Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The strongest case against keeping one’s aging 13 Mini is that it doesn’t have the newest technology.

The strongest case for keeping one’s old friend is that there’s no substitute in small size and low mass.

With eyes wide open, I sacrifice new tech for the never-to-be-repeated form factor.
I have to agree here . . . I just "retired" my 15 Pro Max for my newly purchased Green 13 Mini because I wanted to have an iPhone that was compact and light. Having full screen in a compact body as opposed to earlier gen iPhones that had a thick bezels on the display panel, made the switch much easier for me.

I love my green 13 Mini and the colors Apple used in the 12/13 series iPhone. I was pleasantly surprised by how well my new to me Mini has been performing that I will most likely add a red and blue, perhaps adding a midnight 13 Mini in pristine condition to my iPhone collection.

These iPhones were seriously underrated just like how people are underrating the new iPhone Air . . .
 
Last edited:
I wish that the Reachability feature would just emulate the Mini full sized screen rather than just bring the top of screen down.
Great idea. I have an iPhone Air but if I could put it in Mini (aka one-hand) mode, I would keep it in that mode all the time while I'm out, and only put it into regular full screen mode when I come home which is where I do all my screen consumption. I already always have the keyboard in right-hand mode.

(This is assuming text and UI would re format/optimize to the smaller screen rather than just shrink)
 
My all-time favorite phone for size and weight is... the Google Pixel 5. Perfect screen size and overall size, and it's so light you'd think it's an empty demo device rather than a fully functional phone.

The downside, of course, is Android. So I keep it as a backup.
 
How do you feel now about the upgrade? How are you find the battery life? I don’t know whether to replace the battery and wait for the base iPhone 18 or finally leave my 13 mini behind. It’s such a perfect iPhone for me.
Everything is better apart from the size. Battery life is much better, my 13 mini was showing 80% health and went from 100% to zero in about 8 hours, didn't last beyond late afternoon before needing a charge. I'm currently limiting my 17 to 80% charge capacity (to see if it helps with longevity) and I am still seeing 30-40% at bed time, so it's using 50% over 15 or so hours, a huge improvement. It still feels big in my pocket though 😀
 
My iPhone 12 mini is still working fine. I’ll replace the battery next year and see how long it keeps going.
When I eventually have to downgrade to a larger phone, I’ll just get what’s cheap because it’s a grudge purchase.

BTW! The last new function, that wasn’t an iterative change, to the iPhone was Emergency SOS via satellite and before that Apple Pay. A new iPhone is often only marginally different
 
Last edited:
I don't know why they can just make it a bit thicker so the battery is good. I stoped using the mini cause I got used to 120hz.. if it had 120hz, good camera and battery it would be the perfect phone. (the mini)
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: leifp and xpxp2002
My iPhone 12 mini is still working fine. I’ll replace the battery next year and see how long it keeps going.
When I eventually have to downgrade to a larger phone, I’ll just get what’s cheap because it’s a grudge purchase.

BTW! The last new function, that wasn’t an iterative change, to the iPhone was Emergency SOS via satellite and before that Apple Pay. A new iPhone is often only marginally different
that’s what made me upgrade the sos function because I hike a lot 2x a week and sometimes deep into the woods as well as 4x4. Otherwise the use change doesn’t change from mini to air. I do use Siri with chstgpt and that’s also nice but not a killer
 
that’s what made me upgrade the sos function because I hike a lot 2x a week and sometimes deep into the woods as well as 4x4. Otherwise the use change doesn’t change from mini to air. I do use Siri with chstgpt and that’s also nice but not a killer
Cellphones transition to Satphones in 2027 in the USA and Mexico. I suppose that’s when I’ll retire my 13mini.
 
I wish, man. I've not enjoyed the physical size of any of the iPhones I've had (6, SE 2nd, 16e) compared to the smaller size of the mini. Too big, too wide, too tall. I think reviewers and YouTubers hated the mini because of the "bad" battery life, but it was not that much worse than the full sized iPhones at the time, and it was better than the SE that was out at the same time as it. I just think Apple screwed up by releasing the SE when they did, right before the mini, because a lot of cost-conscious people went with the SE instead (myself included, and many of my family members). We never even got to try a mini for ourselves because it was discontinued before we were ready to upgrade again.
 
Unless Apple decides to refresh them every few years, the mini iPhones are well and truly dead. They aren't really phones anymore; they are media consumption devices, so people want big screens.

Personally I could never drop below a max size.
 
  • Like
Reactions: venom600
We need a new iPhone 4S. It's the one format which would make me return to iPhones. I still think big screens that can't be used fully with one thumb are a downgrade. It feels like being an acrobat whenever I need to click something at the very top of the display with one hand.

1000022000.jpg
 
I don't know why they can just make it a bit thicker so the battery is good. I stoped using the mini cause I got used to 120hz.. if it had 120hz, good camera and battery it would be the perfect phone. (the mini)
This. I think many chose a larger phone just afraid of the battery size of the mini. If it would have been say 1.5-2mm thicker would probably have been enough for the battery to be on par. But would still have been usable with one hand.

This is why I think the air won’t sell. Big but small battery.

Had a 12 mini, now use 16e and 16 pro and i honestly hate it. (like the better speakerphone and battery life. Don’t really notice the 120Hz. )
 
Last edited:
This. I think many chose a larger phone just afraid of the battery size of the mini. If it would have been say 1.5-2mm thicker would probably have been enough for the battery to be on par. But would still have been usable with one hand.

This is why I think the air won’t sell. Big but small battery.

Had a 12 mini, now use 16e and 16 pro and i honestly hate it. (like the better speakerphone and battery life. Don’t really notice the 120Hz. )

In fairness, the Air has just a teensy bit less battery capacity compared to the regular iPhone 13.

I’ve used an Air. Battery life is average but it’s not bad. I have low onscreen time but use the Air often with no wifi, poor cell signal and constant bluetooth. With a 90% charge limit, I still have ~40-50% at the end of the day.

I’ve switched to a 17 as the Air was too big for my liking but battery life wasn’t a concern.
 
News and reviews calling ~6.1" mini these days. The size of my hand hasn't changed in the past 15-20 years.

Alas, even el cheapo Android phones have 6.5-6.7” displays nowadays. 6.1” is already on the low end of current smartphone sizes.

I’d like something like the iPhone X’s 5.8” with reduced bezels. Alas, I doubt we’ll see one so I’ve come to accept 6.1” as I expect 6.5” might be the minimum sooner rather than later.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: lpc2 and geta
Like lapels, hemlines, and neckties that contract/expand, then snap back, I expect that some point in the future, Apple will announce ..

“And now for something completely different—an iPhone that slips in your pocket!”​
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: lpc2 and Macdctr
So it looks like the Fold will have a 5.3" outer display, so actually slightly smaller than the mini. As a tech enthusiast I've always been someone who liked upgrading often and having the latest and greatest, stopped upgrading after the 13 mini but its performance is becoming a bit frustrating at this point. The Air is massive and I would rather have the regular 17 or 17 pro over it even though they're thicker and heavier, because they are more usable one handed and are smaller in dimension. I don't care all that much about thickness or weight compared to portability, usability & cuteness.

I think I may finally upgrade with the Fold, it still won't be ideal as I would prefer it to be thinner and lighter and I'm hoping it won't be too wide to fit in a pocket or use comfortable one handed. Though I have always wished iPhones were slightly wider and shorter in form factor than they are, so we'll see. I wish in open mode that it could use an Apple Pencil though, as this would make my iPad mini obsolete as the only thing I need it for is drawing.

Anyone else in the same boat? How many of you guys will finally upgrade with the Fold?
 
So it looks like the Fold will have a 5.3" outer display, so actually slightly smaller than the mini. As a tech enthusiast I've always been someone who liked upgrading often and having the latest and greatest, stopped upgrading after the 13 mini but its performance is becoming a bit frustrating at this point. The Air is massive and I would rather have the regular 17 or 17 pro over it even though they're thicker and heavier, because they are more usable one handed and are smaller in dimension. I don't care all that much about thickness or weight compared to portability, usability & cuteness.

I think I may finally upgrade with the Fold, it still won't be ideal as I would prefer it to be thinner and lighter and I'm hoping it won't be too wide to fit in a pocket or use comfortable one handed. Though I have always wished iPhones were slightly wider and shorter in form factor than they are, so we'll see. I wish in open mode that it could use an Apple Pencil though, as this would make my iPad mini obsolete as the only thing I need it for is drawing.

Anyone else in the same boat? How many of you guys will finally upgrade with the Fold?
Fold—no. It’ll have Liquid Glass. And be as an expensive as a kidney.

I don’t experience a lack of performance in my mini. 18.7.3. And it’s pocketable.

But everyone has his own individual wants and desires. I hope the Fold sells well. I hope the entire product line does well. I hope AAPL outlives me.
 
I will get the new Fold when it comes out in the max storage configuration however with this said, the Fold when I get it will remain in it's original unopened packaging and placed in my iPhone collection. Personally, I have no need for an iPhone Fold however I do recognize the "first time ever" form factor for Apple and want to add this device to my unique iPhone collection. :apple:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AlanMarron
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.