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Other We need a new iPhone mini
- Thread starter Silly John Fatty
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Display Zoom on the mini is the same logical resolution as Display Zoom on the iPhone Pro, so they share the same fate here.
So would I. I have an air. And owned both minis. The air battery so far is great. And if they put new battery tech into the mini ? It’d last easily a day.
Well, I was a little confused by the shipping package Apple sent - there were two slightly different addresses inside, and it was difficult to figure out which was the correct one (I emailed in, but the reply didn’t give me confidence - just ball-passing on their part).
Confused address labels, then it being returned. I figured to cut my losses and just keep the phone “as-is” before it got swallowed up in the confusion completely!
In the end I ended up with a 12 mini (after the SE 2020 in between), but my faith in the battery exchange system has never been restored. That’s another reason I don’t feel like spending £1000 on an iPhone, because I figure it lasts only as long as the battery does.
i think this is where Apple saw a niche but even that niche isn't enough to keep Apple-level production going.
The modern smartphone experience requires a larger screen - you cannot use a Mini size phone effectively anymore unless you do so little on your phone / have other more optimal devices that you keep on you that a dumbphone would almost do (e.g. me). So that was Apple's approach to addressing a niche that still exists among some people for a phone that's not as bricky as a regular iPhone.
The main problem with the Air I think is that it's not premium enough - the single lens kills it in terms of consumer perception. For your average idiot, when you're spending more than the base iPhone you want to see that multi lens hump as proof that you spent more.
As long as you can live without Apple AI (which I believe anyone can), the 13 Mini remains a perfectly viable device and doesn’t require a refresh. I recently replaced my 13 with a 17 Pro and wrote an entire post about not needing to replace it because it was still perfectly usable and fully supported in 2025.
The 13 Mini should still have 2-3 more iOS updates left in its lifecycle.
The 13 Mini should still have 2-3 more iOS updates left in its lifecycle.
I recently went from a 13 mini to a 17, had it about 2 weeks now. It still feels much bigger in my pocket, that difference doesn't seem to be going away. But in my hand, I think I now prefer the size of the 17, my accuracy in typing has certainly improved.
I upgraded because as you say the 13 mini was starting to feel old / obsolete, and there's no new Apple phone in that size on the horizon it seems. If they release another mini in future, I will certainly check it out.
I upgraded because as you say the 13 mini was starting to feel old / obsolete, and there's no new Apple phone in that size on the horizon it seems. If they release another mini in future, I will certainly check it out.
A new iPhone Mini?
No need, unless you demand Ai.
Put a new battery in a 13 Mini and keep rolling.
No need, unless you demand Ai.
Put a new battery in a 13 Mini and keep rolling.
I love my 13 minis but they're getting a bit long in the tooth in 2025. Battery life even with a new battery is nothing like the newer phones including the Air. No always on display is a deal breaker for me. Slower charging, 12MP main camera, lightning connector. Some big deals to me and a lot of little things. I still use it on the weekends when I'm working out in the yard but with my Air now I no longer feeling like I miss the mini as much.
This was a solid enough suggestion 2 years ago. Doesn’t hold a candle to modern phones - I replaced my mini’s battery in June at 82% and I wish I’d saved the $90 with such little improvement.
iPhone 20 Mini, or just the iPhone Mini:
Oh oh... and for that model, Apple is re-introducing their original leather covers. They defend it by saying that the phone is so small that not much leather is needed.
Would you buy it?
- Same size as iPhone 13 Mini
- Two cameras. Same camera shape as iPhone 16 and 17.
- Rounded edges on the frame like iPhone 15 and up
- Matte glass on the back.
- Dynamic Island
- Action Button
- USB-C
- MagSafe
- 120 Hz Display and Always On.
- Colors: Space Grey, White/Silver, Alpine Green, Sierra Blue, og product Red.
- Price: Same price as iPhone 17.
Oh oh... and for that model, Apple is re-introducing their original leather covers. They defend it by saying that the phone is so small that not much leather is needed.
Would you buy it?
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I stopped by an Apple Store today to give all the new models some test drives. There’s been plenty of people saying they moved from their Mini to the new Air, but man, it’s just so big. Especially width, I could barely reach the other side with my thumb. It felt much more like an anorexic Pro Max model than it did a svelte regular size iPhone.
Of the new ones, I would say the base 17 is the best overall replacement. It’s the smallest and the lightest option (besides the 16E, which is a known entity and is not really new). The 17 Pro is really heavy. If my 13 Mini broke today, I would go base 17. That upgraded screen makes a big difference.
Of the new ones, I would say the base 17 is the best overall replacement. It’s the smallest and the lightest option (besides the 16E, which is a known entity and is not really new). The 17 Pro is really heavy. If my 13 Mini broke today, I would go base 17. That upgraded screen makes a big difference.
I do laugh at someone calling a Pro iPhone a brick.
Clearly they never had any of the early Motorola phones.
And those only made phone calls.
Clearly they never had any of the early Motorola phones.
And those only made phone calls.
The sales were terrible for mini. I would never buy one, though I wouldn't have anything against it existing for the people that would, but sales data showed that it wouldn't be viable. The R&D plus cost of the phone far outweigh the income potential. It is what it is, unfortunate for those who like a smaller phone.
Can’t I side rant based off the 12 mini?
After 18 years of iphone ownership, I decided to try and replace our 5 year old 12 mini’s battery that was struggling with 73% health. This phone is now shared by my two oldest kids.
I know with little effort, Apple could make battery swaps super easy. But instead their business model is either you dump the phone (and upgrade) when the battery is useless, take it to Apple for an $89 swap, or climb the mount Everest of repairs: doing it yourself.
Man, after 3 hours, breaking the screen and watching endless youtubes, I can proudly say I did it. 100% battery health, a new brighter OLED screen and the satisfaction of something (not clear what I accomplished). Many times I was ready to throw in the towel and buy a used iphone 15 (non-pro), but I held strong.
Why does apple insist on making the access point to a battery the front of the device (iphone, ipad, watch) behind a delicate screen instead of the back where it would be SO much easier to get at?
After 18 years of iphone ownership, I decided to try and replace our 5 year old 12 mini’s battery that was struggling with 73% health. This phone is now shared by my two oldest kids.
I know with little effort, Apple could make battery swaps super easy. But instead their business model is either you dump the phone (and upgrade) when the battery is useless, take it to Apple for an $89 swap, or climb the mount Everest of repairs: doing it yourself.
Man, after 3 hours, breaking the screen and watching endless youtubes, I can proudly say I did it. 100% battery health, a new brighter OLED screen and the satisfaction of something (not clear what I accomplished). Many times I was ready to throw in the towel and buy a used iphone 15 (non-pro), but I held strong.
Why does apple insist on making the access point to a battery the front of the device (iphone, ipad, watch) behind a delicate screen instead of the back where it would be SO much easier to get at?
I say bring the mini back as the SE and dump the current giant SE form factor.
18e mini $499
18 $799
18 air (if you must) $999
18 pro $1099
18e mini $499
18 $799
18 air (if you must) $999
18 pro $1099
I think you nailed it. The Air is really just a thin alternative to the Pro Max/Plus line.
The size is big enough where I also found it to be noticeably bigger than the vanilla iPhone/Pro line.
I think a smaller Air would make a lot of mini owners happy. But who knows if we will ever get that.
I really love my vanilla iPhone 17 and I think a lot more people should consider it.
The same people with arthritis probably have weak vision and a small display is barely usable and the dexterity on a small display also suffers. There is a Goldilocks form but for people with arthritis or aging individuals the iPhone mini is not it.
This is me. What would be Goldilocks for me at the moment is the 5.8" iPhone X but with smaller bezels.
A smaller version of 16e would be ideal.