Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone SE (2016) As an SE lover, I was waiting for the iPhone 12 Mini - now I’m conflicted.
- Thread starter turbineseaplane
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah! I thought it would be sold out but I guess not.
I think maybe Apple/Kuo got it right that they wouldn't sell as much..... my theory is because of price. No "normal everyday" buyer is going to pay the same price they did last year for a phone that is smaller.
Yeah—it’s actually $30 more than the regular 11 was last year, for that matter.
I still think the initial hype wave for the 12/12P sucked a lot of buyers in, many of whom might have been drawn to the Mini if it had been made available. It’s also *possible* that the ‘Mini’ branding turns some people off. Time will tell.
I guess to argue the opposition to that, I am one of those. I have a regular 11 I bought last year for $699, and I preordered the mini because it is the next gen phone with better internals, slightly upgraded camera, and most importantly- the much better size and shape that I had been wanting for years.
Yes. a faster processor with more ram, larger screen, better battery, updated camera and most importantly less weight is definitely worth it.
This and also that I couldn't bring myself to accept the 2014 shell of the 2020 SE that I would have for several years from 2020 onwards.
This is a real factor that I weighed up with the Face ID in the 12 mini. But there is no need or official requirement for masks where I live, in a regional area of Australia. No one wears them, although everyone has the hygiene and distancing practices. There have been a handful of cases in the whole state in the past several months. It is likely to remain that way - the outlook is for some temporary, district outbreaks but a passcode suffices for that period.
But if I lived in the US, Europe or another heavily populated area, I probably would have lived with the austere situation and ordered a 2020 SE months ago.
There's no doubt about that. They're put off before they even see the large screen.
I told myself I would never buy another $1K iPhone. With AC+ add-on, the final mini phone price came pretty close at $974. Hopefully, I will hang onto it more than a year this time.
While the mini is expensive right now and hard to recommend to regular people, I bet by 2021 and 2022, Apple will keep the design and either keep the 12 mini alive and it will cost $499. It would be an awesome option to recommend to people like my mom who is holding on to her se (1st gen). She’s actually had an 5s (my old se), then a 1st gem se and she thinks the second se is “too big” lol but she’s eyeing the mini when the price drops next year.
it would be like the xr. Just a great phone to recommend it’s a solid and safe choice.
it would be like the xr. Just a great phone to recommend it’s a solid and safe choice.
But I don't want Apple to make mini a second tier phone. I would like to upgrade to a mini pro next year.
I think a lot of “normal everyday” buyers don’t stare at their phones waiting for pre-orders to go live like us geeks! A lot will be people who will make the decision on which iPhone to get when they need to upgrade their phone later in the year.
In 2013, the 5s on launch was $649 for 16GB & $749 for 32 GB.
So the price of the mini seems pretty reasonable in comparison.
The SE was only as cheap as it was as it was putting iPhone 6s parts (which Apple would’ve got for a reasonable price as they were likely ordering tens of millions of these) along with older 2013 era parts (which were likely an even better deal for Apple) onto slightly retooled existing SE production lines.
iPhones have got more capable and more expensive over the years & the mini has a dramatic screen quality upgrade - which is what you’re paying the extra for.
The only other solution would be to get a good second hand 64GB or 128 GG SE & pay to get a new battery put in it ?
So the price of the mini seems pretty reasonable in comparison.
The SE was only as cheap as it was as it was putting iPhone 6s parts (which Apple would’ve got for a reasonable price as they were likely ordering tens of millions of these) along with older 2013 era parts (which were likely an even better deal for Apple) onto slightly retooled existing SE production lines.
iPhones have got more capable and more expensive over the years & the mini has a dramatic screen quality upgrade - which is what you’re paying the extra for.
The only other solution would be to get a good second hand 64GB or 128 GG SE & pay to get a new battery put in it ?
Regular people need iPhone love too, RA. I was once a regular person. One day I was eating my Life cereal like Mikey always did, and the voices in my head started to make sense and said in unison, “This is the way.”
I'm also in the same situation as you, although the problem I see is not money, but that I don't want the magnets: I got the SE1 (the 128GB model) 3 three and a half years ago, but with time it has become less and less usable because of high CPU use that produces sharp decreases in battery time (my guess is that the reason might be related to some tasks that are accelerated by specific cores in newer A13/A14 chips but that require a lot of work in the SE1 chip --that's my guess anyway).
The iPhone 12 Mini looks the perfect replacement: similar size, flat edges (perfect, I tend to put my SE1 standing on the long side over my desk), and latest processor (same as the 12 Pro)... but it has a serious drawback: the magnets. Even if they say they are "not strong", they are strong enough for erasing hotel keys: I don't want to have such kind of magnets in my pocket.
Regarding money, I don't see it as a major problem: I can get the 128GB Mini model for around 800€ in Europe (that's a lot, but my time-frame is not to buy a new phone earlier than 3 years). I made my SE1 last almost 4 years (and it could have lasted more if I had managed to prevent iOS updates, but unfortunately the updates nagging messages made me click in the wrong answer once, and I got it updated to an iOS version that required more CPU... from that iOS version on, every update has been worse and worse for the SE1).
But the magnets... I don't want them. I'm going to create a new thread (here) about possibilities for isolating the magnetic field.
The iPhone 12 Mini looks the perfect replacement: similar size, flat edges (perfect, I tend to put my SE1 standing on the long side over my desk), and latest processor (same as the 12 Pro)... but it has a serious drawback: the magnets. Even if they say they are "not strong", they are strong enough for erasing hotel keys: I don't want to have such kind of magnets in my pocket.
Regarding money, I don't see it as a major problem: I can get the 128GB Mini model for around 800€ in Europe (that's a lot, but my time-frame is not to buy a new phone earlier than 3 years). I made my SE1 last almost 4 years (and it could have lasted more if I had managed to prevent iOS updates, but unfortunately the updates nagging messages made me click in the wrong answer once, and I got it updated to an iOS version that required more CPU... from that iOS version on, every update has been worse and worse for the SE1).
But the magnets... I don't want them. I'm going to create a new thread (here) about possibilities for isolating the magnetic field.
Last edited:
Because the usual response to threads like this is “lol who wants a small phone anymore?”
Not second tier. They’ll update the iphone mini but keep the previous generation around. The XR, now the 11 are still around. Great for non-enthusiasts and for gift giving. I bought the 11 for my dad for $649! What a great deal. So I can imagine the mini 2020 priced at $599 in 2021 while the new mini 2021 is $699.
Well said. The two phones exist for two deliberately different reasons and buyers. Mini is overkill for the SE's target audience.
I have and am using the SE1. Everyone around me think I'm a dinosaur, they think I'm using a "toy" phone. But no matter, I loved the way the phone looks and works. But over time I realized battery life is deteriorating, technology is lacking, the phone is quite slow. And I want better camera.
Just in time! I'm really glad the square design is back this year, the old is the new, so I'm going for the 12pro. Was thinking about getting the 12pro max, but that would be a a huge jump for me in terms of screen size and functionality.
Can't wait to receive my order.
I would say it's time to upgrade. Go for the mini. Or the 12/ 12pro before Apple does another IOS upgrade and drop us completely.
How is your eyesight holding up? I can't do small screen anymore.
Just in time! I'm really glad the square design is back this year, the old is the new, so I'm going for the 12pro. Was thinking about getting the 12pro max, but that would be a a huge jump for me in terms of screen size and functionality.
Can't wait to receive my order.
I would say it's time to upgrade. Go for the mini. Or the 12/ 12pro before Apple does another IOS upgrade and drop us completely.
How is your eyesight holding up? I can't do small screen anymore.
Not that anyone was wondering, or cares, but I ended up buying 2 screens to try out, both real refurb screens from a reseller.
I decided to fix the screen on my SE1 and continue on enjoying that for now.
I decided to fix the screen on my SE1 and continue on enjoying that for now.
Let us know how the screen swap goes. Many years back I managed to fry an iPhone 5 replacing a cracked screen.
Like you have been happy with my 2nd hand SE1 with 64gb--as a small handed guy who wears mostly jeans I appreciate the small form factor. Only wish camera was better, the SE2 does look attractive--will wait until the price falls on the used market.
Like you have been happy with my 2nd hand SE1 with 64gb--as a small handed guy who wears mostly jeans I appreciate the small form factor. Only wish camera was better, the SE2 does look attractive--will wait until the price falls on the used market.
Well, after reading through the forum, the main concern seems to be price. So, you either get the SE2 (2020) if you need to upgrade. Otherwise, keep what you have unless you decide to opt for the 12 mini.
I recently got the SE2. It is a great phone overall. However, I'm considering the mini for the larger OLED screen, additional-better cameras and larger battery... the form fact is gorgeous to me as well. I'm not a big fan of the notch and wish there were some sort of Touch ID built into the screen. Sometimes when I go running the tap to wake turns the phone on and my hand will hit the next/previous track icon on the screen.
Regardless, to each their own. It is your money, spend it how you will. It is practically a tool that will be on your person daily that you have to live with. It is better to get something you like, then to just settle unless that will give you most peace of mind.
If you absolutely cannot afford the iPhone 12 mini, then there really is not conversation to be had hear other than it needs to be cheaper to hit the price-point you can afford.
“Value” and “trade offs” are what ultimately pushed me more than absolute price (which of course impacts value).
SE1 has the perfect form factor for me, and still has a headphone jack and touch-ID (all preferable to me).
The only thing I really wanted about the Mini was updated cameras and I guess more speed, but that’s sort of here nor there, as my SE1 does everything just great.
Ultimately - of course - one day I will be forced to move off the SE1 to stay current on new Apps, etc...but for now, I just decided to be smart about it and spend literally $25-ish vs and additional $800 to get a 12 Mini.
So much of it for me also hinged on the fact that I’m a mega iPad user and my iphone truly just needs to be a tiny light super pocketable camera, note checker, phone, messaging device, etc — just bare min type of stuff.
Excited to read about all the 12 Mini experiences and also get hands on at some point. I also ordered a couple inexpensive 12 Mini cases so I could compare sizes in person as well.
If I see a great lightly used buyers remorse type of deal in my local area at some point on the Mini - might go that route - who knows.. I just don’t want to have so much money outlaid for how I use iPhones in particular.
This. Unlike a tattoo, you’re not stuck with it, unless you wait too long.
Apple makes it so easy to try things out and return them at no cost and with very little effort.
A sensible idea - I’d wait for the holiday return policy to start if doing that though.
(Does the full holiday return policy apply to iPhones does anyone know?)
The 12 Mini is going to be the closest we ever get to the original SE / 5s / 5 size at least in the near future...
![appleblue3.jpg]()
