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BlueandSilver

macrumors newbie
Dec 14, 2018
22
63
Honestly, it could totally happen one day. They stopped making smaller phones before then added them again for a time. They make all kinds of products with very few buyers. I think Tim Cook just prefers the chopping block on low performing iPhones but the next CEO may be okay with it. They may look at the demand and love for smaller phones and lean into it. The future is open.
 

The.Glorious.Son

macrumors 68000
Sep 28, 2015
1,721
3,642
Chicago, IL
I think the best chance at any type of mini is a huge 14 Plus failure. But regardless, if they make a Mini Pro model could you imagine the camera bump on the back? They’d almost be forced to center it.
 
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JM

macrumors 601
Nov 23, 2014
4,086
6,381
I switched from the 12 Mini to the 14 Pro and after not even a week of using the 14 Pro I actually consider sending it back and keep on using my 12 Mini for another year before I "upgrade" to a 13 Mini hoping it will last many years.

I'd also love to see an iPhone Pro Mini and would be completely ok with it being thicker for the sake of battery life and getting rid of that camera bump. I wouldn't even mind if they charged more for it than the regular "Pro" and/or dumped the ultra wide camera (the telephoto one is the thing I miss since switching from the XS to the 12 Mini).
One thing which I would not want on that from the Pro lineup is the stainless steel frame. I very much prefer the aluminum version (which would fit much better with the matte glass back in terms of haptics).

To bad this will probably never happen.
Well, the only construction we haven’t really seen yet is the iPhone 4: glass steel glass sandwich.

And they like to revisit old designs so maybe it’s possible to have a thicker mini size phone.

But they would really have to stack the chips and such to make everything fit.
 

JM

macrumors 601
Nov 23, 2014
4,086
6,381
I actually expect we'll see a foldable iPhone before then -- which would solve at least the pocketability issue (though not the ergonomic issue of having a phone where you can't access much of the screen one-handed).
Not if it’s folded full feature, and then the opening is optional to get iPad size screen experience.

(Ie most of the time it’s folded to be 4” size)
 
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JM

macrumors 601
Nov 23, 2014
4,086
6,381
The other thing to consider is that the 13 mini gets really hot, which means it’s clearly better to have bigger phones for heat dissipation.

The chips and such in the 3,4,5 probably don’t get near as hot as the chips today, so they didn’t need to be large to dissipate heat.

Someone who is a mechanical engineer please correct me if I’m wrong. I would love to know more about why the 13 mini gets hot, and how the 14 pro has better thermal cooling.
 

ericg301

macrumors 68020
Jun 15, 2010
2,329
2,640
Idk why I liked your comment :)

Apart from aod (which is likely to be implemented in iPhone 15 I bet) , every other feature seems to actually save battery
The iPhone 13 Pro has a better battery life thanks to pro motion
3 cameras doesn’t matter much and doesn’t drain much more power afaik (idk too much about iPhones isp tho)
The 13 pro has a better battery because it has a bigger battery.
 
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ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
If Apple made a pro model phone in a mini size, I'd totally buy it. I don't need a large phone, that's why I get all the features I want in a regular size of the 14 pro. If they made the 14 pro and all it's features in a mini size, it would be even better because of the convenience of the small size. Battery life would be sacrificed I bet, but you'd have all the bells and whistles.
No you won't. People already are not buying $700 iPhone mini (that is already flagship in its own right with flagship SoC and flagship main camera), let alone a $1000 one.

Before Apple released the mini, everybody was saying what you are saying now. When the 12 mini launched, the same people are complaining that it was too expensive.
 

mikext

macrumors 6502a
May 26, 2011
622
739
Dallas
not a chance it happens any time soon, but yes i would buy it given it had decent battery life.
 

Love-hate 🍏 relationship

macrumors 68040
Sep 19, 2021
3,059
3,237
The 13 pro has a better battery because it has a bigger battery.
This is wrong
Quite the opposite in fact,the 13 has a bigger battery then the 13 pro
 

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Ryan1524

macrumors 68020
Apr 9, 2003
2,093
1,424
Canada GTA
The only way it could really work would be if they made the rear flush with the cameras, maybe even increased it further and put in a bigger battery. As has been mentioned, with all the features you get on the pro models in comparison it’d chew through batter like anything…

Interesting. I wonder if that would be enough to compensate the mAh.
 

leifp

macrumors 6502a
Feb 8, 2008
524
501
Canada
battery life on the mini has already been suspect (I've had the 12 and 13 mini). add promotion, 3 cameras, AOD...all these other power-hungry features in the PRO models...and you'd barely get half a day per charge.
I have yet to plug in my 13 mini at the end of the day with less than 50% charge. Not the case with the 12 mini, true, but the 13 mini has been perfect. I’d love/pay for the “pro” features on a mini…
 

throAU

macrumors G3
Feb 13, 2012
9,299
7,466
Perth, Western Australia
battery life on the mini has already been suspect (I've had the 12 and 13 mini). add promotion, 3 cameras, AOD...all these other power-hungry features in the PRO models...and you'd barely get half a day per charge.
ProMotion can save power due to being variable refresh. The mini is locked 60hz.
 

throAU

macrumors G3
Feb 13, 2012
9,299
7,466
Perth, Western Australia
Just give it up. It's not happening. By iPhone standards, the minis completely bombed. The are not brining them back. Move on.

I think that was more to do with Apple marketing and selling the SE when they did.

I’ve now had both an SE and a mini and the mini just destroys the SE in every metric I care about bar cost.

And by shutting down the se production line they could maybe even get the mini cost down due to economy of scale.

I’m personally really hoping they can the SE and just keep the 13 mini in its place and just update it one or two generations after the big phones. Or alternating years.

The form factor is great and it’s much better value than the se.

And yes. I’d consider a pro mini. But the current spec suits me fine too. There are plenty of people whining about the pro cameras being too big on the pro phones already 😂

If I had to pick a subset of the pro feature because not all fit I’d take promotion and LiDAR. I think LiDAR will prove useful in the future for 3d scanning. For me the camera is already good enough.
 

sleepyking

macrumors 6502
Oct 5, 2012
473
66
I would 10,000% get such a phone and would even prefer them to make it thicker to make it flush with the camera and fit a bigger battery
 
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JM

macrumors 601
Nov 23, 2014
4,086
6,381
No you won't. People already are not buying $700 iPhone mini (that is already flagship in its own right with flagship SoC and flagship main camera), let alone a $1000 one.

Before Apple released the mini, everybody was saying what you are saying now. When the 12 mini launched, the same people are complaining that it was too expensive.
It WAS too expensive for what it was. The 11 was 6.1” and $699. Then they go and make a SMALLER phone in the 12 mini for $699, which had terrible battery life according to ALL the reviews: of COURSE it won’t sell well.

For the two cameras, smaller screen, and cheaper aluminum and non-premium colors, it should have been $649 (or even better $599) and the 12 should have been $749 (or $699).

The damage was done with the 12 mini, and I doubt most of the public were not swayed with the 13 mini’s better all around improvements in reviews and so sales continued to be disappointing.

Had the 12mini came out with stainless steel sides, and at least LOOKED like a Pro phone, it would have sold so many more for $699, because it would have looked like a premium Apple best product. But Apple failed to attract the Apple small phone faithful 100%, and they failed to attract the general public with a small device that was priced so high at $699 with a smaller screen than the 11, which you could get for $599.
 
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tcmasterson

macrumors newbie
Apr 2, 2022
5
10
If Apple made a pro model phone in a mini size, I'd totally buy it. I don't need a large phone, that's why I get all the features I want in a regular size of the 14 pro. If they made the 14 pro and all it's features in a mini size, it would be even better because of the convenience of the small size. Battery life would be sacrificed I bet, but you'd have all the bells and whistles.
I felt the same way when the 12 mini came out. Still have that phone and will likely upgrade to the 13 mini next year if they don't bring back the mini form factor for a new device.

Everyone is suspect about the mini's battery life, but the battery life is great. Maybe my usage is lower than some, but it's never not lasted me the entire day comfortably.
 
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tcmasterson

macrumors newbie
Apr 2, 2022
5
10
Just give it up. It's not happening. By iPhone standards, the minis completely bombed. The are not brining them back. Move on.
Have you seen the sales reports for the 14 Plus?... Worst than the mini. The mini at least offers product differentiation, and has a very loyal fanbase. They should just update it like they do the iPad mini, with a new iPhone mini model every 3-4 years. Or, make it the new SE form factor.
 

ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
It WAS too expensive for what it was. The 11 was 6.1” and $699. Then they go and make a SMALLER phone in the 12 mini for $699, which had terrible battery life according to ALL the reviews: of COURSE it won’t sell well.

For the two cameras, smaller screen, and cheaper aluminum and non-premium colors, it should have been $649 (or even better $599) and the 12 should have been $749 (or $699).

The damage was done with the 12 mini, and I doubt most of the public were not swayed with the 13 mini’s better all around improvements in reviews and so sales continued to be disappointing.

Had the 12mini came out with stainless steel sides, and at least LOOKED like a Pro phone, it would have sold so many more for $699, because it would have looked like a premium Apple best product. But Apple failed to attract the Apple small phone faithful 100%, and they failed to attract the general public with a small device that was priced so high at $699 with a smaller screen than the 11, which you could get for $599.
The mini is a flagship phone, with flagship materials and SoC. Even a $1000 Samsung uses aluminum and glass.

Sounds like you simply want the iphone Pro for less money, not a small phone. Apple doesn't play that game.

Well, the market proves it as well. Thus Apple discontinuing the mini lineup. Those small phone "faithful" who were pretending they wanted to buy a premium small phone were just talk. :D
 
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ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
Have you seen the sales reports for the 14 Plus?... Worst than the mini. The mini at least offers product differentiation, and has a very loyal fanbase. They should just update it like they do the iPad mini, with a new iPhone mini model every 3-4 years. Or, make it the new SE form factor.
The 14 Plus is not even shipping yet
 

sailingHobbit

macrumors member
Aug 31, 2022
70
96
Germany
The mini is a flagship phone, with flagship materials and SoC. Even a $1000 Samsung uses aluminum and glass.

Sounds like you simply want the iphone Pro for less money, not a small phone. Apple doesn't play that game.

Well, the market proves it as well. Thus Apple discontinuing the mini lineup. Those small phone "faithful" who were pretending they wanted to buy a premium small phone were just talk. :D
I think there are actually two groups of people who wanted an iPhone Mini:
Group A wanted a Pro Phone with the Pro Features (Telephoto, ProMotion, etc.) and is willing to pay the price for it.
Group B wanted a successor to the original iPhone SE in the same price range as the original SE.
The iPhone 12\13 Mini that Apple actually released does not match any of those except in device size. Group A misses the features, group B the more affordable price.
 
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ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
I think there are actually two groups of people who wanted an iPhone Mini:
Group A wanted a Pro Phone with the Pro Features (Telephoto, ProMotion, etc.) and is willing to pay the price for it.
Group B wanted a successor to the original iPhone SE in the same price range as the original SE.
The iPhone 12\13 Mini that Apple actually released does not match any of those except in device size. Group A misses the features, group B the more affordable price.
Imo Group A doesn't exist. 😁 By that I mean extreme niche that it's not worth for Apple to invest in. Apple already put an effort on the 13 mini, probably the best small phone ever made, yet this group doesn't buy.

Group B basically wants a cheap iphone, and in the end, wouldn't mind what size it is as long as it is cheap.

And group B is what the market has proven.

Why I said group A doesn't exist/extreme niche? Look at the bigger market, aka Android. Not that many people buy a Sony or Asus compact flagships. Yet the humongous S22 ultra is the best selling.

In the end, Apple probably cannot justify r&d and cost etc for such extreme niche market.
 

Xand&Roby

macrumors 6502a
Jun 13, 2020
534
486
If Apple made a pro model phone in a mini size, I'd totally buy it. I don't need a large phone, that's why I get all the features I want in a regular size of the 14 pro. If they made the 14 pro and all it's features in a mini size, it would be even better because of the convenience of the small size. Battery life would be sacrificed I bet, but you'd have all the bells and whistles.
Believe me, Apple is not able to make such a product, it no longer has the capacity (all systems are set for huge screens and huge batteries), it no longer wants it (the times of miniaturization and good design are over, this is the time of nonsense and economic returns), it would not know to whom to sell it and it does not even want to sell it.
I bought an SE 2016 on the first day, I changed 7 in 2 years, all with the same problem with the Home button or the screen, all NOT REMEDY with a defect, as soon as the cpu started to heat the rear glass it lifts up.
The same happens with Macs (in fact there is no longer a small one), with iPads (the mini of problems sw has many because Apple does not invest money in it), with Apple Watches (which now have the smallest version of the size of a large one).
Miniaturization costs, if you want to make it powerful, it costs exponentially more. Apple produces Chinese waste and sells it at prices tenfold than the value, which at least a long time ago was tied to software that was worth something, now it sucks.
You wouldn't want a small and powerful Apple product, trust me, you would throw it Against his face every 5 minutes.
 
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