At Apple’s September 2022 iPhone event, there was an apparent shortage of the iPhone mini, leading many (including us) to speculate that the iPhone mini form factor was already dead. So why did Apple skip the mini this year, and are we forever stuck with bigger iPhones?
iPhone 14 Plus replaces iPhone 13 mini
In September 2021, Apple announced the iPhone 13 mini alongside the standard iPhone 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. This came on the heels of the iPhone 12 mini which saw a release the previous year. For a while, it looked as if iPhone enthusiasts who would prefer pocket space over battery life would be saved by the tech giant.
But a report was issued in January 2022 Industry analysis firm Counterpoint cited disappointingly small sales figures for the iPhone 13 in China with only 5% of sales attributed to the smallest model. Those numbers require a pinch of salt before they can be extrapolated to the market as a whole, but rumors are starting to circulate that Apple will pull the mini in 2022.
So it was not entirely surprising that a file iPhone 14 mini never came trueHis absence is punctuated by the return of a previous mainstay: the iPhone 14 Plus. The last time Apple introduced the Plus moniker was in 2018 during the iPhone 8 (and X) event.
Of course, all Pro models (and iPhone XS 2019) have seen improved “Max” versions, and the iPhone 14 Pro is no different. There has always been a market for larger devices, but over the past few years, these customers have had to far outpace the high-end flagship models.
While the iPhone 13 mini saved customers $100 on the standard version. The iPhone 14 Plus It costs $100 more than the standard model at $799 for the larger 6.7-inch screen and about 20% battery life.
Could the iPhone mini come back in 2023?
The iPhone 14 may be one The iPhone was launched less revolutionary If you are upgrading from a device that is less than one year old. There aren’t a ton of big new features that will make you want to upgrade from the iPhone 13, right down to the fact that Apple is using the A15 Bionic. system on a chip in both models. That doesn’t make it a disappointing device, especially if you’ve had your iPhone for a few more years.
Although the iPhone 14 gains an extra GPU core, you shouldn’t expect a revolution in terms of performance or power efficiency over last year’s model. This could be due to the global shortage of semiconductors that the world is just beginning to emerge from, or it could also be a sign that Apple is responding to the way many of its customers spend their money.
Consider this: There’s now less reason to upgrade your iPhone (or any smartphone) every year. Manufacturers prefer incremental upgrades, slowly rolling out features and improving devices year on year. Many of us are happy to wait until ‘Good time’ for promotionWhether it’s when our old hardware fails or feels sluggish, or even when we see something we love that makes our model feel outdated.
Would owners of the iPhone 13 (or even 12) mini see enough value in an iPhone upgrade if Apple produced the iPhone 14 mini? Or is Apple betting that these folks are content to wait until the next time the company rolls out a smaller model, especially given industry reports that the Mini is a decent product anyway?
The same can be said for the Plus models, which will likely see Apple alternate between Plus and mini to keep its customers happy. There will always be a new iPhone, but there won’t always be a full range of perfect iPhone models for every user.
And then there iPhone SEApple’s discounted price offer that just so happens to be smaller and cheaper than the standard models. The iPhone SE may have an updated A15 Bionic chip inside, but the design feels tired and outdated and badly needs an overhaul. Could this become the new ‘smaller iPhone’ when the time comes?
Last year’s model and iPhone SE are two smaller options
If you want a smaller iPhone, the good news is that you can still buy one. The iPhone 13 mini It’s still available for sale on Apple’s website (as well as the iPhone 13, for that matter). It will cost you $200 less than the new iPhone 14 and features a slightly inferior version of the same chip in the latest model.
You’ll also miss an improved camera system (with better low-light performance), crash detection that automatically calls emergency services when it detects a car crash, a new motion mode that stabilizes video while shooting, and about 20% battery life thanks to its small size.
Instead, you’ll get a smaller 5.4-inch screen and a 1.1-ounce (31.2g) lighter device. US models of the iPhone 13 mini will still have a SIM card slot (while the iPhone 14 with eSIM only). If smaller size is really important to you, the disadvantages of choosing a slightly older model aren’t huge and you’ll save $200 by doing so.
Your other choice is to choose The third generation of iPhone SE, but this is a harder sell. The iPhone 13 mini is smaller, lighter, has a much better camera system, better battery life, and the same on-chip A15 Bionic. Despite being smaller, the iPhone 13 mini has a larger screen that uses the entire front of the device.
There are other benefits of choosing a miniature, such as glass ceramic shield, Better water resistanceHigher base storage capacity and MagSafe charging and accessories. If you can stand the additional asking price of $170 over Apple’s $429 price tag for the iPhone SE, you’ll get a more capable device.
Related: What’s new in iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro: 7 big changes
Smaller iPhone, shorter battery life
For many smartphone owners, battery life is a major sticking point. More efficient chips and OLED Shows help, but the best way Get more life out of your iPhone Is to choose a larger model. The larger the chassis, the more battery is inside.
While a smaller device might sound great in theory, if you can allocate pocket space for a larger iPhone, you’ll be able to last longer between charges. This doesn’t mean there are no other reasons to go for a mini, especially if you have smaller hands or find larger devices cumbersome.
If a smaller iPhone is your device of choice and you can stay in place for another generation, it’s probably worth waiting at least a year to see what Apple does next. It’s also possible we’ll see a full iPhone SE update ticking the boxes for those looking for a smaller device.
Catch up on all the important news from the Apple event in September 2022 including the Apple event Big plans for emergency communications via satelliteThe The new Apple Watch UltraAnd the The changing face of the iPhone.