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Well, the local Thai resellers who offer better trade in still have not had the 256Gb Mini in stock - so went to the Bangkok Apple store and bought a blue 256Gb Mini, traded in an Xs and restored from iCloud.

Already had a green Apple Silicon case for it ready, and a Flolab nanoarmour screen protector so those went straight on out of the box.

It's great.
I like the straight side feel to the new 'old' shape, the silicon case feels great (had an Apple leather on the previous Xs)... and with case it's 166gm vs 210gm for the Xs with leather case.

Loading up all my music right now...

It's good to have a mini smartphone at last... or at least fairly mini for a smartphone :rolleyes:

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The mini will almost certainly gain a greater share than its current "6%" throughout 2021. The pro/max models are always overrepresented in early sales due to enthusiast focused early adopters, with the standard model(s) gaining more and more traction as time goes on. I doubt the mini will come anywhere close to the 6.1 inch 12 in market share but I'd expect it above 10%.
 
The mini will almost certainly gain a greater share than its current "6%" throughout 2021. The pro/max models are always overrepresented in early sales due to enthusiast focused early adopters, with the standard model(s) gaining more and more traction as time goes on. I doubt the mini will come anywhere close to the 6.1 inch 12 in market share but I'd expect it above 10%.
That chart also shows Oct-Nov sales. The 12 and 12 Pro had a 3 week head start over the mini and max which were only available for the last couple of weeks of November. Not saying it would be as high as the regular 12 but would be at least twice what the chart shows.
 
The mini will keep on being sold because it exists as a price anchor so Apple can keep the standard non pro iPhone at a raised price. It’s poor sales don’t matter they will just cut supply to meet this demand; and they’re likely cheaper to produce cos smaller displays, footprints and batteries. Don’t ever expect a mini pro tho.
Pro? Relative to what? The Mini is deserving of such a moniker in comparison to say the 2016 SE.

Pro is just a word that Apple applies somewhat randomly for marketing. What features do the current Pro models have that make them suitable for a "professional" versus a consumer? To what kind of professional? Photographers? That is pretty laughable.

Think about the strong likelihood that all the 13 models will have sensor stabilization optics. Will that make all the 13 models Pro suitable for professional use?
 
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Pro? Relative to what? The Mini is deserving of such a moniker in comparison to say the 2016 SE.

Pro is just a word that Apple applies somewhat randomly for marketing. What features do the current Pro models have that make them suitable for a "professional" versus a consumer? To what kind of professional? Photographers? That is pretty laughable.

Think about the strong likelihood that all the 13 models will have sensor stabilization optics. Will that make all the 13 models Pro suitable for professional use?
As you said, Pro is simply a label used by Apple that applies to it's "top of the range" products. It doesn't stop someone buying them purely for personal use, nor does it stop a "professional" buying a non-Pro model for work use.

So to answer your opening question - "Relative to what?" I would answer - the specs of the rest of the lineup. Whether an extra camera module, stainless steel chassis or more RAM actually makes it more "suitable for a professional" or not, the fact is those specs are what differentiates 12/12mini and 12Pro/12Pro Max in the Apple product lineup.

Indeed the mini is only "mini" relative to the rest of the current phones. By iPhone 4 standards it is quite big.
 
Pro? Relative to what? The Mini is deserving of such a moniker in comparison to say the 2016 SE.

Pro is just a word that Apple applies somewhat randomly for marketing. What features do the current Pro models have that make them suitable for a "professional" versus a consumer? To what kind of professional? Photographers? That is pretty laughable.

Think about the strong likelihood that all the 13 models will have sensor stabilization optics. Will that make all the 13 models Pro suitable for professional use?
You can't compare a 2020 model to a 2016 model. Generally the 4 generations newer model model will have improvements, so yeah it will be more advanced than the older model.

"Relative to what?" Like stated above, relative to the current year's models. No, it doesn't imply you need to be a professional or that it's suitable for some and not others, it just denotes that it has different features/specs than the other do. It's not intended as a guide to whom should purchase it. It's just silly how people get so fixated on a moniker.

Case in point: I recently ran into a former county prosecutor who's now retired and partnered in his own law firm, he had a 6/7/8/new SE style iPhone, and my plumber friend just got a new 12 Pro Max. It's about what works for you, and I like that there are choices nowadays.
 
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Finally upgraded to the beast(coming from iPhone XS) and here it is next to my old beast, the SE.

PS: The deep fusion's post image processing does my head-in, it takes a second to adjust when viewing the image, its something I would expect from an Android phone, not an iPhone. I really do not like it. Other than that the 12 mini is amazing.
 

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Finally upgraded to the beast(coming from iPhone XS) and here it is next to my old beast, the SE.

PS: The deep fusion's post image processing does my head-in, it takes a second to adjust when viewing the image, its something I would expect from an Android phone, not an iPhone. I really do not like it. Other than that the 12 mini is amazing.
Cool to hear you like it. How does the battery life compare, meaning at a certain time of day, what are you at with the Mini, and what would you have been at with the SE
 
Cool to hear you like it. How does the battery life compare, meaning at a certain time of day, what are you at with the Mini, and what would you have been at with the SE
I haven’t had a full day yet, just got it this afternoon. But the feeling is amazing, as I mentioned I was upgrading from the XS as the battery of my SE was really poor and the power/wake button didn’t work either(got it from launch day all them years back). I’m not a heavy user, roughly 2-3 hours a day, so the battery won’t be an issue for me anyways.

But the overall feel is simply outstanding, this is really a PHONE and not a brick ;) god have I missed this size. Also, I’m a fan of the weight, it’s really light. I’m well impressed!
 
I haven’t had a full day yet, just got it this afternoon. But the feeling is amazing, as I mentioned I was upgrading from the XS as the battery of my SE was really poor and the power/wake button didn’t work either(got it from launch day all them years back). I’m not a heavy user, roughly 2-3 hours a day, so the battery won’t be an issue for me anyways.

But the overall feel is simply outstanding, this is really a PHONE and not a brick ;) god have I missed this size. Also, I’m a fan of the weight, it’s really light. I’m well impressed!
A lot of times, I can't even tell the phone is in my front pocket. Outside of the 4s, I think this is the best iPhone (for the size and price) Apple has produced.
 
I haven’t had a full day yet, just got it this afternoon. But the feeling is amazing, as I mentioned I was upgrading from the XS as the battery of my SE was really poor and the power/wake button didn’t work either(got it from launch day all them years back). I’m not a heavy user, roughly 2-3 hours a day, so the battery won’t be an issue for me anyways.

But the overall feel is simply outstanding, this is really a PHONE and not a brick ;) god have I missed this size. Also, I’m a fan of the weight, it’s really light. I’m well impressed!
I'm sorry, I completely missed the XS part, please let me know how the battery life compares, IDK why but I'm curious about the Mini, coming from a 11 Pro Max, I just don't know if my old eyes would appreciate it though.
 
i just got the mini a few hours ago coming from a 11 pro max.. i have no issues with raised blacks and only notice a slightly warmer display compared to the PM.. not enough to warrant a exchange. speed test on ookla shows slightly better download compared to intel modem in the PM. typing one handed on this mini is a dream.
 
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For people that are using wallet with 12 mini, especially naked\caseless: is it comfortable in your experience? I think that I will need to put in three cards (working badge, credit card and driving license) and a 20€ banknote. Share your experience please :)

I use the Apple wallet with the phone naked and 3 cards. It is very comfortable. Fits nice and tight. When needing a card I take the wallet off while still in my pocket, use the card and then put the wallet back while my phone is still in pocket. Works brilliantly.....love it!
 
Same phone lol, just bigger.
Your assumption here is that bigger always equals more valuable to everyone. That’s wrong. In a phone, smaller/mobility is more valuable to me. I would even pay more for it.

The mini will almost certainly gain a greater share than its current "6%" throughout 2021. The pro/max models are always overrepresented in early sales due to enthusiast focused early adopters, with the standard model(s) gaining more and more traction as time goes on. I doubt the mini will come anywhere close to the 6.1 inch 12 in market share but I'd expect it above 10%.
Yeah, unless I’m mistaken, I think that was the case with the iPhone 5c. Did horrible in the beginning then crept up in popularity.
 
I love small phones. I still like using my SE1, and I’m going to ride it out, but I love that Apple made the 12 Mini, and is offering something nice to people who don’t want large phones any more.

Small phones are ideal for people who would rather do the bulk of their consumption and work on bigger screens, and just need a little device for communication, audio, and the odd screen task (though I’m sure some people do want to use their small phone for consumption and work and simply prefer the smaller size). I use my phone only when I’m out, for calls, texts, navigation (I mainly use audio), music/podcasts, and taking a photo/video here and there. Maybe a handful of times a day, I’ll check an email or look up some info. A small screen is perfectly fine for all this. My eyes are not good, but I wear glasses so I can read the screen completely fine. And I have no issues typing on a small keyboard with two thumbs because iOS autocorrect is so good. But I mostly use QuickPath, which I find just as fast and easy as two thumb typing, but gives me the advantage of only needing one hand. And for this use a bigger keyboard would actually be worse. Because it’s not a main consumption or work device, the battery life is more than adequate. I love not noticing the phone in my pocket and being able to use the phone quickly and securely in one hand while I’m going about my life.
And when I’m at home or work, I switch to iPad or Mac. At home, my go-to is my iPad mini.
So for someone like me, a hefty phone with a big screen is not desirable at all.
 
I love small phones. I still like using my SE1, and I’m going to ride it out, but I love that Apple made the 12 Mini, and is offering something nice to people who don’t want large phones any more.

Small phones are ideal for people who would rather do the bulk of their consumption and work on bigger screens, and just need a little device for communication, audio, and the odd screen task (though I’m sure some people do want to use their small phone for consumption and work and simply prefer the smaller size). I use my phone only when I’m out, for calls, texts, navigation (I mainly use audio), music/podcasts, and taking a photo/video here and there. Maybe a handful of times a day, I’ll check an email or look up some info. A small screen is perfectly fine for all this. My eyes are not good, but I wear glasses so I can read the screen completely fine. And I have no issues typing on a small keyboard with two thumbs because iOS autocorrect is so good. But I mostly use QuickPath, which I find just as fast and easy as two thumb typing, but gives me the advantage of only needing one hand. And for this use a bigger keyboard would actually be worse. Because it’s not a main consumption or work device, the battery life is more than adequate. I love not noticing the phone in my pocket and being able to use the phone quickly and securely in one hand while I’m going about my life.
And when I’m at home or work, I switch to iPad or Mac. At home, my go-to is my iPad mini.
So for someone like me, a hefty phone with a big screen is not desirable at all.
In this day and age, I think a lot of people (especially teens) have trouble realizing not everyone lives on their phone and doesn't need a big phone because of that.
 
I use the Apple wallet with the phone naked and 3 cards. It is very comfortable. Fits nice and tight. When needing a card I take the wallet off while still in my pocket, use the card and then put the wallet back while my phone is still in pocket. Works brilliantly.....love it!
Thank you for your reply. Any problem taking off or putting in the phone in your pocket? Someone say that it could slide off easy.
 
Your assumption here is that bigger always equals more valuable to everyone. That’s wrong. In a phone, smaller/mobility is more valuable to me. I would even pay more for it.


Yeah, unless I’m mistaken, I think that was the case with the iPhone 5c. Did horrible in the beginning then crept up in popularity.
And I think the "cheaper" iPhone 11 hasn't done so well in 2019 but was the best selling iPhone in 2020 till October if I am not mistaken. People upgrading only within a few years usually are not early adaptors if their contract doesn't say so. They wait till the price does down and often buy the best value and not the best phone for more money. The 11 has been a great indicator. I have seen more and more 11's over the year when at the beginning of the 11 cycle it was more and more the 11 Pro (non Max). But to be honest I haven't seen more than two 12s yet and both were normal 12, not Mini, not Pro. And I meet and see lot of people during work, even now. It takes time to adapt but I also live in a country where people buy for value instead of money and many own Android here. And they wait to save money, people here save money and rather buy cheap phones, also they have big money in their bank accounts. It is our lifestyle.

I f.e. bought every flagship iPhone from the OG to the X, leaving only the 3GS and 5 out. And with the 11 I started to "downgrade". And now with the Mini, it just is the perfect form factor for me. Price doesn't matter, features in such a small body is so worth it. People don't consider and praise Apple what they have done here. It is not only that they released a flagship phone you can handle. But there is a reason why companies don't do small phones. There is no place to put all those chips and hardware in it. It takes great engineering and that costs. I think the Mini is great value for what you get. No comparison to the, still nice, SE2. And in my country prices already go down. Without tax on the bill you get a new 64GB Mini through good eBay resellers for 650€ instead of 799€. And amazon has 70€ off already. The same with the normal 12.

I also did own the Apple Wallet but it moved around even on the Mini. I only had a thin tpu protector on the back, no case, just a tpu sheet. Naked you can say. And it wasn't secure at all. Was a pain to handle. I imagine if it would hold strong that it would be nice to handle. Maybe there are quality issues here. Why do most people have no problem with the wallet sliding around and some, like MBKHD in his video and also me, have big problems of it not staying secure and moving around. I sent it back to Apple.
 
It's funny when you look at the size of the Mini and the perception that it's a tiny phone.

I still have my old iPhones and looked at a few of them today. I took out the first iPhone Gen 1, the 3Gs and 4s. They all have screen sizes of 3.5in of course. One of the reasons I love the mini is it reminds me of the 4S which was my favourite iPhone design of them all. I loved the straight sides, the glass back, the aluminium ring etc. When I put the 4s next to the 12 Mini, I was surprised at how much bigger the mini is! A 5.4in screen would actually have been called very big not long ago. The iPhone 5 came in and it has the 4in screen and people thought that was big!

Even the iPhone 6S which I had still had just a 4.7in screen. And the real kicker for me, the 6S plus, which seemed a huge phablet back in the day is the same size screen as the Mini at 5.5in!

I also have a Galaxy Note 3 phone which seemed huge back in the day and its screen size is the same size as the mini!

I'm very surprised at this when comparing the mini like this. The perception I certainly had was it's a small, very compact phone like the ones of yesteryear, but it really isn't. Physically, it's small but screen size, which is what really counts is surprisingly large when put into context.

The point being, there are no compromises with the mini regarding screen size, if any prospective buyers are reading this.
 
It's funny when you look at the size of the Mini and the perception that it's a tiny phone.

I still have my old iPhones and looked at a few of them today. I took out the first iPhone Gen 1, the 3Gs and 4s. They all have screen sizes of 3.5in of course. One of the reasons I love the mini is it reminds me of the 4S which was my favourite iPhone design of them all. I loved the straight sides, the glass back, the aluminium ring etc. When I put the 4s next to the 12 Mini, I was surprised at how much bigger the mini is! A 5.4in screen would actually have been called very big not long ago. The iPhone 5 came in and it has the 4in screen and people thought that was big!

Even the iPhone 6S which I had still had just a 4.7in screen. And the real kicker for me, the 6S plus, which seemed a huge phablet back in the day is the same size screen as the Mini at 5.5in!

I also have a Galaxy Note 3 phone which seemed huge back in the day and its screen size is the same size as the mini!

I'm very surprised at this when comparing the mini like this. The perception I certainly had was it's a small, very compact phone like the ones of yesteryear, but it really isn't. Physically, it's small but screen size, which is what really counts is surprisingly large when put into context.

The point being, there are no compromises with the mini regarding screen size, if any prospective buyers are reading this.
Hahah yeah it really just goes to show how quickly people forget and how subjective everything is. Unfortunately, it seems to be in our nature to assert our subjective perceptions as reality instead of opinion. 🤷‍♂️
 
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Gosh I love this mini iPhone. Love the camera packs a punch. And accurate colors.
 

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It's funny when you look at the size of the Mini and the perception that it's a tiny phone.

I still have my old iPhones and looked at a few of them today. I took out the first iPhone Gen 1, the 3Gs and 4s. They all have screen sizes of 3.5in of course. One of the reasons I love the mini is it reminds me of the 4S which was my favourite iPhone design of them all. I loved the straight sides, the glass back, the aluminium ring etc. When I put the 4s next to the 12 Mini, I was surprised at how much bigger the mini is! A 5.4in screen would actually have been called very big not long ago. The iPhone 5 came in and it has the 4in screen and people thought that was big!

Even the iPhone 6S which I had still had just a 4.7in screen. And the real kicker for me, the 6S plus, which seemed a huge phablet back in the day is the same size screen as the Mini at 5.5in!

I also have a Galaxy Note 3 phone which seemed huge back in the day and its screen size is the same size as the mini!

I'm very surprised at this when comparing the mini like this. The perception I certainly had was it's a small, very compact phone like the ones of yesteryear, but it really isn't. Physically, it's small but screen size, which is what really counts is surprisingly large when put into context.

The point being, there are no compromises with the mini regarding screen size, if any prospective buyers are reading this.
Yes thats the case and astonishing.
but on the other side most phones are now 20:9 aspect ratio. So they are easier to hold.
The 6plus was 16:9 and thats why it’s actual screen area is almost 30% larger compared to the mini.
 
The 6plus was 16:9 and thats why it’s actual screen area is almost 30% larger compared to the mini.
Sure. However if you look at the difference between the face size (width x height), the 6S Plus requires almost 57% more surface area to achieve that effective screen area. What was your point again?
 
Sure. However if you look at the difference between the face size (width x height), the 6S Plus requires almost 57% more surface area to achieve that effective screen area. What was your point again?
The 6s Plus has a total screen area of 83.4 cm2 whilst the 12 Mini has a screen area of 71.9 cm2.
 
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