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iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 mini users - will you upgrade or keep using?

S

sleven

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 28, 2011
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I know the iPhone 12 and 13 mini was created to serve a specific, niche market. I realize that Apple determined the market was not large enough to justify continuing the line with the 14 series.

I was so excited for the 13 mini. I was ready for a phone that could not only be held with one hand, but also operated with one hand. It fits so nicely in my pocket, and easily fits into most small sling bags without issue.

While I once enjoyed it, I realize I spend a lot of time reading on it. And it’s small. Maybe I’m getting older, but I don’t enjoy it as much as I once did. My eyes are probably degrading. I don’t like my fingers touching and interlocking as much as they are on the backside. (Queue the “you’re holding it wrong” memes)

Now, I feel I’m approaching a crossroad. Combined with the desire to have something a bit larger and my frequent visits to the Macrumors site, I’m trying to determine what may be my best play this year.

Like most of us, we balance affordability, usability, and features. It’s paid for, which is great. The battery life is not great, but I usually have access to a charger, so I’m never without. I also realize that come sub-80% battery life, I could get the battery serviced by Apple for a sub-$100 fee.

My question to all you Mini users out there.
Will you keep going with the mini?
Will you trade it in or sell it for something different? If you do elect to go for a larger version iPhone, are you thinking 16, or waiting for the 17?

And why?

I’m interesting in understanding the opinions of you all and what is driving your decisions.
Thanks!
 
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I guess it's important to say the thing first you really need to hear: don't hang your decision on what other people need or want. Decide what you think is best for yourself.

If you are beginning to feel that the iPhone mini is too small for you and too uncomfortable to use, switch to a bigger one. As easy as that. Important is what feels good for you.

For myself, I will hang onto my iPhone 13 mini until it's no longer useable. Whether that's because it's broken, or no longer gets updates, or just becomes too slow to use properly remains to be seen. But as long as it does what I need it for, I don't see any reason to switch to anything else. This will be most likely a couple of years to come – I stuck to my original iPhone SE for six years.

I picked the iPhone mini specifically for its size. I find larger phones extremely uncomfortable to use and to lug around. The mini perfectly fits in my hand and my pocket. Larger phones don't.
 
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Janichsan said:
I guess it's important to say the thing first you really need to hear: don't hang your decision on what other people need or want. Decide what you think is best for yourself.

If you are beginning to feel that the iPhone mini is too small for you and too uncomfortable to use, switch to a bigger one. As easy as that. Important is what feels good for you.

For myself, I will hang onto my iPhone 13 mini until it's no longer useable. Whether that's because it's broken, or no longer gets updates, or just becomes too slow to use properly remains to be seen. But as long as it does what I need it for, I don't see any reason to switch to anything else. This will be most likely a couple of years to come – I stuck to my original iPhone SE for six years.

I picked the iPhone mini specifically for its size. I find larger phones extremely uncomfortable to use and to lug around. The mini perfectly fits in my hand and my pocket. Larger phones don't.
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100% agree, I’m ultimately going to do what is best for me. I simply wanted to understand how others are approaching this. I’m curious what others are considering.

Another big reason for the question will be the updates made to iOS like Apple Intelligence; and how it will take advantage of newer tech. Cameras, battery life, etc.
 
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I pretty much have the same reasons others gave for hanging on to my Mini.

Only a a little over a year old, battery in great shape. Using it as an iPod for podcasts that can make the occasional phone call, text message, check email, PDA functions (no streaming a/v, no games, very rarely Maps). I have zero interest in Apple Intelligence, so 16 and up are of little/no interest for now. I keep my phones for at least three years, so the new iPhones are not offering anything of value to me since running $800+ for "basic", REALLY have no interest in "over paying" for what I need/want.

Now, new SE might be the device down the road, but stilll at least two years out before I consider that (or simple battery replacement if that's only issue with the Mini at the time).
 
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platinumaqua said:
Can't you just adjust the font size to be bigger if font size is an issue?
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I see my in-laws using the larger font size. I did not want to face the reality that this would alleviate part of the problem. The second part is desiring more screen real-estate.
 
NoBoMac said:
I pretty much have the same reasons others gave for hanging on to my Mini.

Only a a little over a year old, battery in great shape. Using it as an iPod for podcasts that can make the occasional phone call, text message, check email, PDA functions (no streaming a/v, no games, very rarely Maps). I have zero interest in Apple Intelligence, so 16 and up are of little/no interest for now. I keep my phones for at least three years, so the new iPhones are not offering anything of value to me since running $800+ for "basic", REALLY have no interest in "over paying" for what I need/want.

Now, new SE might be the device down the road, but stilll at least two years out before I consider that (or simple battery replacement if that's only issue with the Mini at the time).
Click to expand...
I need to read up on the new SE - need to learn what screen size it has.
 
I do most of my computing on a Desktop, but the iP13-mini is the hub for the entirety of my mobile experience.

I have no problem, whatsoever, interfacing with this Little Beast. I work in an all-hands-on industry, and keep the Mini hooked to the back of my belt. When I need to interface, I never feel that I'm lacking anything. On the contrary ;)

As Janichsan said:

"If you are beginning to feel that the iPhone mini is too small for you and too uncomfortable to use, switch to a bigger one. As easy as that. Important is what feels good for you."
 
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I've had 3 phones larger than the mini in my time with iPhones & I've regretted every one of them. I'll be sticking with the mini as long as it works well. But agree with the others, if the negatives are starting to outweigh the positives, time to move on. You want to make sure that your phone works for you. Obviously lots of people have found the larger phones useful, likely for similar reasons to your own. I wouldn't overthink this one if I were you.
 
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Keep using. Inject it into my veeeeiiiiinnnnns.

My 13 mini is doing fine for now, and I use it constantly for work and life. But when it inevitably dies or just slows down too much? Yeah, I’ll upgrade. And if there’s not mini option then? I’ll end up with a bigger iPhone.

I really like this form factor but I’m far more attached to the Apple ecosystem and iOS than I am any particular size.
 
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I'm not an iPhone 13 mini owner and if not for ProRAW and telephoto, I would have gotten an iPhone 13 mini instead of iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro...

But I have something close to the size of an iPhone 13 mini which is the iPhone 5c running iOS 10.3.3

It's not my main device but I can still use Facebook and Instagram on it... I have iPhone 13 Pro for the rest of the apps that I use...
 
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sleven said:
I see my in-laws using the larger font size. I did not want to face the reality that this would alleviate part of the problem. The second part is desiring more screen real-estate.
Click to expand...
For the most part, the only thing you’re going to get out of a bigger phone is more screen real estate. Apple keeps the base PPI (resolution/2 for LCD or 3 for OLED) about the same across the range, so the UI elements remain the same size across the range. The exception is fixed resolution content like videos with burned in subtitles, which will get bigger with screen size since that’s not rendered by the device.
 
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Keep and replace battery as needed for as long as possible. It’s the perfect size and battery replacements are cheaper than upgrading. The excitement of a new iPhone wears off after the first day anyway. They all do the same things as far as I’m concerned. I’m 2.5 years in and hoping to get at least 3-4 more. I really hope apple reuses the 13 mini form for the next SE. But since they have stopped making them for so long, I don’t know if that’s likely anymore.
 
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I’ll come at this from the other side, having switched from the 13 mini to the 15 Pro. The only thing that would keep me from instantly going back to the mini size, if Apple offered one again, is the absence of the 77mm camera on the Pro. Otherwise I prefer pretty much everything about the substantially more portable mini…
 
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I upgraded my iPhone 12 mini to 13 mini in order to be able to keep using it as long as possible.

Reachability one handed is a gimmick on anything bigger and then there is the bulk in your pocket…

I once had an iPhone X and in the now almost 15 years of having iPhones I broke my first ever screen after a few months on a wooden floor. I blame it on the ridiculous screen-to-thickness ratio.

I still hope Apple goes like “kaboom smaller iPhone 16/17, because people do actually need it”. Otherwise I keep using my mini till it dies and maybe give in to a 15 pro…

Only things I mis now are a macro camera for my electronics work and USB-C for my heat camera. Battery life is still ok most of the time. On longer trips I use a small MagSafe battery.
 
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As long as it still functions, I'll keep using it.
The camera is still pretty good and its really the best phone in the world at that size.
Already some iOS 18 things won't work on my phone, but for that I have my M2 iPad Pro or my M2 Pro MacBook Pro, for all the Apple Intelligence features.

I can only hope Apple will release a new iPhone mini in the next 2 - 3 years…
 
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