller screen, it’s just a matter of getting accustomed to it.

Interesting that there are the mixed reports- with the 12 mini getting warm even with light use by some, to others saying theirs doesn't get warm unless it's being pushed hard.

I wonder if there is any real concern hardware-wise for those of us who feel it getting warm to the touch even under light duty- as in the lifespan being shortened in any way? Certainly if it were to get really "hot" then that would be problematic- but maybe otherwise it's just a minor glitch, and nothing to be worried about?

Mine gets warm even simply talking on the phone with no apps open or the screen even on- but not all the time, it is just randomly happening.

But, on the plus side- after having my 12 mini for 11 months now, my battery health is still 98%- so the battery is clearly not experiencing any unusual degradation due to heat or anything. It's a fantastic little phone, I just personally get concerned I might have a hardware issue by how frequently it gets warm even with the lightest of tasks being performed on it here over the last couple of months.

 

[tis]

I agree entirely.

With price discounts on the 12, you’re really now just paying more if you need longer battery life in the 13.
And the price difference between the two is substantial.

I might even suggest the 12 (if you’re a light user), and put the savings into an Apple Watch or future Mac purchase.

The 13 has a faster processor, brighter screen, double the storage capacity, a larger battery, and better cameras. IMO, the extra $100 is well worth it for the 13.

 

[daddyd302]

I agree entirely.

With price discounts on the 12, you’re really now just paying more if you need longer battery life in the 13.
And the price difference between the two is substantial.

I might even suggest the 12 (if you’re a light user), and put the savings into an Apple Watch or future Mac purchase.

I got my 13 mini for $599 at Best Buy so that discount the 12 had just went out the door. It also saved me $50 because the 12 mini 128GB is $650. Even at normal price, the 13 mini would only be $50 more and it has better specs on everything.

 

[ctjack]

Yes, and come on, even if we were to be heavy users, we will charge more often. We can't expect to climb trails with a Ferrari. In other words, a phone is a phone, it must not become a 7 inch behemoth just to keep people from charging twice a day.

I had xiaomi redmi note 4 back in the days. It is lighter than Iphone 13 by 8 grams and had 4000Mah battery which is 450 mah less than the 13 Pro Max. It was good for me for 2-3 days, depending on the use. I got 10 hr SOT as a standard and 13 hours when stretching the limits. Overall never got anything less than 9 hours with my usage.
That phone was a 5.5" rectangle - so everything is possible and no need to be either heavy behemoth or 7 inch monster.

Mine gets warm even simply talking on the phone with no apps open or the screen even on- but not all the time, it is just randomly happening.

Mine only gets warm when i play WOT blitz. Otherwise super cool. Or web surfing in the summer.

 

[LFC2020]

Decent battery life for the little fella. 👌

 

[satchmo]

The 13 has a faster processor, brighter screen, double the storage capacity, a larger battery, and better cameras. IMO, the extra $100 is well worth it for the 13.

I got my 13 mini for $599 at Best Buy so that discount the 12 had just went out the door. It also saved me $50 because the 12 mini 128GB is $650. Even at normal price, the 13 mini would only be $50 more and it has better specs on everything.

If the price differential is $100, I agree the 13 mini is the better option.

But if it's $400 or $700 in my case, I think the 12 mini is the way to go. Of course, based on your use case.

 

[macintoshmac]

I had xiaomi redmi note 4 back in the days. It is lighter than Iphone 13 by 8 grams and had 4000Mah battery which is 450 mah less than the 13 Pro Max. It was good for me for 2-3 days, depending on the use. I got 10 hr SOT as a standard and 13 hours when stretching the limits. Overall never got anything less than 9 hours with my usage.
That phone was a 5.5" rectangle - so everything is possible and no need to be either heavy behemoth or 7 inch monster.

Note 4 was a physically larger device in all dimensions. 8 grams of weight and 5.5" screen are all you are talking about in that comparison, whereas the Note 4 was thicker, wider and taller than the iPhone 13.

It is about choices that Apple makes. If Apple would use the dimensions of Note 4, I am sure they would better the battery life in comparison to the Note 4. And, as you can see, in a smaller size, they are offering a 0.6" larger screen.

I can't quite place what could be the comparison here, considering the different physical dimensions. If two manufacturers use the same physical size and one is offering a smaller battery, then you have an argument. Or, if someone is offering a larger battery in a smaller space, then you have an argument. Here, we have different dimensions - the argument cannot hold.

 

[daddyd302]

If the price differential is $100, I agree the 13 mini is the better option.

But if it's $400 or $700 in my case, I think the 12 mini is the way to go. Of course, based on your use case.

 

[satchmo]

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I’m not sure what your point is.
What if you can get the 12 mini for much less?