There Is No iPhone 15 Mini: Here's Why

[turbineseaplane]

I hope an “iPhone Mini” (no number designation) can return at some point.

Just keeping “a Mini” around and spec bumping it every 3-4 years or so would be absolutely fine for those of us who just want a small size and a reasonable price

 

[Lioness~]

Interesting thread…..

It was a different Apple during Steve then now, no doubt. It was a very exciting time to be part of, absolutely. The first Mac I bought, wow, and everything that came from that.

But there's positive things happened with the transformation that happened after Steve's death.
- Apple is no longer a cult, maybe for some, but absolutely not to me. My Apple fandom died with Steve.
- I find my Apple gear useful, but when I compare an Apple thing with something similar and the Apple gear lose in that comparison, it's no big deal.
I have absolutely no attachment to Apple today, I just buy or subscribe to the other service 'whatever it is', if it's better for me.
But oh, I am still very attached to especially macOS, but even iOS this far. But I am not so invested in iOS, so another small phone isn't that impossible.

 

[0423MAC]

I hope an “iPhone Mini” (no number designation) can return at some point.

Just keeping “a Mini” around and spec bumping it every 3-4 years or so would be absolutely fine for those of us who just want a small size and a reasonable price

My guess is that the 'SE' will fill that slot and release every 2-3 years at $449

 

[goku_vegeta]

iPhone 12 _pro_ mini would have sold millions….

It would not have.

 

[0423MAC]

Anyway it was pretty clear that from the start the iPhone 12 and 13 mini were doomed because of the way they were priced compared to the bigger brothers in the iPhone lineup.

Consider that most people in the U.S., Canada and I am assuming Europe buy these devices over 2-3 years via monthly payments and it's even easier to see why.

At 0% interest I currently see a prepaid carrier offering both the iPhone 13 regular and 13 mini with the price difference per month being $0.83. Unless you specifically want a smaller device to be able to use it easier with 1 hand, the extra 83 cents per month not only gives you the larger screen, but about an extra 25% in battery capacity.

At $449 with an SE model you now start enticing those who want to buy an unlocked phone outright compared to similarly priced androids and also make it appealing for someone to consider it over the $800+ iPhones as the monthly difference in price is now close to $15.

 

[0423MAC]

Here was the breakdown from Apple's own pricing and availability section of the iPhone 13 announcement. At only $4.17 per month saved (before any carrier deals) you were not going to convince many to opt for the smaller screen and smaller battery.

Let's see what happens in March. I am expecting an SE refresh and hopefully in the form of what the 12 and 13 mini looked like.

 

[audiophilosophy]

After having the 13 mini for a year and a half, I feel that a screen size just slightly larger would have been perfect. Basically a screen between the mini and the XS. With ProMotion. I would love that. I’m on a 13 pro now, and while I really like the longer-lasting battery and ProMotion, I feel like it’s a bit too big and heavy.

 

[FastLaneJB]

People wanted the pro features over the small form factor. Add the pro features to the small form factor and customers will be back.

Don't think you can have Pro features like 3 cameras in a phone that small. Phones just got bigger because people wanted bigger screens, better cameras, more battery life and so on. You just cannot package all of that into a smaller phone and make it a Pro model. I think they'll keep making a small one, it'll just be the SE or Mini that they refresh every few years.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

You still owe me a source of your statistics you posted yesterday.

Survey sheds light on the age profile of Apple users

Spoiler alert: they are young.

www.phonearena.com

And the “younger = buys more smartphones” point is, obviously, also true as a general statement, across brands:

Smartphone ownership in the US by age 2023| Statista

Smartphone ownership in the United States is most common in the younger age groups.

www.statista.com

Did you expect infants or seniors to buy the most smartphones or iPhones?

 

[segfaultdotorg]

They should make an iPhone 16 Pro mini.

 

[magicMac]

the 5.4" mini form factor could return as an iPhone SE with a single camera and a USB-C port. could be the perfect phone/music player for most normal people.

the 15 pro is more like a camera with a phone built in.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple needs a CEO with the confidence, guts, balls and customer focussed attitude to boldly state "Yes, the company could avoid some costs by not making a good modern small phone, but Apple actually cares about ALL its customers and their needs so we WILL make this phone. The company will still be extremely successful and improve its image, so shareholders and Wall Street, think a bit and realize this is the future of the NEW Apple post bean counter Cook"

Isn’t it funny that the CEO of a trillion dollar company suddenly has “courage” when he does what you want him to do, and is presumably lacking in those qualities while he doesn’t? Why can’t it be the other way around?

 

[Chuckeee]

the 5.4" mini form factor could return as an iPhone SE

That is exactly why it won’t. A basic approach for the SE is to maximize the reuse of existing parts available from the current production lineS to reduce costs. Costs include logistics cost of additional parts in the production stream (not just the individual part procurement cost). The 5.4” form factor has too many unique parts to make it a viable SE candidate.

Looks much more likely the next SE will be based on the 6.1” form factor. Lots of potential reusable parts available.

I wish it would be smaller but that’s unlikely.

 

[Biro]

Looks much more likely the next SE will be based on the 6.1” form factor. Lots of potential reusable parts available.

I wish it would be smaller but that’s unlikely.

Indeed, all of the rumors point to the iPhone 11 chassis as the basis of the next SE.

 

[flybass]

As someone with a toddler, I need a phone that I can easily use with one hand. I can’t imagine life with the “normal” sized iPhone. It may be good enough for the mini cohort if Apple releases a new mini every few years.

 

[terrapin_nation]

iPhone mini with MUCH better battery life would have sold gangbusters.

 

[tcatsninfan]

iPhone Mini SE 2024 with an updated chip, come on! 13 Mini user here who doesn't want a bigger phone. Hopefully it'll have OLED though, the current SE LCD doesn't look as nice.

 

[splifingate]

Interesting thread…..

It was a different Apple during Steve then now, no doubt. It was a very exciting time to be part of, absolutely. The first Mac I bought, wow, and everything that came from that.

But there's positive things happened with the transformation that happened after Steve's death.
- Apple is no longer a cult, maybe for some, but absolutely not to me. My Apple fandom died with Steve.
- I find my Apple gear useful, but when I compare an Apple thing with something similar and the Apple gear lose in that comparison, it's no big deal.
I have absolutely no attachment to Apple today, I just buy or subscribe to the other service 'whatever it is', if it's better for me.
But oh, I am still very attached to especially macOS, but even iOS this far. But I am not so invested in iOS, so another small phone isn't that impossible.

Appreciate your perspective, Sister

 

[AppliedMicro]

5.4” form factor has too many unique parts to make it a viable SE candidate.

Many exist today - they‘ve been used for iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini.

Looks much more likely the next SE will be based on the 6.1” form factor. Lots of potential reusable parts available.

…and lots of potential cannibalisation of the more expensive iPhone 15/14, even the 13, all of which come with the same size screen. It may even cannibalise some sales of the 15 Pro, as customers are said to choose the „middle“ option - if which there would be three 6.1 devices in a „good/better/best“ set to choose from.

Many customers might not pay the $170+ premium for an iPhone 13/14/15, if the SE looks and feels so similar to meaningfully save on parts and tooling.

 

[GraXXoR]

It’s very true that there are options other than Apple. Other companies have some products in the same categories that are as good or better.

Over the past 10 years I’ve seen Microsoft’s surface range really come into its own. Build quality that rivals apples offerings.

I’ve got a surface laptop go 2. Despite it being cheaper than my MacBook Air M2 I often pick it up instead… since Apple discontinued the MacBook 12 inch it was a nice replacement. It actually has a really nice keyboard and trackpad that trumps my MacBook Air M2

What keyboard and trackpad are you using that are better than the Air M2 one’s?

 

[pshufd]

I suppose it’s a phone for a market of people that don’t really focus on having the best specs, just a compact size, so as long as the device works and it’s being supported there is no need to buy a new one.

I have the 12 Mini and not feeling like upgrading anytime soon and if I do I will go to the 13 Mini or whatever small iPhone shows up in the future.

13 minis are very hard to find now.

 

[pshufd]

I’ve had the iPhone 13 mini now for two years. Battery health is 88%, but the phone is not an all day device. It needs to be charged twice per day. As it is my main display device, I’m also finding that the screen is too small for my current needs. I love the form factor and the light weight, however my next phone will either be a 15 or 15 pro.

I've had mine for 2 years as well. I don't know what the battery health is but mine is on the charger the vast majority of the time. I use it most for walking, running and in the gym. I bring it with me for trips but usually have power for it. My MacBook Pro and my Mac Studio are my main devices. I typically don't have my phone with me the vast majority of the day. So the mini is perfect for my usage. I'd even go for a 4 inch device.

 

[pshufd]

If Apple never does a mini again, then I'd get the smallest iPhone in about 4-5 years and use both of them. I have a 7+ and a 13 mini and they have separate numbers. I'd carry the larger phone with me and use the 13 mini for walks, runs and at the gym. That's the best solution that I can come up with given what we currently know.

 

[audiophilosophy]

As someone with a toddler, I need a phone that I can easily use with one hand. I can’t imagine life with the “normal” sized iPhone. It may be good enough for the mini cohort if Apple releases a new mini every few years.

I woild recommend checking out a PhoneFin. They make it even easier to use a phone with one hand— even with a mini. That and a K Tomoto bumper case are the best combo for a mini.

 

[c3p0wl]

The sheer number on comments on this thread vs other recent threads alone should be enough to convince Apple to give us mini and Pro mini options.

I waited for iPhone 14 mini and when I saw it wasn’t announced I went and downgraded from my 13 Pro Max to a Mini and my wrists haven’t stopped thanking me since.

The weight difference from my Xs Max to 13 Pro Max was substantial enough to take a toll on my wrists, after years of trackpad usage, my wrists are shot, so now I’ll do anything to alleviate the pain of holding a heavy smartphone.

I miss the weight of my 7 Plus the most 😩