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Reports of Lackluster iPhone 12 Mini Sales Corroborated By Supply Chain Sources

It might get more popular as it gets bumped down by the 12S/13 later this year, and then the 13/14 next year making it more accessible to those who want a more basic phone. The question is will Apple keep investing in making the form factor, either yearly, or perhaps every other year?
 
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Love my mini. Significant other didn't like how large her XR was so we both got 12 minis and love them. The camera is great (the wide angle is fairly terrible in quality but sometimes it's just the angle you need).

I wouldn't benefit from a larger screen at all to be honest, it's just more difficult to hold, especially when taking pictures or having a phone call. Just wish it didn't flicker that much when dimmed down (I seem to be very sensitive to that).
 
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Kebabselector said:
The mini is the phone size I'd want. At the moment the SE is probably what i'd buy due to my preference for touch ID rather than faceID.
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Just upgraded from a 7 (with Touch ID) to an iPhone 12 Pro... how, i long for Touch ID to be brought back. Face ID just isn’t as good. I thought I’d adjust and adapt, but I just can’t get on with it. It’s not as usable thats for sure.
 
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Phew! Good thing I got the 12 Mini immediately, maybe the 13 won't have a Mini version at all.
 
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If it was really designed to target European markets I would say Apple is oblivious of why they are much more successful in the USA than here.

We like largish phones just as anybody else. We also like not to be ripped off on something that is already extremely expensive with larger VATs compounded on top of that.
 
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mattopotamus said:
Damn I hope this doesn’t mark the end of the premium small phone. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them just focus on the SE as their small device.
Like others, I love my mini and feel like everyone that owns a mini loves it.
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6% of iPhone 12 sales is an awful lot of phones. It's money on the table that Apple just has to pick up. Plenty of money to keep the phone on sale.
 
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I went from the 11 pro to the 12 mini. I love the size and weight. What I don't love is having to charge the phone again during the day with moderate to heavy use. Three times in one day was my record. If they can eek out a battery life closer to the 11 pro it would be my perfect iPhone.
 
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NazgulRR said:
I typically don’t comment, but must say here this was easy to foresee. There’s just waaay to many models to choose from: SE, XR, 11, 12 mini, 12, 12 Pro and multiple storage configs for each.

Considering the price of the 12 mini, I can see why it would be lower on the pecking order of a potential buyer.
Just such a confusing line-up, which is a shame because 12 mini is a 12.
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Apple's range of iPhones is pretty neatly arranged by price. What feels out of order is that the Mini costs more than the 11 (and maybe also Xr).
12: $799
12 mini: $699
11: $599
Xr: $499
SE 2: $399

You really have to care a lot about size to get the Mini over the 11 (or even Xr). And if you care about size there is also the SE 2 for much cheaper.
 
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There is no way that 6% of sales warrants 25% of the flagship lineup from a business perspective (extra tooling, supply chain, marketing, floor space, etc). I expect there to be no 13 mini.
 
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manu chao said:
Apple's range of iPhones is pretty neatly arranged by price. What feels out of order is that the Mini costs more than the 11 (and maybe also Xr).
12: $799
12 mini: $699
11: $599
Xr: $499
SE 2: $399

You really have to care a lot about size to get the Mini over the 11 (or even Xr). And if you care about size there is also the SE 2 for much cheaper.
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Some people prefer LCD over OLED.
 
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allianz said:
the mini size is perfect! The only problem with it is apple did not go the the full step to a fullscreen solution with TouchID and without notch. People (me included) just buy an SE instead
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If the ratio between TouchID fans here to and the wider population is similar to the ratio between small-size-phone fans here and the wider population, the demand for TouchID is also overestimated to them being very vocal.
 
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Nogi Memes said:
There is no way that 6% of sales warrants 25% of the flagship lineup from a business perspective (extra tooling, supply chain, marketing, floor space, etc). I expect there to be no 13 mini.
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Which actually might be good thing if this enables the Mini to get cheaper (ie, selling the 12 mini for $100 less from this September onwards).
 
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As others point out, pricing appears to be the primary challenge right now.

Still, even with the $300 premium, the sales data that was posted on this site a couple weeks ago when this news was first published shows it’s not too far behind the SE:


It seems likely that as the price gap closes, so too will the sales gap. And, as long as it’s kept in the lineup, we know the price of the Mini will get cut as it gets pushed down the hierarchy with the debut of new phones

In fact, assuming the form factor does survive, the SE3 could potentially adopt the Mini form factor. Although we’ve also heard rumors of a bespoken form factor for the next SE too, so we’ll see. Even if we do see a new form factor, at least some rumors include a 5.5” screen so there remains a potential future for the sub-6“ iPhone either way.
 
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djcerla said:
The mini is a slow burner. “Cheap” phone plus sky-high satisfaction rate and good word of mouth bode well for a late sales increase.
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Not a chance. People who are looking for a phone with this feature set go for the 6.1" 12 . As sales indicate. The percentage of people looking for a small device with the feature set of a 6.1" are nowhere near those who simply want a small form factor updated iPhone. As SE sales clearly demonstrate.

Apple gave in to the endless drumbeat of those demanding a 6.1" feature set in a small form factor. It's going be a moderately quick burn for Apple's margins on this product. Not a slow burn toward increasing sales on the 12 Mini.

Expect some type if middle of the road compromise with an SE/12 Pro Mini Hybrid down the road a bit. ;)
 
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I ended up getting the Mini after giving it a lot of thought. I love it. It's small and lightweight for keeping in your pocket. I think more people would go for it if it had the same cameras as the Pro. That was the main thing that put me off. Battery life is ok but they could have made it thicker to get a bigger battery in and solve that.

I hope they stick with it and make it better!
 
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