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

[subjonas]

The Air is no Mini, but it's the best minimalistic form factor option in the iPhone lineup by a significant margin--so it's what I'm using, and it's pretty decent.

The Air is thinner than the Mini, which is great when pocketing the device in slim-fitting clothes, but it has much bigger surface area so I think the Mini is still better in the pocket overall. And of course the Air is not even close to a one-handed phone. But with a slim phone grip, I'm able to use it one-handed, just with the added hassle of using a phone grip, and with a slight added thickness and weight of the accessory, but it's tolerable.

I was previously trying a 16PM, but the phone was way too heavy and bulky. And even with a phone grip, it was slightly too big to use completely one-handed. The Air has been a huge relief.

 

[Macdctr]

Just curious, when do you use your Air and Mini? How is your usage divided?

I use my Air for everything regarding phone calls, emails and any content video viewing. My mini is used for accessing my security camera setup, my eBay and Amazon apps for things I have purchased . . . and any bank related stuff. Keeping those tasks separated from the other phone.

Yes . . . I can do everything using just one phone and it would be easier. I get this but I really wanted to use the 13 mini and actually experience using this iPhone since I missed this when it was available for sale.

Back then I was so hyped on needing to have the Pro Max everything for all my iPhones that I refused to look for alternatives and what they brought to the overall iPhone experience.

 

[rwh63]

I have been using my iPhone Air since receiving mine in September and have been pleased with the ultra thin and light profile but still wanted something smaller, more compact in size . . . enter the 13 mini. I have been picking up a few 13 minis and have them set up to use as a backup iPhone using a physical SIM card.

I just cycle thru my 13 minis (midnight, blue, green, product red and starlight) by swapping in my SIM card into them.

To me there’s still no substitute for having a small compact full featured iPhone to use so this is how I use my 13 minis along my Air.

i'm shopping for an updated iphone, currently using the OGSE. i like the 17, but enjoy a smaller phone. the mini is the only step forward for me right now. i am also inadvertently rough with my phones (back pocket sit, falls to the ground, etc) that spending $800-$1000 for an Air/17 vs. around $300 for a mini doesn't make much sense. also, i do not chase technology (recently replaced my 2011 13" MBP with a 2025 14" M4), so if the mini can run properly for 2-4 years, i would be happy.

 

[Macdctr]

i'm shopping for an updated iphone, currently using the OGSE. i like the 17, but enjoy a smaller phone. the mini is the only step forward for me right now. i am also inadvertently rough with my phones (back pocket sit, falls to the ground, etc) that spending $800-$1000 for an Air/17 vs. around $300 for a mini doesn't make much sense. also, i do not chase technology (recently replaced my 2011 13" MBP with a 2025 14" M4), so if the mini can run properly for 2-4 years, i would be happy.

I expect the mini to run perfectly fine with iOS/security updates for at least another 3-4 years. Battery health will be the issue if anything. Knowing this, I purchased tools needed to do the battery replacement service myself as this is not too difficult a process and I get to control the quality of the repairs myself.

 

[rwh63]

should i filter out used phones that have already upgraded to ios 26?

 

[Macdctr]

should i filter out used phones that have already upgraded to ios 26?

These days it’s a crap shoot what iOS is on the phone as the level of iOS is not typically advertised.

Personally . . . having iOS 26 has not been a problem for me on an operational level. My current Starlight 256GB 13 mini is running iOS 26.2 beta on it without issues so YMMV . . .

 

[klasma]

should i filter out used phones that have already upgraded to ios 26?

I'd go for a pre-26 device if possible, but if you can't find any, a mini with iOS 26 is still preferable to no mini, IMO.