I have been using an iPhone 13 mini (red) product for the past week. It manages to be small, highly portable, and virtually uncompromising compared to the larger models. Almost anything you can do with a larger iPhone, you can do with this device.
For whom?
There is this tendency among many writers to remain fixed on the high-end, but most of the tens of millions of new Apple smartphone buyers do not look at devices like that. Yes, the sales breakdowns favor Pro devices (which offer the best cameras), but there is a healthy market for Alles company devices.
Last year’s supposed slow sales of the iPhone 12 mini followed by the launch of the iPhone SE, which attracted many buyers who might as well have chosen the mini had they known it was coming.
Then, who is the iPhone 13 mini for? In its simplest form, it is for anyone who uses a smaller iPhone and does not want to carry a larger device.
People who want a mini this time around will likely be the ones to upgrade from a 4.7-inch. iPhone 6S, 7 or 8, who want the power of an Apple smartphone but not a bigger size. There will also be some updates to the iPhone X and 11 series devices. Most consumers now using an iPhone 11 or 12 will not want to upgrade unless they have developed an urgent need for 5G connectivity or a shopping addiction. Apple products unwieldy. (Hi ken!). [Editor’s note: Fact check, true.]
While business users can opt for the Pro range, many people simply need an iPhone to communicate and a bit of collaboration; the mini is good for both.
What do you get?
You can look at the landmarksCompare raw stats and easily see that anyone upgrading from any of those older devices will see immediate improvements on the iPhone 13 mini. For more information on the exact specifications, you can read about them right here, although I will choose a few today.
You get a much brighter, clearer, and larger screen in a smartphone that’s easy to put away. You get significant improvements in battery life. You get FaceID, which means more screen in less space. You will have a camera DxoMark No. 1 calls in the premium market. And you get a processor that offers the best performance on the market in a phone of this size.
Productivity, connectivity and games
Those who play games on smartphones will see immediate improvements, but the power of this processor also means that the iPhone mini will happily handle whatever mobile productivity app you use. The crisp, bright, high-resolution Super Retina XDR display offers clear text, excellent video, and sharp graphics, while the camera has 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom. You get cinematic mode, which most users you will probably learn to use. (Those cute pet memes are about to look a lot better.)
You will be equipped for 5G, which will be more important as the standard is implemented and next-generation services appear, particularly in enterprise / SD-WAN, etc. You don’t get a 120Hz screen or the advanced camera lineup of the iPhone 13 Pro, but you do get a 20% smaller notch at the top of the screen than was included in previous Face ID phones.
Better video conferencing
If you’re upgrading from a previous model and using your iPhone to participate in FaceTime, Zoom, WebEx, or other video collaboration meetings, you get a 12MP FaceTime camera, compared to the 7MP (or lower) camera on the iPhone 8 and versions. previous.
If you are using an iPhone 11 or later, this is not an improvement; you already have the highest resolution camera. But with so much global communication now taking place via video, this will make a huge difference for many who upgrade.
A few words about weight
I wanted to point out something about weight. Think about the phones I’ve said that I think are most likely to replace the iPhone 13 mini:
- iPhone 6s: 143 g.
- iPhone 7: 138 g.
- iPhone 8: 148 g.
- iPhone X: 174 g.
- iPhone 13 mini: 141 g.
Apple has clearly decided that devices of this size (with the iPhone X, a larger device) should weigh around 140g. As a point of reference, the first iPhone of 2007 weighed 135g.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a better screen, a more powerful camera, and a 6.7-inch screen. screen, but in a device that weighs 238 grams. You can feel that difference.
An observation: the 5.4 inches. The mini’s screen is slightly smaller than the 5.5-inch one. The iPhone 7 Plus was when it was introduced as Apple’s largest smartphone screen to date.
The iPhone 7 Plus weighed 188 grams and its dimensions were 158.2mm x 77.9mm x 7.3mm – in other words, you get almost the same screen on a smaller device if you upgrade from an iPhone 7 Plus to an iPhone. 13 mini. mainly thanks to the use of FaceID.
How does it feel to use it?
I have used all iPhones from the original device. I have been spoiled in the last few years during which I have used an iPhone Pro Max as my primary device and have weighed down and fallen in love with the big screen in that configuration.
Going back to a smaller iPhone still makes me think twice when I reach for it. It feels so small. But compared to my memories of smaller Apple phones over the past decade, I’ve always been impressed.
The response to the touch feels immediate and the clarity and brightness of the screen mean that Apple continues to provide an excellent user experience.
The design is still consistent, which means it feels like a premium product. (I also like the iOS 15 feature that allows you to increase the size of the text per app, as doing so causes the text to appear on the screen.)
When it comes to getting the job done, I think most of us will go for one of the larger devices, simply because of the additional display space. That being said, if you use a smartphone and a tablet or a smartphone and a Mac, then I think the iPhone 13 mini is sufficient for all your communication and personal hotspot needs.
If your job involves using the device to capture video, you will get more features from the Pro range, although it will still capture 1080p HD video on this.
If you are upgrading from an 11 series, you will enjoy more battery life and 5G technology. If you’re coming from an iPhone 12 I suggest your hunger for new ones means you should probably go for a Pro unless you really want the smallest iPhone money can buy, aside from 5G in a mini and the A15 Bionic chip, you will not experience many incremental benefits in a single version jump.
iPhone 13 mini data
Here is a summary of the essential data:
Cameras: 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP Face ID camera.
Processor: Apple A15 bionic.
Monitor: 5.4 in. OLED, 2340-x-1080 pixels, 476ppi.
Storage: From 128GB to 512GB.
Battery: Up to 17 hours of video playback.
Dimensions: 131.5mm x 64.2mm x 7.65mm.
Weight: 141g.
Price: $ 699 (128 GB); $ 799 (256 GB); $ 999 (512 GB).
Reviews and buying advice
Some of the reviews I’ve seen of this model seem pretty weak – some say the lack of USB-C is a bad thing, but since I’ve spent years investing in Apple’s garden, I like the existing connection because I’ve been able to provision the load in all the rooms and I don’t want to invest in potential clients. I see the lack of USB-C as a strength.
Another criticism is the lack of a 120Hz display, although once again I don’t think most users updating this device will feel particularly limited by that.
For those who upgrade from older small Apple devices (and most transition from most Android phones), they will see significant improvements, unless you are a high-end user, in which case you will probably go for an all-around Pro. modes. .
Finally, I have seen criticism that the design has not been updated. I often wonder about that as a critic, given that most smartphones look like an iPhone. One more significant redesign it is currently scheduled for next year.
For me at least the biggest criticism is the rude insistence of the device that I set it up Apple Pay. I use Apple Pay for everything, but it bothers me that I get a red warning on the Settings icon masquerading as a software update and it bothers me to configure the payment system. I would like Apple to stop doing that. I know if you start and then leave the settings the alert goes away, but I really don’t like that kind of intrusion.
As for the buying advice: this is Apple’s smallest iPhone and if you’re looking for that, you won’t be disappointed. Mobile professionals will love the improvements in battery life, and although I think those who use their device extensively to get their jobs done, such as cabin crew, field service engineers, mobile sales and more They should probably go for a bigger screen, the mini is a great combination of power and portability for anyone on the go.
This may be Apple’s cheapest iPhone 13 series device, but it offers a premium user experience. I really like it and I think most people will be happy if iSmall is done.
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