I succumbed and downgraded from a 12 Mini to a 16 when my Mini's speakers started to fail. It's been over six months and I still hate the size of the 16, its infuriating camera bump, and the too-slick-to hold glass back. I could also easily do without the camera button and the action button.
I'm certain that Apple doesn't want to deal with (1) scaling the resolution to a slightly smaller screen and (2) Apple Intelligence draining the battery.
Apple, and to a smaller degree the technorati, need to accept that technology has surpassed the needs of even the more advanced average person. The "Pro" line and regular line should be nearly indistinguishable from each other. And beneath the regular line, there should be a normie line. Yeah, I guess I'm saying we have too much technology and they should slow down.
Big screens and big batteries are necessary for small group of people. High compute power and high performing cameras are necessary for a small group of people. I would argue that a large number of these people do not actually need them to be productive or enjoy their lives - but that's beside the point.
Aside from failing components, the iPhone 12 series is still a more than usable product for most people. And the Mini version of that still has a bigger screen than every regular size phone prior to the X. (and the X was only .4" larger).
I still have my original SE that I use for a music player every day. If I could, I would be using it as my daily driver. It's a gorgeous and practical device.
