iPhone 13 mini Talk me out of a 13 Mini!

[Mrbobb]

If u want small, the 13 is the way to go.

I got one from Black Market in the summer and paid another $70 for an "excellent" but it came with 2 small side scratches anyways oh well, and sure enough the battery was on its last leg, so budget another $90 for a new Apple battery.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I’m going to be the one contradiction here and say that you should not buy the 13 Mini.
Mainly because of the price you said, $349.
If we were talking $100, maybe $200 I would say go for it.
But it’s a phone that was released five years ago. That’s half a decade, and you are paying the same price as a brand new iPad.

My advice, try to find a used or refurbished 16e. Yes it’s bigger, but it’s only about 20 G heavier, has an extremely minimalistic aesthetic, and has the A18 and double the RAM of the 13 Mini. It should be supported for the next seven years with the latest software updates, and at least an additional two years of security updates for a total of nine years, and that is the pessimistic estimation.
With the 17e releasing in a couple months, you should be able to start finding these relatively soon for $450 and below.
Also while the phone is bigger in all dimensions, it’s not dramatically so, and it’s likely the last under 6.3 inches.

 

[toughkitty5]

Wondering which colors are close to true in the pictures I see. Is the midnight black or a very dark blue?

midnight is dark dark blue, not black to me.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

also, just a warning, if you never intend to update your phone from 18, but you also intend on getting the battery replaced by Apple, they will very likely request you update to whatever the latest version is available before they will perform the battery replacement.
Additionally, if you ever need to restore the devices for whatever reason, 18 is no longer being signed so 26 is your only path.
Just something to keep in mind, especially if you are buying used, go in with the knowledge that you will likely end up on 26 sooner or later.

 

[Barbareren]

I used to be a huge 12 Mini fan, but then I made a complete turnaround and got a 15 Plus, and then I went even bigger/heavier with a 16 PM. Why? Because I realised that I just kept using my phone for more and more things where previously I'd use an iPad or MacBook. I stopped using iPads some time ago, and I only use my MacBook when I actually need a real computer, but that's also less and less. And nowadays practically everything is done by installing apps, whether it is parking or smart home devices, or banking and stocks, or writing long emails, or home security cameras, or paying for stuff when you forget your credit card at home, etc. etc... The 13 Mini can obviously do all the same things, but it is simply not the best tool for the job when you have to charge it 3 times a day, and with the screen being so small making certain tasks unnecessarily cumbersome. Bottom line, I'd say get the 13 Mini only if you don't actually use your phone that much. It just doesn't make the best "mini-computer"...

 

[gregrose]

I have almost mint 13 mini in probably gonna sell if you’d be interested. It’s on iOS 18 still, unlocked black 256gb. Just msg me if interested.

 

[sw1tcher]

currently using two OGSE phones (two lines). stuck at iOS 15.8.5. phones work fine, and like the small size still. however, looking out into the next 2-3 years, they will probably suffer incompatibility issues. the 13 Mini is my number one choice for replacement. i really don't see any new ones out there outside of ones priced for collectors. looking at mainly the 128 and 256 gb models. i see that the Mini is still receiving support, and can run iOS 26, though i have heard 18 is recommended. i don't like that i would have to a source 3.5mm adapter.

I have tried finding one on FBM, but haven't seen much, and they seem priced the same as resellers that come with guarantees. Back Market, Reebelo, and Ebay seem to be the best sources. Looks like pricing falls in between $250-$350.

yes, for $90. i was thinking i should find the best low cost version w/ bad battery, and have apple put one of their batteries in it rather than a resellers aftermarket battery.

Personally, I wouldn't spend that much for an iPhone 13 mini when another $100 - $150 can get you a brand new iPhone 15 (not that $500 for an iPhone 15 is that great a deal, IMO).

But if you just have to get one, take a look at the Premium Renewed units that are sold and shipped by Amazon. 128GB will run you around $352 and you have a 365 day return/replacement period in case you're not happy with it, say, on day 360 😂. And since the battery life is supposed to be greater than 90%, no need to spend extra on a new battery.

Premium Renewed means:

• Cosmetic Condition: Premium
  -- Screen: No scratches
  -- Body: No signs of cosmetic damage (scratches, dents, and other) are visible when the product is held 12 inches away.
• Functional Condition: Premium
  -- Battery: >90% of original battery life
  -- Accessories: Generic or original equipment manufacturer accessories and packaging provided.

.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you want the 13 Mini, make a purchase. It shouldn't matter what strangers on a forum think. You don't need approval from others.

 

[leifp]

I really miss my old 13 mini. I get to relive the size and weight advantages every time I see my mother in law (who inherited mine). If Apple ever releases another equivalent, I’ll switch back, but otherwise I’m going to have to wax nostalgic while I use a newer model until smartphones vanish into the ether…

I probably should have kept my 13 mini but I made a decision to attempt to use the Pro phone camera(s) as a replacement for the pocket cameras I no longer carry. That failed and now I know. 🤷‍♂️

As to the OP: no reason that can’t be a great deal for you! Klein aber fein…

 

[rwh63]

I have almost mint 13 mini in probably gonna sell if you’d be interested. It’s on iOS 18 still, unlocked black 256gb. Just msg me if interested.

Toss it on marketplace here?

 

[SevenTheGamingKitty]

The iPhone depends on the latest OS to function properly,

...eh???

 

[bible_student]

I would not get a 13 mini. I had one since day one when released and Apple even did an express replacement last Summer under AppleCare. I could NOT get the battery to go all day. I tried my hardest but both my wife and I (with brand new batteries) were charging 2-3 times daily. Even had iOS 26.1. Bought two 16e on Prime day and phone issues solved. I miss the size but the battery was awful. The 16e goes all day and then some.

 

[Lloigorr]

I really like my 13 Mini a lot, it’s running just fine on iOS 26.2, battery is at 100% health after changing it via apple care. It does everything I want it to do and I plan to use it until it’s “obsolete”.

That said, at this point in time I wouldn’t buy one. They’re too expensive (even used) for their age. I understand you have no problems using an old device with old iOS. Possibly you used your OGSE for many years.
If I was you, I would buy the 16E. That phone would last you nearly a decade again, like the OGSE did. It’s larger, but it’s battery is night and day compared to your SE battery.

🙂

 

[Paddle1]

You haven't stated why you want a mini, afraid you won't like the bigger size? You'll get much better battery life out of the standard sized 13 and that plus more longevity out of a 15 or newer.

But if the only options are SE or 13 mini then I would go for it.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

The iPhone depends on the latest OS to function properly, but also depends on a cellular service to support. As of today the iPhone mini is over 6 years old. It probably will get this year’s OS, but next year will only get security updates. It does support 5G, but will drain the battery quickly. You’ll probably will have battery issues. You can do it, if you willing to deal with the challenges.

The 13 Mini will likely get full OS updates until 2028 and the 12 Mini until next year.

 

[cjsuk]

I have a friend who has a 13 mini. It's her only computing device. She is miserable all the time because she has to carry a power bank around to get it through the day. Then she was laid off. And then iOS 26 came out and punched her in the face making it even worse on the battery front and it's laggy and slow which makes filling job applications and admin difficult. And yes it had a genuine battery replacement last year too. You have been warned.

I gave her my old 13 Pro the other day because it was actually clearly sucking the life out of her.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I have a friend who has a 13 mini. It's her only computing device. She is miserable all the time because she has to carry a power bank around to get it through the day. Then she was laid off. And then iOS 26 came out and punched her in the face making it even worse on the battery front and it's laggy and slow which makes filling job applications and admin difficult. And yes it had a genuine battery replacement last year too. You have been warned.

I gave her my old 13 Pro the other day because it was actually clearly sucking the life out of her.

My work-provided phone is an SE 2022, which has the same chip and ram as the 13 line. It doesn't feel slow or laggy at all on iOS 26. I don't like iOS 26, but it does run fine.

 

[snipr125]

Another option is the 15 Pro, its the smallest 6.1" iPhone Apple ever released. Fairly lightweight and can be comfortably used one handed, although not as well as the SE2, SE3 and the iPhone Minis.

 

[one more]

As of today the iPhone mini is over 6 years old.

Are you using Apple’s math, LOL? 😋

13 mini came out on 24 Sep 2021, which makes it [🥁🥁🥁] 4 years, 3 months, and 9 days old today.

Its battery was a big improvement over 12 mini and its 5G module is just fine. Considering that iOS 26 runs ok on iPhone 12 and younger, 13 mini should handle it just fine.

The possible hardware downsides I can see on the long-term is its limited RAM (if Apple Intelligence interests the OP), a lower screen refresh rate (60 Hz vs 120), less mighty cameras (both front and back) and the lack of a USB-C port.

 

[BornAgainApple]

Toss it on marketplace here?

It’s not a mini, but if you’re interested in staying with the same form factor, I have a black SE3 that I bought a couple years ago for my mother who has since passed away. Excellent condition as she hardly used it and battery health is still 100%. I updated to iOS 18.7.2.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

If you go this route know that iOS 26 is atrocious on the 13 mini. The embiggened UI elements really eat into the limited screen space, to say nothing of the performance hit.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Here’s the thing. You want this form factor so you’ll love it for a year until you realize the battery is not excellent and it’s become slow and bogged down. I would love a mini form factor but it’s not practical at this point because I’ll just be dropping more money in a year on something else.

 

[TechnoMonk]

My teen uses iPhone 13 mini, gonna replace the battery and extend life of the mini for few more years. She doesn’t want AI, a bigger or newer phone, and loves mini. iPhone Mini has very small but serious fan following.

 

[klasma]

Also while the phone is bigger in all dimensions, it’s not dramatically so, and it’s likely the last under 6.3 inches.

It’s dramatically bigger than the SE that OP is coming from. For me the 12 mini was already a compromise, and the 13 mini got even a bit thicker and heavier. So price really depends on what you care about. I believe I spent more on minis than on all previous iPhones I owned combined.

 

[maika1305]

Used to own a 12 mini and 13. What I can say is never using the mini again