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

[blairh]

Amazed how many of you continue to insist that the issue was that the Mini was not a Pro model. That had absolutely nothing to do with the lack of sales. The public at large has moved on from smaller screens. It’s that simple.

 

[sunapple]

Willing to meet in the middle between 5.4 and 6.1. Final offer.

 

[dampfnudel]

I agree. I think it should be handled like the iPad mini where it is its own thing and gets updated far less frequently.

Around the time the 13 mini was discontinued I made a comment here about Apple possibly alternating between the mini and Plus models.

2014, 2015 Plus
2016, 2017 mini
2018, 2019 Plus
2020, 2021 mini…

 

[ToothBlueth]

Hoping there will be a Pixel Flip in a couple of years when my 13 mini doesn't receive updates anymore (well, or generally a pixel in a proper size). I'd prefer using GraphenOS, but Pixels are also huge compared to minis.

 

[Plutonius]

Apple does seem to change its mind so even though they have no current plans, who knows about the future.

 

[Naraxus]

Nobody wanted it. It wasn't selling when Apple did make them.

 

[spillled typos]

If my mini ever dies I'll just replace it with an Apple Watch

 

[turbineseaplane]

Would have sold better than the Vision Pro.

Everything sells better than the Vision Flop

 

[turbineseaplane]

Good. Hopefully shuts up the annoying Mini fanboys for good.

No need to be this rude

 

[Xavier]

If they ever packed the mini with the same feature as the pro line, I would be very interested.

 

[mlayer]

Still miss my 12 mini, which died when the battery overheated in a Qi misalignment mishap. I suppose I would consider one if there was a current mini-sized phone, but the battery life was never good and I frequently had to use it with my MagSafe battery pack or keep a charging cable handy wherever I went. Not ideal.

 

[ChrisMac47]

I'll hold on the my iPhone 12 as long as it's supported. Perhaps in an another couple of years, Apple will launch the iPhone Svelte ... after re-hiring Jony Ive!. Apple has no style any more.

 

[ChrisMac47]

If they ever packed the mini with the same feature as the pro line, I would be very interested.

As would many of us! But that needs some innovation from Apple and they got off that train the day Steve Jobs died. It's all lawyers and bean counters nowadays. Apple hooked us on iOS, and have brought new meaning to: "you can check out but you can never leave".

 

[cocky jeremy]

People on here cry about it constantly, but if the damn thing sold it wouldn't have been taken out of the lineup to begin with.

 

[neliason]

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.

Unlike the Plus which is now obsolete, there is still a market for a capably-spec'd or even Pro-level iPhone Mini. Sadly, the beancounters are in charge and they aren't smart enough to realise that market trends, as spouted by their beloved market research firms, aren't always reliable and customers are fickle. Apple are just another quantitative company these days, when they used to be all about the qualitative.

Right. People here like to laugh at the Mini market. But we are real. I’d buy a new iPhone today if Apple made a mini sized phone. As it is, Apple isn’t getting my money. I’ll hold onto my 12 until it dies.

 

[ab2c4]

iPhone mini fans need to stay strong and continue to vote with your wallets.

*disclaimer: I never owned a mini because I wondered if the screen/keyboard might have been too small for me, but I totally understand the mini fan's frustration over the issue and I don't think you should give in to Apple trying to "force" you into a bigger phone that is simply convenient for them. I know Apple is not happy with 16 sales numbers but trying to convince mini users to abandon their phones is not the answer. Maybe Apple needs to "read the room" a little better to deliver phones that more users want. Believe me I would give the mini another look if they come out with one as I'm getting more and more tired of big heavy phones each and every day.

 

[spazzcat]

Right. People here like to laugh at the Mini market. But we are real. I’d buy a new iPhone today if Apple made a mini sized phone. As it is, Apple isn’t getting my money. I’ll hold onto my 12 until it dies.

No one makes a mini phone, there just isn't a market for small phones anymore. I get some refused to upgrade.

 

[TokyoKiller]

I could use a Pro Mini that’s powerful and long lasting in terms of battery with an average smartphone camera.

I don’t like using my phone to take photos anymore and I recent bought a Fujifilm to take photos I’d take with my phone.

 

[ZipoBibrok5x10^8]

I will hold onto my 13 Mini and my spare 13 Mini until they die. Best phone size ever. Bigger phones suck. So disappointed that they only make coffee tables now.

 

[ChrisMac47]

A new mini model every 3 years would sell enough to make some profit for Apple, no question. But they are greedy, and it would not make enough profit. They just don't consider anything with a margin less than 40%. Many many years ago, I worked at Xerox and it was the same mentality; they made vast profits on their large laser printers, why would they want to bother with small personal ones? And where is Xerox now?

 

[turbo79]

Oh well. I suppose Apple don't want us to upgrade, again for another year.

 

[victorvictoria]

A smaller phone than my 2020 SE is what I'd love to have. The wife and I are avid bicyclists, and a small iPhone fits horizontally in a jersey pocket, so it doesn't fall out when hitting pavement defects, as they do when stashed vertically like the larger phones. I actually was riding behind a young woman this happened to. She didn't know it, and kept going. I stopped, picked it up and hit the pedals hard to catch up with her and return it. Her gratitude was appropriate.

 

[JensenKA]

Sticking with the iPhone 13 Mini a bit longer then. Eventually I’ll be more or less forced to upgrade, but we’re not quite there yet.

 

[neliason]

No one makes a mini phone, there just isn't a market for small phones anymore. I get some refused to upgrade.

There is a market. It may be a smaller market. But it’s a market.

It’s like how there is still a market for Apple leather accessories. Just because Apple no longer produces the product doesn’t mean the market doesn’t exist. It just means Apple executives are trying to fleece customers while pretending to be ethical based on the modern world’s ridiculous code of ethics.

 

[JPack]

A new mini model every 3 years would sell enough to make some profit for Apple, no question. But they are greedy, and it would not make enough profit. They just don't consider anything with a margin less than 40%. Many many years ago, I worked at Xerox and it was the same mentality; they made vast profits on their large laser printers, why would they want to bother with small personal ones? And where is Xerox now?

Nah, nobody on the Android side is making small phones either. Not even low margin guys like Xiaomi.

There is no market.