iPhone 13 Mini Travel Review: Small Phone Struggles with HEAT

[@pug_63]

I’ve just upgraded from the XS to the 13 Mini (due to battery issues and the impending loss of the latest iOS), so KZbin’s algorithm is throwing lots of 13 Mini videos in my direction. Thanks for the content.

[@TheTechPacker]

Cheers! Looks like KZbin's algorithm has a sixth sense for your tech upgrades. Enjoy the flood of 13 Mini videos and don't forget to hit that like button if you find them helpful.

[@ricardomerk2]

I think you definitely expected way too much out of your 13 mini. I commute daily for about 2 hrs each way and couldn’t be happier with my 13mini. It gives me portability among other things which is one of the reasons I’ve choosen it as my daily driver. I do light to ,moderate media consumption, texting and emailing as well and a full charge will last me the whole day. Of course i also have an  Watch Ultra so i get a lot of notifications there and respond to some texts as well . At no time i would even try to do all that you were trying to accomplish specially on such harsh conditions on such a device. My personal opinion you had the wrong tool for the job to begin with. I don’t see a 13 mini as the type of device for the job you had. I definitely see a fail but not on the 13 mini’s part.

[@TheTechPacker]

Heh. You haven’t seen my other videos raving about the 13 Mini have you? I had an alternate plan. Just a story about how you need a plan B if travelling with a 13 Mini

[@JonasErving]

nice and intresting video👍👍

[@TheTechPacker]

Thanks!

[@sammyt3514]

Interesting perspective; thanks. I currently own a 12 mini, which I love and it meets my needs as a work from home person, but I'm at the point of deciding whether I should snap a 13 mini up before it's gone or get a new 15 pro which is narrower/lighter than the previous version hopefully alleviating some of the handling issues I had with the latter (hence sticking with the 12 mini), pending me trying it at an Apple store when it becomes available. I've never been on a long trip with the 12 mini and I do use my phone mainly when taking vids/photos while travelling, so your video makes me lean towards the 15 pro (provided I'll like how it handles), especially since I do miss the zoom lens, which has seen a lot of use on my previous phone (Samsung Note 10).

[@TheTechPacker]

Good luck finding one in stock at the moment. Though i suspect 15 Pro will be easier to track down than15 Pro Max. Personally, I’m 80% certain I won’t be upgrading from my 13 Mini as my daily device and using my 11 Pro Max with my Insta360 Flow gimbal.

[@sammyt3514]

@@TheTechPacker The Apple store where I live said they'd have all the iPhone 15 models on display this Friday, which is when I'll try out the 15 Pro. If I decide to buy it, I can wait for it to be delivered no matter how long that takes; there's no rush. I'm increasingly doubting that I'd buy it, though, since the main reason a lifelong Android user like me got an iPhone in the first place was the availability of a compact size flagship-grade phone like the mini which has no equivalent in Android; if I'm getting a 6.1" phone, I may as well get the Samsung S23/24 since I do prefer Android to iOS. Waiting for a camera comparison between the S23 and the 15 Pro which would be a major factor in that decision as well. Decisions, decisions...

[@robertwilliamson922]

My iPhone 13 Mini has 512 GB memory in an Otterbox sleeve. I’ll be taking it with me when I fly back to South Asia. Packing a power bank with it. Back up phone is a Sonim XP3 flip phone with 128 GB. Tough holsters for both of them.

[@TheTechPacker]

Sounds great. How long is your trip for? Ps am about to go live on great places to visit and maybe live - love to see you there

[@robertwilliamson922]

@@TheTechPacker Hi….I’ll be going indefinitely. Might never return to Canada. 72 this month, and had quadruple cardiac bypass surgery. But my doctors now give me a clean bill of health to travel again anywhere I want. I travel “one bag, carry on, minimalist travel.” One convertible 21 litre backpack, plus a crossbody sling bag. I’ve been all over Canada, and much of the U.S. on several trips. I first travelled to the mountains of northern Thailand back in 2013. For four months, close to the borders of Myanmar and Laos. In 2017 I flew to Cambodia for two months, followed by a few days in Bangkok. I figure I’ll return to Cambodia to live there in retirement. With side trips once in a while to Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam. But Cambodia will be my home. After my previous experiences there…..I studied Buddhism and became Buddhist. Take care…. Have safe flights and happy travels. Yes….be nice to meet up.

[@MentalStamina]

It's my understanding that the apple magsafe battery is supposed to be put on as soon as you leave the house in the morning. The battery should take you to mid the late afternoon and then your iPhone battery will carry you for the rest of the day. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@TheTechPacker]

Never heard of that

[@harryburnsii69]

Welcome to my world ! I was in Korea in July and August with high temperatures 35-40c°. My IPhone 13 pro had the same problem of battery draining and overheating. Plane mode was a solution to reduce the problem. Waiting for the 15 pro max too…

[@TheTechPacker]

We shall see what lands with the new Apple announcements!

[@elisawilliams9319]

Yeah I don’t think the mini was built for that in particular, that’s why I also carry the 13, I use it for business but in a crunch I think it would have held it’s own. I know it sounds insane, but both my mini and the 13 are both 512gb, I found it fascinating that I could get the 512gb in such a small form factor. I’m not a content creator or love to take pictures like that, I basically love to use it for the everyday things of life and I’m pretty much an app lover and occasional videos and pictures here and there, some book reading, believe me I could wear a phone down to the nub. I love the mini and I will stick with it. Every phone has it’s issues, I still think I could work with the mini no matter what, nothing is perfect. I live in Florida and have always had the pro maxes and it wasn’t even that hot and it said it was too hot and and shut off on me, I was definitely stuck, because I didn’t have a second phone at that time. So yeah, it’s the mini for me for life, always going to want to have one.

[@TheTechPacker]

Yes - 1/2 terabyte in such a small phone and powerful phone is a mini miracle , right?

[@elanarc3409]

aw hard to find new 13 mini, discountinued in my region 😢

[@TheTechPacker]

That's a pity

[@sonnydemichele4903]

I want to upgrade to 13 mini from 12 mini , will it only having 4gb of ram make a difference or save up more to get the 13 pro with 6gb ram? This will be a upgrade I plan on keeping for more than a year keep in mind.

[@TheTechPacker]

Personally I’ve been satisfied with processing speed and power of 13 Mini for everyday use.

[@jimcabezola3051]

Wow! A great report! I still like my 13 Mini, but I never challenged it as you have done yours. Mahalo for really showing me the boundaries of the Mini. I can also say my Mini lasts longer on a charge than my iPhone 6S with a new battery. That's not saying much of anything, though 🤣! Maybe a big boy phone should be next on my list after Apple stops supporting the Mini. Aloha.

[@TheTechPacker]

Yes, it was quite the workout - and I suspected that the ambient temperature might prove quite a challenge. The constant use when on a big travel itinerary is also quite a load. So yes, great as my daily driver, but heavy use in a hostile temperature environment was pretty challenging. Glad you enjoyed the account - let’s see what announcements September brings! Kia ora :)

[@jimcabezola3051]

@@TheTechPacker Yes. Looking to see if the USB-C port is really added. I would buy an iPhone 15 IF I could easily acquire a model for outside North America. I simply do not like the eSIM-only models we have here. Kia ora!

[@eprohoda]

Hiya!,Wow, best travel. The-

[@TheTechPacker]

Ta!

[@CoachAdamRuns]

Sarb, I think it's time for a new phone. Fortunately, it's almost Apple's announcement season!

[@TheTechPacker]

True - will have to be a significant step up camera wise :)