iPhone 12 mini Undecided - 12 or 12 mini?

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yep, realized that with the 12 that I had for a couple of days, felt like the phone was going to slip out of my hand when using it one handed, miss that sexy navy blue though.

I only see my iPhone sides when I take it out of the case once a month to clean the case out. The blue is by far the nicest colour in the range though for me too. I only see the camera module though but I prefer that to be honest as these iPhones are so fragile without cases.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I will say that going from an iPhone X to 12 Pro, the 12 Pro initially felt a lot bigger to me. I’ve adjusted and gotten use to it. I truly don’t really notice the increased size anymore. I do use very minimalistic cases though, as I hate big and bulky cases. If someone were to use a thick case....the 12/12 Pro would feel huge.

 

[prazakj]

How old are you?
I am 34 and no problem for reading text on Mini

Oooff, you are starting right off. 😀 Joking. Well, I'm 30 and don't have any glasses - I don't have a "problem" with reading on my with the smallest text size but still, it's easier for me to read on iPad and bigger phones. It's just a feeling that was accumulating for a while with mini. Still I think it will settle down, I just use it for a 3rd straight month and I more wanted to be sure about the device size, not text size.

 

[yticolev]

65, seldom use glasses and don't have superman eyes but have no trouble reading on the Mini. Super sharp text on the Mini probably helps.

 

[taneff]

I also love my Mini but I tried a 12 again, as it was on sale, and I can read so much better. Not within iOS itself but within third party apps. Text size in apps is soooooo small on the Mini and I am not the youngest with the best eyesight. Reading stuff within a third party app is way way nicer on the normal 12. Within iOS you can set the text size to your liking, not so with almost all third party apps I use. And of course video is nicer too on a big screen. Battery isn't, at least on the first day, that much better but it was the first and second day of owning the normal 12, it needs some time.

But after using the 12 for two days and the Mini before I just can't go back to a "normal" big sized iPhone. Within the iOS system everything just seems bigger with some more content showing, nothing special there. As known iOS doesn't take any advantage of a bigger screen. Just look at iOS on the Pro Max. It feels like iOS is still developed for smaller screens (iPhone 6, 5, 4S etc.) and they never really adjusted iOS to all those sizes for taking advantage of the bigger screens.

At the end after all the months and owning a 12 twice for a short time I think I am gonna stick with my Mini, even with the display of my current Mini being not as sharp and cool as that of my current 12. Mini display is more yellow and a bit washed out compared to my new 12. But the Mini is just the perfect size for my hands. Not too small, not too big. Not too heavy, not too light. Perfect! Now if Apple could only get the display mode settings on the Mini right. In my opinion standard is too small where zoomed mode is way too big.

 

[prazakj]

I also love my Mini but I tried a 12 again, as it was on sale, and I can read so much better. Not within iOS itself but within third party apps. Text size in apps is soooooo small on the Mini and I am not the youngest with the best eyesight. Reading stuff within a third party app is way way nicer on the normal 12. Within iOS you can set the text size to your liking, not so with almost all third party apps I use. And of course video is nicer too on a big screen. Battery isn't, at least on the first day, that much better but it was the first and second day of owning the normal 12, it needs some time.

But after using the 12 for two days and the Mini before I just can't go back to a "normal" big sized iPhone. Within the iOS system everything just seems bigger with some more content showing, nothing special there. As known iOS doesn't take any advantage of a bigger screen. Just look at iOS on the Pro Max. It feels like iOS is still developed for smaller screens (iPhone 6, 5, 4S etc.) and they never really adjusted iOS to all those sizes for taking advantage of the bigger screens.

At the end after all the months and owning a 12 twice for a short time I think I am gonna stick with my Mini, even with the display of my current Mini being not as sharp and cool as that of my current 12. Mini display is more yellow and a bit washed out compared to my new 12. But the Mini is just the perfect size for my hands. Not too small, not too big. Not too heavy, not too light. Perfect! Now if Apple could only get the display mode settings on the Mini right. In my opinion standard is too small where zoomed mode is way too big.

I think that I understand you perfectly. Have the same experience and I want to summarize it in the final post here on this thread. I don’t see any difference with sharpness between these two, it’s more of a feeling while viewing text. The final question for everybody is: do you want bigger content or better handling? And I agree with your opinion. Also the last part with those settings - shrinking 5,8” content to 5,4” needs more adjustment.

 

[PaladinGuy]

I think I’ll consider the mini for my next phone, if they eventually get the battery life longer and also fix the size of the text to something more in between. I love holding my wife’s 12 mini, but the readability and battery life of my 12 Pro is just so much better.

I want the best of both worlds, which isn’t feasible right now. Maybe in a year or two?

 

[taneff]

I think I’ll consider the mini for my next phone, if they eventually get the battery life longer and also fix the size of the text to something more in between. I love holding my wife’s 12 mini, but the readability and battery life of my 12 Pro is just so much better.

I want the best of both worlds, which isn’t feasible right now. Maybe in a year or two?

I don't think they will fix the text size stuff and display mode settings unfortunately. The most annoying regarding the Mini imo, even the only annoying thing for me regarding the Mini. It is how they integrated it on the 12 Mini and normally Apple doesn't change such deep iOS things afterwards. But who knows. I wouldn't count on it though. But battery life for all 13 models are rumored to get much better.

 

[prazakj]

I think I’ll consider the mini for my next phone, if they eventually get the battery life longer and also fix the size of the text to something more in between. I love holding my wife’s 12 mini, but the readability and battery life of my 12 Pro is just so much better.

I want the best of both worlds, which isn’t feasible right now. Maybe in a year or two?

Maybe. I'm not worried about battery life personally, but the size could be rather bigger up to 5,8" which was 11 Pro. Still with slimmer design it could be smaller. On the other hand my previous XS doesn't fit into one hand as that perfectly as mini does now. So it is always a struggle. At least my thumb doesn't hurt after I came back to mini from regular 12.

 

[prazakj]

Hello everybody, my 14-days test is at the end. And I have come to conclusion, which I will put in the end so you have to read it whole. 😀

My complaints about XS were fixed with iPhone 12 mini (smaller size, usable with one hand and weight with round design). iPhone 12 mini fits absolutely in my workflow and my products line. I still use my iPhone the same amount of time and haven't had problem with battery life in any of them (at least comparing Xs, 12 mini and regular 12 - of course the latter has the biggest usage, but for me those few percent didn't made a lot of impact).

Pros for 12
1) Readability. Everything in iOS seems just right with bigger display. From text to opening PDF files.
2) Battery life. Everyday I got approximately 10-20% more of my iPhone. I could be better in future when it will be possible to travel, but these days who cares? Still even if I need some more juice, I'm in my work, in car or at home. I don't know this will stand in long term, but Apple Care+ I could easily replace my battery at the end of 2 year spell. Recently I recorded a lot of videos in 4k 60fps and it was great using this bigger machine. But at the end of the end, it wouldn't much of a problem to use smaller one. Still it would certainly lasted shorter time.

Cons for 12
1) Size. Yes, we all know this. After almost 14 days I wasn't able to use it properly with one my hand. It feels slippery in my hand and despite that cut on my left hand (which is now without the bandage) I couldn't learn how to use it not to feel to drop it. Writing with both hands are fine, but being afraid about that phone when I'm taking out of my pocket is a real issue for me personally. My thumb hurts when I'm using it for a longer period in my bed laying on my side and side of the phone is on the bed. I never had that much ache in my hand before.
2) Grip. Because of that size I more often need to use that phone both hands. That's an issue for me - when I'm outside for a walk, paying in the shop (and typing the passcode - still not convinced about Apple Watch, but considering it now) or just quick message. All the time I needed that second hand, which for example is out of the question with groceries in my other hand.
3) Weight. Man, that size comes with bigger weight. I knew it, I was prepared for it and still didn't expect it that much. So many times it feels too strange to hold it in my hands. I don't know why, I can't explain it - it's a feeling. We often decide many things based on our feelings, so maybe it helped me to decide too.

Final
Well as you can see, trying regular 12 has some upsides and downsides. Every person is different, I don't watch much videos on my phone, don't do many socials and I don't a phone at a size of a tablet. I have only wish from Apple: keeping the mini in the lineup at least for a next two years. That means we could be happy for a longer period of time to use it. I was happy with him after a few months but I had some doubts. Now I don't have any and I was really happy, when I put my personal SIM to mini. Oh that was like a burden not to have a light and one-hand usable phone in my hand.

Tips for Apple
Despite I hate ultrawide I have been using it for those videos I mentioned above and it was great for inside shooting. But I think I would be fine with "normal" wide lens with ease. Still, I would love to see telephoto in future in mini and regular 13 (or other names?). If it will get more battery based on newer chip, thicker body or better technology, it just couldn't be a bad thing at all. It would be just a nice addition to a perfect phone I love these days.

Missing piece
Sadly admiting that even I never thought about that a lot - I do miss 3D Touch. I will remember XS maybe just because of this technology. I never thought that this could make such an impact for me, honestly.

Thank you for your comments and patience with me.

 

[Robbosan]

Buy some hand weights and hand gripper.

 

[prazakj]

Buy some hand weights and hand gripper.




View attachment 1741893

Why do I have to do so much for ‘just a phone’? 😉

 

[Robbosan]

12 is not heavy

 

[Breaking Good]

[iPhone 12 mini] Cons
1) Readability. I realized that I’m more often trying to bring phone closer to my eyes. I have always used to set the smallest font size on iOS devices as I still perfectly see everything without glasses. But with mini I sometimes feel that the text is really small for me to read comfortably. (And my favorite app for watching soccer stats -FotMob- feels different on smaller screen.)
2) Using with two hands. Despite it’s great to use and type with one hand, using two is quite strange. It could be done but at the same time it’s not too much faster than with one hand. Also writing with hand is still sometimes too weird for me because for a letter “a” or “caps lock” I have to stretch my thumb quite the same I did with XS. That brings me to the idea that with XS I learnt more how to handle phone with both hands more often that I didn’t use it with one hand almost at all. Also the mini has a two-way-grip to hold (at least for me). One is for typing with thumb on the keyboard and the littlefinger supports the bottom of the phone. The second one is for holding-while-reading with three fingers on the left side of the phone and thumb laying on the power button. I have to switch these two types of holding based on what I do on the phone. With larger screen you don’t have to switch because you almost always have to use the phone with two hands.

Titbits
I do miss telephoto more than ultrawide and quite suprisingly 3D Touch. I have convinced my friend to borrow me his 12 for a few days (his spare phone lol). But even after those days if I would be undecided that would be very funny for me. So I ask you my dear forum, are there any thoughts from you to help me think about it more? I know it's not a big deal and it's just a #firstworldproblem while so many precious people are passing away. It's just I have never been so torn about choosing a phone for me and I think that here are so many great people with nice opinions. Thank you for reading.

Keep the iPhone 12 mini. Get a iPad mini and a camera. The right tool for the right job.

My work here is done.

 

[prazakj]

12 is not heavy

I said for me personally. Once you try mini, every other phone is heavy. 😉

 

[prazakj]

Keep the iPhone 12 mini. Get a iPad mini and a camera. The right tool for the right job.

My work here is done.

Just I don’t see why should I let go my iPad Pro. Anyway thanks.

 

[Robbosan]

I said for me personally. Once you try mini, every other phone is heavy. 😉

Typing this a new pro max, it’s not heavy lol, well balanced weight.
Been using a 12 for over 4 months.

 

[LFC2020]

Typing this a new pro max, it’s not heavy lol, well balanced weight.
Been using a 12 for over 4 months.

Agree, the weight becomes a non issue after a short period of time, if anything I want apple to make a 6.9"-7" iPhone. or hurry up with my 8" foldable iPhone.

 

[Zorori]

What still strikes me as one of the worst choices from Apple is including ultrawide lens and not telephoto. I never even tried ultrawide shots. Maybe it's because we live at home these days more than ever before and this is a feature that could be perfectly use outside. Or possibly perfectly.

I also want the telephoto back and have never used the ultrawide. Apple could just ditch it and put a single camera (or Lidar) instead of that useless lens.

Whilst I used telephoto a lot on the X and XS, it does have one issue. The lens is so bad in sub-optimal light conditions that the phone actually used the standard lens with digital zoom. You can get around that with camera apps, but not many people realise that they are taking cropped pictures!

 

[Significant1]

Typing this a new pro max, it’s not heavy lol, well balanced weight.
Been using a 12 for over 4 months.

my 12 pro is too heavy and Max is worse. Apple really need to reconsider steel in pro models. Weight is the only thing I envy the normal 12 and even more the mini.

 

[Robbosan]

my 12 pro is too heavy and Max is worse. Apple really need to reconsider steel in pro models. Weight is the only thing I envy the normal 12 and even more the mini.

Non issue so far, 12 is a Slippery smudge magnet, with aluminium edges and the glass back, and it’s a rort the difference in screen brightness, they should be all the same, first thing I noticed when I fired up the max lol.

 

[Robbosan]

Also have no problem with the ultra wide is great for my work photos of houses, was missing the Tele though from my 11 pro.

 

[Robbosan]

Agree, the weight becomes a non issue after a short period of time, if anything I want apple to make a 6.9"-7" iPhone. or hurry up with my 8" foldable iPhone.

I can see it would be harder if you have to walk around with it in your pocket all day, but even a 12 would be no good.
Max is so good to type on big diff with big thumbs lol.

 

[iSayuSay]

I wish Mini had Pro Max battery.. I'd take Mini anyday but after my old gripe with tiny iPhone's battery.. I wouldn't go anything but Apple's biggest offering. Well maybe 12 or 12 Pro could be a balanced compromise.

 

[remymartins]

I just recently switched from Android (Huawei Mate 20 Pro) to the mini. What a difference it does make! I am not a power user and mainly use the phone just for calls and texts. The form factor is great its light and gotta say I am enjoying it so much!