After three glorious years, the iPhone mini is no more. It's not a surprise; the writing was on the wall when Apple didn't release an iPhone 14 mini last year. But that doesn't make it any less disappointing. Especially if you love a small phone, like I do.
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iPhone 13 Mini (Unlocked, Renewed) Read More
When Apple first released its miniature iPhone, the iPhone 12 mini, back in September 2020, it was met with a ton of hype. It's not that often that a new form factor for the iPhone comes around, after-all. The iPhone 12 mini was essentially a Mini-Me version of the iPhone 12 with few compromises. It had the same chip, same dual-camera system, and same screen and same notch with Face ID — the only difference was size and slightly less battery life.
The initial reviews of this miniature iPhone were glowing. Tom's Guide's Adam Ismail called it "a revelation." The Guardian's Samual Gibbs called it "the king of small phones." CNET's Patrick Holland said it was "the small phone we've been asking for." And in my review for Gear Patrol at the time, I called it "the ultimate tiny iPhone."
Photos: The iPhone 13 mini flanked by the iPhone 15 (left) and iPhone 15 Plus (right).
But positive reviews didn't translate to big sales for the iPhone 12 mini — it only accounted for six percent of total iPhone sales in the first two months of launch, according to a Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report, and was by far the least popular of the iPhone 12 models.
Apple already had a next-gen miniature iPhone in the pipeline, of course, and popped out the iPhone 13 mini the following year. It followed the same formula — it was just a smaller (and slightly cheaper) version of the iPhone 13 — but the same kind of sales numbers predictably followed too.
In 2022, Apple released a "Plus" version of its iPhone 14 instead of a mini; according to reports, the bigger phone did bigger sales. It wasn't all doom and gloom for small phone fans, however, as Apple continued to sell the iPhone 13 mini for all of last year — it even lowered the price by $100, from $699 to $599. But that now changed with the arrival of the iPhone 15 — Apple isn't even selling certified refurbished models of the iPhone 13 mini now.
You can still buy a smaller iPhone from Apple, in the 2022-released iPhone SE (third-generation), but it feels quite dated; it has the same body and features — like a Home button— as the 2017-released iPhone 8. Apple is expected to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE sometime in 2024, but it's reportedly going to have the same body as the 2018-released iPhone XR, which is actually a good bit bigger than the current iPhone SE.
Size is a funny thing when it comes to smartphones. As the trend moves bigger and bigger, the fact the iPhone 13 mini is so small is what I think makes it so endearing — it's the anti-hero. What the iPhone 13 mini lacks compared to its larger brethren are things that I don't really need in this post-pandemic world. A larger screen? I work most remotely and always have a bigger screen nearby. A longer-lasting battery? A two-year iPhone 13 mini's battery is far from great, but I'm also rarely far away from an outlet or a portable power bank.
You ask about the camera and sure, it's not nearly as elite as newest iPhone Pros, but the iPhone 13 mini has the same dual-camera setup as the iPhone 13 — and it's pretty good. Plus, I don't have kids or an adorable dog (although I do steal pictures of my parents' dog sometimes), so I don't actually take that many photos.
There are lots of everyday things that I love about the iPhone 13 mini. I love that it's the only iPhone that can slide easily in the back of my running shorts — the largest models don't even fit. I love how easy it is to slide in and out of my pocket. And when it's on me, it doesn't feel like it's weighing me down. On top of that, it's very popular with friends and family. I've actually swayed my dad and few uncles to buy the mini — old people love small phones!
Of course, the mini will still keep ticking for a few more years. The iPhone 13 mini is still relatively a "new age" iPhone — it has Face ID, after all — and it'll be supported with the latest iOS updates for the next few years. This also means that for those looking to get a good deal on an older phone, the iPhone 13 mini is still worth buying. Apple may not sell it, but you can still buy it from third-parties like Amazon.
For now, the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini live on. If you're one of the lucky owners of a miniature iPhone, know that you carry with you something special, something unique. There likely won't be another small iPhone like it.
