With four iPhone models to select from, Apple has increased production for the twelfth generation. While it is the smallest, the iPhone 12 Mini does not skimp on any of the features found on its bigger (and more costly) brothers. When it seems that the size of smartphones will only increase, there is unquestionably a considerable section of potential consumers for whom a 5.4-inch display is suitable, especially when combined with OLED technology.
The iPhone 12 Mini also offers excellent performance since the same A14 Bionic processor powers it as the rest of the iPhone series. This ensures that the performance of the iPhone 12 Mini is on par with the rest of the iPhone range.
When you factor in a 5G connection, an amazing camera, and a sleek design inspired by the iPhone 4, you have an appealing package for $699. If you’re searching for a smartphone that’s a bit more affordable but still packs a punch, the iPhone 12 Mini is one of the greatest options for you to consider. T-Mobile is a good choice for a 5G network.
Design
To those who have been watching in dismay as refurbished iPhone 12 mini has produced ever-larger phones, the iPhone 12 mini screen replacement is a welcome option due to its design, which is the device’s main selling point. It’s almost a replica of the design of the iPhone 12, yet it’s more manageable with one hand because of its reduced size. As will be further upon below, despite the phone’s compact form factor, it nevertheless packs a 5.4-inch display.
With dimensions of 131.5 by 64.2 by 7.4 millimeters, the iPhone XR is the most compact iPhone released in years. The iPhone SE, released earlier in 2020, is included. It weighs 135 grams, so it’s easy to conceal, yet it doesn’t feel cheap. The weight is minimal without being negligible.
If you want a little iPhone and aren’t worried about the price, the iPhone 12 mini is the obvious, unquestionable pick. The mini iPhone 12 is the obvious pick if you want a little iPhone and aren’t concerned about cost.
Apart from the phone’s size (or lack thereof), another distinguishing feature of the iPhone 12 mini mobile is that its edges are more rounded than those of current iPhone models. It’s always good to see design improvements made to an iPhone, but this change, which pays homage to the appearance of prior iPhones, won’t be to everyone’s taste.
We had no trouble holding the phone, which had the same high-quality feel as the previous iPhone 12 models. You receive the same design features and build quality as in the remainder of the iPhone 12 range, including the metal frame, except that Apple did not use lesser materials to construct the mini. The back of the phone is made of glass, but unlike the glass backs of other smartphones, it does not feel slick. The back of the phone will rapidly get covered with fingerprints despite your best efforts to keep it clean. Read more about Best Watch Repair Kits.
The button that turns the phone on and off is on the right side of the device, while the volume buttons and the switch to mute it are on the left side. The stereo speaker and the Lightning port for charging are located on the device’s bottom edge, with a grille on each side of the connection.
Your options for color are blue, white, red, green, or iPhone 12 mini black, with the latter being the hue shown throughout this review. It provides a fair combination of “normal” colors and alternatives for people who prefer something a bit brighter for their phone. One of the most significant design improvements cannot be seen: MagSafe is a set of magnets built into the back of the phone. These magnets enable you to attach various accessories to your phone, including a MagSafe case, wireless chargers, and vehicle mounts.
Apple currently sells peripherals for this, and we may expect to see further options, both from Apple and third-party manufacturers, shortly. Even if you don’t have an immediate need for any of the available accessories, upgrading to the new version is still a good idea.
Performance
Even several months after its initial debut, the A14 Bionic technology that powers the iPhone 12 Mini continues to be a very powerful component. It is the same CPU found in the other iPhone 12 devices, except that it has less Memory (4GB as opposed to the 6GB found in the Pro range). But unless you intend on editing videos or doing other labor-intensive chores, you won’t need the additional RAM.
Even then, putting the phone through any stress testing is difficult. Whether you’re just using it in day-to-day usage or running many applications simultaneously, the iPhone 12 Mini that’s been updated to iOS 14.6, the most recent version, is as buttery smooth as it gets.
The iPhone 12 Mini, despite its little size, has a 5G connection for lightning-fast speeds, as we said previously. But, this connectivity is only available in locations that can handle it. When it comes to playing games on the smartphone, you should anticipate substantially better download and streaming speeds and improved latency.
Display and Audio
The front of the display has a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display. In perspective, it is still 0.7 inches bigger than the iPhone SE, but the iPhone 12 Mini is still the smallest 5G phone currently available. Because this display utilizes OLED technology and is compatible with HDR 10, it has an exceptionally brilliant display, making it an excellent choice for viewing photographic or video material.
Although it does not have high-refresh-rate scrolling, it is still a beautiful display with a feel appropriate for petite hands, and it is quite unlikely that you would notice this when you are scrolling through your photographs.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 mini’s camera arrangement is identical to the iPhone 11 on paper, but there are significant enough differences to warrant the next-generation label. In addition, this is the same camera setup as the iPhone 12, so you won’t sacrifice anything by going with the more compact device.
Both the “normal” wide-angle camera, with an f/1.6 aperture, and the ultra-wide camera, with an f/2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view, are 12 megapixels each. But compared to the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which both include telephoto sensors, the quality of your enlarged photographs will suffer since this smartphone does not have a dedicated camera to do much of the work.
The cameras in the iPhone 12 mini fared well in our tests, and Apple’s cameras are among the most proficient automated photographers on the market. According to Apple, the most significant upgrade over the previous generation of devices is improved low-light performance. Sure enough, we discovered that the camera performed very well in dark settings; an example of this is provided below.
This year, Apple’s Night Mode is compatible with both rear cameras (as well as the front-facing camera), and it functions in a manner comparable to that of other manufacturers’ technologies. When the iPhone detects a lack of light, it will ask you to keep the phone still for a period that varies in length (depending on how much light is available).
Even the Night Mode will have trouble capturing an image if you are shooting in almost full darkness; nevertheless, you will be astonished by how much the camera can brighten the exposure to make a photograph taken in the dark seem to have been taken during the daytime.
Portrait photos, in which the phone may change your backdrop to concentrate on your face either by blurring it or filling it with a color, return, and we found that they worked effectively on the rear camera without requiring a great deal of tinkering or adjustment on our part.
There are instances when cameras might seem just a bit sluggish. However, this is likely due to Apple’s Smart HDR 3 technology used automatically on select images. This uses artificial intelligence to recognize different aspects of the subject you are photographing and then adjusts the exposure settings to emphasize certain characteristics or regions of the image.
The video recording capabilities of the iPhone 12 mini are rather excellent. Not only can you record in 4K at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second, but you can also record in Full HD and use features like slow-motion recording.
The most significant improvement has been made by adding Dolby Vision HDR. When we tested it, we discovered that the quality was noticeably superior to that of the non-HDR clips we recorded, with the video seeming more colorful and detailed. Although it isn’t a reason to purchase the iPhone 12 mini on its own, it is a worthwhile upgrade for people who need greater video quality.
Another 12MP sensor can be found on the front-facing camera, which will be more than enough for taking selfies and making video calls. The quality is outstanding, and Portrait mode works well because of the 3D depth sensor, which handles the bulk of the work.
Battery Life
There is less room for an internal battery in a smaller device, and this is the only area in which the iPhone 12 Mini seems like it is lacking compared to its bigger siblings. The 12 Mini will last all day, but towards the end of the day, it will be begging for a charge. It’s not that the battery life is particularly bad; rather, it’s because, over the last several years, Apple has significantly improved the iPhone 12 mini battery life, making the device’s smaller internal battery seem like a step backward. Want a cordless phone? Check it here.
If you are fortunate enough to have access to a 5G connection or are away from WiFi for any significant amount of time, you should prepare for your battery life to deplete more quickly.
Unfortunately, Apple does not include a charging brick in the box anymore, which means that you will need a plug compatible with USB-C to charge your phone. Nevertheless, if you have a fast charger compatible with your device, you will get 20W of charging power simultaneously.
The MagSafe charging process on the iPhone 12 Mini is, for some inexplicable reason, noticeably slower than on other iPhone 12 models. It is unfortunate, but it shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you aren’t interested in using MagSafe since Qi charging works just well.
Price
Even though it’s Apple’s tiniest phone, it’s not the most affordable option; that distinction belongs to the iPhone SE. The iPhone 12 Mini has a starting price of $699 and can be purchased with as much as 256GB of storage for $879. Because of this, it is more costly than the iPhone 12 model with 128GB of storage; thus, if you are eager for additional capacity for things like movies and the like, you should evaluate if you would be better off with a bigger display as well. Remember that 5G is currently somewhat pricey and may not be readily accessible in certain regions; hence, your experience may vary.
Should You Buy One?
The iPhone 12 Mini is a wonderful buy for individuals seeking a smaller device but still wanting an all-screen design. If this sounds like you, the iPhone 12 Mini is perfect. Its lower battery may be a deal breaker for some people, but the iPhone 12 Mini is the king of little phones, and its forward-facing features will guarantee that it lasts for years. This makes it an excellent choice for anybody who wants to travel reasonably light.
