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Other We need a new iPhone mini
- Thread starter Silly John Fatty
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The Fold is supposed to be wider than the Mini, and even wider than the Pro Max, so the screen will be significantly bigger than the Mini's. And especially because it will be so wide, it will likely be pretty difficult to use one-handed.
For me, any phone wider than the Mini (and more ideally the SE1) can't be used securely one-handed without some type of grip accessory. Even when I had an SE3, I used it with a grip.
I have an Air now because I realized if I have to use a grip with all phones because they're all big, then I care less about having a small as possible screen than just having a light as possible phone that's pleasant to hold and a thin as possible phone that's pleasant to pocket. So the Air obviously works best in that regard right now. I'd still like a smaller phone, but not the Fold because it would be too thick in my pocket folded up throughout the day. I wouldn't mind a folding iPad Mini though as a secondary device for home. I don't mind occasional bulk in my sweatpants pockets.
I know the feeling! 🤣
i do hope we get a clamshell device that is OG SE sized when opened, but not holding my breath.
My wife would agree with you! She’d be okay with a 5/5s/SE sized phone, though. She has a feature phone due to the lack of smaller options.
Apple would own the small phone market if they came out with a 18 mini. It may not sell gazillions, but Mazda keeps making the Miata for like 35 years. It owns the small sports car market, and attracts brand loyalty.
what small phone market!
dont get me wrong, i love and have always daily'd apples smallest phone available, but even on the android side, what small phones?
i think we won't see another small phone until a flip folding device happens.
1rottenapple
macrumors 603
Apple likes money and if there was this magical small phone market that can turn a healthy profit you bet they would shove a mini phone there. But clearly the websites and app today struggle to fit in a small phone. The se with 4.7 doesn’t display apps correctly, believe me I had a se 3 and it looks wacky. and on my 13 mini apps look CRAMP. It doesn’t look right. And asking people to pay 700 for a small phone is asking too much when for an extra 100 they can get an even bigger phone.
Edit; man I always fall into these mini debates with basically the same arguments lol. Too tempting to not reply.
i dont know who youre 'debating ' with, we agree. i just said 'what small phone market' and confirmed there are no small phones...
Every app seems cramped on the iPhone compared to my iPad Mini which cost less…
On the go I want to carry a small and light iPhone, not phablets.
rui no onna
Contributor
Apple did own the small phone market (likely because no one else was making small phones).
I believe estimates show they sold like 5 million units of the iPhone mini in a year. Alas, that number appears to be way too small for Apple's liking to continue making them.
I would like a new small phone. Say half the screen estate and thinner.
I no longer believe it has to do with units, revenue, etc. Apple just doesn't want to make one and we even saw how fast they pushed the 12 Mini and 13 Mini out of the refurb store a few years ago. There were even rumors that Apple destroyed Minis rather than sell them refurb but let's put those aside even though this is a rumor site.
If it was just meeting a certain volume/revenue threshold, Apple wouldn't sell HomePods or even the iPad Mini. Both likely generate revenue/volumes less than what a Mini would do and the former has separate ongoing OS/etc costs. Meanwhile the incremental cost of keeping a Mini in the lineup would be no greater than an Air, 16e, etc, and likely less if they just recycled resolutions and form factors from previous generations.
I believe the issue is that the market that wants an iPhone Mini isn't the market segment that Apple wants. We don't buy lots of apps, use lots of services, upgrade every year, etc. People with small screen phones are likely to use their their phones as phones and messaging tools. Apple likes people who buys lots of games/IAP on the app store, use lots of iCloud and other Apple services, etc. Large phones with large screens are a good match to influencers, gamers, and those who use iPhones as their primary computer. Not to mention old people walking around yelling into their phones while on speaker...
snipr125
macrumors 68030
The iPhone Air in a 6.1" screen size would have been a great option for us (smaller would have been great but unrealistic). Would have weighed about the same as the 12/13 Mini.
I loved my Blackberry phones. I didn't switch to Apple until the iPhone 5 as I preferred the real keyboard on the Blackberry.
i preordered that clicks keyboard. seems like a decent interim option!
alot clunky but at least its removable
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This is a great take and not a narrative widely talked about here. I appreciate your perspective on this.
For one handed use on the subway or for going in fitted/tailored pants, the mini is the phone to beat. I recently was forced into iOS 26, and my 13 mini is no longer as responsive as it used to be.
I hated going from a 4 to a 6s, but the original SE hadn’t come out yet when my 4 died. No, I don’t really buy apps, or upgrade/change my phone every year, but I have four Macs in active use, along with an iPad Pro, so it’s not like I don’t spend.
That said, Apple probably recognizes that I’m so unlikely to switch out that they might as well save some money on development. When my 13mini dies, chances are I’ll dutifully walk into an Apple Store and ask for whatever’s there…
I hated going from a 4 to a 6s, but the original SE hadn’t come out yet when my 4 died. No, I don’t really buy apps, or upgrade/change my phone every year, but I have four Macs in active use, along with an iPad Pro, so it’s not like I don’t spend.
That said, Apple probably recognizes that I’m so unlikely to switch out that they might as well save some money on development. When my 13mini dies, chances are I’ll dutifully walk into an Apple Store and ask for whatever’s there…
Macdctr
macrumors 65816
I too have iOS 26 installed on a few of my 13 minis (yes I have a few of them on hand) and as much as I would prefer having iOS 18 on them the ones running the latest iOS seem to be doing so without any major hiccups. For my use case, they all seem to be running very well. I have no complaints.
The iPhone or just portable phones in general have evolved into the do everything pocket computer. And, I can ‘see’ why a larger display can be an advantage in use. There aren’t enough people [like me, still with a 13 mini] that just use a phone for communication and light internet use. I usually have my iPad with me for any larger display or power needs once at my destination or in my lap, enjoy a real camera, and a MacBook Pro at home. A new foldable iPhone will become the ‘new mini’ with APPLE hoping it bridges the compact and display size need.
actcyclist
macrumors 6502
Spinarelo
macrumors 6502
There is NO small phone market. I don’t know when the mini maniacs are finally going to realize this and move on
Macdctr
macrumors 65816
I, being a fairly new 13 mini owner, can say in the few months I have been using my 13 mini (since December 2024) that this is one amazing full featured iPhone. At the time these iPhones were being sold by Apple, I was still using my 11 Pro Max and did not have any desire to get a new iPhone. To be honest I never bothered looking at this iPhone and regret not buying one brand new.
With that said, I have since acquired several 13 minis to use as my backup iPhone and enjoy using them to this day. I can see why there are people who really love this form factor. I find this small handheld form factor very refreshing and nice to use on a daily basis.
I do wish Apple would consider going back to this form factor using higher capacity silicone batteries which should work much better with this form factor. Apple should make this a new tier of iPhones . . . the "Mini and Mini Pro line".
With that said, I have since acquired several 13 minis to use as my backup iPhone and enjoy using them to this day. I can see why there are people who really love this form factor. I find this small handheld form factor very refreshing and nice to use on a daily basis.
I do wish Apple would consider going back to this form factor using higher capacity silicone batteries which should work much better with this form factor. Apple should make this a new tier of iPhones . . . the "Mini and Mini Pro line".
ClaraStahlbaum
macrumors 6502a
If you want a smaller phone just use only half of your phone, get an app or something that makes half the screen black. I don't think this is a marketable demographic, and I am glad Apple has moved on from the "mini" lineup.