The iPhone 12 mini is a flop: 4 reasons why

The iPhone 12 mini is a flop. The device sells much less than Apple expected. In this article, we explore why the 12 mini didn’t become a blockbuster.

How the iPhone 12 mini flopped

According to market researcher TrendForce Apple knows enough. The company has pulled the plug on production of the iPhone 12 mini, which means that no new copies will be made. The existing stock is sold and after that the end of the story for the smallest iPhone 12.

The news is not very surprising. At the beginning of this year, Apple decided to produce considerably fewer 12 minis than it initially planned. So the question is: why? Why did Apple choose to kill the 12 mini early? In this article, we examine why the iPhone 12 mini turned out to be a flop.

1. Battery Life

Starting with the most factual. The iPhone 12 mini is almost identical to the ‘normal’ iPhone 12, but there are differences. The device naturally has a smaller screen and narrower housing, which also reduces the battery capacity.

That is annoying, because of all iPhone 12 phones, the mini clearly loses out in terms of battery life. In our review of the iPhone 12 mini, we already wrote that this was a point of interest, and in the second impression – which we made after using the device for four months – we called the battery life “good, but no more than that”.

With normal use, the iPhone 12 mini lasts one day, but when you use it intensively, it really needs to be recharged at the end of the afternoon. That’s a shame for a phone that’s pricey. The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max do (much) better in this area.

The battery life issues are especially annoying in the long run. People are spending longer with their smartphones and no longer changing models every year. If you have an iPhone 12 mini now, it is very likely that you will need to have the battery replaced in the coming years.

2. Name isn’t so tactical

Imagine the following. You know little about phones and someone on the street asks you which phone is better: the iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max. Which device do you choose?

You’ll probably go for the second one. “Pro Max” sounds more impressive than “mini”. Now everyone’s frame of reference is of course different, but “mini” suggests that you are getting a lesser version of the regular iPhone 12.

3. Timing: Mustard after meals

It’s easy to talk afterwards, but the timing could have been better. 2020 was an incredibly busy year for Apple. The company released no fewer than five phones, while in the years before it added up to three devices.

Probably especially the second iPhone SE has played tricks on the iPhone 12 mini. This compact device was released in March 2020 and was the device that many Apple enthusiasts were waiting for. The first iPhone SE came out in 2016, and Apple phones have only gotten bigger in the years since.

So for four years no compact iPhone has been released. So many people who have been waiting for a small, handy Apple phone made their move in March 2020. Just a few months later, in October, the iPhone 12 mini was announced. You could therefore consider the device as mustard after a meal.

4. Too expensive

And finally, we can’t ignore the price tag. The iPhone 12 mini may be the most affordable iPhone 12, but you can’t call it cheap. The 12 mini had a suggested retail price of 809 euros, just as much as the iPhone 11 cost a year earlier.

That pricing is striking, because usually the screen is one of the most expensive parts of a phone, and with the 12 mini Apple has ‘economised’ on this point by giving the device a smaller (OLED) screen.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 mini has fallen in price considerably, but the device is still not cheap. Are you looking for an affordable iPhone, then you come to the iPhone SE, which is available from 459 euros.

If you’re going to buy the iPhone 12 mini, you’ll find out that you get the ‘normal’ 12 for a few bucks more. This larger phone has all the advantages of the 12 mini and a better battery life.

Read more: iPhone 12 mini dropped in price: here is the cheapest device for you

Conclusion: iPhone 12 mini is a successful flop

If we put all this together, we can call the iPhone 12 mini a flop. Does this mean it is also a bad smartphone? No, anything but. Many people are very happy with their 12 mini and love that after years you can finally buy a compact high-end iPhone.

It is true that Apple had expected higher sales figures: otherwise why would you reduce production at the beginning of this year and even stop production altogether?

However, the 12 mini is certainly not a total failure. Apple does not disclose specific sales figures, but if the small iPhone 12 had sold really disastrously, it would have been killed much earlier.

It is therefore much more likely that all people who have been looking for a compact, high-end iPhone have by now made their mark. Actually, Apple has done a market research with the 12 mini. The company now knows how large the target group for small but powerful phones is and can take advantage of this next time.

Follow up coming this fall

Speaking of which, the iPhone 13 mini is planned for the end of this year. Apple is rumored to present four new iPhones in September. On iPhoned Until then, we’d like to keep you updated on all the leaked information, rumors and more.

On the device pages of the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, we update you on everything we already know about the new phones. Are you more into the moving image? Then check the video below. Here we’ll update you in a few minutes on everything you need to know about the iPhone 13.