Apple got something really right with the iPhone 12 mini. Playing around with my Black mini for the last 24hrs has been a nostalgic experience, sending me 7 years back to the good ol' iPhone 5 days. At the same time, it makes a strong, completely unexpected argument for what the future of iPhone may hold. What follows is a love letter to the iPhone 12 mini…
Let's get one thing straight: I think the iPhone 5 is one of the best iPhone designs. I also think the iPhone X is the most revolutionary (and important) implementation of iPhone. The iPhone 12 mini is what you get if the iPhone 5 and iPhone X had a baby. It's simply the best of both worlds. Experiencing this phone is like playing the remastered version of your favorite video game.
Each time I hold my 12 mini I'm amazed by how beautiful and capable such a small device can be. (Emphasis here on beautiful.) Apple's brilliant marketing may lead you to think aluminum feels less premium than stainless steel, but both materials feel extremely high quality in hand. I think that's what the iPhone always had going for it: when you pick it up, it feels beautiful and makes you feel good—almost like a piece of jewelry.
The 12 mini makes me question why we’ve invested in larger phones. I've realized that although we use our phones for a lot more today than we did 7 years ago, there are some things that haven't changed at all: us! As silly as this sounds, the size of our hands, pockets, tables/desks, and what "heavy" or "light" feels like to us hasn't changed much. There's something special about your life's most essential device "disappearing" when you put it in your pocket and being pleasantly surprised by its unassuming presence once you use it again.
It seems the future of mobile phones lies in figuring out how to deliver a significantly larger screen in a smaller form factor (e.g. foldable phones). Playing around with my 12 mini has made me realize that not only do I not need the extra screen real estate, but I'm not sure if I really want it. The small size forces the phone to occupy a certain lane in my life: casual, efficient interactions like messaging and web surfing. For any heavier work, I’ll whip out my 16" MBP instead—it’s the sensible option. To me, this separation gives iPhone a more clear identity as being an everyday companion tool, but not your only tool. It's there to support you throughout your day, but it is not the panacea for all your productivity needs. If I can't hop onto my workstation for a task, it’s a reminder that I should go about my day and focus on work at a later time.
I hope everyone can experience the 12 mini. It feels like a nod to the past but a potentially serious course correction for the future. We turn to our phones for so much today, but I think the mini is "less is more" personified. Changing how I interact with iPhone more than any of its predecessors, I think the 12 mini is Apple's most important phone.
Sincerely,
A happy 12 mini user
Let's get one thing straight: I think the iPhone 5 is one of the best iPhone designs. I also think the iPhone X is the most revolutionary (and important) implementation of iPhone. The iPhone 12 mini is what you get if the iPhone 5 and iPhone X had a baby. It's simply the best of both worlds. Experiencing this phone is like playing the remastered version of your favorite video game.
Each time I hold my 12 mini I'm amazed by how beautiful and capable such a small device can be. (Emphasis here on beautiful.) Apple's brilliant marketing may lead you to think aluminum feels less premium than stainless steel, but both materials feel extremely high quality in hand. I think that's what the iPhone always had going for it: when you pick it up, it feels beautiful and makes you feel good—almost like a piece of jewelry.
The 12 mini makes me question why we’ve invested in larger phones. I've realized that although we use our phones for a lot more today than we did 7 years ago, there are some things that haven't changed at all: us! As silly as this sounds, the size of our hands, pockets, tables/desks, and what "heavy" or "light" feels like to us hasn't changed much. There's something special about your life's most essential device "disappearing" when you put it in your pocket and being pleasantly surprised by its unassuming presence once you use it again.
It seems the future of mobile phones lies in figuring out how to deliver a significantly larger screen in a smaller form factor (e.g. foldable phones). Playing around with my 12 mini has made me realize that not only do I not need the extra screen real estate, but I'm not sure if I really want it. The small size forces the phone to occupy a certain lane in my life: casual, efficient interactions like messaging and web surfing. For any heavier work, I’ll whip out my 16" MBP instead—it’s the sensible option. To me, this separation gives iPhone a more clear identity as being an everyday companion tool, but not your only tool. It's there to support you throughout your day, but it is not the panacea for all your productivity needs. If I can't hop onto my workstation for a task, it’s a reminder that I should go about my day and focus on work at a later time.
I hope everyone can experience the 12 mini. It feels like a nod to the past but a potentially serious course correction for the future. We turn to our phones for so much today, but I think the mini is "less is more" personified. Changing how I interact with iPhone more than any of its predecessors, I think the 12 mini is Apple's most important phone.
Sincerely,
A happy 12 mini user
