Sorry, iPhone Mini Fans: Apple Isn't Planning Another Small Phone

[Chrisireland]

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared bad news for fans of the iPhone mini.

In a live-streamed Q&A session today, Gurman said that Apple currently has no plans to reintroduce a smaller iPhone model.

Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 mini in September 2023, and it has not offered a mini model since then. Apple is not expected to release an iPhone 17 mini this year, and Gurman's revelation likely rules out an iPhone 18 mini next year too, given Apple's multi-year planning and development cycle for future iPhone models.

Since it discontinued the third-generation iPhone SE last month, Apple no longer offers any new iPhone models with under a 6-inch screen size. All of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models that Apple currently sells have between 6.1-inch and 6.9-inch displays, whereas the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini had 5.4-inch displays. The final iPhone SE had a 4.7-inch display, albeit with thicker bezels that increased the device's overall size.

While there is a vocal group of customers who wish that Apple would bring back the iPhone mini, the smaller model simply never sold well enough for the company to continue offering it, according to market research firms. It is not much of a surprise that Apple is not currently reconsidering this decision, but it helps to set expectations for those who may still be holding out hope. Do not expect another iPhone mini any time soon.

The full Q&A audio stream can be replayed on Bloomberg's website.

Article Link: Sorry, iPhone Mini Fans: Apple Isn't Planning Another Small Phone

That sucks.

 

[Lioness~]

If no mini, I'll wait for this.

 

[Veinticinco]

Good. I'm sick of people who won't move on. It's not 2013.

The isn't a Mac Pro thread.

 

[Veinticinco]

If no mini, Ill wait for this.
View attachment 2496272

The iPhone Godot.

 

[sunapple]

If no mini, Ill wait for this.
View attachment 2496272

If the render still runs iOS 15 you must have been waiting for a while 🤓

 

[multimania]

Nah, most consumers just realized they can hold their smartphone with both hands. There's a reason why large phones continue to sell so well.

I can hold my smartphone with both hands. Problem is, my jean pockets aren't big enough and I walk with my phone and use it in the shops etc. Trying to get the phone out, use it whilst holding stuff in the other hand makes it awkward.

 

[geta]

if you spend a few weeks using a Pro Max, then going back to the 6.1" models will feel like holding a mini again.

if you spend a few weeks using a Mini, then going back to a Pro Max models, it will feel like holding a brick again.

 

[Veinticinco]

It will never fit in my pocket, so absolutely not correct.

It's the only complaint I have about the (15) Pro Max. It's very very capable but compared to my previous 12 Pro, it's just that bit too tall for my back (or jacket) pocket. To the point of noticeably sticking out, which feels like asking to be pickpocketed (and not just by my kids who find that amusing ).

As for any sort of physical activity (gym, tennis, hikes etc.) it's just a bit too heavy and ungainly to even chuck in a side pocket of a bag. I'd actually get a secondary phone for this sort of thing if it was Mini-sized or even Air-thin but more compact and lighter.

 

[Nic727]

That’s unfortunate. I just want a mini with USB-C.

I guess I will keep my iPhone 8 until it break into pieces.

 

[McNoise]

This is not bad news, this is not news. The iPhone mini has been discontinued (the bad news was already there) ... it is more than unlikely that Apple will offer us a new one in the foreseeable future.

 

[macintologist]

Their biggest mistake was branding it the “Mini” phone

 

[Larsvonhier]

Now I´ll treat my 13 mini with even more caution. Won´t be replaced soon, it seems.

 

[joeltbean]

Hope my 12 mini can hold on. Not getting a 2 handed phone. Considering a 13 mini from apple refurbished. Battery at 82% and lasts all day for me.

 

[Brien]

Apple would probably want to market the smaller screen sizes as the “lower cost” option in their price matrix, and considering the new Samsung Galaxy A16 has a 6.7” inch OLED screen with 90hz and retails for $200 in the United States, the $600 6.1” 60hz iPhone 16e can barely compete for the bottom-dollar mass market consumer.

Well that’s the rub, most entry level phones are as big as the Pro Max these days with the flagships all in the 7-8” range (or folding). Apple is ‘small’.

 

[Cervisia]

I can hardly tell the difference when looking at my 3rd gen SE and iPhone 14 (same dimensions as iPhone 16) when they're sitting side-by-side next to each other.

Fitting profile picture then.

 

[Unami]

I'll probably hold on to my Mini 13 until the 20 comes out. Hoping for a change in leadership and reorientation towards focus, vision and software quality at Apple until '27.

Maybe small phones don't sell well, but it's hard to imagine that an iPhone mini sells less than a MacPro or the Vision Pro.

 

[iGüey]

The Mini actually had an obvious user base though, kids/teens (including mine) and those who don't like/want/need a massive screen on a bulky phone that won't fit in their pocket. It might not be the majority, but it's more than a small niche.

Pocket? If you ask my wife, she doesn't want anything bigger than the 12 mini *in her purse*.

Apple foldables as I said, may bring a massive screen in a small and not bulky phone that perfectly fit in your pocket or her purse even. Thank you.

 

[Henry380]

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared bad news for fans of the iPhone mini.

In a live-streamed Q&A session today, Gurman said that Apple currently has no plans to reintroduce a smaller iPhone model.

Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 mini in September 2023, and it has not offered a mini model since then. Apple is not expected to release an iPhone 17 mini this year, and Gurman's revelation likely rules out an iPhone 18 mini next year too, given Apple's multi-year planning and development cycle for future iPhone models.

Since it discontinued the third-generation iPhone SE last month, Apple no longer offers any new iPhone models with under a 6-inch screen size. All of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models that Apple currently sells have between 6.1-inch and 6.9-inch displays, whereas the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini had 5.4-inch displays. The final iPhone SE had a 4.7-inch display, albeit with thicker bezels that increased the device's overall size.

While there is a vocal group of customers who wish that Apple would bring back the iPhone mini, the smaller model simply never sold well enough for the company to continue offering it, according to market research firms. It is not much of a surprise that Apple is not currently reconsidering this decision, but it helps to set expectations for those who may still be holding out hope. Do not expect another iPhone mini any time soon.

The full Q&A audio stream can be replayed on Bloomberg's website.

Article Link: Sorry, iPhone Mini Fans: Apple Isn't Planning Another Small Phone

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared bad news for fans of the iPhone mini.

In a live-streamed Q&A session today, Gurman said that Apple currently has no plans to reintroduce a smaller iPhone model.

Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 mini in September 2023, and it has not offered a mini model since then. Apple is not expected to release an iPhone 17 mini this year, and Gurman's revelation likely rules out an iPhone 18 mini next year too, given Apple's multi-year planning and development cycle for future iPhone models.

Since it discontinued the third-generation iPhone SE last month, Apple no longer offers any new iPhone models with under a 6-inch screen size. All of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models that Apple currently sells have between 6.1-inch and 6.9-inch displays, whereas the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini had 5.4-inch displays. The final iPhone SE had a 4.7-inch display, albeit with thicker bezels that increased the device's overall size.

While there is a vocal group of customers who wish that Apple would bring back the iPhone mini, the smaller model simply never sold well enough for the company to continue offering it, according to market research firms. It is not much of a surprise that Apple is not currently reconsidering this decision, but it helps to set expectations for those who may still be holding out hope. Do not expect another iPhone mini any time soon.

The full Q&A audio stream can be replayed on Bloomberg's website.

Article Link: Sorry, iPhone Mini Fans: Apple Isn't Planning Another Small Phone

This isn’t really true. The rumoured iPhone Fold has a 5.5” external display and is 9-ish mm thick. That is a small phone. It also happens to have an iPad mini sized display inside it, so you get two devices in one, albeit at twice the price.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Would have sold better than the Vision Pro.

Exactly, stealing bigger, pricier phones' sales, performing worse, attracting few extra customers and costing extra money to manufacture, put on the market, repair, etc.
They've tried, it can't work.

 

[Cervisia]

That's not a surprise until Tim's stupid pricing strategy is overhauled. It's strangling multiple products.

iPhone Mini: people who wanted a cheap iphone buyed the SE or used phones. Anyone wanting a current but small phone would have payed the extra 100 dollars which could have made it worthwhile to keep it even with somewhat smaller sales numbers.

15" MacBook Air: most other manufacturers' entry level notebook is a 15-16" one. Apple tried to sell it as a premium over the 13". No wonder it doesn't deliver the expected numbers. 15" is really expensive compared to similar sized PC notebooks, putting quality aside for a minute. Meanwhile the 13" is decently priced, and some of the cheaper PC competition is capped at 16 GB ram. Even with these horrible upgrade prices, a specced out Air is a good deal compared to premium 13" PC notebooks with 32GB ram.

Similar thing with tablets, but AI kinda saved the mini, at least it got 8 GB ram. But trying to position it as the cheapest non-base iPad was really hurting its specs.

 

[Oestreich Dieter]

I'm confused by the reactions here. If a mini iPhone sold like gangbusters, Apple would continue to make them. They clearly aren't, so Apple is not going to make them anymore. It's as simple as that. The market has spoken. Yes, I am sure there are small iPhone devotees out there, but size matters and if you don't believe me, ask my ex-girlfriend. (Get bent Emily)

 

[Expos of 1969]

I'm confused by the reactions here. If a mini iPhone sold like gangbusters, Apple would continue to make them. They clearly aren't, so Apple is not going to make them anymore. It's as simple as that. The market has spoken. Yes, I am sure there are small iPhone devotees out there, but size matters and if you don't believe me, ask my ex-girlfriend. (Get bent Emily)

Guess she wanted a two hander like the Pro Max.

 

[profets]

Will those few weeks make my hands and jeans back pocket any bigger?

Yup, should do the trick.

It will never fit in my pocket, so absolutely not correct.

My god man, how small are your pockets?

if you spend a few weeks using a Mini, then going back to a Pro Max models, it will feel like holding a brick again.

Exactly my point.

 

[pappl]

Then the iPhone 13 mini was my last iPhone.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Most people are sheep who watch Netflix, Tiktok and other brain pollution on their mobiles. So big screens rule the market. Tyranny of the majority.

It's a pity Apple aren't "thinking differently" and catering for the more productive people that use their phones for calls, emails, apps and the odd browsing. All things the Mini is superior at, for virtue of being small and pocketable.

The 12 Mini didn't sell because Apple hobbled it with a crap battery, and unfortunately that became the enduring reputation of the Mini, even after they fixed it with the 13 Mini.

How is a smaller screen better for any sort of "productive" people? Less screen means less content viewed at one time. Nothing about that is more efficient or better.