In early February, business data provider Counterpoint revealed that iPhone 12 retail accounted for just 5% of total sales of its new phones in the first January in the US. Counterpoint said those numbers are in line with global trends where screens under 6-inches now only make up 10% of smartphones sold worldwide. These numbers are debatable on redesigned small smartphones. Are they still relevant in 2021? And who is the iPhone 12 mini for?
Back in Q3 2020 at the height of the COVID-inspired lock in India we tested the iPhone SE (2020). It was a refreshing change for me to convert my iPhone 11 Pro to the SE round shape factor. But there were a few grips like the 4.7-inch LCD screen and the underground battery. I also missed the ultra-wide lens in the single lens rear cam. Short until October 13, 2020. The well-known James Bond theme will immediately begin playing. An aluminum suitcase opens to reveal the iPhone 12 Mini. That time was perhaps the biggest event of Apple’s big, annual event. Tech reviewers and machine geeks were thrilled. This was the iPhone many of us wanted. One that does not affect key features like the display, camera and processing power but still offers the convenience of one-handed use. We got our hands on the iPhone 12 Mini after testing the iPhone 12 Pro and the 12 Pro Max; it was an amazing turnaround.
At 135 gm, this one is lighter and slightly shorter than last year’s iPhone SE or the iPhone 8. But there’s one big difference. You get a 5.4-inch display with an 85.1% screen: body ratio (compared to thick bezels and the 65.4% screen ratio: body on the SE). In addition to this, it is a Super Retina XDR OLED display, a standard feature over all iPhone 12 sisters. With a pixel density of 476 PPI (Pixels per inch) it is also the sharpest of the iPhone 12 displays all. But a 5.4-inch cut in 2021. That could boil down to your usage patterns. If your iPhone is also your Netflix screen and your primary gaming device, you will definitely miss the extra screen build. But if you follow a more shared approach with specific tasks for your tab, laptop and phone, then this is for you. One of the reasons you still stick with the iPhone 7 or 8 is probably round shape factor. The only reason we dig the iPhone 12 mini. I was able to wrap my hand around the display and also get to the top of the screen with one hand. As moving screens near the 7-inch threshold, we had to abandon the joy of one-handed navigation.
The iPhone 12 mini packs the same cameras as the 12. This means you get a sharp 12MP selfie shooter and a dual rear cam that shoots awesome videos and ultra-wide images. It is also one of the best smartphone cams in low light. You’ll miss out on the telephoto lens and the LiDAR sensor, the main camera features on the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. That’s not a big deal for most average consumers.
Battery life is the big compromise with a feather light phone – this is a phone that can even slip into the tiny pockets of your jeans (the watch pocket). While the mini performs much better than the iPhone SE (2020) or devices like the iPhone 7 and 8, it looks like you’ll still be arriving for your afternoon charger. I also found very high battery drains when the device was in stop mode. While battery life may not break a contract at a time when business travel is infrequent, it is unlikely to last for a day business trip when you use your device for multiple tasks including emails , videos, music and capture images.
While the iPhone 12 Pro Max has been my daily driver for the past few months, it’s been great to turn that around for the 12 mini. This is the iPhone for you if you lose tight-fitting smartphones – a dying breed, and you don’t want to compromise too much. I don’t remember how he wanted to send an email off with one hand while walking with my supermarket bag in the other.
The iPhone 12 mini comes in five colors (White, blue, black, green and red) and three storage options – 64GB / Rs 69,900, 128GB / Rs 74,900 and 256GB / Rs 84,900