Other We need a new iPhone mini

[Alpha Centauri]

Fair enough. I rarely use my MacBook unless remoting in to work, and I don’t own an iPad. So I pretty much do everything on my phone, even when home. I need and feel comfortable with the biggest screen possible.

Yes, if it's your primary device then I also would be using a mobile phone with a large enough display. Likely not a Max but at least a Pro to still have pockatibility without really feeling the heft. I have no metrics but I'm stipulating that folks with a Mini 12/13 or OG SE, SE2, SE3, Air, also own devices with a much larger display size also. Be this a MBP, MBA, MBN, desktops or iPads.

I started off with an OG SE and ended up with the natural progression of a 13Mini, that has almost the same external dimensions but with a large screen comparatively. It's a brilliant device really and explains why it has quite a following.

 

[rui no onna]

Yes, if it's your primary device then I also would be using a mobile phone with a large enough display. Likely not a Max but at least a Pro to still have pockatibility without really feeling the heft. I have no metrics but I'm stipulating that folks with a Mini 12/13 or OG SE, SE2, SE3, Air, also own devices with a much larger display size also. Be this a MBP, MBA, MBN, desktops or iPads.

Yep, this. I always carry a purse and cellular iPads have been part of my EDC since the iPad Air.

I tried a 6 Plus and the Pro Max model to see if they can replace my iPad for on-the-go use. Alas, it seems the iPad mini is the smallest size I can tolerate.

Maybe the iPhone Fold might work but I expect it will be too expensive for my taste. Plus the LCD screen on the iPad mini is one of the pros for me (PWM migraines).

 

[subjonas]

I think almost universally, small phone enthusiasts fall into one or both of these two groups:

1. They don't need or feel the need to spend much time looking at a screen while they're out and about.

2. They strongly prefer using even larger screens (iPads, computers, TVs) for anything longer than a quick interaction, and those larger screens are sufficiently accessible to them.

I think everyone will agree group 1 is very niche in our society. I think group 2 would be much more mainstream than it is, but I think because group 1 is so small, much of the mainstream has come to tolerate or even embrace (probably mostly the younger generation) the comparatively small screen size of their phone because it is the device they use the most and are the most comfortable with (even if bigger screen devices are available). So as it is, I think even group 2 has become somewhat niche, or at least less mainstream.

So as long as society's screen time is up, we small phone enthusiasts will likely have to bear with the size and weight. Foldables could be the answer for some in group 2 though.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Yep, this. I always carry a purse and cellular iPads have been part of my EDC since the iPad Air.

I tried a 6 Plus and the Pro Max model to see if they can replace my iPad for on-the-go use. Alas, it seems the iPad mini is the smallest size I can tolerate.

Maybe the iPhone Fold might work but I expect it will be too expensive for my taste. Plus the LCD screen on the iPad mini is one of the pros for me (PWM migraines).

And as I read your second paragraph, the iFold immediately came to mind, until I continued reading until the end. Yes indeed the cost is sure to be ludicrous. Throughout many MR threads in the years I've come across folks suffering from PWM effects.

 

[Harddrive]

while foldable may be on the horizon for Apple the competition has had one for awhile and I have only seen one out in the wild probably do to cost.

 

[Faize]

I think almost universally, small phone enthusiasts fall into one or both of these two groups:

1. They don't need or feel the need to spend much time looking at a screen while they're out and about.

2. They strongly prefer using even larger screens (iPads, computers, TVs) for anything longer than a quick interaction, and those larger screens are sufficiently accessible to them.

I think everyone will agree group 1 is very niche in our society. I think group 2 would be much more mainstream than it is, but I think because group 1 is so small, much of the mainstream has come to tolerate or even embrace (probably mostly the younger generation) the comparatively small screen size of their phone because it is the device they use the most and are the most comfortable with (even if bigger screen devices are available). So as it is, I think even group 2 has become somewhat niche, or at least less mainstream.

So as long as society's screen time is up, we small phone enthusiasts will likely have to bear with the size and weight. Foldables could be the answer for some in group 2 though.

There's also 3. Calling is rare nowadays and is not often done by holding the phone to your ear.

If chatting with your best friend over the phone for an hour every night like in a 90s sitcom was still a thing, nobody would ever buy the Pro Max.

 

[rui no onna]

There's also 3. Calling is rare nowadays and is not often done by holding the phone to your ear.

If chatting with your best friend over the phone for an hour every night like in a 90s sitcom was still a thing, nobody would ever buy the Pro Max.

I'm pretty sure our oldest cordless handset was bigger and heavier than the Pro Max. It's more ergonomic to hold though.

 

[Spinarelo]

There's also 3. Calling is rare nowadays and is not often done by holding the phone to your ear.

If chatting with your best friend over the phone for an hour every night like in a 90s sitcom was still a thing, nobody would ever buy the Pro Max.

Funny you should mention that. I was just having a conversation with my sister this weekend…. She can never get her 12 year old to call her on the normal phone function, it’s always via FaceTime video or audio, either on speaker or headphone. Apparently they all do it that way according to other parents. The regular phone call is slowly dying with this new generation lol

 

[Macdctr]

Tit for tat…..

You don’t have to like the pro max phone, and you can think it’s a brick. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s an amazing phone that many love and find useful. If it were that unwieldy and cumbersome as you make it seem, it would not sell as well as it does….. I even see many petite females using it just fine

Absolutely no arguments here. I agree that the absolute best iPhone you can purchase is a Pro Max hands down. I have been a Pro Max user ever since they debuted with the 11 Pro Max and have stayed this way until September last year when I got my Air. I love using my Air however started looking for something smaller, more compact and this is when I found my first 13 mini, a Green 512GB, and have been totally hooked on this ever since.

I still love my Pro Max iPhones as I have my 11 Pro Max, 13 Pro Max and my 15 Pro Max. I just find the big form factor more cumbersome for daily use regarding how I want to use my iPhones so they remain in my iPhone collection instead. My preference for Pro level iPhones are the 15 Pro/17Pro which I also have and use although I still find myself going to my 13 mini, especially when going to the gym or about to do an activity requiring lots of moving around.

It all comes down to preference and how you want to use your iPhone. Everyone will have different preferences on how they want to use their iPhones and there is nothing wrong with this. Even though the mini is not one person's choice for how they will have and use their device, it does not mean that the device is bad. Surprisingly, as a Pro Max user, I have found the 13 mini a pleasure to use. More like refreshing as it is a compact hand held device that is very easy to operate using only one hand without iPhone gymnastics and is also very light, almost forgetting you put this device into your pocket. Refreshing compared to the heavier and larger Pro Max but that has been my experience using the smaller compact iPhone.

 

[Macdctr]

That‘s hopeful and helpful. The UI doesn’t concern me as much as the battery taking a hit from iOS 18 to iOS 26, also potential KB lag with relatively little RAM in the 13 Mini.

My ph peaked with iOS 17. interesting that performance always improved with major releases but issues appearing rather with subsequent dot releases, so being careful with this one way upgrade. But sounds like you’re quite happy with the battery and performance between 18 and 26.

Cheers

My 256GB 13 minis have been updated to iOS 26.3.1 (a) and have all been set up the same exact way with the Assistive Touch being active with the top level menu customized so that I have one touch for the following:

- Analytics
- Increase Brightness
- Decrease Brightness

I have found for the non action button iPhones, enabling Assistive touch and adding these additional features add the functionality of having the action button in a sense.

So far after having set up my minis, I have not experienced any issues for day to day use. I also love the Liquid Glass graphics of the new iOS.

 

[xpxp2002]

She can never get her 12 year old to call her on the normal phone function, it’s always via FaceTime video or audio, either on speaker or headphone.

For what it's worth, FaceTime Audio has become almost functionally identical to a phone call. And until carriers adopted the channel-aware EVS-SWB codec for mobile-to-mobile calls, it had superior audio quality. And it's still quite comparable in my experience. If you ignore a FaceTime call, it drops you right into "Live Voicemail" just like a carrier-based phone call would be handled by the device, too.

I've shifted all of my personal calling to FT Audio since Salt Typhoon was publicized, and all of my work calls are over our chat/communications platform. It's difficult to avoid traditional phone calls altogether when dealing with doctor's offices and whatnot. But by and large, I don't see why it's a problem if a 12 year old wants to use FT Audio instead of a carrier voice call. Same experience, but end-to-end encrypted.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

Thought I'd turn it on and update, ahh take me back..

 

[rwh63]

Thought I'd turn it on and update, ahh take me back..

View attachment 2615194

still using my OGSE. using my 4S as my music player.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

still using my OGSE. using my 4S as my music player.

My bank has its own authenticator app that's no longer supported on iOS15, otherwise I'd try switching back.

 

[rwh63]

My bank has its own authenticator app that's no longer supported on iOS15, otherwise I'd try switching back.

yes, that is happening. i am shopping for a 13 mini.

 

[ab2c4]

I always liked the idea of the Mini when it was the current phone but didn't get one because I figured the display (and thus the keyboard) would be too small for me. Today I got to hold and use a Mini for about 10 minutes. I was absolutely blown away by how incredible it was to hold and use. It wasn't too small at all.

I will kick myself for a long time for missing out on that phone. Hopefully Apple/Samsung/Google come out with phones that size again.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I always liked the idea of the Mini when it was the current phone but didn't get one because I figured the display (and thus the keyboard) would be too small for me. Today I got to hold and use a Mini for about 10 minutes. I was absolutely blown away by how incredible it was to hold and use. It wasn't too small at all.

I will kick myself for a long time for missing out on that phone. Hopefully Apple/Samsung/Google come out with phones that size again.

For those that replaced their OG SE (like myself) with a 12/13 Mini it was an absolute winner. Only slightly larger but with a full screen facia, quicker, much better camera optics and Face ID, in addition to other stuff.

I've no idea how I'd perceive it coming from a larger phone still but I do love a device so pocketable, light and barely noticeable in pockets.

 

[Macdctr]

For those that replaced their OG SE (like myself) with a 12/13 Mini it was an absolute winner. Only slightly larger but with a full screen facia, quicker, much better camera optics and Face ID, in addition to other stuff.

I've no idea how I'd perceive it coming from a larger phone still but I do love a device so pocketable, light and barely noticeable in pockets.

I myself never purchased either the 12 mini or the 13 mini when they were being sold. Back then I was a Pro Max user and had it in my mind that I had to have the Pro Max to take full advantage of the best battery life and its upgraded camera setup. Until last September I was still in this mindset until I purchased the Air and then realized what I had been missing was having a light device so I began to look more closely to the 13 mini and finally got my first in December.

What I found so amazing is just how good this iPhone still is today and I now use my 13 mini as my backup iPhone to handle other tasks although I realize I can use only one iPhone to do everything. I am having so much fun using my 13 mini for my "background" tasks that I have found this iPhone still useful even today. Too bad I don't see Apple going back to this footprint let alone making a flagship level iPhone in the 5.4 inch compact form going forward . . . shame because they can sell this separately from the rest of the iPhone line. Make this a separate "mini" line where you have a mix of the bare bones level mini and then the Pro series mini. One can only dream of this . . .

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I myself never purchased either the 12 mini or the 13 mini when they were being sold. Back then I was a Pro Max user and had it in my mind that I had to have the Pro Max to take full advantage of the best battery life and its upgraded camera setup. Until last September I was still in this mindset until I purchased the Air and then realized what I had been missing was having a light device so I began to look more closely to the 13 mini and finally got my first in December.

What I found so amazing is just how good this iPhone still is today and I now use my 13 mini as my backup iPhone to handle other tasks although I realize I can use only one iPhone to do everything. I am having so much fun using my 13 mini for my "background" tasks that I have found this iPhone still useful even today. Too bad I don't see Apple going back to this footprint let alone making a flagship level iPhone in the 5.4 inch compact form going forward . . . shame because they can sell this separately from the rest of the iPhone line. Make this a separate "mini" line where you have a mix of the bare bones level mini and then the Pro series mini. One can only dream of this . . .

Glad you managed to procure a 13 Mini. For their size, weight and capability they are quite a tech marvel. One can dream but they were already quite expensive so a Pro (thermals, battery aside) would simply not make much economic sense for Apple to build...unfortunately.

My phone gets bullied for its size as most have Pro's or Max's but those folks I know have exclusively this one device. I think I'd struggle with my 13 mini also if that's all I had. But it's used for CarPlay, mostly read-only emails, light banking or calendar use, including some social platform ingesting, vid calls, heck even ph calls...brilliant. Once at home though all other duties are handed to the 16" MBP. I do like your story.

 

[Pantelaias]

Glad you managed to procure a 13 Mini. For their size, weight and capability they are quite a tech marvel. One can dream but they were already quite expensive so a Pro (thermals, battery aside) would simply not make much economic sense for Apple to build...unfortunately.

My phone gets bullied for its size as most have Pro's or Max's but those folks I know have exclusively this one device. I think I'd struggle with my 13 mini also if that's all I had. But it's used for CarPlay, mostly read-only emails, light banking or calendar use, including some social platform ingesting, vid calls, heck even ph calls...brilliant. Once at home though all other duties are handed to the 16" MBP. I do like your story.

thats the irony that people say my phone is small when actually its the opposite their phones are too big.Also general content consumption doesnt fell drastically different on the mini compared to the pro max, but there is a big difference when it comes to using my iPad Air or my MBA.

 

[mstastan]

Three weeks ago, my iPhone 13 mini's screen stopped working. When I couldn't get it repaired, I bought an iPhone 17. I've hated it for three weeks. You put it in a jacket pocket and it sags; it deforms your pants pocket. You can't use it with one hand. It's both heavy and huge. Out of necessity, I bought a second-hand 13 mini. I've been at ease for two days. If Apple releases an 18 mini, I'd gladly go and buy it even if it cost $20,000

 

[ceillehs]

I love my 13 mini and I’d like to keep it, but…

First, it doesn’t have Apple intelligence, which I do appreciate. For example it summarises me news articles on my iPad Pro instead of having to read them. Saves me a lot of time. But I can’t do it on my 13 mini…

Second, I think the 4 GB RAM or whatever it has are starting to be insufficient… constant refreshing as soon as I switch to another app starts to become tiring…

But I absolutely do not have the space for a brick like the iPhone 17 Pro in my pocket! I’d love to have it, if it was the size of the 13 mini.

But right now, there’s no offer for my demand. Anyone else feel this way?

I totally agree. I also have a 13 mini and would love to update with another mini.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Three weeks ago, my iPhone 13 mini's screen stopped working. When I couldn't get it repaired, I bought an iPhone 17. I've hated it for three weeks. You put it in a jacket pocket and it sags; it deforms your pants pocket. You can't use it with one hand. It's both heavy and huge. Out of necessity, I bought a second-hand 13 mini. I've been at ease for two days. If Apple releases an 18 mini, I'd gladly go and buy it even if it cost $20,000

Yep

I played with a 17 multiple times in store and every time I leave thinking…
“That would suck as my daily”

Too tall, too heavy and most importantly…too wide

iPhone 13m width: 2.53 inches (64.2 mm)
iPhone 17 width: 2.81 inches (71.5 mm)
iPhone 17e width: 2.82 inches (71.5 mm)

Goat 🐐 tier

iPhone SE1 (2016) width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
iPhone 5 width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
iPhone 4 width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
iPhone 1 (2007) width: 2.4 inches (61 mm)

👆
It's almost like Apple used to pay attention to "the actual size of human hands".
Imagine that!

 

[geta]

Unfortunately, the only available option, aka compromise, instead of iPhone Mini at the moment is the 17e…

 

[subjonas]

Unfortunately, the only available option, aka compromise, instead of iPhone Mini at the moment is the 17e…

I'd say the Air is the next best option for Mini users. The 17e has the smallest screen, but IMO not enough to make a significant difference for one-handed usability. At these huge 6"+ sizes, they all require a grip accessory to use the phone one-handed securely. But the Air is lighter and thinner than the 17e (and even thinner than the Mini), which makes a significant difference in the pocket and in the hand.