I sometimes think about what I’m going to get after 12 mini that I’m using is done for :) Because there are reports that Apple is done with this screen size segment.
I think Apple would make a better selling product if they could chop an extra $100–200 from the price of the mini. A single rear camera, fewer SKUs (say, two colours and two capacities), and maybe a binned version of the A16 chip with one fewer GPU core.
I flat out disagree with this sentiment. People who don't care about their phone that much will buy whatever fits their personal needs (usually what is least expensive), while a person who specifically in today's market opts to purchase a smaller phone is doing so with intention.
Sure, a cheaper iPhone would probably sell just by the virtue of being a cheaper iPhone and perhaps a future iteration of the SE will be based on the mini chassis to facilitate that price sensitive market. But the people getting iPhone minis are almost all doing so with intention. That intention being they want a physically smaller device for whatever reason.
I think Apple would sell more iPhone minis if the branding were different. If the iPhone mini was simply called the 'iPhone' and then the current 'iPhone' became 'iPhone plus' and then the max remains the 'iPhone max' more people would probably purchasing it as the default phone.
Sure, everyone is entitled to an opinion. But really we're all just guessing. My guess is that the iPhone 12/13 Mini has potential appeal to two markets:
• Someone who wants a flagship device, who places positive value in smaller size, and is not price sensitive;
• Someone who wants a premium device, who places negative value in larger size, and is moderately price sensitive.
With the anemic sales of the last two generations of mini iPhone, Apple has shown that this first market is smaller than hoped. The question is: is it nonetheless big enough to warrant Apple making an iPhone 14 mini? If it is, great.
If not, your preference is moot because the device won't exist. My argument is that this second market is likely much larger and represents an opportunity which Apple hasn't quite honed in on—yet. If it's necessary in order for an iPhone 14 mini to exist, a device with wider appeal is preferable to no device.
Like the other person, I say this is a ridiculous claim. I'd go as far as say most techies I know want a smaller device than what's available in the Android land, and would be willing to pay a premium. Small size has been the second most important feature of the Pixel line, right after the great camera.
Thing is I bought 12 mini 3 weeks ago (replaced my 4 years old iPhone 7). It was way cheaper than 13 mini at the time of that sale. Also the only thing important for me in 13 mini better than 12 mini was battery which isn't that significant a difference imho.
I hope to use 12 mini for at least 3 more years. Wouldn't want to buy a 13 mini to replace a 12 mini then. I would want a 15 or 16 mini at that time (or equivalent).
Some think the 12/13 is the last small apple phone. And like the OP implies, it's a catch 22: They only put non-premium specs on the small phone, so people don't buy them, so they justify killing it because of the size.
