RIP to the iPhone Mini — not dead but not updated

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

After just two versions, Apple seems to be done with the mini. The new lineup doesn't include any models with the smaller 5.4-inch screen that some people have come to love.

I am not surprised. The rumors of the Mini's death have been going on for a long time. In early 2021, it was reported that Apple had underestimated demand for the phone and had to cut production in order to meet it.

Most people prefer inexpensive phones with big screens. According to estimates from Statista, phones with 5- to 5.5-inch screens accounted for more than 13 percent of units shipped by manufacturers in the year 2000. 40 percent of shipments were for phones with screens larger than 6 inches. Over the past few years, fewer and fewer small phones have been shipped, while big phones have been on the rise.

Data: Statista

We predicted at the time that the iPhone 12 Mini would be a favorite for many. The Mini was only a few, but the bit about being a favorite was dead on. The phone was crammed into the footprint of a mid-2010s device. After years of features, like multiple incredible cameras, 512GB of storage, and bright, HDR displays, only being available in phones with 5.8 inch or larger screens, the Mini finally made them all available in a device you could comfortably use with one hand.

The Mini had things that weren't good. It was never a phone that could handle a full day of heavy use, even with the 9 percent increase in battery capacity. It is hard to imagine Apple making a Pro version that was practical.

It was great to have an option for people who didn't mind tradeoffs and who didn't mind carrying a little extra bulk in the form of battery banks. The Mini fills a niche that was completely abandoned by other manufacturers.

There are some great phones with small screens, but they aren't mini. My co-worker Allison Johnson recently declared that the ideal smartphone screen size is 6.1-inch, and she was correct. The Mini has a bigger screen than all of those. If you want something that's truly small, you're not going to be satisfied with Toyota's version of compact.

There is a phone that is the same size as the Mini that is sold by Apple. The iPhone 6-era design is larger than the Mini even though it has a smaller screen. It is recommended by the SE but it is still a budget model in a way that the iPhone Mini wasn't. The SE doesn't have features like dual cameras, MagSafe, Ultra Wideband 5G, or Face ID, and its display is outclassed by Apple's latest tech

If you have an iPhone 13 Mini and want to upgrade but keep the small size, there's no other choice. That's really bad! It may not be a big deal since the iPhone 12 and 13 are fine. When they start to show their age, what about in two or three years? If Apple sticks with its current lineup, where are we going to go?

There is an argument that foldables will replace the Mini. I am aware of this point of view. Current-gen ones take up less vertical space in your pocket than the iPhone Mini, and they could get even thinner as time goes on.

There is more to the story. The main screen of the Z Flip 4 is over six feet high. Being able to get a big screen with a device that doesn't take up much room is pretty much the entire appeal of the phone for most people. If you will, make fun of me, but I find it hard to reach the edges of 6-inch screens. I am certain that I am not the only Mini user who has succumbed to repetitive strain injuries before moving away from bigger phones.

There is one shred of hope that I am holding on to. Sean Hollister wrote an article earlier this year suggesting that Apple should either use the design of the next iPhone SE or update the iPhone Mini once every two or three years. If the Mini became the budget model, it would take away some of its charm, but at least it would get new processors every once in a while, and many of us would be willing to trade having the absolute latest and greatest for a phone that actually works with.

It is unlikely that Apple will show up in supply chains for a long time. Mini owners can take solace in knowing that their phones will get updates for a while, and remember the glorious time when Apple brought the small phone back.