I will keep using my 13 Mini until it breaks for some reason or until it does not work effectively. After nearly 3 years of usage, it has not lost a step and still runs fast on the latest iOS version, and i bought it with 256GB of storage so I would not run out of storage anytime soon. The original battery inside still shows 93% capacity. Everything works well on it. Of the 4 iPhones I have owned since the iPhone 5, this is far and away the best of the 4 in every respect. And besides the size issue (I could live with a 6.1" screen, but I much prefer the 5.4" size of the Mini), the iPhone is now a mature produce, and each annual update gives me less and less reason to consider updating, and I don't feel the need to spend money to keep buying "better" cameras. The camera on the iPhone 13 Mini is good enough for my uses.
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iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 mini users - will you upgrade or keep using?
- Thread starter sleven
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I switched from a 12 mini to a 15 Pro and while I definitely prefer the 120hz screen of the 15 I also definitely prefer the size and wight of the 12. Handeling the 12 is just só much easier!
I upgraded mainly for the screen and camera, but the difference in picture quality is less than I expected in real life. Speed difference is also not very big. So the only real advantage of the 15 Pro is the screen, not the size, but the refresh rate and brightness, those are both a lot better!
I would not upgrade from the 12 mini to the 15 Pro in hindsight, nor the 16!
(This was written from my 12 mini 😂)
I upgraded mainly for the screen and camera, but the difference in picture quality is less than I expected in real life. Speed difference is also not very big. So the only real advantage of the 15 Pro is the screen, not the size, but the refresh rate and brightness, those are both a lot better!
I would not upgrade from the 12 mini to the 15 Pro in hindsight, nor the 16!
(This was written from my 12 mini 😂)
I upgraded from the mini to a 15 Pro... for about a week. For me the mini has perfect size and balance.
I use reading glasses anyways, so reading the mini is no problem. I find most apps are scaled nicely for the mini.
I use reading glasses anyways, so reading the mini is no problem. I find most apps are scaled nicely for the mini.
You can pry it out of my cold dead hand. Because it's an appropriate size for one handed operation.
The battery life is fine. When are you ever more than 10 feet from a charger? I put mine in low power mode at an amusement park, talked to the people in line with me (i.e. did not stare at my phone all day) and still had >80% left at the end of the day.
New phones are too damn big. They have been for a long time. The camera ziggurat that takes up 50% of the depth is too obtrusive. The mini is still a delight.
The battery life is fine. When are you ever more than 10 feet from a charger? I put mine in low power mode at an amusement park, talked to the people in line with me (i.e. did not stare at my phone all day) and still had >80% left at the end of the day.
New phones are too damn big. They have been for a long time. The camera ziggurat that takes up 50% of the depth is too obtrusive. The mini is still a delight.
Keep the mini & get an iPad non cellular for larger screen surfing stuff. Then hot spot iPad to mini.
I have 13PM which is great but too big especially with silicon case grabbing onto everything in my pockets. I use that hot spotting my new iPad Air 13 &’love my set up.
I’ve no desire to upgrade from my 13.
I have 13PM which is great but too big especially with silicon case grabbing onto everything in my pockets. I use that hot spotting my new iPad Air 13 &’love my set up.
I’ve no desire to upgrade from my 13.
I’m on iPhone 12 mini
If it dies I’ll get a 13 mini
I will never get a larger phone
If the supply of working minis is ever exhausted I’ll move to a flip phone
If it dies I’ll get a 13 mini
I will never get a larger phone
If the supply of working minis is ever exhausted I’ll move to a flip phone
I‘ve had a “policy“ of using my phone mostly for phone stuff and an iPad for reading and watching videos. When I got my 13 mini this year it was my new toy and I read a lot on it - until I remembered that I had an iPad. Imho, a bigger phone doesn’t make a big difference in this regard and the small overall size, weight and robustness of a mini is hard to beat. I’m planning on keeping it for another 2 years at least.
Yes keep using, but I am still holding out hope the Apple brings back mini phones with their SE line.
I'm currently in the: "maybe I should buy an extra one" phase of my Mini (and how Apple treats this demographic) acceptance.
I just don't understand why they can't be bothered to make something to cater us in this niche
I just don't understand why they can't be bothered to make something to cater us in this niche
I'll keep using my almost four years old mini 12 until it dies. Then we'll see.
Keep using. Until it dies. With thinning bezels and improving battery tech I am betting a function-forward iPhone will come back to serve us mini users who don't want to spend more than ~3h a day on our devices.
I've had mine since beginning of last year and have no plans to replace it. If the battery capacity becomes an issue then it will get a new one. The only thing I'd be hesitant about is moving to iOS 18 with it, as that's just too many iterations since the hardware release and is bound to slow things (and the battery) to a crawl. I'm speculating but that's exactly what happened to the OG SE (new battery) I replaced with the 13 Mini.
Edit: The pocket-ability and lightness is still the thing I love the most. And I splurged on getting 512GB as I knew I'd keep it a long time, similar to the SE I used for 6 yrs. But it's a device I use to call with, activate Home devices, read only emails, shoot couple of pics with, some social media on the go. For my main consumption I use my 2009 MBP or 2023 MBP when at home. Now, if a smartphone was my only device, I would definitely for go the size advantage for practicality of a larger screen size.
Edit: The pocket-ability and lightness is still the thing I love the most. And I splurged on getting 512GB as I knew I'd keep it a long time, similar to the SE I used for 6 yrs. But it's a device I use to call with, activate Home devices, read only emails, shoot couple of pics with, some social media on the go. For my main consumption I use my 2009 MBP or 2023 MBP when at home. Now, if a smartphone was my only device, I would definitely for go the size advantage for practicality of a larger screen size.
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Using this one until it keels over, and just hoping they make one mini model wvery five years or so. Honestly preferred the slightly smaller size (and much lesser weight!) of the SE1.
Will keep until it either completely dies (may get a new battery soon) or until it can no longer update to newest iOS. AI isn't a killer feature to me and I can't imagine any other new feature that I would "need". I know I'll eventually need something else, but the latest and greatest hasn't enticed me for a while now. I love the size and portability and can't believe I once carried a 6 Plus!
I have a second one still in the box. I paid too much for it but don’t care.
Honestly, my wife’s 12 has better battery life and larger antennas, but I am stuck on the size.
I put the 18 public beta on my 13mini yesterday and so far, so good. Since the advanced Ai won’t install on older iPhones, I expect the performance to increase rather than decrease with the RC and GM.
You guys better hang onto it cuz Apple ain't ever putting out no new <6.1" iPhones again.
Only >6.1 and foldables meet the sales numbers that make spending the r&d and marketing worth it.
The only <6.1" iPhone we might see is the first foldable Apple puts out. But obviously not going to be <6.1" when folded out.
Hang onto that mini!
Only >6.1 and foldables meet the sales numbers that make spending the r&d and marketing worth it.
The only <6.1" iPhone we might see is the first foldable Apple puts out. But obviously not going to be <6.1" when folded out.
Hang onto that mini!
I'm considering simply switching to an Apple Watch to keep a small form factor, but it doesn't have any good Plex apps yet.
Will keep my 13 mini as long as possible. Sad that Apple won't make any more small phones.
As an iPhone SE3 user (same machine on an iPhone 8 enclosure), I feel validated to reply, as the size is roughly the same.
Yes, I would definitely enjoy a larger screen, but not more than 6 inches. Bigger phones are really uncomfortable to use with one hand.
I will probably keep using my SE3 as long as it provides a good service. Meaning, running future iOS versions smoothly and with decent battery life. By then (2026?) I really hope Apple has a model smaller than 6.2” honestly. Otherwise it is going to be a tough decision.
I'm sticking to my 13 Mini for as long as I can.
Currently trying to find an identical spare, but in the very rare event one comes up they're going for $1k+ here.
Currently trying to find an identical spare, but in the very rare event one comes up they're going for $1k+ here.
Me also, I flip between my 12 and 13 Mini and 15 Pro all the time. Will never sell my Minis, they are just too special.