Interesting. I had an iPhone X and 15 Pro, and both were always too wide for my comfort.
Always felt like the mini was as wide as a phone should be, though.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Other We need a new iPhone mini
- Thread starter Silly John Fatty
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Always felt like the mini was as wide as a phone should be, though.
TheBeverage
macrumors regular
I think those measurements were taken in real life... and the e phones still have a camera bump. They haven't made a flush camera phone since the 2016 SE (RIP).
Agreed with the post a couple above that the 15 Pro was the last to feel noticeably more narrow.
rui no onna
Contributor
The 4.7" iPhones (6 to SE 2022) were okay for me.
The 15 Pro was my limit. Not comfortable but doable. I need a phone grip for anything wider (even if it's just by ~0.9 mm).
When I said 'in real life' I meant holding both in hand and seeing which one is more comfortable to hold... and the camera bump the 16e/17e has is much less/smaller compared to other models.
one more
macrumors 603
Actually, a regular iPhone 17 is selling better than anything else in the lineup:
iPhone 17 Outselling Every Other Phone Worldwide So Far This Year
Apple's iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of 2026, capturing 6 percent of worldwide unit sales, according to Counterpoint Research's latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. The iPhone 17 series dominated the top three spots, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in...
www.macrumors.com
snipr125
macrumors 68030
To be fair the base iPhone 17 is pretty much a 'Pro' iPhone nowActually, a regular iPhone 17 is selling better than anything else in the lineup:
iPhone 17 Outselling Every Other Phone Worldwide So Far This Year
Apple's iPhone 17 was the best-selling smartphone globally in the first quarter of 2026, capturing 6 percent of worldwide unit sales, according to Counterpoint Research's latest Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. The iPhone 17 series dominated the top three spots, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in...
MacInTO
macrumors 68000
You cannot be serious! I am not a pro-user, not even close and I checked out the iPhone 17 and was shocked to see how low the bar was in terms of specs for the price! I used a 13 mini because of the size. I eventually switched to a Xiaomi 17 and it is along the lines of the iPhone 17 Pro - and half the price. I definitely did not even look at the iPhone 17 pro because of the price. I'm grateful to all the folks that do buy it because it supports the AAPL share price and my retirement! 🤣
TheBeverage
macrumors regular
imdog
macrumors 6502
My 13 mini's lightning port doesn't work, battery health is 77% and it overheats constantly and lags; so I bit the bullet and was going to try switching to an iPhone 17. This thing is so insanely large and impossible for virtually any human being on earth to use one handed, like I'm astounded by how awful this piece of junk is. Just bought a refurbished mini in good condition. We are truly being ruled by the lowest common denominator of society who do not know how to use a computer and are compulsively glued to endless doomscrolling on their iPad they carry around. Steve Jobs is turning in his grave.
SalisburySam
macrumors 65816
Sorry about that. Our two iPhone13minis are still working well (iOS v18.n.n.n) and batteries are both in the low 80’s. No overheating, no noticeable lagging.
As to the Lightning port, I’ve had problems with ours that were resolved with cleaning. First of all, take a pencil eraser to the Lightning male end of the charging cable to clean both sides of built up dirt. As to the port on the iPhone itself, bend open a safety pin and use the sharp end to dig out the accumulated debris inside the port. You’ll be amazed at how much there is. When cleaned, you can insert the charging cable fully and this tends to resolve most charging issues. I learned this from an AT&T employee when I took an earlier iPhone in for the same reason. I need to do this about every year or so for both our iPhone13minis.
I wonder if a thorough port cleaning and new battery might bring back to steady life your iPhone? As you can probably tell, we’re trying to keep our perfect-for-us-form-factor iPhone13minis going as long as possible.
WebHead
macrumors 6502a
The lightning port on my previous SE wore out from the constant plugging and unplugging so I've tried to wirelessly charge my 13 mini as much as possible. Also the battery health just dipped below 80% (despite keeping the charge between 40% & 80% as much as possible) so will be upgrading the battery in the hope of squeezing a few more years out of it.
ThatsMrsGeek2U
macrumors member
The issue is not that the Mini size was unpopular, its that Apple has tied size with capability in their iPhones and that is idiotic.
In old PowerBooks it used to always be
Then they slipped way to far to a line up like:
So what people were choosing was often a good camera that means they went big, not the other way around.
Now imagine if they clean their iPhone line up to look like:
*Models focused on form (slim, foldable)
Even if a handful of these released on alternate years this would be wildly successful.
What Apple would learn quickly is that phone size and phone capabilities are totally unrelated demands in customers minds.
I would be getting a 1C in a heartbeat and consider a 4C as a second phone in the future when I could afford it.
What would you get?
In old PowerBooks it used to always be
| Good | Better | Best | |
| Small | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Medium | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Big | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Then they slipped way to far to a line up like:
| iPhones | Cheep | Standard | Pro |
| Mini | ✔️ | ||
| Standard | ✔️ | ||
| Max | ✔️ |
So what people were choosing was often a good camera that means they went big, not the other way around.
Now imagine if they clean their iPhone line up to look like:
| Specs➡️/Size⬇️ | A. Budget | B. Standard | C. Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mini | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| 2.Standard | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| 3. Max | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| 4.*Special | ✔️Air | ✔️Ultra |
Even if a handful of these released on alternate years this would be wildly successful.
What Apple would learn quickly is that phone size and phone capabilities are totally unrelated demands in customers minds.
I would be getting a 1C in a heartbeat and consider a 4C as a second phone in the future when I could afford it.
What would you get?
MacInTO
macrumors 68000
I totally agree! iPhone mini could have been so much more. I would have definitely gotten the 1C.
I wish the icons could have been made smaller to fit for more apps onto the screen. It could have also been slight thicker also to accommodate a larger battery.
I have a normal size Android phone now and what I like is that it is customizable where I can have a layout of 4x6, 4x7 or 5x8 icons. I use the 5x8 because I'm not blind! 😎 When I use the mini now, it feels like a Fisher Price toy.
I am afraid the mini is not coming back all one has to do is look at our youth they are 2 hand texting as fast as a courtroom stenographer and their the ones buying them year after year whether there is a serious upgrade or not.