iPhone 12 mini
Finally — smaller hands get the iPhone they deserve
From $699 (64GB)
Features A14 Bionic; 64, 128, or 256GB storage; 5.4–inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with 476 ppi pixel density; Ceramic Shield front; dual 12MP ultra–wide and wide cameras (rear); 12MP camera (front); Dolby Vision HDR video recording; IP68 splash, water, and dust resistant; MagSafe
Is the iPhone 12 a bit too big for you? Then the iPhone 12 mini will come as a revelation. It has all the same features as its bigger counterpart, but it’s smaller. Thought the iPhone SE was a pocket–friendly performer? Think again — the iPhone 12 mini takes things to the next level. Put it up against the SE and you notice it’s even smaller, being both shorter and narrower, as well as lighter. Small hands rejoice! And then you compare displays: the mini has a 5.4–inch edge–to–edge display that defies belief in a handset this tiny.
The Super Retina XDR OLED screen is beautifully crisp. In fact, its smaller screen size versus the iPhone 12/Pro and Pro Max give it a slight advantage, with a clarity–busting 476 ppi despite it having the lowest–resolution screen of all the iPhone 12 models (2532x1170 pixel resolution vs the iPhone 12’s 2340x1080 pixel
resolution). It’s almost a little too detailed, and at times certain tasks like typing with the on– screen keyboard was a little tricker due to the slightly smaller keys and gaps in between (probably not helped by our rather large hands, mind you). The mini’s smaller size might make it easier to hold, but it also gets Ceramic Shield protection for the screen, which offers superior drop performance.
HONEY, I SHRUNK THE iPHONE
Though Apple has managed to cram in all the hardware from the bigger iPhone 12, due to the smaller size of the mini there was always going to be a compromise, and that’s the smaller battery. At just 2,227mAh, it’s dinkier than the 2,815mAh unit in the iPhone 12. As a result, in testing (surfing the web continuously over 5G) the mini lasted just seven hours and 28 minutes versus eight hours and 25 minutes in the iPhone 12. You’d get more in 4G mode, but even so you’ll be reaching for the charger more often with the mini.
Ironically, as well as having a smaller battery that will need charging more often, Apple has also capped the speed of its MagSafe wireless charging capability at 12W, compared with the 15W of all the other iPhone 12 models. So, it’ll be slightly slower to charge. Apple hasn’t said why, but at a guess it could be the cramped confines of the mini are less able to cope with the heat produced at higher charging speeds.
STILL SOUNDS GOOD?
A teardown on iFixit highlighted that the loudspeaker inside the mini is smaller than the iPhone 12 due to space restrictions. That’s hardly surprising, and not hugely impactful. In a side–by–side comparison of the brilliant WW2
movie Greyhound on Apple TV+ at full volume, the mini was notable for not being quite as loud, with a little less oomph overall, but that’s a minor downside really.
Elsewhere, there’s not much to say that hasn’t been said already about the near– identical iPhone 12: it does the same job, albeit in a smaller unit. So it’s just as fast (check out the specs on p48) thanks to that awesome A14 Bionic processor. Frankly, given its size the performance of the mini is astonishing.
The dual cameras are just as capable too, with an ultra–wide angle lens and a wide angle lens with improved low–light credentials — both support Night Mode in this iteration as well. There’s also improved shooting in mixed lighting situations thanks to Smart HDR 3. The front–facing camera also gets Night Mode and Deep Fusion. And let’s not forget both front and rear cameras can record in 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, which looks amazing.
The mini makes for a better all–round photo or video shooting proposition than the iPhone 12. That’s simply down to the smaller size and lighter feel in the hands, making it easier to hold, even if you have bigger hands.
As with all the iPhone 12 models, MagSafe allows you to snap a range of magnetic accessories to the back such as cases, chargers, and much more.
Of course, the mini also gets solid future– proofing courtesy of 5G, with support for both the “slower” sub–6GHz and the faster limited– range mmW standard.
Oh, and we left the best thing to last: the mini is $100 cheaper than the iPhone 12. Yes, you read that right — not only do you get all the goodies in a more pocket–friendly configuration, it’s more wallet–friendly too!
THE BOTTOM LINE. Proof that good things come in small packages — the iPhone 12 mini is a pocket powerhouse. NICK ODANTZIS