Is iPhone 12 mini discontinued? The iPhone 12 mini was among the older iPhones that Apple discontinued as soon as the iPhone 14 series was unveiled. The iPhone 12 Mini, which debuted in 2020, won’t be offered on the official Apple website anymore. Even so, you will have to visit a third-party shop and carrier if your heart and wallet are intent on purchasing it.
Do you know that the iPhone 12 Mini was the first official small iPhone? Apple later followed the trend by releasing the iPhone 13 mini. Unfortunately, Apple dropped the concept of mini iPhones and unveiled the new iPhone 14 Plus instead. Thus, there won’t be any more iPhone minis. In this article, let us learn more about the iPhone 12 Mini.
The Evolution of Apple’s iPhone 12 Mini
Since its initial release in 2020, the iPhone Mini has come a long way. Let’s quickly examine it.
In October 2020, the iPhone 12 replaced the iPhone 11 with its four models:
- iPhone 12,
- iPhone 12 Mini,
- iPhone 12 Pro, and
- iPhone 12 Pro Max.
With it, Apple launched a new 5.4-inch and expanded the size of its OLED display across its whole array of smartphones. Along with the “premium flagship” iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and HomePod Mini, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini were unveiled. The company launched them at a virtually organized Apple Special Event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on October 13, 2020. The iPhone 12 Mini went on sale for pre-order on November 6, 2020. It was released on November 13, 2020, along with the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Key features of the iPhone 12 Mini:
The following are the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s standout features:
- Super Retina XDR display
- 5G network support
- brand-new A14 Bionic processor
- OLED screen with ceramic shield protection
- Dual 12MP ultrawide and wide cameras with night mode for better photos in low-light conditions
Since the iPhone X, the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini represent the first significant redesigns. There are six color options for the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini: black, white, product red, green, blue, and purple. More conflicting reviews have been found for the iPhone 12 mini. Some people commended the phone for being a brand-new mini phone. But, others criticized it for being expensive and having a shorter battery life than the full-size 12. However, the battery life of the iPhone 12 Mini is longer than that of the second-generation iPhone SE.
Why was the Apple iPhone Mini discontinued?
The iPhone 12 and Apple iPhone 13 served as the introduction models for the miniseries. The iPhone 12 Mini, however, was unable to generate the market excitement that was expected.
The iPhone 12 Mini appears small in comparison to other iPhone models and its Pro Max variations while having a modest 5.4-inch screen. Additionally, the Mini version’s battery life received a lot of criticism. It is expected only that Apple may discontinue the Mini series of iPhones as a result of lower-than-expected sales and demand for the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini.
In the first half of 2021, Apple reportedly reduced production of the iPhone 12 Mini by roughly 70%. Some vendors were even told to stop producing parts for the iPhone 12 Mini.
The iPhone 12 Mini was no longer manufactured
2020 saw the release of the Apple iPhone 12 Mini, which was the most reasonably priced device to dare downsize flagship-level devices. However, it did not meet expectations in terms of sales. According to a source, Apple stopped manufacturing the iPhone 12 mini in 2021. A welcome shift in the iPhone upgrade cycle was brought about by the release of the iPhone series’ smallest phone in 2020, but most buyers did not think it to be worth it. The iPhone 12 mini’s sales were disappointing, and as a result, Apple decided to discontinue it.
Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) estimates that between October and November 2020, sales of the iPhone 12 Mini accounted for barely 6% of all iPhone sales. Since there has been no improvement, Apple’s decision to stop producing the iPhone 12 mini makes sense. That statistic was discouraging enough for the company to reduce manufacturing.
The phone industry has been in need of a device that is tiny for a very long time. Comfort and ease were put on the back burner as smartphone displays grew larger and larger. When that happened, Apple came up with a novel idea for the iPhone 12 mini, even though Samsung had already thought of it with the Galaxy S10e.
Reasons behind Mini iPhones’ Low Demand:
The Mini iPhone’s compact size is mostly to blame for its low level of demand. Additionally, while paying the same cost, customers might be inclined to get the iPhone 11.
The iPhone 12 Mini’s battery life is shorter than that of the earlier iPhone 11.
5G phones typically use more energy. Customers would, therefore, be reluctant to purchase a phone that has a poor battery life.
The Pro and Pro Max models of the Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 were both well sold. Regarding the iPhone 12 and 13 Mini, it is unable to make the same statement. Apple never discloses specific sales figures for the various iPhone models. However, research organizations and analysts claim that sales of the iPhone Mini versions are less than expected.
In its projections for 2021, JPMorgan Chase reduced production estimates for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini by 9 and 11 million, respectively. William Young, an analyst with JPMorgan Chase, concurred that there is no demand for the iPhone 12 mini on the market and that sales are too low overall.
The analysts stated that Apple would stop producing the iPhone 12 Mini in the second quarter of 2021. They cited their supply chain sources. Analysts increased their predicted sales of the iPhone 12 Pro Max by 11 million units in 2021.
Its small screen makes it less desirable for productivity, gaming, or media consumption apps. Additionally, its battery life is certainly less than that of the larger models.
Conclusion
Overall, the iPhone Mini has a limited future. The iPhone 12 Mini became the iPhone model with the shortest lifespan as a result. It has a simple explanation: the typical customer who purchases a high-end smartphone is not interested in smaller phones. Before releasing it, Apple should also make several changes to that, such as the battery life.
