No one buys the best iPhone

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Apple sells a lot of iPhone's, but for some reason, no one is buying the best one! But the few people that do buy it, LOVE it. So let's look into what makes this failed product so great.
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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Why is everything so big!?
0:48 The only small premium phone you can get
1:40 I'm a bit of a Goldilocks, but the perfect phone is real!
2:33 I'm not alone in loving it!
3:45 Thanks Squarespace!
4:14 You're spoiled for choice, but I think it's an easy one to make
5:06 It isn't ALL perfect though...
6:13 The thing everyone hates is what we all love
6:49 So... what happens when it's gone?
7:54 There's another option: the Zenfone 9
9:05 I wouldn't worry about the Mini going away though

[@macaddress]

What are your thoughts on the iPhone Mini? Do you prefer larger phones? Let us know below! Check out Apple’s lineup of iPhones: lmg.gg/5suNp Buy an ASUS ZenFone 9: geni.us/UAk1u Check out the MagSafe Battery Pack: lmg.gg/8qLOw Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group.

[@GigaDarth]

I had the 12 mini 128 but the battery life was just so bad and now I have the 14 256

[@fieldroaster21]

I won’t buy an iPhone larger than the 13 mini I have right now. So if they stop doing them moving forward, I will eventually be switching to android I guess 😬 this phone is already a bit too big. The Nokia Lumia 925 was my favorite phone of all time (Including the OS!). I would give up all these features just to be able to use one again

[@EchoConstellation]

I won’t sacrifice on the cameras to get a mini. But I’d buy a Pro mini at a premium price immediately.

[@skitcentral.]

The mini might return with the new SE.

[@WaffleusRex]

They are my favorite iPhones. I can actually reach all the icons in the folders with one hand. I would struggle to do that on the regular sized iPhone, let alone the Plus or Pro Max. On Android, I at least have the option of the Nova Launcher beta, which allows for bottom-aligned folders.

[@austinevans]

A few weeks ago I made the exact same swap from 14 Pro to 13 mini and I couldn't be happier I'm going to really miss this form factor

[@jacksalem6472]

Yeah that’s pretty fair getting a small high-performance phone, is getting harder and harder

[@waytoobiased]

Don’t worry, with the way Apple supports updates you’ll probably be fine for four or five years

[@Ninjimdo]

It’ll be back. My bet is the next gen SE will be a mini

[@handlemonium]

iOS just isn't for me. Been satisfied with the Sony Xperia 10 IV. And first-hand experience........ *2 WEEK STANDBY BATTERY LIFE BABYYYY* 🤙

[@vegcharli]

We watched the video, we know

[@DangerousDac]

If they did a Pro mini I'd have dropped everything and bought it in a heartbeat.

[@bmhd4777]

Agreed

[@Respectable_Username]

100% this

[@seaston]

Same!

[@willstw]

I would not amaze on Pro mini,but purchase three

[@Daggerhead69]

you,me both

[@jamiepoirier1444]

Something worth noting about the Minis is that the single hand-able form factor means that one of iOS' biggest usability drawbacks-no dedicated back button-is pretty much a non-issue. reaching your thumb across the screen to gesture swipe backward feels so intuitive. On even a standard 6.1" iPhone I find it gets much more in the way.

[@sh-ehmed]

Can't you swipe inward from left or right to go back?

[@SyRose901]

@@sh-ehmed Yes and no. Depends on the application.

[@atlanticatmosphere6695]

People complain the screen is too small but then you have iPads and laptops for media

[@imstupidbut]

I have never once encountered a situation where I wanted a back button on my iPhone

[@jnhkx]

as a lefty, I had never thought of that, I just swipe it with my left thumb.

[@Dionyzos]

Still rocking my 5 year old iPhone X. It's smaller than newer iPhones but not as small as the mini and still looks great thanks to the stainless steel. It's actually insane how well it holds up if you're not a power user. I don't plan to upgrade anytime soon. The best value smartphone is the one you already have as long as you're happy with it.

[@lifeinhd4053]

I briefly had an XS before switching to my 13 Mini. Felt the design was WAAAAY too slippery, making it nearly impossible to hold. Plus the stainless steel made it way too heavy. Square sides + lightweight aluminum is the way to go IMO.

[@xGLITCHGAMINGx]

The fact the iPhone X is 5 years old blows my mind, I’m still running a 2016 iPhone SE🤣

[@EvilKermit7]

@@lifeinhd4053 you should trying holding a 14 pro max then bcs its much heavier XD (i have both)

[@romella_karmey]

I will try to hold my iPhone 14 Pro Max till after 10 years 😂 maybe I’ll be tempted to get the newest model soon and just inherit this phone to my mother 😂

[@michaelolson571]

I had two X's and they were great phones. What did them in was the screen separating from the body.

[@farhadkader]

Honestly speaking, the mini line-up is only something you truly appreciate once you get a chance to experience it in person.

[@Kuriiios]

Agreed but most people still considered that bigger phone at a higher price is a better value even if a phone is less practical in day to day life

[@madness1931]

I had really large phones, some of the largest ones on Android (proper phablets). Eventually I got sick of that size, how cumbersome it was, and how you got the worst parts of both devices (phones and tablets). As a result i love the Mini form factor, it's perfect. When I want a bigger screen, I just use a tablet. Best of both worlds.

[@whenhen]

The problem for the mini is that the iPhone 13/14 base models fit perfectly fine in smaller hands. Both my fiancée and I have really small hands (both of us wear child large gloves), and found it exceedingly cramped when we held it, while the base iPhones felt much more natural to hold even one handed. Plus even the iPhone Mini can’t fit in front pockets of women’s clothing, so the portability aspect is kind of moot. Both the base iPhone and mini fit just fine in the rear pockets of jeans so there’s not really a practical benefit unlike say the Z Flip line of phones.

[@eduardobarreto5555]

To me, a bigger phone is only good if you don't have a tablet. I don't like to just lounge and browse social media on my phone since even the largest phone screens are rather small to be using for a long time. Now that I have an iPad I only use my phone for communication on the go, reproducing music, taking photos, and using Uber-like services. None of which benefit too much from a larger screen that sacrifices comfort in my pocket.

[@farhadkader]

@@eduardobarreto5555 I agree with you, If you have a tablet you really don’t need a big phone. Also, the squared-off design formula that phones are trending to now makes handling larger phones even more cumbersome. It works well for small to medium sized devices but not for larger devices. One of the only things that make me want to get a big-sized phone is the longer battery life.

[@mrkylematz]

I think it’d be interesting if Apple alternated annually between a Mini phone and a Plus phone. That way if you wanted a specific form factor, you’d only have to sacrifice a years worth of upgrades (not much considering the changes year-to-year seem to be getting smaller).

[@anomanderrake5434]

Haha. That's why they won't do it. They want you to buy every year. And also if there was a enough demand for small phones, apple will be able to produce a mini + normal size every year and people will upgrade it every year (whoever does it). They don't do it cause there's no demand.

[@TheAleQc]

There is plenty of demand. They are waiting for people to ALMOST give up and be desperate for it. Then they have your money trapped. Those years follow by that being the only option.

[@ikuturso7570]

Bad for margins, not gonna hsppen. Apple likes to use the (almost) exactly same design at least couple of years to squeeze the unut cost as low as possible.

[@AWellesley]

I’ve settled on keeping my iPhone until Apple drops support (I.e 7-8 years), it worked great for me with the 6s and whatever stunts Apple pulls in the interim I expect it will be long enough for my preferred form factor to go out of fashion and then come back again.

[@lifeinhd4053]

@@anomanderrake5434 They also botched the launch and did a terrible job marketing it. The 12 came out like a month before the 12 Mini, so if you simply couldn't wait you'd be forced to get the larger phone, and some people (like my friend) thought "cheapest iPhone at launch = smallest iPhone" and mistakenly ended up with a 12 when he really wanted a Mini. On top of that, because it was called the Mini, if you just walked into an Apple Store and asked for an iPhone, they'd automatically saddle you with the larger screen size. They should have simply called it the iPhone, with every other size having a different name from there. But of course they would never do that, because the real goal of the Mini lineup wasn't actually to sell, but rather to stealthily increase the starting price of the larger iPhone by $100, and in that they very much succeeded.

[@SkyDX]

I can't believe there's a video dedicated to people like me, let alone other people who love the Mini so much as I do! I have a disability that makes using large phones not impossible but annoying and when I saw the 12 Mini and the 13 Mini I was like: "YES FINALLY! SOMEONE GETS IT!" and now I might or might not have to worry where I go after my 13 Mini gets long in the tooth so I appreciate this video.

[@setoth1234]

I was so upset about the 13 mini's discontinuation that I bought a brand new one to keep in its box. For someone with a disability as well, the 13 mini has been just about perfect.

[@SkyDX]

@@setoth1234 Sorry to hear! I meanwhile made the jump to a regular iPhone 15 and got a used Apple Watch, it does help a lot with basic tasks on the go. I just wish Call Handling would be better on watchOS.

[@15725867905]

When I worked in the Apple Store, pretty much every employee would buy the flagship at launch. The few of us that bought the mini were the happiest among them and many would actually sell the current flagship to “downgrade” to the mini from the Pro/Pro Max. Unfortunately, I think we’ve seen the mid of the mini as a current gen device. I’ve kept both my 12 and 13 minis and occasionally switch to them when the mood strikes. Every time I do I just feel we were soo close to nailing it. If only the screen were brighter… if only the battery stronger… if only the speakers were louder. If only they’d just bring it back 💔

[@nhand42]

Always impressed by the artistic style on Jonathan's videos. They demonstrate a keen eye for framing and composition. So much more entertaining than the standard "person sitting at a desk".

[@Sam-dn7jk]

I agree! The other channels could really take notes :))

[@maximthemagnificent]

Fortnine videos strike me the same way: the production is another reason to watch! Since I only have a 50cc scooter, it's especially true for their stuff...

[@WilhelmGutentag]

The iPhone 5s was peak iPhone design for me. Upgrading from the 11 Pro to the 13 Mini was a no-brainer - for the exact reasons mentioned: It has all the bells and whistles is the best dimensions possible for what a Phone should do. Using a regular-sized iPhone side by side (given as work phone) and constantly get reminded why the Mini is superior. Adding a fingerprint sensor to a... 15 mini would be “the dream”

[@fascinatedbyeverything]

Agree, iPhone 5s was perfect. I now use a 13 mini.

[@Johannes1694]

Interesting, I find the mini to be a little too small and I would hate it if Apple switched from Face ID to Fingerprint

[@OneMomentPls]

​@@Johannes1694 either you are big guy with big hand or, it's because modern app/software are designed with bigger screen in mind. Making small screen felt unnecessarily cumbersome. Remember, pre bezelless era, phone only have like 5" screen in average

[@MarceldeJong]

@@Johannes1694 I'd like it if they had both options. So that you can unlock your phone when faceID failed for whatever reason. It would cut back on phone theft too.

[@vegcharli]

I want to love the mini so bad, but I type so often it's a bit scary switching to one. Does typing really not get harder? I'm able to get around 75 wpm on a "regular" sized iPhone 11 pro.

[@scribsandskets1179]

If they make the 13 mini into an SE sometime in the future, that'll be better than not having the option at all. But I will be disappointed if the SE label means it won't have parity with the regular line. That's what made it so unique and great in the first place. You shouldn't have to settle for outdated features just because you like a smaller form factor.

[@shuttzi9878]

SE 4 is supposedly to have a 5'7-6'1 inch screen so if its 5'7 it should be a perfect replacement

[@ChillydontCap]

But to be fair, in the manufacturer’s opinion, small form factor is an outdated feature. Although I agree there should be a small option available we live in an age of media consumption on the go, and small phones don’t really cut it when consuming media and content.

[@IM-eq9gx]

If they transition to the 12/13mini, X, or XR chassis as the next gen SE's... we'll have to see what normal features are neutered as an SE model. The biggest con to the past/current SE models is no night mode pics. Next, is no U1 chip for precise airtag tracking.

[@Dr904]

Just switched to a 12 mini. And I absolutely love it! Now I really really hope Apple releases a 16 mini.

[@PaulHojda]

I also bought a 13 mini two months ago and absolutely love it. Even the battery life is more than adequate, I rarely end the day with less than 30% with my usage. I'm really sad that apple discontinued the mini line. Really hope they bring it back.

[@Asapfortune]

Just get an SE . 2nd or 3rd generation does the exact same thing

[@matejpevec]

@@Asapfortune Very untrue.

[@PaulHojda]

@@Asapfortune no way, the SE has a crap display, worse camera and much much worse battery. Plus looks antiquated. The 12/13 mini are leagues better than the SE.

[@Asapfortune]

@@PaulHojda no it does not you better look up the camera comparisons compared to other iPhones , the iPhone SE 2 and 3 has a great camera I had the SE 2 it does the same thing , smaller screen just like iPhone 13 mini, the phone does die quicker that’s one thing but it literally does everything , why would they continue the mini series when a new SE just came out ? Makes no sense lol it’s the same thing

[@milkyy4168]

@@Asapfortune The SE’s battery alone isn’t enough to be nearly as usable as even the 12 mini. What’s the point of having an a15 and a decent camera if you can’t USE it after 2-3 hours of light usage.

[@davidburk4546]

I thought the iPhone 13 mini was doomed by the pandemic. At least I had planned on buying a smaller for myself, but when the pandemic hit, I decided that the pocket portability wasn’t a priority as I’m staying in the house all day.

[@rahmansallehin]

yes, the pandemic is one of the main contributor for the less sale as people stay at home and need large screen device for school/work.

[@kakarlsen]

I got the 12 Mini and I love it. Might have to get a 13 Mini before they disappear just for a little extra future proofing. I still use a 5s as a secondary work phone, and even the 12/13 mini is HUGE compared to that.

[@natbarmore]

Yup. 5/5s/SE were the perfect size. That’s what I want. _That’s_ 1-handed use!

[@michaelc3977]

@@natbarmore Were? I'm STILL on 5S!!

[@atlanticatmosphere6695]

What made u choose the 12pm mini over the regular 12?

[@djdeckstar]

I have the 12 mini since launch but the battery is killing me. The size is amazing but I might be upgrading to a “standard” size moving forward

[@Itsyaboibaby]

The only thing holding the mini back from being 5 sized is MagSafe. If Apple introduced a “Nano”, I’d buy it at launch as a backup in case my mini were lost or damaged.

[@gabethemodder778]

I recently went from a pixel 6 to an iPhone 13 mini. I chose it mostly based on size followed closely by a standard non bloated experience like raw android. There are a few things I miss like having my apps anywhere I want and having to rebuy paid apps since no play store. I used to drop my pixel 6 a lot because of how massive it was, for the past month I’ve only dropped the iPhone 13 mini 2 or 3 times. It’s just much easier to handle. I like that about it a lot. It reminds me of my pixel 3 that I missed while owning my pixel 6.

[@goncaloveiga]

Damn it. This channel has become my favorite from the LTT consortium. The format of the video is simply amazing. The editing parts with Jonathan speaking on a location and then the shift to a voice over is my favorite editing troupe. I also love the fact that the channel interviews people to opine on the subject matter of the videos. Great job everyone. Keep making these videos and I’ll keep watching! Video idea: maybe you could find out when Samsung is going to release the Viewfinity S9 5k - a direct competitor to the Apple Display. Samsung showcased it at CES this January but since then they’ve been pretty quiet about it. I’d love to know if they are going to mass produce it and release it this year.

[@Shaibuli]

It's my favourite too and I haven't ever owned a single Apple product. The production quality is simply amazing and maybe a bit more grown-up compared to LTT videos.

[@krismarkduthie2178]

Until 2021 I had an iPhone 6s, I couldn’t let go of that 3.5mm port!! I upgraded to the 13 mini and love it’s size. Like you said it does everything it needs to and I’m more than happy with its performance. I’d happily wait for another mini phone to appear later in the apple ecosystem.

[@giogoat1441]

true

[@olympian3]

My 3.5mm broke on both 6s models that I have owned, idk if it was on purpose or not by apple haha but I love my iPhone 8 now

[@personwhohasnoname]

I was a dedicated Android girl, but the lack of decent small options ended up pushing me to the 13 mini and I have not regretted it. There was a learning curve, and some frustration with changing OS, but the phone itself is perfect. I wish there were more options in the small form factor, the Galaxy S10e was main alternative, I did have a previous Zen phone but price and support made a poorer option.

[@Bussyburger]

I love my s10e but it's still too big for me, I'm soon going to switch to a 12 mini

[@tejasraman6913]

Zenfone 10? Flagship level specs with a 5.9” display

[@skylermikalson6159]

@@tejasraman6913only .2” smaller screen than standard and pro iPhone screen, and with its thicker bezels, the chassis is almost exactly the same size is the standard and pro iPhone chassis.

[@chromaticvisuelle]

Zenfone 9?

[@tejasraman6913]

@@chromaticvisuelle the 9 is last gen

[@Poliwager]

I would have bought the 12 Mini, but I instead got a 2nd gen SE when it launched and I upgraded from an iPhone 6. The Mini is actually smaller than my current phone, so I keep hoping they release another. I still think the reason the 12 and 13 Mini "failed" was because they launched right after the new SE... a phone that a lot of people like me upgraded to, that wanted a smaller phone. Why buy another new phone so quickly after getting that new SE?

[@AlexSanchezber]

I love that Mac Address stays true to their video layouts. Probably the best LMG channel overall. Thanks for working so hard on it.

[@alonsoperez6086]

I absolutely adore my 13 mini, ridiculously underrated. Whenever I have someone check it out they end up wanting a 13 mini themselves.

[@torchii]

@Jaquan Kelsor Genuinely have no idea what I'm going to do when support stops for the 13 mini. Hopefully we'll have a 18 mini or something by then.

[@ctribukbudd]

I'm an 11 user cuz the XR and 11 are the same just the battery and camera was added slightly. So I went from an 11 and I love it. It may be old but it will be 3 years good for me before I swap it for a 17 pro❤

[@MatoNupai]

I had used the 4S, the 5S and loved them. I still have four working 4S I read eBooks on. When my 5S died I got the iPhone 8. Now because of injuries and lactose intolerance I’m 68 years old but the size of about a 14 year old. I despise the 8 WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING. Too damn big to fit in my pants pocket. The curved edges is too damn slippery to hold on, and I dropped my 8 many times. Recently the 8 has had charging issues so I bought an iPhone 12 mini. I was hoping for something the size of a 5S or an SE; but the mini is small enough to fit in my pocket and hand easily. Also the squared sides makes the phone a thousand times easier to hold and use than the WORST IPHONE APPLE EVER MADE!

[@revup9973]

Love the 13 mini. The form factor is great, really feel like a small digital tool on the palm of your hand. I do a lot of digital note taking with the apple note. Taking pictures, scanning document. Able to use it with one hand is great feature. I've been saying this since last year. I really was thinking that the new SE get the same re-design just like the 13 mini. Great that you guys have the same opinion too. 13 mini is still a great device, even the 12 mini is still usable to this day. But when apple will drop support on it for a couple of years. Hoping that the SE will just an easy buy.

[@realericanderson]

2021 really was the best year for apple hardware.The 13 mini increased memory, 14 MBP M1 gave us a new screen, the series 7… well there was just some great deals before the ultra came out. In the last year I fully converted to the apple ecosystem with this gear, and I can’t say I’ve ever spent $2500 more effectively.

[@mokahless]

Um... it didn't? The 12 and 13 mini both have 4GB.

[@nishantrajani7372]

@@mokahless they meant the base storage upgraded from 64 to 128gb and it also had a larger battery.

[@IsamBitar]

Thank you, Jonathan, for championing our cause for reasonably sized phones! As with some of your colleagues, my very first iPhone was the iPhone 12 Mini. I bought it on launch day, and I bought it ONLY because of the form factor. I now have a 13 Mini and plan to keep this until it is no longer updated. Like others, I won't get a new iPhone if it is not a Mini. Before the 12 Mini I was an Xperia Compact customer since the launch of the first Compact until it was axed with the XZ3. If there won't be a similarly sized premium phone when I am ready to upgrade, I think I might go for the Galaxy Z Flip. It's not a true "mini" but at least it is pocketable.

[@headxplosion]

what about the asus zenfone?

[@IsamBitar]

@@headxplosion Jonathan talks about this at 9:00. It's not really a premium phone.

[@Hawzzy02]

I like the size of the mini. I also liked the older form factor before the 6.1 inch iPhones. Back when the normal phone was 5.8 inches was what I preferred. Going up to 6.1 is just a little too far for my hand to be able to reach all the way across which is frustrating.

[@pug_63]

Just upgraded from the XS to a Product Red 13 Mini. I knew I was swapping my XS this year, as it's about to lose the latest iOS, but its battery health (or lack of it) hastened the upgrade. Using a bumper and MagSafe grip - not a fan of full cases - and have already got myself quite a few MagSafe accessories. These include a portable charging stand that I can use on the go, and to trigger Standby Mode when I'm home. Thanks for the content!

[@legby]

I absolutely love my 13 Mini. I really hope the mini makes a come back. If it ships with an M series chip with a similar form factor, it would be perfect. I’m not an “update every generation” kind of consumer, but I have my fingers crossed for a 16 mini.

[@legby]

Oh, and with 120hz refresh rate in the next version, please Apple. That is noticeable for me when I use my girlfriend’s 14 Pro.

[@shuttzi9878]

M series chip literally couldn't fit into that small frame, not to mention ur battery wouldve literally melted

[@mokahless]

@@shuttzi9878 It's called binning and fixing the clockspeeds and core counts to optimize for power efficiency. But product segmentation and planned obsolescence wins out.

[@shuttzi9878]

@@mokahless it would useless considering they already have A series chips specifically made for smartphones U literally wouldnt get any use from an M series chip on a phone, much less a small one

[@Iinustechtips]

@@shuttzi9878 Yeah lol, they basically described an A series chip

[@nikolai9925]

I agree absolutely. I was on the search for a small phone, and found the perfect match in the 13 mini. It's small yet competing. It has all the features i would want in my day to day life, and does not feel akward when I use it as a telephone. I really hope they will continue the SE Lineup with the Mini's Body.

[@vive928]

i purchased 1 yesterday

[@riyuke5856]

Great video! It makes me happy to hear you call normal sized phones normal instead of miss-marketing them as "compact". I truly hope we get to see more phones of the 12/13 mini formfactor in the near future.

[@ChillydontCap]

How are compact phones normal when most phones aren’t compact? That makes absolutely no sense. Almost as if you’re phone God and YOU decided what’s normal lmao.

[@nuxxdk]

Stubbornly stuck with my 2016 SE till the 12 Mini came out... last week I got my mom a 13 Mini to replace her 2016 SE as well... I really hope they'll keep the Mini form factor on in an "SE" offering... I firmly believe it mostly failed due to launching in the middle of covid where portability was less on people's minds... and it failed to capture market attention since then.

[@casey.rob.]

The reason bigger phones are taking over is because phones are used for more and more all the time. With so many things being done on the phone, it is natural that larger screens are more desirable.

[@Chemical_Alchemist]

Actually the biggest reason for screen size increase at the moment is old people actually becoming invested with their smartphones. They’re aging eyes cause them to want to get the phone with the biggest screen size causing one of the fastest growing area of consumers to choose their next phone almost purely on price and screen size

[@ButterDawgDawgWitDaBudda]

​@@zaandam0172 Yup, 65" 4K TV, 1 laptop, 1 iPad, still watching on my Samsung phone.

[@ChannelVH1]

@@zaandam0172 Yeah you should just use your TV for everything. Get pants with pockets that fit your 55" TV and rig it to work with a battery but this madness with large phones needs to stop

[@CanIHasThisName]

That would make sense for bigger phones being widely available, not smaller phones dying out. Large phones became convenient for manufacturers because they could more easily boast better specs, including larger batteries. And it's also not a case of people voting with their wallets or anything, smaller phones just became less and less common. People couldn't really vote because there was no real choice.

[@wakeupcall2665]

I am 56, and my eyesight has deteriorated over the last five years. A Mini is a categorical no-go. I recently replaced the iPhone 13 Pro Max for the 14 Plus (in red) as I simply don’t need all the features of the Pro series. I sold it for 850,-€. The 14 Plus is my on the go device, and I adjusted the font size considerably (even though I wear glasses). At home I use my iPad Air M1. I work 100% remote from home and have three monitors on my desk. I watch TV on my 58 inch ‚monitor‘ as I stream TV with the German Telekom Magenta TV service via Apple TV 4K and the TV set isn’t even hooked up to the internet (as all of them habe pretty crappy smart TV software anyways). I must say, I love the 14 Plus. Battery is amazing, weight is comfort, photos really good and I use it together with Apple Watch Series 8.

[@autumnvolume4181]

I love my 12 mini - the only gripe I have about it is, of course, the battery life. But even the inconvenience of that is not enough to sway me to a larger model. In fact, I actually wish the phone were a bit smaller. Give me something of the size of the original iPhone SE (but all screen) and I would be happy as a pig in plop; I would literally pay above the cost of the top end Pro model for one of those. Maybe I'm just showing my age, but I genuinely do not understand the complaint about the screen size of these mini models being unfit for media consumption - does no one remember the old school BlackBerry's and iPod Video models? Now THOSE were difficult to watch a movie on, and yet, we made it work just fine. I have nothing bad to say at all about watching videos on my 12 mini.

[@FosFate]

I got this for my mom cause she needed something that'll fit her small/daily-use purse. Great decision. Has everything and more than stuff she needs, great camera and she can carry it around like her old-old 2015 phone. I personally prefer larger phones cause I have MASSIVE hands (Like, I can hold an ipad air across in one hand). But I still wanna get a Z Flip cause it feels so convenient to have a sub 5.5" phone.

[@kartikey92]

Honestly, I also loved the size when I first held 13 mini, but I wouldn't mind/prefer it to be 5.8" as it'd still be petite and solve the battery problem.

[@bivs_setup]

Rocking the 12 mini and its fantastic. Easy to control with one hand and for me, has all the functionality I need ❤

[@blaiddnocturne1639]

I have an iPhone SE 2020, but it feels pretty small in my hands and the battery life isnt that good

[@Dostro89]

I strongly feel that the width and form factor of the Blackberry Passport is still my favourite. I'm likely alonr in this but I really liked that screen shape and enjoyed reading on it more than anything else Ive used. Loved the physical keyboard that doubled as a touch pad.

[@hassan_codes]

It was the phone of my dreams but I couldn't afford it at the time

[@aksingh3167]

BB passport was too good.

[@FaMa-bd1lm]

Will always be my favorite phone ever. I miss BB OS10 sooo much

[@garysnell47]

Still have mine in the rare red colour . Such a shame it’s practically obsolete due to BB10 and developers abandoning it.

[@GlennEdell]

I rock the 13 mini and I’m very happy with it. I don’t want a big chunky heavy phone with a HUGE camera bump. My projection is that the Mini lineup will turn into the SE lineup. At least I hope so. I have upgraded my iPhone every year since the first iPhone came out. I skipped last years 14 lineup because of the fact that there was no new Mini - that’s how happy I am with the form factor, the size, the wieght… such a great phone. It does it’s job and that’s all I need from a phone.

[@gonerator]

I'm with you, to keep my phone compact I went from iPhone 7 to SE 2020, as I'm huge fan of "not having to look at your phone to unlock it" thanks to Touch ID, but since I got my fiancee the 12 Mini, I started to appreciate the frameless form factor much more and now i'm wondering whether to get a 13 Mini before the market runs out, or should I count on Apple that they will finally provide a small SE with frameless screen AND maybe touch ID on the side like in some of the iPads?

[@BellySyrup]

Been using the 12 mini since october 2020. It's been great. I love the size, especially since my favourite before it, the OG iphone SE was even smaller and it lasted me ages after doing a battery swap. With cell phone providers trying to get you to subsidize a new phone every two years, I'll definitely be holding onto this one for a lot longer.

[@dalyo96]

Loved my original SE. So easy and Comfy to hold and worked amazingly. Only issue worth the smaller form factors is the battery

[@johncs154]

I have the 14 Pro now but I truly miss the proportions of the mini I had. I would definitely switch to an iPhone mini pro if it existed.. I wonder if the Mini sold more than the Plus models that replaced it..

[@bug-kong]

The SE was definitely the right choice for me. I’m the person who misses the headphone jack, and sees the lack of Face ID as a feature not an omission. I don’t care at all about the bezels and the screen is a great size for me. So, I wasn’t giving up anything I cared about and I got a phone that was as futureproof as they come. I’d definitely have paid more if it got me a headphone jack, but that’s off the table regardless, so… I’ve been let down by android phones too many times, I’m definitely a power user and they’re great for the first year or two at the most but that’s it. I never met an android phone that didn’t suffer from massive slowdowns after two years. probably fine if you only use it as a phone, but I’m one of those who uses her phone heavily with lots and lots of screen time, and the glitches and slowdowns really grate on you if you do that I predict that even if they stop making minis, the mini chassis will be the basis of future SEs. When the regular iPhone has features the mini current,y doesn’t the mini form factor will be used for the budget products

[@Kyurem_originale_Form]

I used the iPhone 6s for years and last year I upgraded to the 8 and i love it! I especially like the fitting size, the smooth round edges, the fingerprint sensor and the price that I got it for.

[@olympian3]

I just went from a 6s plus to an 8! I love it so much. Also prefer the white gold I got to the black before. If I wasn’t broke I would get a 12 or 13 mini

[@UnrealWorld1]

I agree that smaller phones are just much more comfortable. I've been using the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for over two years, but coming from an S7 Edge, I found it too big, and I could never get used to its huge size. So I pre ordered the base S23, and honestly, I don't miss anything about that brick... Phone manufacturers have been moving towards larger phones, which shifted the people's preferences. Honestly, if you want a large display, just get a tablet or something like the Galaxy Fold

[@galaxygamerman]

Same. I used my S6 edge for 5 years. (Only God knows how that phone lasted this long). And I then switched over to Samsung's A6+ in late 2021. (My dad had bought it for himself in 2018, but didn't open the box for 3 years. So I started using it instead) The smaller size also meant that I dropped my phone less often. My S6 edge got it's first crack after 3 years. My A6+ on the other hand got it after 4 months.

[@nononowhyno]

the production quality, the writing, the flow of the video. this channel is amazing.

[@mattb6001]

Before I bought my 14 pro, I held the 13 mini and and nostalgia from my iPhone 5 came rushing in. I had been using my Xs max for some time and really felt the size was just too cumbersome and wanted something smaller. It was a tough choice to go 14 pro instead of 13 mini but ultimately I wanted the highest quality camera to get the best shots and memories of my kids who are now 3 and 5. So many times other family members take pictures on older iPhones and when I compare to the photos I take with my 14 pro it’s just no comparison, especially in less ideal lightning conditions. So I’m pretty happy with my 14 pro (besides losing 3D Touch… had no idea how much I used that on my old xs max until I lost it…) but I feel like there’s a sweet spot between the mini and the regular that hopefully a future SE fills.

[@CaravanCreative]

Love the production quality of Mac Address. That little animation between the 12 and 13 mini was fabulous.

[@TheAppleFreak]

My mother and I upgraded to iPhone 13s at the same time last year. She opted for the Mini; I opted for the Pro. Honestly, I think I like her Mini better than my own Pro. The 13 Pro is a really nice phone, but it's really heavy. I go through periods of depression where it gets hard to get out of bed, and with the Pro being as heavy as it is I find it actually really hurts my wrists when using it there for such long periods of time. I think the lighter weight of the Mini would help a lot.

[@BoriGiovanni]

Waiting for the next variation of the SE, hopefully it will be like a pro version of the 13 mini. This 13 pro max is too large but the battery has been amazing

[@derf213]

100% agree. I loved my original pixel and pixel 3 with their 5in and 5.5in screens respectively. When the 3 broke, I upgraded to the 6, and I still feel like it's too big. Go back to having the smaller option actually be a small phone, not having the smaller size be barley smaller then the larger option

[@wyntog]

I'm the same, I had a Pixel 2, 4, and then got the Pixel 7 and it was far too big! I realised it was going to bother me so much that I sold it on eBay and bought a Galaxy 23. I'm so glad I did as it feels infinitely better in the hand.

[@SirSethery]

I bought my 13 Mini on Black Friday after we knew they weren’t going to update it. Glad I did. I’d honestly prefer the thinner iPhone 12 Mini notch, even if it is technically bigger, and the smaller camera bump, but the extra battery life on the 13 Mini makes it worth it. People in the video were complaining about the battery life, but coming from the 2nd gen SE is a WORLD of difference. Feels like it lasts twice as long. I use mine pretty heavily (7-8ish hours of screen time or background usage per day), and it’s never really gotten close to dying on me before the end of the day.

[@numberIII-hz1nt]

I went for the 14 pro. 13 mini is too small, and I wanted the Absolute premium experience but also the Pro Max was too big and as well for the storage i needed more so i traded size for extra storage.

[@warrengaskin3863]

I upgraded to the 14 Pro in December because Verizon made me an offer I couldn’t refuse but I miss the light weight and easy one hand usability of my old 12 Mini. If it weren’t so hard to switch between phones I would purchase a 13 Mini and just keep 2 phones switching between them as I wish

[@melancholyentertainment]

I think smaller phones win ease of use and handling by a mile as someone with small hands. And they’re cute, too. BUT even as someone with small hands I’ll still say having a big beautiful display to enjoy content on makes it a worthwhile trade-off for me. But then I also love big TVs and big computer monitors. Just my take though, I think it’s wonderful that everyone has different priorities with tech and I’m glad there are options and competition for all sorts of folks and I certainly hope “mini” phones come back better than ever for small phone lovers!

[@Evan_Rodgers]

It feels like Jonathan is the only writer at LMG that cares about making visually striking videos.

[@MrLoipurz]

each channel has its own visual direction and tone. It's not like the other writer can't make visually striking videos

[@Evan_Rodgers]

@@MrLoipurz there’s visually striking short circuit videos? :P

[@pa1Z]

I envied the mini since I first hold it in my hands. I somehow got the 12 Max and I liked it for media consumption but I didn't realize how big it was. Switched to the 13 Mini 2 weeks ago. Best decision I've ever made. Love the size so much. Thank you for the video Jonathan!

[@ruben23]

I’ve had a 12 Mini for over 2 years now, and I love the formfactor. I really hope apple comes out with something similar in the future

[@ShuvroMojumder]

Android side galaxy s23 feels very good. It's a compact phone with good features and software support upto 4 years

[@Sacto1654]

But even the lowest Galaxy S23 is still as big as an iPhone 14. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is actually quite a big phone.

[@Saturnuria]

Quite a timely video for me. Two weeks ago, I sold my iPhone 14 Pro and bought an iPhone 13 mini instead. I’d had a 13 mini until September last year and missed the one-handed usability. That, to me, was more important that the new features of the 14 Pro. Sadly, I only realised this later than I should have.

[@1deplatt]

I bought the 13 mini as soon as I saw that it was discontinued by Apple. However, I find the Apple silicon case rather bulky. Does anyone have a recommendation in this regard?

[@henrikgustav2294]

Best ergonomic is the old Xperia Neo. Curved back,3.5” screen, physical back, home buttons SE2016 is great for one handed use SE2020 is not as good as SE2016 for one handed use but at least it is more comfortable than iphone mini because of the rounded edges. Fingerprint button is very important My se2020 is getting slow, and still not sure if I want to get iPhone mini. Maybe se2022?

[@Neoxon619]

Given how the iPhone Plus isn’t selling much better than the Mini, maybe they should’ve kept the Mini around.

[@lifeinhd4053]

I imagine the Plus has plus-sized profits, whereas the Mini has mini-sized profits, hence why they'll never do it.

[@robotredkitten817]

I love this channel cause it helps me keep track of a part of the industry that I would not bother to follow otherwise. I prefer my privacy focus phone but a lot of my friends uses apple stuff and I can know the basics. Also, Mac Address, how are you able to get great colors in your videos like this. A review of hardware and software used would be wonderful. It is the most color popping videos of all LMG.

[@Arcrinato]

I used the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact for a while, and then it stopped working with my carrier, so I got a 13 Mini. Physically it's about the same size, but the Apple's screen is so much nicer, being OLED and 4 years newer. I really do enjoy it. Although, if I could still use my Sony I would - iOS just doesn't have exactly everything I like. The only small Android phones now are gimmicky things like the Unihertz Jelly 2.

[@stacystec]

i felt the same way when the form factor of the original SE was abandoned. My phone is a phone - first and foremost. I like tucking it in my pocket when I'm not on calls. The quest for making it a gaming platform and studio is lost on people who simply use it as a phone but still want the apple ecosystem. I don't really use my current iphone any differently than my 3, 4, 5 or SE.

[@ChaR1ot33r]

After more than a year of using one, I'd say the 13 Mini is the perfect phone in terms of ergonomics and ease of use. I am currently typing this comment with just my thumb, in the same hand that I am holding it. I do wish we eventually get some of the more coveted features like ProMotion, ProRes and ProRAW at this form factor down the line though. My only real gripe with this phone is the extremely middling battery life, which has only gotten worse as I continue to beta test the development builds of iOS.

[@Wizzardo]

I've already come to accept bigger phones. But I do miss my 5s. That thing is just lovely to use one-handed

[@blacbraun]

Love the iPhone 13 mini. Also love the views in the vid of White Rock. I now live on Vancouver Island but miss that part of the mainland.

[@SimulationGO]

I actually switched from Android to iPhone a couple years ago when I had an LG V30 and got an iPhone 12 Mini. Change in OS aside, I really loved the form factor of the mini after having large Android phones for almost 10 years.

[@charlesc2095]

Ive always loved smaller phones, the last one that I used for a long time was the Z3 mini, which I absolutely loved. Went on the huge phone bandwagon afterwards though but I always look back to that really small form factor. Fast forward to about 5 months ago and I was choosing between then 13mini or the base 14, and went with the latter - mostly because of that extra battery life, and because Im getting older and find myself squinting at small text more and more.

[@andycapybara]

Those Mini Sonys were great, really nicely built.

[@charlesc2095]

@@andycapybara They really were. At the time I felt that Sony found their groove. Went from the Xperia S, T2 Ultra, Z2 then Z3 mini (compact). I think I had the Z3 mini for 2 years when the touchscreen slowly degraded first the top part not responding to touch, then slowly progressing downward until the top half didnt respond to any touch.

[@mattixone]

Really hoping they do keep the mini alive. Been using 12 mini since it’s launch, it’s amazing. Love the camera and the size. It’s not for everyone because battery could def be better, but when you work in an environment where your always near a charger, it becomes a non issue. My backup plan was actually the ASUS zenfone 9. Shame to see the camera and OS updates are both pretty bad however.

[@Voustag]

Dude I had the 12 mini, I absolutely loved that phone, the drawback that made me sell it was the battery life. I have the 13 Pro now but oh man how I miss the Mint Green 12 Mini.

[@ZK_Reuben]

I really like the 13 mini, it's really easy to hold, but because my computer's hard drive hung up before, I found that I couldn't go back after switching to the 13 premax.First of all, because the day is a non-exhaustible (almost), you don't have to carry a secondary battery, after you have a zoom, you can shoot objects far away, not to mention motion.The mini is fine but he's not in this age of folding screens that are about to rot. Maybe I'll end up with 15pro (non-max version), after all, max takes out 1000 times a day to lift pants.

[@Lebon19]

The one android phone that's close to 13 mini is the Google Pixel 4a. It's roughly 1.3cm taller, just 5mm wider and 0.5mm thicker. That said, it's not *that* much bigger and I bet it blows that Zenphone camera out of the park by a country mile. That said, I love my Pixel 4a. It's by far the closest what I want in a phone. I never needed 5G, wireless charging... got great internal capacity (128GB), etc... I feel that Jonathan completely forgot about that option over the 12&13mini. Too bad that Google will stop updating this great phone in next October. :( I guess I have to give that one to Apple.

[@craesh]

There are a few others as well, like the Sony Xperia 5 and 10 series and a few Samsung A series.

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

the mini is literally perfect, people did not realize that quick enough. they will bring it back imo, i hope.

[@alexis0a]

I love small phone, at first I didn't like the size of the iPhone 6, when I jump from iPhone 5s to iPhone 7 was a little bit weird... then to the iPhone XS at first didn't like the size to reach the top of the screen, but with time I really feel confortable and now the iPhone 14 Pro feels so great for me, that screen size it's perfect for me now!

[@thatcarguy2002]

This is a great style of reviewing! I love how you interview people to get their opinions on it.

[@AgileBrute]

Bought a second 13 mini just weeks after owning the first one specifically to switch to once the first dies on me. Battery life doesn't seem to be an issue with a charger in almost every room and car I'm in. Will hopefully be a 13 mini user for years to come!

[@YuProducciones]

this is genius, if you can afford it. getting a second one. genius!

[@SaHaRaSquad]

The only time I liked a "two-handed" phone was when I used a Blackberry Passport - which I miss to this day. The size wasn't an issue there because using it with two hands just felt natural and smooth compared to other phones where it feels more like a crutch and no way of handling them is comfortable. I'm not a big Apple fan but it looks like I'll need to go for an iPhone if I want a usable phone. If I want a large screen I just use a tablet instead of a compromise that works badly for everything.

[@KSCuberOfficial]

I've switch to folding phones in the past few years namely the limited Razr 5g. I quickly realized this was exactly what I was looking for so I coughed up the cash for the razr 3. Love it deslite some small drawbacks

[@G0BZ1]

the quality of the production is so good, gosh damn

[@nick_848]

I loved my 12 mini for awhile but grew to dislike the small screen size. The physical size is great, but the trade off is the screen will be smaller, which isn’t good for watching videos, scrolling social media, playing games, etc. So I upgraded to a 14 Pro because I got a good deal on one (also it was the latest iPhone 😂)

[@deedeedamnit406]

I cannot say enough how much I love my 13 mini! Coming up on 2 years of having this little gem and I’ve not once regretted it. As long as this phone gets the updates, I’ll definitely be keeping it around. Probably be replacing the battery before the phone. Love. This. Phone!

[@CarlosKTCosta]

I'm right up there with you. For now my XR is still working good but if I need to upgrade I'm not gonna go larger than the 14 standard because it is a it smaller than the XR and that is already at my limit.

[@WaffleusRex]

I think the Xperia 5 IV is a better option than the Zenfone 9. It may have a 6.1" display but it's nearly as narrow as the iPhone 12 mini. If not for the lack of periscope zoom lens, the Xperia 5 would probably be the perfect slab phone for me. Instead, I settle for the Xperia 1 series, which is still fairly narrow. (It's about the width of an S10e.) Of the iPhones that have come out the last few years, the 12 mini was my favorite exactly because of the size. I only disliked the notch getting in the way of ultra-wide content and the short battery life. The only reasons I ended up leaving for Android was for foldables and even then, I eventually bought a 12 mini again as a tertiary phone because I missed having it.

[@craesh]

I have the Xperia 5 III since about a year and it perfect for me. I had the Xperia 10 Plus before and it was a nightmare to operate singlehanded. I assume it'll be the same for the Xperia 1. But it's a shame that Sony will refuse to provide any updates after only 2-3 years. The HW in these phones last much longer.

[@bigshacaca6932]

I love the feel of MA videos it’s so different from typical LTT it’s good stuff

[@thinkythinkypanic882]

i love my 12 mini. its the perfect size. only issue is the battery. i’ve had it for a couple years, and the battery life has gotten a bit worrisome. i live in nyc and take trains all the time, so no charging in the car. i need to take a backup charger with me everywhere to feel secure lol. tbh i would rather have a thicker phone with a better battery. usb-c would be great, and i would love the sound quality of calls to improve. i also have a very large work phone, which has an insane battery life that can last up to two days. it takes better photos and is generally way faster, but i absolutely dread using it because its so big. its nearly impossible to hold it in one hand. my ideal phone would be the size of the 12 mini with better battery life.

[@TurfSurf]

I went from LG Gflex which was a boat to Pixel 3A to a 13 mini, I don’t think I can go back to anything larger now.

[@nothinglessthannumbers]

5.7" is my sweet spot. I have bigger hands, so a larger phone isn't even that cumbersome for me. A smaller phone is just more comfortable and easy to use. I own a Pixel 6 and an iPhone 13 mini and prefer android over iOS hands down but I still gravitate to the mini for most tasks. I wish it were a touch bigger (I think .15" would literally make all the difference) but even still I hate so much about the software experience and still pick it up over my Pixel for anything I can do on both.

[@tinman7551]

I absolutely love my 13 mini. I bicycle all the time and it fits everywhere. Handle bar bag, pocket, frame bag. It’s perfect functionally and I love it’s its screen. I don’t care what it’s missing it’s size is all that matters.

[@tinman7551]

I’m also 6’3”. So I’m no wilting lily.

[@grimper35]

I LOVE my 13 mini. It’s the biggest shame that future releases won’t include a mini model.

[@ChelleIIIV0]

I’m tempted by the 14 being the new one but as soon as I pick it up the temptation ends and I remember how much I love my mini. The mini is 👑!

[@osohista]

I was considering the zenfone but right now it's even more expensive than a 13 mini here, which is my first choice and I'll definitely snag that at the nearest opportunity. I have a relatively small Samsung A40 right now but even that is actually a bit too wide and pretty slow now.

[@spewter]

Watching this on iPhone 13 mini. Perfect size.

[@antoniovanci1024]

I have a samsung s10e from 2019 and still going really nice, only problems are the cracked back glass and slightly cracked screen glass, but I personally use this as a measurement, if a phone has a bigger height I don't consider it that much, and that's why I consider the 13 mini my next phone. The real struggle is that this phone is 142mm in height so it's really difficult for other phones to beat it. The only contenders are 13 mini, zenfone 9 (if priced well, even if the camera quality doesn't make me want it that much) and maybe but these are a bit out of the league of "small phones" the new s23, the sony 5 iv (even tho i don't like the application drawer, i like all my apps on the screen). So yeah still waiting for the next new sensation small phone to arrive, but since I don't think it will arrive soon I think I'm going to go with iphone.

[@klappars]

Completely agree with you. I'm really satisfied with my blue 13 Mini, I swapped from a XS, that felt like a brick in comparison, so much bigger and heavier. Every time I use the 13 mini, I love its light-weight and easy to hold size. I use it for everything that you would normally use a phone for, I don't feel I'm making any compromises with it nonetheless.

[@PotatoFi]

Have a 12 Mini, and I love it. I’ve considered upgrading to a 13 Mini just to make sure I’ll have a working Mini as long as possible. Very glad to hear that I’m not alone.

[@avenged110]

If you're looking for longevity, you should definitely get a 13 mini while they're still available new for msrp. I still think the 13-series upgrade was pretty fantastic considering they provided select, but meaningful improvements to core functionality like battery life, screen brightness, notch (so the statusbar contents are properly sized now), more storage, etc.

[@PotatoFi]

​@@avenged110 I think you're totally right. I'll be picking one up very soon.

[@avenged110]

@@PotatoFi Hope you enjoy it!

[@atlanticatmosphere6695]

@@salehivictor will the 13mini discontinue after the 15 release?? Cause the 12pmini did when 14 release…