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

[thebellnd]

Another guess from the Gurmster reported as fact. If they launched one next week, he'd claim they changed their plans the day before... 'so technically he was right'.

 

[Joshuaorange]

A couple million devices is too little for Apple now. Asses.



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

I’m guessing people who want a mini, bought a more expensive iPhone instead. That’s an upsell.

 

[klasma]

Yeah I came to a similar conclusion to you just now, after wanting to actually visualise it compared to my beloved mini (although my dimensions are a bit different). My logic is probably flawed because I can't quite wrap my head around how the hinge would fold.

The basic assumption I’ve made is that the outer and the inner screen have the same height. Given the rumored diagonals, the resulting aspect ratios come out as very close to 1:√2 for both screens. The fold doesn’t come into play for that calculation. And 1:√2 happens to be the single aspect ratio where folding a rectangle in half doesn’t change its aspect ratio (the rectangle just “zooms” by a factor of √2). For a foldable iPhone, this would have the benefit that apps can be switched between inner and outer screen without having to change their layout. So that’s my working hypothesis for now, meaning a roughly 1:1.4 (or 5:7) aspect ratio for both screens.

The only way this would be significantly wrong is if the outer screen is considerably shorter than the device, as in your video, and thus the above 1:√2 result was just a coincidence.

 

[JohnC1959]

The irony is: Not an insignificant number of those people likes the Vision Pro, and they act offended when others say that AVP is not a success and most people don’t care for it

There's one huge difference. Apple didn't expect the Vision Pro to sell in large numbers but instead hoped it would be a stepping stone to possible later models that might sell better. They wanted something high end so that they and users could explore possible applications without being limited by poor performance. They can use that feedback along with looking for/developing components that might either perform better or be more cost effective.

 

[AlexESP]

Would have sold better than the Vision Pro.

And that means nothing. The iPhone mini probably sold much better than the MacBook Pro, and the former is a failure while the later is a success. Their performance is not measured by absolute numbers.

 

[blairh]

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.

Consumers voted with their wallets. They want bigger screens. You seem like someone who simply can't accept that fact.

 

[reallynotnick]

Well then Apple can keep waiting to get more money from me and a folding phone is going to do nothing for me as it'll be way too giant to reach everything one handed.

 

[JohnC1959]

Well then Apple can keep waiting to get more money from me and a folding phone is going to do nothing for me as it'll be way too giant to reach everything one handed.

I suspect they are well aware that their efforts to appeal to certain large segments of the market would mean losing other smaller segments. Virtually all manufacturers of everything know that.

 

[Populus]

Hope my 13 mini will still last for many years... Apple other phones are way too big for me.

Yeah, I’m the same. I’m holding on my SE3, which is a really robust, powerful, efficient smartphone by today’s standards. And hopefully the iOS 19 redesign will run well on this device.

 

[robertts]

I purchased a 12 mini refurbished for travel, but immediately sold it after my first trip. The battery was horrendous. I'm willing to concede that the 12 series of phones were not known for their extraordinary battery life and I could have received a dud. But the efficiency gains between the 12 and now need to be remarkable for that size.

The other challenge was UI. So many apps are simply sub-optimal for that small of a display. Whether it is the amount of content that can fit onto the display or just UI elements with touch points that are more difficult to hit than they needed to be.

I originally thought this segment could stand on its own, but I can see why it is actually much more niche in reality than in concept.

 

[Mr. Donahue]

I get it.
And I don’t.
I love the iPhone mini 13 and if I can’t get a follow up then Motorola Razr Plus 2025 here I come as iOS 18 has lagged my mini down and the battery is degrading and barely lasts me 4 hours.

It’s a shame because I like many, hold the opinion that the mini form factor is perfect.
I love my mini. I just can’t believe that Apple, a trillion dollar company doesn’t think it’s worth making an iPhone mini. There most definitely is a market for it.

I feel Tim Cook has peaked his usefulness as a CEO. He’s taken the company as far as he can and the decisions made of late show there either needs to be new leadership or some restructuring to guide software and hardware.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

 

[Populus]

I still stand by the idea that Apple released the mini at the worst time, right after the 2nd gen SE came out, and killed it off before the people who had bought the SE wanted a new phone, less than 3.5 years later.

I would have bought the 12 mini had the SE not come out when it did. But now we all have larger, more expensive iPhones! Yay!

Now, the 16e is the smallest iPhone. Let’s cross our fingers for Apple to keep this design over the 17e and 18e, otherwise we’ll face another increment in the minimum size of the iPhone dimensions.

At the same time, maybe they could’ve launched a 5.4” iPhone 16e just to test the waters. I guess they still have the mini production line…

 

[stevefeinstein]

I'll make you a deal. You figure out how to fix a big phone battery into a small size phone, and I'll figure out how to get Apple to make a new mini.

 

[stevefeinstein]

I would have bought the 12 mini had the SE not come out when it did. But now we all have larger, more expensive iPhones! Yay!

Let me fix that for you. Now we all have larger, more expensive iPhones that last all day! Yay!

 

[Lift Bar]

Could go very mini if need be.

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[AngstyKylo]

If only they had released the mini at a better price point or just replaced the SE with the mini at the SE price point.

Honestly an iPhone 6 style phone with full screen and touch ID like the iPads have on the side would have been an immediate purchase from me.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I don't think Apple will make an iPhone smaller than 6.1" unless there is real demand for one. There's also another significance for sales of larger phones: the aging Baby Boomer and Generation X demographics. They don't want to deal with difficult-to-read phone.

 

[JonneyGee]

It’s a shame. I’d actually buy an iPhone mini as a Pro phone, which Apple never made.

This is why Apple doesn’t think people want Mini phones, IMO.

“Here’s a pared down phone that doesn’t do much and isn’t worth the money, but it’s small!”

“Huh, guess people don’t like small phones.”

No, give me a Mini Pro — the most features packed into the smallest size.

 

[iZac]

The basic assumption I’ve made is that the outer and the inner screen have the same height. Given the rumored diagonals, the resulting aspect ratios come out as very close to 1:√2 for both screens. The fold doesn’t come into play for that calculation. And 1:√2 happens to be the single aspect ratio where folding a rectangle in half doesn’t change its aspect ratio (the rectangle just “zooms” by a factor of √2). For a foldable iPhone, this would have the benefit that apps can be switched between inner and outer screen without having to change their layout. So that’s my working hypothesis for now, meaning a roughly 1:1.4 (or 5:7) aspect ratio for both screens.

The only way this would be significantly wrong is if the outer screen is considerably shorter than the device, as in your video, and thus the above 1:√2 result was just a coincidence.

haha, you're far more analytical than me, I was just drawing random shapes 🥲

I finally understand the sides will probably butt up against each other like the Samsung folding phones, so the device doesn't fold more than 180 degrees. Anyway, a sad realisation for mini users regardless!

 

[Martin Bland]

I’m holding on to my 13 Mini till the new lineup this fall - 4 years. Unless the new lineup is so underwhelming that I see no compelling reason to upgrade and sacrifice a smaller, more ergonomic phone. Prior to the 13 mini, I upgraded every year.

Most people love big phones because they are phone addicts.

Apple can take the tech for the super thin 17 Air, fold it once over and create a mini for me!

 

[ChrisMac47]

I get it.
And I don’t.
I love the iPhone mini 13 and if I can’t get a follow up then Motorola Razr Plus 2025 here I come as iOS 18 has lagged my mini down and the battery is degrading and barely lasts me 4 hours.

It’s a shame because I like many, hold the opinion that the mini form factor is perfect.
I love my mini. I just can’t believe that Apple, a trillion dollar company doesn’t think it’s worth making an iPhone mini. There most definitely is a market for it.

I feel Tim Cook has peaked his usefulness as a CEO. He’s taken the company as far as he can and the decisions made of late show there either needs to be new leadership or some restructuring to guide software and hardware.

I feel Tim Cook has peaked his usefulness as a CEO. He’s taken the company as far as he can and the decisions made of late show there either needs to be new leadership or some restructuring to guide software and hardware.

Years ago. Tim's not got an ounce of creativity or innovation in him ... he a numbers man, a very good numbers man, great as a #2. Apple needs someone with vision to lead them. Until then, don't expect any groundbreaking products or SW (and don't mention AI!), just incremental stuff each year. Until Apple fades away and we are all using Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei (yes) phones, they are the innovators now.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

No, but if he says it we generate pages of comments…

Exactly.

I'm not normally for conspiracies. But it certainly would be quite easy for MR to ask analysts/pundits like Gurman to keep bringing iPhone mini up just to farm engagement, even with no news. Others have done worse.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I don't think Apple will make an iPhone smaller than 6.1" unless there is real demand for one

And how would they figure out if there is demand?

 

[deevey]

Maybe Apple will offer a folding phone that will satisfy the folks who want a smaller iPhone.

Can the folding phone be used with one hand like the Mini?