iPhone 13 mini What Will You Do Now iPhone mini Owners?

[ISignedUpToAskThis]

Just wanted to say...

I was a diehard "mini" fan. I hated the larger phones, never bought the 'Plus' or 'Pro' phones, let alone the Pro Max.

When Apple stopped making 'mini' phones after the 13 mini, I was disappointed.

So I thought, I might as well try and get used to a larger phone. So I bought a 15 Pro.

Honestly, it's been absolutely fine! I even think it's a little small now, I've been tempted by the Pro Max a few times.

So it's really just a case of adjusting - trust me, for most of you who swear by the 12 mini/13 mini, just give the Pro a try for a while, you might be surprised how easy it is to adjust and get used to it.

If Apple brought out an 18 mini next year (they won't), I just wouldn't switch back to the smaller size anymore.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Honestly, it's been absolutely fine! I even think it's a little small now, I've been tempted by the Pro Max a few times.

So it's really just a case of adjusting - trust me, for most of you who swear by the 12 mini/13 mini, just give the Pro a try for a while, you might be surprised how easy it is to adjust and get used to it.

To each their own. If I need a bigger screen, I have a 14" MBP and 15" MBA at home, 2x 24" monitors connected to a PC, a 55" TV, and a 70" TV. For me, my phone is what I use to check the bank account with after my wife's in Target for two hours, and a way to call, text, or be on-call for work. I don't need a bigger screen, because I don't use my phone for content consumption.

I guess I could start using my phone as a content consumption device where an iPro would make more sense, but why in the world would I want to do that?

 

[maerz001]

Just wanted to say...

I was a diehard "mini" fan. I hated the larger phones, never bought the 'Plus' or 'Pro' phones, let alone the Pro Max.

When Apple stopped making 'mini' phones after the 13 mini, I was disappointed.

So I thought, I might as well try and get used to a larger phone. So I bought a 15 Pro.

Honestly, it's been absolutely fine! I even think it's a little small now, I've been tempted by the Pro Max a few times.

So it's really just a case of adjusting - trust me, for most of you who swear by the 12 mini/13 mini, just give the Pro a try for a while, you might be surprised how easy it is to adjust and get used to it.

If Apple brought out an 18 mini next year (they won't), I just wouldn't switch back to the smaller size anymore.

I feel you had a mini for 3 years and every time i hold a normal 6,1“ it felt uncomfortable.
But after I destroyed my mini by accident i bought a 15pro. Half a year later i wanted something bigger and have a PM now

 

[maerz001]

I’m leaning towards the iPhone Air. I will look ant all the new iPhones this Friday and then place an order. iPhone mini owners are the proverbial Japanese soldiers still fighting the war after it ends. I’m still one but not for long.

the Air is nearly same weight as the normal 6.1“ iphones (12 was 1 gram lighter, 16 is 5 grams heavier).
So the logical step would be to try a 6.1“.

 

[Selena Agna]

No reason to give up on the 13 mini yet.
Gonna get a battery replacement later this year though.

As long as all the apps I need stay compatible, I'm fine with never upgrading anything. After that ... things might get complicated.

 

[TheRdungeon]

Has anyone here been running the iOS 26 Beta with their 13 mini? I've heard the performance/battery life has been taking a hit

 

[Selena Agna]

Has anyone here been running the iOS 26 Beta with their 13 mini? I've heard the performance/battery life has been taking a hit

The keyboard lag is noticeable and really annoyed me.

For this reason alone, I wouldn't recommend upgrading to 26 if you don't have to.

 

[TheRdungeon]

The keyboard lag is noticeable and really annoyed me.

For this reason alone, I wouldn't recommend upgrading to 26 if you don't have to.

Thanks, I might keep this thing on it's current OS indefinitely I think until I hear otherwise

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

Honestly, it's been absolutely fine! I even think it's a little small now, I've been tempted by the Pro Max a few times.

Two types of mini owners exist -- the intransigent and the nostalgic. My favorite iPhones were the X, XS, and 11 Pro. The 5.8 inch screen was ideal. I bought the 12 Pro but returned it because 6.1 inches was a little unwieldy in the hand and pocket but I also returned it because of the yellow screen that plagued the 12 series. I sat out the 12 series and then bought the 13 mini the following year. I suspect that like you I will adjust given my X, XS, and 11 Pro history.

 

[rui no onna]

Two types of mini owners exist -- the intransigent and the nostalgic.

Nah. I just have small hands and short fingers. Even on the 4.7” iPhones, I had to shimmy the phone around to reach different parts of the display.

My favorite iPhones were the X, XS, and 11 Pro. The 5.8 inch screen was ideal. I bought the 12 Pro but returned it because 6.1 inches was a little unwieldy in the hand and pocket but I also returned it because of the yellow screen that plagued the 12 series. I sat out the 12 series and then bought the 13 mini the following year. I suspect that like you I will adjust given my X, XS, and 11 Pro history.

The 5.8” iPhones are a good size. I’ve never used one at length but I found them not too unwieldy on the few occasions I have.

I’m okay with the 6.1” iPhone 12-17 (70-72mm wide). They’re two-handed phones for me when I need to type and stuff but at least I can doomscroll reddit with one hand.

Wider than 72mm seems to be a no go. I just can’t get a secure grip on them. I keep dropping the iPhone XR/11 and Plus/Pro Max if I try to use them one-handed even when just scrolling on websites.

 

[geta]

16/17e will be the only option in case some apps I use on a daily basis will no longer work.

 

[tcuprof]

My wife has a 13 mini. She said, "I'm keeping it until either it or I die." 😂

 

[vvvvvv]

Upgraded my mini to iOS 26 yesterday. Battery life is fine, but 4gb is absolutely not cutting it for the added animations, even with 'Reduce Transparency' enabled. Rough.

 

[subjonas]

Just wanted to say...

I was a diehard "mini" fan. I hated the larger phones, never bought the 'Plus' or 'Pro' phones, let alone the Pro Max.

When Apple stopped making 'mini' phones after the 13 mini, I was disappointed.

So I thought, I might as well try and get used to a larger phone. So I bought a 15 Pro.

Honestly, it's been absolutely fine! I even think it's a little small now, I've been tempted by the Pro Max a few times.

So it's really just a case of adjusting - trust me, for most of you who swear by the 12 mini/13 mini, just give the Pro a try for a while, you might be surprised how easy it is to adjust and get used to it.

If Apple brought out an 18 mini next year (they won't), I just wouldn't switch back to the smaller size anymore.

I've tried all sizes of phones over the years, going back and forth between small-medium-big multiple times (currently using a Pro Max but planning to ditch it soon), and BY FAR my preference is the (now extinct) small true one-handed phone. Considering large phones have completely taken over the market for a long time now, I feel like most people who haven't moved on to bigger phones by now are the real small-phone users, not just those who haven't given bigger phones a chance. There may be some stragglers who haven't realized they prefer bigger phones, but I suspect those are now the minority of the minority.

I think the reason people differ widely in phone size preference lies both in their tolerance for carrying around/using large devices and probably more so in the way they want to use their phone. People who use their phone screen a lot (as opposed to mainly using audio or using their phone sparingly in general), specifically outside the home where a bigger device is not usually available, tend to be much more willing to overlook the inconveniences of a big phone in order to have the bigger screen with more content and larger battery. People who don't use their phone screen a lot when out and about don't tend to overlook the inconveniences of the big phone because the bigger screen and battery are not much advantage to them and therefore don't compensate. These people likely choose to save their screen time for home, where they can use more ideal larger screen devices like an iPad, computer, or TV.

There are also those who want the larger screen because of poor eyesight, but if one doesn't use their screen a lot, one can always enlarge the font size system-wide and just scroll a little more.

(edit- there are also those who want the larger onscreen keyboard for easier typing. For those who use the QuickPath gesture keyboard with one finger/thumb, a smaller keyboard is actually easier to use.)

Of course, in this day and age, people who use their screen a lot when out and about are by far the dominant group, and often they don't understand and believe those few who don't want to use their screen a lot (at least until they go home). For myself it's actually a conscious decision.

 

[rui no onna]

I think the reason people differ widely in phone size preference lies both in their tolerance for carrying around/using large devices and probably more so in the way they want to use their phone. People who use their phone screen a lot (as opposed to mainly using audio or using their phone sparingly in general), specifically outside the home where a bigger device is not usually available, tend to be much more willing to overlook the inconveniences of a big phone in order to have the bigger screen with more content and larger battery. People who don't use their phone screen a lot when out and about don't tend to overlook the inconveniences of the big phone because the bigger screen and battery are not much advantage to them and therefore don't compensate. These people likely choose to save their screen time for home, where they can use more ideal larger screen devices like an iPad, computer, or TV.

I find all iPhone screens too small so I prefer to use a cellular iPad mini when I'm out and about.

For my phone, I prefer something I can sorta use with one hand and for that, my limit seems to be 72mm wide. The 75mm wide phones, I'd just drop all the time unless it has a ring or PopSocket. As you've noted, truly one-handed phones are now extinct and I honestly wouldn't want to go back to 3.5" anyway.

 

[zaidbaby]

Getting 17 or 17 Pro. I am done with the Mini. Its slow, 4GB ram isn't cutting it for me. I wish I had another choice. I am happy to move out of Apple but there is nothing.

 

[subjonas]

I find all iPhone screens too small so I prefer to use a cellular iPad mini when I'm out and about.

For my phone, I prefer something I can sorta use with one hand and for that, my limit seems to be 72mm wide. The 75mm wide phones, I'd just drop all the time unless it has a ring or PopSocket. As you've noted, truly one-handed phones are now extinct and I honestly wouldn't want to go back to 3.5" anyway.

So would you ideally want to carry both a <72mm wide phone and an iPad Mini? Or just the Mini?

I would kill for a new 3.5" iPhone haha. The priority in that era was one-handed use, which is still my priority (or it would be if it was an option). I'm ok with slightly taller phones like the 4" SE1 because like you suggested one-handed usage is mostly about the screen/device width. The 5.4" Mini being both wider and taller is not ideal for one-handed use IMO but barely passable. But anything wider, like the 4.7" SE3 I had, although maybe overall smaller in screen size than the Mini, I don't consider a one-handed device. I had to use a Snap Grip even on that to feel safe using it one-handed.

 

[rui no onna]

So would you ideally want to carry both a <72mm wide phone and an iPad Mini? Or just the Mini?

Purse so I can easily carry both. I used to carry the OG iPad Air then Pro 9.7 before getting the iPad mini 6.

I'm ok with slightly taller phones like the 4" SE1 because like you suggested one-handed usage is mostly about the screen/device width. The 5.4" Mini being both wider and taller is not ideal for one-handed use IMO but barely passable. But anything wider, like the 4.7" SE3 I had, although maybe overall smaller in screen size than the Mini, I don't consider a one-handed device. I had to use a Snap Grip even on that to feel safe using it one-handed.

I actually prefer the SE3 with its shorter display over the 12/13 mini. I dunno, the 4.7" 16:9 just works better for my hands than the mini's 5.4" 20:9.

Up to iPhone X I find to be doable. Not comfortable but doable. I would still need to use two hands when typing and other tasks but at least I can answer calls or read messages with just one hand. Anything bigger and I'm constantly dropping if I don't hold with two hands.

 

[MICHAELSD]

How do mini owners feel about the Air?

 

[turbineseaplane]

What will I do?

Buy a new battery for my 13 Mini and stay on iOS 18 for the foreseeable future.

 

[rui no onna]

How do mini owners feel about the Air?

Got a slim Air case to test and found it too wide so it's a no go for me. The Air is around the same width as iPhone XR/11 and I couldn't use those even without cases.

The regular 17 is just 12g heavier than the Air so not a massive difference and its dimensions suit me better.

I think the Air is really more for the folks tired of the Pro Max and wanting to downsize.

 

[RoadWarrior56]

Keeping my iPhone 13 Mini for at least another year. Replaced the battery last spring, and still have an original MagSafe battery pack for the times I need the extra battery life. If I were replacing my phone, I would at least consider the iPhone Air, due to its light weight. The lightness as well as the size were the reasons I bought the 13 Mini 4 years ago. The standard iPhone would had been my second choice if I were changing phones this year.

 

[TheRdungeon]

How do mini owners feel about the Air?

I think for me it’s too wide, plus the biggest drawback about the mini is its battery, so I’m looking forward to really pushing that by getting the smaller Pro

 

[TheRdungeon]

Upgraded my mini to iOS 26 yesterday. Battery life is fine, but 4gb is absolutely not cutting it for the added animations, even with 'Reduce Transparency' enabled. Rough.

Damn. Thanks for that. I have a relatively fresh Apple battery so could deal with a small battery hit but hard to overcome that

 

[MICHAELSD]

I’m beginning to think that instead of the iPhone 16e Apple should do another mini iPhone and just upgrade it every ~ 3 years for the niche market.