I have now Sony Xperia XZ1 with 4.3” screen... the iPhone mini is still too big... but better than anything else available... So going from Android to Apple is closer than ever in my life!
Watched this after watching all the usual tech reviewers I currently follow. This has the most practical substance with a tiny sprinkling of wit (to make sure you’re listening). Very impressed. Subscribed!
The screen is bigger than the SE 2020. So I don't consider it to be mini. And I also don't consider the SE to be mini either. Both have large screens. SE has a larger body, but smaller screen.
Dude fantastic review! I was watching a bunch of reviews hoping to see some comparisons to the original SE and you were the first to actually do a comprehensive comparison and talk about reachability with one hand.
I watch Marques for crispy shots, Unboxtherapy for unboxing, but there’s only one place on RU-vid for unbiased, fully detailed, meticulous tech reviews - Rene Ritchie. My favorite channel, by a large margin. 😊❤️ Keep makin it Rene!
@@alexkang7336 idk, man. He has preferences but he calls it pretty fair. He loves the Product Reds (for some reason, i don’t dig the color) but he is usually fair about critiques. Marques kinda hit the Max with a Hadoken in his critique, he compared the cameras on the mini and the Max but i want a comparison of the 12 pro and the max personally.
Nice review I just traded in my xr for the mini, the second I bought my xr I knew I should have bought a smaller phone, the mini is absolutely perfect, if the size of your phone annoys you due to being too big, traded it right back on for the 12 mini, it’s the one, I find myself wanting to use the phone more because it’s actually comfortable to hold now 👌
I’ve been using the 12 for just 4 days now and can’t get used to the huge size in the hand and the brick like feel in my pocket. Coming from the 6 form factor I didn’t realize how much heavier the 12 would be. The screen is great but I just don’t think I’m ever going to feel comfortable with it. It’s going to be a pia but I think I’m going to return it for the mini.
Just like you I used to travel a lot before the pandemic and would've opted for the pro or pro max, but ever since the pandemic I work completely remotely and will be until at least mid of next year. During this time I bought an iPad Air as my main media consumption device and I realize that there is no reason for me to have a larger iphone. That and an apple watch have both significantly helped me reduce my screentime and I want to continue that with a new phone with better cameras than my iphone 8. Thanks for the review!
Things I loved about this review, in no particular order: • “…not literally days, but like 2020 days, where it’s always March and always Tuesday” • Correct usage of the words “less” and “fewer” • The acknowledgement that whether or not you can use the iPhone 12 mini “single-handed” will depend on your hand size. You would have thought that this is a “well, duh!” kind of a thing, but this is literally the only iPhone 12 mini review I’ve seen that has mentioned this. • Related, I love the parts of the video where you have held the iPhone 12 mini in one hand, and a different iPhone in the other, and showed how much of the screen can be reached with the thumb, for a smaller (in this case female) hand and a larger (in this case male) hand - that’s super useful, and again something I haven’t seen in any other videos. • I also like that you have acknowledged that this phone isn’t actually tiny. I’m simultaneously delighted and disappointed by the mini - I’m so happy that Apple have finally come out with a smaller phone, but I’m disappointed that it’s not tiny. As soon as you see it next to an original iPhone (which was big relative to “non smartphones” of the day), you realise the iPhone 12 mini is not mini - it’s big. It’s just the utterly gargantuan iPhone 12 Pro Max that makes the mini look mini. What I’d really love is something the size of the iPhone 4, but with a full-face display. I flat-out refused to buy anything larger than an iPhone 6/7/8, and indeed the iPhone 12 mini will be my first new phone since the iPhone 6.
Magnificent review. You had exactly the stuff I wanted to know about hand reachability and how the size feels compared with lots of different models. I'm upgrading from a 7 Plus so super-appreciate that Plus-vs-mini side-by-side shot. Thank you!
It’s still to large to be called a mini but they are finally heading in the right direction, I think I’ll have to go for this as the best option since the original se. I would like to see battery tech get to the point where it’s practical to go smaller.
Holy cheese this guy talks about the right things and inserts crafty humour at just the right amount to keep things fresh without being too slapstick. What a review 👏🏼
SE? Hell I’ve kept my iPhone 5s until now. When iPhone went 6 and 6+ was mad I couldn’t get 5s sized phone. I do use an iPhone X issued from my work and it’s a good size but still problematic for one-handed use for me. My 12 mini will be here Friday and I CANNOT WAIT!! 😉
I wish reviewers would make battery comparisons with the older models. A lot of people waiting for the mini have held onto their 6S/7/8 due to their size, how does the battery compare with those? It’s obvious it won’t be as good as the 12 or Pro Max when they’re much bigger devices.
I always pick space gray, or whatever the darkest color scheme is, and I’ve had most of the iPhones. I once had a white+gold iPhone 5s, and that’s only because I broke my space gray one, and there weren’t any more in stock for my replacement. The colors look so cheap on my opinion.
@Rene Ritchie - how it's possible that iPhone 12 mini in your's battery test with Pokemon Go made 5 hours on screen time and had 50 % yet of battery if others youtuber's said that whole battery is drained in 4 hours on screen time?
The reason I bought the iPhone 12 mini to replace my iPhone 8 is exactly what you described at about 8:50 in your video. I was always a small phone person. In my opinion a phone should be first and foremost a mobile device, not an iPad replacement, the way that an iPad can’t be a 15” laptop replacement. Each device has its place. With iPhone 12 mini (as with the newer 13 mini I suppose) I have maximum portability, plenty of computational power and a couple of excellent cameras at any time, wherever I am through the day and in one hand! I only hope that Apple will continue the mini iPhone in future lineups.
Omg Rene, I say it every video, but yours is a genius mind at work! Placing the iPhone mini next to Baby Yoda for the opening shot is simply genius and speaks to your enormous creativity :)
I love small phones. My SE is so small that I often find myself frantically going threw all my pockets worried that I’ve lost it. I’m looking forward to getting the 12 mini. My SE served me well but it’s on its last legs. I’m getting the 12 mini in May.
I’ve always just used Android but that 12 Mini looks really tempting for when my current small communications phone, the Samsung Galaxy S10E, needs replacement, as this is much closer to the Sony Xperia Compact phones I had before that. A Pixel 4A/5 would be nice however Google has never officially bought their Pixel phones to New Zealand so would have to parallel import them somehow. Whereas buying an iPhone is comparably easier from Apple themselves or any other the large electronics stores or carriers
One thing that is a bit misleading is that the iphone 12 mini screen has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, whereas the SE2 has a 16:9 screen. So on the mini you are gaining far more vertical screen real estate than horizontal. The width of the mini screen is barely wider than the SE2.
The mini is the right size for a phone if we’re talking ergonomics. For the vast majority you can’t one hand the iphone 12 or max for long. Not how you can on the mini. But here’s the issue. The bigger screen does indeed add a lot to your immersion. It’s really if you want to sacrifice the perfect size for human hands Or that beautiful larger real estate.
I run 2 phones at all times, 1 android and 1 iOS. I already have a Note 20 Ultra for my giant screen needs, so the 12 mini is perfect on the iOS side for me! As much as I want the "unkillable" battery life of the Pro Max, the body is too wide in my hands. I had an 11 Pro Max last year which I loved, but it strained my hand a bit too much while using it.
still rocking OG SE, got Mini because its small. can slap on wallet case and throw in pocket. i dont spend much time on phone so battery life is great on OG SE now. just calls, imsg, and bluetooth.
Still like my 2016 SE Space Gray more, got a new battery and it's good to go. This phone is too good, too iconic, to let it go. I won't be to happy when it will be obsolete but for now, i'm still having a blast with it.
Why can't Apple fix the green dot lens flare on the iPhones? You'd think it would be fixed in the 12 series. At night you can see the green dot lens flare on light poles and headlights bouncing on video. No one is addressing that problem for some reason.
I love the large phones myself. I left Apple along with many others when the Note 10+ was released. I can still stream movies all day long & not worry about charging. Little phone should have little price, imo. I would love the Max but gotta get that "Notch" out of there & full on screen for me. But I'm a old dude, I keep my phones in cases & not my pockets because the screens are still crap & easy to scratch, which shouldn't be
Couple of months in and I love the iPhone mini, I think you nailed it that most of us have bigger devices, we use the iPhone with out depending on it except when we are out.... perfection in my opinion
Interesting that MKBHD. compared the Mini camera vs the Max camera (with side-by-side posting of the photos) and found little noticable difference, even in low light (not counting the Max telephoto lens). I hope Rene does the same comparison. Also he found the Mini battery under heavy use not maiking it through the day (I believe he said by 5pm it was pretty well drained). For me (and my older eyes) I need the 12 regular or Pro size. I also use a belt case so putting a phone in my pocket is not an issue either way. I do think though for many folks this could be the sweet spot. But as Rene said, there’s nothing mini on the price.
Nice review! I wish these were able to be released before pre-order to help with the decision and still slide into that early delivery. Anyway, will you doing a Max review?
Outside of Apple Watch, what Apple product in recent history has only gotten 4 years of updates after release? The iPhone 5s and iPad Air got 6 and still receive important security updates through 2020.
2020 being the Galaxy Note 7 battery of years is the most accurate thing I’ve heard, lmao. Great video, Rene! Personally, I’ve had an iPhone 8 for the past 2 years & I’m ready for the 12 mini.
Again, amazing no nonsense review. Major bonus was seeing the original iPhone appear at 5:41. Well done! 👍👍 Totally agree as well with your point of view on the bland “space grey”. I was never a fan of that. I am still on an iPhone 8. Would the screen of a Mini feel big compared to it? Or should I go for the regular iPhone 12?
I love big phones but only the mini is within my budget...is it worth getting the 128gb and small size just for the better camera against Like a XS Max 256g?
Can we please have a video on 12 mini's future, now that it's going to be discontinued soon? Is it still a good idea to buy a mini right now? Or wait for 13 mini, if it ever comes?
The mini could have been a bit longer, like the Pixel 4 - it would have allowed for more battery and seeing more content. Single handed use is more about reaching across the keyboard for me, while sliding it up and down in my hand isn't that much of a deal. It's the width being the main factor for how comfortable it's to hold and use.
I literally just use the phone for texts/calls occasional pretty photos/videos, and few "education" apps (language, skills..). I've been holding on for dear life to my 5S for size and portability. I feel like 5 hrs of pokèmon go to get it down to 50%, is already at least twice more than my daily average screen time. I tried to hold the "regular" iphone 12 in my hand and it felt stupidly big. The only real complaint I have is the starting price. I wish they kept the Iphone mini in the 600 range without carrier.
@Rene Ritchie Question: Are there any trends on how quickly these batteries could degrade over time, like is the mini more or less likely to degrade faster than than the 12 Pro Max over time? Thank you for the effort and research you put into your videos, they are so helpful!
Your "more of a traditional phone phone" comment is absolutely where I'm at with it. Got the iPads etc home and watch for out and about too, so it's absolutely what I've been after since the X was launched. Great vid as always Rene.
I had to return the iPhone mini unfortunately my device had the lock screen touch issue. When using a case and face mask the lock screen is practically unusable. It might be a grounding issue or software bug. I also found the combination of screen size and ui not really an upgrade coming from an iPhone 7. I wish they would have put much more love into it. Making the ui shine for the screen size and not just having the same size as previous iphones. My hands usually cover the parts of the screen that are extra space from older iphones... I had high hopes for this one but instead I got the regular iPhone 12, much better value for the money
@@TylerINFOCUS yes and I stand by my decision 100%. For an Apple device I wasn't expecting that and seeing apple just come from the big keyboard fiasco for years without fixing the root cause I wasn't going to take any chances. Other than that issue I found the combination of screen size, price and lack of unique ui for the size just not worth it.
This will be my new iPhone... next year. I like the concept of the smaller display. I’m hoping it will push me over to my Apple Watch for Podcasts and Music. Also my iPad Pro will get more action if I need to do something productive or play some games.
RR this made me so happy to hear. I just picked up an iPad Air specifically bc I was hoping to also downsize my phone to the Mini since I basically will be using it as a camera and email device and would love less presence in my pocket.
Thank you for this in-depth review of iPhone 12 mini which really profile a lot of good information for people to choose correctly. I guess if I want it all I will have to wait for iPhone 13 pro mini!
I Have A Question, Do You Think Apple Will Continue Making IPhones Mini Over the Year or Is Just a On time Thing Until 3 or 4 Years When They Release it Again
This form factor is the ultimate Steve Jobs dream phone. He always wanted the phone to be usable single-handed. Stoked that Apple is back to this form factor.
