Apple finally delivers a premium iPhone that fits comfortably in your hand, with no compromises.
Apple’s iPhone 12 mini is a triumph, with top-end tech and a premium design combining to produce a phone that can compete with some of the very best handsets on the market, and all in a smaller body than you’d expect for a flagship device. This is essentially the iPhone 12 reprised, but in a smaller form factor that will suit those looking for a more compact phone than top-end manufacturers – including Apple – have been able to offer for the past few years. This is the smallest iPhone since the iPhone 5S, and you’ll notice it as soon as you pick it up. Even comparing this phone to the iPhone SE 2020 makes it feel small, but it doesn’t lose any of that premium edge we found with the iPhone 12. You will get a slightly improved experience with the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max thanks to their more powerful engines, bigger batteries and a variety of other tweaks, but if you’re after a small iPhone you no longer have to worry about missing out on the best features. To be clear, it’s no longer the best small Apple phone out there now that the iPhone 13 mini has been released. But since rumors suggest the latter might be the last small flagship iPhone, you’re not missing out on much by going with the iPhone 12 mini, which is still in Apple’s official lineup (at a discount to boot) and shouldn’t be tough to buy. The 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is pin-sharp, and it’s markedly better than the LCD display on the iPhone 11. You’ll particularly see the improvements when watching video that supports HDR. The iPhone 12 mini also has a premium design, with a protected glass design called Ceramic Shield and angular aluminum edges that will pull your mind back to the days of the iPhone 4 as soon as you first handle it. It comes in a choice of five colors (black, white, red, green or blue). It may feel like an iPhone for the nostalgists, but it’s anything but when it comes to spec. The latest A14 Bionic chipset powers this device – we found it to work nearly flawlessly, whatever we threw at the phone – and you’ve got a top-end camera array with two 12MP rear shooters that perform just as well as those on the iPhone 12. Then there’s the addition of next-gen 5G connectivity technology, allowing you to experience faster speeds and easier connection when using mobile data. This is great futureproofing technology to have on board, but at launch 5G isn’t widely available in many areas, meaning it won’t be a transformative experience for most people right away. There’s also MagSafe, Apple’s new magnetic docking tech, which enables you to connect a wireless charger and other accessories (just a couple at launch) by simply snapping them to the rear of the phone. The iPhone 12 mini isn’t without its frustrations, as the battery life isn’t as powerful as some may hope for, and 64GB of storage doesn’t feel like enough for a phone in 2020. That said, these are minor issues that many who like the choices Apple has made elsewhere will be able to live with. The iPhone 12 mini is built for those who have been longing for a smaller iPhone that is easy to use in one hand, and if you want Apple’s full-on smartphone experience in a more compact package, this is the iPhone for you. Even if you’re committed to Apple phones, the iPhone 12 mini has little competition if you’re after a small yet high-end handset. The closest Android gets is the likes of the 5.9-inch Asus Zenfone 8, with most flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9 ranges being above 6 inches. Update: Apple has confirmed the iPhone 12 mini will receive iOS 15 when it lands later this year so you’ll get all the latest features on this handset. The iPhone 12 mini’s launch price was $699 / £699 / AU$1,199, but now that the iPhone 13 range has been released, the older phones have been discounted, and you can pick up a 12 mini starting at $599 / £579 / AU$999. That’s for 64GB of storage, and the price goes up for more storage – check out the chart below for full pricing, but note that even these prices have dropped since launch. For context, the iPhone 12 starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349, the iPhone 12 Pro starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849. iPhone 12 mini is on sale now around the world after being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The iPhone 12 mini was announced in October 2020, and then it was released on November 13 that same year. You can sometimes find it for a little less than the RRP in third-party stores, but being an iPhone this has held its value quite well. The iPhone 12 mini comes without a charging block or earbuds in the box, with Apple looking to cut down on e-waste. If you don’t own the right charger or a pair of headphones, this is set to add to the cost of your device as you’ll need to buy these separately. If you want some new headphones, you might want to check out Apple’s AirPods Pro or our selection of the best headphones. The iPhone 12 mini’s design is its unique selling point, and it’s a welcome alternative for those who want a smaller iPhone, and who’ve looked on in dismay as Apple has released ever-larger handsets (but also don’t want the dated-looking design of the iPhone SE, Apple’s other mini-sized phone). It essentially mirrors the iPhone 12 design, but in a smaller body that’s easier to wrap you hand around; and despite the smaller size the phone still manages to pack a large 5.4-inch screen – more on that below With dimensions of 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm it’s the smallest iPhone in a long time, and that’s including the iPhone SE that was released earlier in 2020. It’s also light, without feeling too light – at 135 grams it’s easy to slip into a pocket, but doesn’t feel cheap. It may seem obvious, but if you’re looking for a small iPhone and you’re not too worried about the cost, then the iPhone 12 mini is an instant, don’t-even-think-about-anything-else choice. Away from the phone’s sheer size (or lack thereof), the iPhone 12 mini comes with flatter edges than we’ve seen on recent iPhone generations. It’s always nice to see design evolution in an iPhone, but this move, which nods to the look of older iPhones, won’t be to everyone’s taste.
