Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The iPhone 12 mini brings the same awesome features that you ’ll find in the iPhone 12 with a little size of it and a little Leontyne Price .
Best Prices Today: Apple iPhone 12 mini
The iPhone 12 mini will probably be Apple ’s worst - selling iPhone in years . But that ’s kind of the point . With a screen that measures just 5.4 inch , it ’s one of the smallest smartphones ever made and only about a half - inch improbable than the original iPhone . It ’s so small that it ’s actually easier to use with one mitt than two .
Before we get into the nitty - spunky , here ’s what you demand to know .
Those quibbles aside , if you ’ve been look for an iPhone with a low screen and a modern design that will fit in any pocket or clutch , you ’ll absolutely have intercourse the iPhone 12 mini . It ’s fundamentally a smaller version of the 6.1 - inch iPhone 12 , and while there are some quirk that tarnish the experience somewhat , it ’s easily the best phone you’re able to buy under 6 in . There may be cheaper options likethe 5.8 - inch Google Pixel 4aorGalaxy S10eor even the 4.7 - column inch iPhone SE , but if you want the estimable , the miniskirt is it .
The iPhone 12 mini is actually a bit smaller than the iPhone SE but has a whole lot more screen.
iPhone history
This iPhone has been replace with a newer model . Find links below to our reviews of all iPhone manakin , including the latest generation.iPhone 16is expect to launch in September 2024 ( seewhen is the near clip to grease one’s palms a unexampled iPhone ) , whileiPhone SE ( 4th generation)andiPhone 17are likely to appear in 2025 . Find out aboutApple ’s September event detailsandhow to watch the Apple September event live current ; or for other Apple product , pick up more about all thenew Apple product coming this yearandwhen is the next Apple event . You might also like ouriPhone purchasing guide , best iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today .
Perfectly petite
There is n’t much to say about the excogitation of the iPhone 12 mini that has n’t already been say about the iPhone 12 . The miniskirt has the same conformation , flat - butt against invention , color selection , and camera raiment as the iPhone 12 . It looks groovy even at this size and feel antic to hold , almost like an updated ( original ) iPhone SE .
The iPhone 12 miniskirt is actually a moment smaller than the iPhone SE but has a whole lot more screen .
The display is the same as the enceinte iPhone 12 as well , and it ’s even more impressive at this size of it . It ’s so small , Apple credibly could have gotten away with the same 720p LCD on this phone as it has on the iPhone 11 , but the move to OLED gives the iPhone 12 a insurance premium feel that belies its height . Colors and text pop off the Super Retina XDR screenland , and at 476ppi , it ’s even denser pixel - wise than the iPhone 12 Pro Max ( 458ppi ) .
The iPhone 12 mini is actually a bit smaller than the iPhone SE but has a whole lot more screen.
Apple iPhone 12
Because the sound is so small , the bezels and notch look a little stumpy than they do on the iPhone 12 . And a couple of the apps I used needed small tweaks to account for the diminished size . Even after updates , however , status icons are a small closer to the mountain pass than they are on the other model and the bezel are a little more iPhone XR - like , but the figure is n’t at all deflect . After those criticisms , it may go a scrap like lightheaded extolment , but the fact remains : the iPhone 12 miniskirt is far and away the nice 5 - column inch sound ever made .
It ’s also the fastest . The iPhone 12 mini has the same A14 bionic central processing unit that ’s in the high - end iPhone 12 ’s , and it ’s every spot as tight as the iPhone 12 . bench mark are virtually superposable to the iPhone 12 and you’re able to feel every bit of the speed on a screen this little . Animations , transitions , app launching , and scrolling is incredible tight . It ’s not , but the miniskirt actually feels quicker than the iPhone 12 due to its smaller size .
The nick on the iPhone 12 mini ( bottom ) is just as big as it is on the iPhone 12 , which mess up with the layout and the status banish a bit .
The iPhone 12 mini is actually a bit smaller than the iPhone SE but has a whole lot more screen.
The iPhone 12 mini would in all probability be $ 100 cheaper without 5 G connectivity , and even though it ’s a feature most buyer wo n’t need now , it ’s skillful to have . All three carrier offer some form of 5 1000 with program to build it out in the coming year , so you ’re basically future - proof your small speech sound .
I was able-bodied to test the 12 miniskirt using Verizon ’s mmWave electronic web and it ’s just as speedy as the tumid iPhone 12 . Think of it this way : if Apple stops have a phone this diminished in a couple of years , you’re able to keep your iPhone 12 mini for 4 to 5 years without missing a beat .
Battery life is fine but not great
What does n’t find good , or even the same quite frankly , is the electric battery . The iPhone 12 miniskirt has a paltry 2,227mAh battery ( versus 2,815mAh on the bigger good example ) , and for the first time in a flagship - level iPhone , it shows .
It ’s not that the iPhone 12 mini has terrible battery biography — I routinely got around 6 hr of screen - on time during my metre with it as my daily number one wood , but I still needed to find a charger more often than not . I did n’t take much – a quick 20 minutes usually did the illusion — but I was more aware of the 12 mini ’s barrage fire life than with any other flagship iPhone I ’ve used . It ’s the form of electric battery life you could exist with in the $ 399 iPhone SE , but it ’s a little more detectable in a $ 729 phone .
The iPhone 12 miniskirt has the same gloriously 2-dimensional edges as the iPhone 12 .
The 12 miniskirt ’s less - than - great battery shine a somewhat harsher limelight on its bountiful charging options . Like the other models , you get dissolute , wireless , and MagSafe charge , all of which need a separate leverage . The iPhone 12 mini only descend with a USB - C - to - Lightning cable television , so you ’ll need to get a 20W adapter ( $ 19 ) along with either a MagSafe battery charger ( $ 39 ) or a wireless charging tablet .
But the electric battery biography should n’t be a lot - breakers for anyone attracted to the iPhone 12 mini ’s sizing . The via media here are to be expected and comparatively small , and wo n’t damp the experience much at all .
An impressive picture taker
While the biggest marketing power point is the sizing of the display , the camera is what makes the iPhone 12 miniskirt really remarkable . The closest comparison at this price range is the Pixel 5 , but when you factor in the speed and feature , peculiarly when it comes to video , it ’s very hard to mystify the iPhone 12 .
You ’ll get a great camera no matter which size of it of iPhone 12 you grease one’s palms .
Along with seven - component wide and five - element ultra - wide lense , you ’re getting the full accompaniment of feature that Apple brought to the iPhone 12 this twelvemonth , including Night mode , Deep Fusion , Smart HDR 3 , Portrait modality , Portrait Lighting , QuickTake video , Night mode Time - lapse , 4 chiliad cinematic TV stabilization , and HDR television recording with Dolby Vision .
The notch on the iPhone 12 mini (bottom) is just as big as it is on the iPhone 12, which messes with the layout and the status bar a bit.
It ’s a monster feature film - set that is backed by the character of the shots you ’ll take . The iPhone 12 mini excels in all form of light and while you may brabble over the benefits of a lower-ranking telephoto lens versus on ultra - extensive one , the fact of the matter is you ’ll be able-bodied to whip out your 12 mini and snap a picture quicker than you will with any other phone due to its sizing . It ’s tough to quantify with benchmarks or sample , but the iPhone 12 mini delivers the most pleasurable photo - pickings experience I ’ve had in a smartphone in a long time .
The shots taken by the iPhone 12 mini ( left over ) and the iPhone 12 ( centre of attention ) are most undistinguishable , while the Pixel 5 ( right ) fight a bit with the focus .
Otherwise , you ’ll be severely - pressed to tell the difference between photos click with the iPhone 12 mini , iPhone 12 , and a stellar Android tv camera like the Pixel 5 . As you’re able to see in the look-alike above and below , the iPhone 12 mini ( left ) captures telling detail and handles slippery color with relaxation , while nailing the blanched balance and the focus with relaxation .
The iPhone 12 mini has the same gloriously flat edges as the iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 mini ( left ) wield the tricky lighting and color of his shot as well as the iPhone 12 ( center ) and the Pixel 5 ( right ) .
And the same goes for dark way , which works on all three camera , selfies , videos , and anything you need to fritter with your headphone . just put , you wo n’t regain a better camera in a telephone set this little .
Should you buy an iPhone 12 mini?
As I ’ve written numerous time in this review , the iPhone 12 miniskirt is for people who want a small speech sound that ’s not underpowered or outdated . If you ’ve been holding onto your original iPhone SE , the mini is a no - brainer purchase .
The original iPhone SE is still a little smaller than the iPhone 12 mini ( midway ) and iPhone SE ( bottom ) .
The same goes for buy hunting watch . If you desire the cheapest iPhone 12 irrespective of CRT screen size of it , the iPhone 12 mini for $ 729 ( or $ 699 with carrier “ especial offers ” ) is it . Just ensure that you ’ll be okay with a headphone of this size . I ’ve used it for about three weeks and have adjusted to the size , though I ’m still looking onwards to returning to a magnanimous earpiece . But if you want the small possible phone that does n’t compromise or quoin , there ’s nothing low about the mini other than its display .
You’ll get a great camera no matter which size of iPhone 12 you buy.
The shots taken by the iPhone 12 mini (left) and the iPhone 12 (center) are virtually indistinguishable, while the Pixel 5 (right) struggled a bit with the focus.
The iPhone 12 mini (left) handled the tricky lighting and color of his shot as well as the iPhone 12 (center) and the Pixel 5 (right).
The original iPhone SE is still a little smaller than the iPhone 12 mini (middle) and iPhone SE (bottom).
