It is always your reviews that get me in the shit with my wife 😂. I'm a 12 Pro user and the only thing that bugs me is having a brick in my pocket while I'm running. Definitely upgrading.
Sounds like a change is as good as a rest. How else would an iPhone 12 feel 'boring', or smaller screen feel like an upgrade? Now I don't keep my phone in my pocket or (I don't think) use it one-handed, so my reasons for smallness aren't there. I've currently got a 7, so big (or iPhone 13 size) feels like a real upgrade to me, because it's what I haven't got now. I know the minis have more 'real estate' than my 7, but I was surprised how small one still felt when I gave it a quick look in my local Tesco. Weirdly, it felt narrower than the 7. That's probably because the screen is taller but just as wide. Having said all this, after a few years of 'big phone', I'm sure I'll leap back to mini mode again...because we always want the thing we haven't got.
@@jandekker6008 Your feeling was right. Due to the aspect ratio of 19.5:9 the screen of the 13 mini is actually one millimeter narrower than the screen of the iphone 7 with its 16:9 aspect ratio.
If Apple continues to refine the mini by increasing battery life, and reducing bezel sizes, it will be so perfect. The iPhone 5 was made for human hands and the mini is almost there.
Correct. At 5.4” it has a great screen width but is still slightly too big. What matters is width for full-screen photo and video size. Apple needs to decrease the rim around the screen and between the screen and sides to make the most of the space. They can also make the phones slightly shorter because there’s plenty of dead screen space above and below full screen, even with the atrocious eyesore of the “notch.” Doing this, they can make the mini 5.2” easily, which is ergonomic perfection and allows one free hand and easier phone calls, what a phone is for!
I changed from 12 pro max to 13 mini. It's a huge change and managed to save my fingers and wrist from the heavy weight of the max. Really love to go back to the era of iphone 4.
@@randy5297 I'm not a heavy user and only use for web surfing, social media and youtube watching. At the end of the day I'm left with about 30%. My 12 pro max will be left with 70%. I would say this phone is not for heavy user and if you are, u may want to consider batt pack if u r always on the move away from ac charger.
@@emadrid89 Perfect. The screen size took me about 2 weeks to get used to it as I moved from 12 pro max which is way bigger. Now it looks very normal. The 12 pro max is with my wife and when I use it now, it feels like an ipad mini......you seriously have to try the mini to truly appreciate the long lost ease of use ever since phone gets bigger and bigger. It is so light that I dont even feel it in my pocket. 12 pro max is simply a brick.
Had the same switch from iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 13 Mini and couldn’t be happier. Will hold on to it as long as possible. Maybe Apple will bring back the mini again in the future. Mark is right, the battery life is just fine. I do more on the mini than I did with my 12 Pro.
Been on a 13 mini for two weeks. It’s absolutely PERFECT in every way - the only thing I miss dearly from the Xs is the zoom lens. Wide angle is great, but a 50mm equivalent is so useful.
Well, apparently, Apple are idiots who only look at sales (ofc, that's what a company has to do and does, but still...), cause the 14 line doesn't have a mini. Only iPhone 14, 14 max, 14 pro and 14 pro max. The pro version supposedly have pill + hole cutout and the regular two have still remained the notch. So only 6.1 and 6.7 inch phones. So you can choose either oh, i"well, it kinda fits"Phone or i"damn, this shit is too big"Phone this year. As a guy who worked with 6.7, 6.55, then immediately switched to a long term 6.1 inchers (S10 + P30) and STILL, even with regular sized hands, wished for smaller... the 5.4 inch 12/13 mini were almost perfect shape, size and weight. The 12 mini had a bad notch, top speaker placement, speaker sound, battery life, but the 13 mini refreshed it all. And now theres no 14 mini because of....reasons?! Because it dodnt sell that well? What? In my country, the 12-13 regular//pro/pro max are always stock, yet 12/13 mini are always sold out. Then the biggest comapny here makes stock with several and immediately sold out. Apple - PEOPLE WANT POCKET SIZED, ONE HAND PHONES OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! btw-a 5.2 would be great too, but a 4.7 (iPhone 6/7/8) are too small. Imagine a sub 130g 5.2 inch iPhone 14 mini with no notch, 3500mAh battery. You can do it if you omit the shit wireless charging, bs faceID (fingerprints are faster and more secure) etc
@@ancientslav4863 Yes, if the rumours prove true, that would be really unfortunate. My take on the 13 mini from two weeks in still holds absolutely true: it's the *perfect* phone, but the missing zoom lens is a real bummer at times.
@@analogikahamburg For me, a perfect iPhone is one that loses the notch (kinda what 14 pro line will have), 5.4 inch like 13 mini or smaller 5.2, USB-C instead of lightning, 3.5mm jack, fast charging at least 30W, 120hz oled, 2 day battery life on 3500mAh and 499$. Thus, this will never happen ever
@@ancientslav4863 I hear you on USB-C and 2-day battery life. The rest, I really don't care about - except price. But a product's gotta cost what it's gotta cost.
I thought I had made a unique decision to move from the 12 pro max to the mini…but scrolling through the comments made me realise so many others have done the same. Absolutely loving it! One handed use, in-pocket comfort, less downward pressure on track pants are all serious advantages…
@Tweed Penguin O Wise One - thank you for showing me the light. I will aspire to have the same level of self confidence that you have so that I too, can some day, go on UA-cam comments and distribute unwanted advice.
@@marinamarkova7916 I tend to use it from 6 am to 10 pm with 20% , I was actually surprised that even after a day on university y still managed to have around 45% left on battery at 7pm and used it to run and listen to music for 1 hour and it only dropped 5% and still managed to watch some videos. It is really good
Well, apparently, Apple are idiots who only look at sales (ofc, that's what a company has to do and does, but still...), cause the 14 line doesn't have a mini. Only iPhone 14, 14 max, 14 pro and 14 pro max. The pro version supposedly have pill + hole cutout and the regular two have still remained the notch. So only 6.1 and 6.7 inch phones. So you can choose either oh, i"well, it kinda fits"Phone or i"damn, this shit is too big"Phone this year. As a guy who worked with 6.7, 6.55, then immediately switched to a long term 6.1 inchers (S10 + P30) and STILL, even with regular sized hands, wished for smaller... the 5.4 inch 12/13 mini were almost perfect shape, size and weight. The 12 mini had a bad notch, top speaker placement, speaker sound, battery life, but the 13 mini refreshed it all. And now theres no 14 mini because of....reasons?! Because it dodnt sell that well? What? In my country, the 12-13 regular//pro/pro max are always stock, yet 12/13 mini are always sold out. Then the biggest comapny here makes stock with several and immediately sold out. Apple - PEOPLE WANT POCKET SIZED, ONE HAND PHONES OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! btw-a 5.2 would be great too, but a 4.7 (iPhone 6/7/8) are too small. Imagine a sub 130g 5.2 inch iPhone 14 mini with no notch, 3500mAh battery. You can do it if you omit the shit wireless charging, bs faceID (fingerprints are faster and more secure) etc
Two rumours I've heard which I don't like: 1) They discontinue the Mini 2) They downgrade it to replace the SE What I really want is a Mini Pro, with a telephoto lens and ProMotion that actually does go down to 10Hz for better battery life.
And since it's tiny and light, they should make it 2mm thicker to make battery life a non issue whatsoever. But they won't do any of this, because they still want us to spend a 1000$ more for their phone.
I agree. The problem is if they didn’t have the mini I would’ve purchased the regular pro. Their spreadsheet people will realize this so there’s no financial benefit for them to keep the mini around.
Well done, Mark. In the modern world where companies keep enlarging their phones, smaller ones tend to stand out. I love how we can once again text with one hand :) i love the classic usage, this reminds me of my first iPhone which was iPhone 5. Believe it or not, I still have it in my drawer. So far, you're my new favorite Apple reviewer.
Recently my son lost his iPhone in a lake and we dug out my old 5s to tide him over (I had a 7 with a broken screen that he eventually got after repairs and a new battery). I’d completely forgotten what a pleasure the 5 was to handle, particularly compared to current phones. It’s now sitting as the house backup phone and works perfectly fine.
The iPhone 13 Mini is my next upgrade next month. I love it’s size. It’s pocket friendly. Better specs, OS & camera wise. Better battery life. My day to day smartphone. And lastly, portability made me sway to lust for this phone. Thank you for your unbiased review!
WEll, I must say...I've been researching all the new iPhone 13's and yoU gave me ALL I need to know to make my decision! I haven't upgraded since my ever-so-steady iPhone 6s so this IS a big jump for me. And even though my 6s is still working absolutely fine I've hit the wall as far as updates! Gotta love thAT. Anyway, I'm in! Thanks [as always] for a great/animated intelligent review of the mini!
It’s amazing how we all get used to the smaller screen. The drive for bigger and faster is negated once you go “backwards”. Makes you wonder what we all have been doing all these years
I never understood the mindless thirst people had for huge, heavy phones. Finding "small" phones in the Android world has been a huge roadblock every time I think about changing phones. On the flip side its saved me hundreds of dollars over the years as I usually stick with the same phone for years :)
Fantastic review. Best review I’ve seen on the mini. Thanks for not doing the specs/benchmarks (so boring and meaningless to so many users) and instead focusing on your user experience. Well done!
Indeed. Honestly, it’s my first time when I watched Mark Ellis review. I’d add his radio like voice is very nice, calm and makes watching even more encoruges. Thank you for review. Subscribed.
Yep, love it when we get a good reviewer like this who doesn’t list off the specs we all know and tells us instead exactly how the device performs everyday and what to expect.
Great review, I love how you get rid of all the boring stuff so quickly and so flippantly! I have a mini and I find the screen more than adequate. I find it odd how people actually call it a mini and forget it’s screen is almost as large as that of the plus sized iPhones 7 and 8 of just a few years ago…
This was the very best review I’ve seen. I’m moving from a 7 and the only thing holding me back from the mini was my desire for larger screen size. I have small hands and was apprehensive about the 13 size. But as this video points out, my 7 screen size is actually smaller than the mini. So basically I’ll get the best of both worlds with the mini. The $100 difference makes no difference and the battery life is fine for me since I’m not a heavy video user. Thanks a big bunch.
I’m in the same situation currently having a 7 and can’t decide on the 13 mini or the pro. Tough decision!! Haha. Did u make a selection and are you happy with your choice?
My thoughts exactly! I am absolutely in love with my new iPhone 13 Mini. I don’t think I can ever go back to a larger iPhone. I don’t think I’ve been this enthusiastic about a phone in a very long time. I really hope #Apple keeps it around and improves on it every year. @Apple if you’re listen, please please please keep this model around! Thanks for for the great review by the way.
If you would ever want to get another iPhone in the future then you will have to go back to a larger iPhone since 13 mini its going to be last existing iPhone mini.
One of the good things about the mini is that you can throw a bulky case on it. Especially if you’re prone to dropping things (or if you have a toddler that occasionally steals your phone and drops it for you).
I got the iPhone 13 mini two days ago as an upgrade from my previous iPhone xs. I used to change my phone quite frequently, but when I bought my new iPhone 13 mini, I felt like I didn’t want to buy any phone again because, for me, this phone is the most perfect in all aspects, and I guess this could be the reason why Apple doesn’t want to continue creating a small flagship iPhone again, because people who buy such a small and powerful iPhone like this could probably not buy any future iPhones anymore. The iPhone 13 mini is ideal! The only downside is the back-glass because I think it would be better if it was made from aluminum just like the 1st generation iPhone SE.
One of the best iPhone reviews I have ever seen, regardless of model. Very on-point, practical and no bullsh!t or deep dive into specs that is often a little unnecessary . Keep it up!
I’ve had a IPhone 12 mini for over a year and I also recommend it. Agree the smaller size and lighter weight is it’s strength, I also have the wallet attachment which takes 2 cards plus cash (for emergencies). The only way I’d not recommend the mini is if it’s your only apple product. If that’s the case then I’d recommend the larger pro size. However as I own an iPad Pro and Mac book air, the mini is the best solution for me and it helps that it’s the cheapest option too.
I’ve also had the 12 mini since last year. I love it. My only thing worth mentioning is when texting or typing a lot it can be very uncomfortable for your thumbs to the point of a sore wrist/thumb joint after a heavy typing. Also quite a bit fat fingering during fast typing, though auto correct fixes most of it.
@@andrescast i also own the 12 mini for almost a year now , and while it is great and the small form factor is nice , some times i just wish i had more screen realeastate also some websites just look odd on it since it's so narrow , wish they made the smaller phone at about 5.8" and made a pro version of that , would be my perfect phone.
Same boat as you, Sheff! I did upgrade to the 13 mini (only because of the rumors of no 14mini). I had zero issues with battery on my 12 mini as I'm not face down in my phone all day. I use my phone for "phone things". I make work calls all day, text, email, camera, some videos and have no problems going all day. I find it funny that Mark says "I didn't use the 12 mini" but talks about all the "issues" it had. Bottom line, if you want a smaller form factor and aren't totally glued to your phone all day.... the mini will be 100% fine for you.
Totally agree with you. I am from the 8 and was looking forward to the mini but after trying it I felt it’s too small and prefer the normal 13 size is it’s closer to the 8 size.
this is an amazing phone , recently shifted from 11 pro to 13 mini … small size and very powerful gadget. absolutely loving it …all these years cant get out of that feeling to hold iphone 4/4s/5 … alwayz wondered now this had to shift back to those incredible sizes ..
I went from a 5 SE phone [that was simple to use, compact, light weight and did everything I needed it to do and included everything] to the 13 Mini, that’s bigger, thicker, heavier and doesn’t come with an adapter or headphones so you have to buy them separately so more $$$ spent and when you buy the headphones they no longer come with that little case and you can’t use ordinary headphones any longer, you need to purchase headphones with a different plug on the end that cost more. You can no longer charge your phone and listen to music or watch a video at the same time without having to purchase another contraption, so another $50 🇨🇦 added on to the expense of the phone. When I try to take photos or videos of sunsets, the moon or lights I get this annoying little green dot that appears in the photo and when trying to take videos this little green dot bounces around with no way to get rid of it. Never happened with my 5 SE. The black camera area at the top of the phone that dips down onto the phone screen interferes with of any video or film I want to watch in landscape mode. Apple uses the excuse of trying to reducing packaging by excluding all these extras that use to come with a phone but it’s really just to increase their bottom line. The joke of it is that all these extras you have to purchase for the new phones all comes in packaging too so I don’t see how they have reduced packaging! As far as I’m concerned Apple are a bunch of thieves!
I have a 13 mini and I love it because you will never loose reception as you can be in the middle of a jungle and still be able to use it as it taps into satellites which makes it the win for me I love my mini 13
I have been waited for the smaller phone since years then finally replaced my iPhone XS by 13 mini. Its best phone i had ever, 5.4" is still big enough screen to write emails, posts on socials and watching YT videos or gaming. No more larger phone ever if possible.
i have a 12 mini and i love it. never had an issue with battery life, so for anyone worried about that, don’t be. the 13 mini would be even better. i am looking to upgrade to Apple’s next iPhone in 2022, but for now, i’m happy with the 12 mini
After watching your review, I decide to buy this 13 mini and I feels like much happier now since I could grip this phone very well in my (small) hands. I know the battery life won't be as same as 12 Pro that I've been used before, but this new mini is going with fine battery too. Even Pro version has great colors such as Graphite, but this mini has come with new Starlight color which is one of my new favorite color tho, looks more elegant than regular silver alumunium. This 13 mini is such a great update, hope the selling number is increase far better, so Apple will keep mini production for a good in future. Thank you for your video mate!
Thank you for your informative review. I’m a longtime iPhone user, having had a 3GS, 4s, 6 and 8, the latter is still in use. The battery life is still good enough for me. I had budgeted to change it last year, but I didn’t. I am happy with the screen size on the 8 as I have an iPad Pro for most things, other than photos and phone calls. The iPhone is only for use when the iPad isn’t available. Having listened to your review and others, I have viewed the Mini and consider it to be the most suitable. It’ll continue to comfortably fit in my trouser pocket and my hand. Perhaps just as importantly, I’m used to a smaller screen, so I’ll be benefiting from a slight improvement. I’ve now ordered the Mini, didn’t need to change, but the 8 has done me well and still has trade in value! Thanks for your review I’ve found it to be very helpful.
Just like you, my first was 3GS and then 4s, 5s, 6s and currently using XR and I find the phone rather huge in my front pocket. Thinking of getting a 13mini. I just hope the battery run as good as my XR.
Similar journey, although you started a little earlier, 4, 5s, 7, and currently SE2020. I’m currently near the end of the contract, but I think I’ll wait another year before going again however O2 are already throwing offers around to keep me in the cycle and the 13mini is tempting.
My first iPhone and I got the iPhone 13 mini. Size is great to me. The sales rep kept telling me it’s tiny it’s tiny. When she open it I thought that a good size. I have only had it for 5 days and have enjoyed my new phone. I recommend getting the iPhone 13 mini.
Absolutely love your review. As I’m watching this, iPhone 14 has launched for pre-ordering where I am but I was actually inclined to getting the iPhone 13 mini save for the same concerns of battery life and screen size that you had. With this review, I’m gonna just go ahead and get the 13 mini! 👍🏻👍🏻
@@MarkEllisReviews In terms of just video quality what is better the pixel 7 or the 13 mini. I'm coming from 4xl but video is horrendous with lots of noise. I hope you respond. Ty for your time 👍
Amen! Thank you so much. This is exactly what I’m about to have delivered! Have had the 11pro max and will NOT miss the lead foot phone, which I just want to prop up to use most of the time. Thank u thank u!
Taking a similar journey. Ordered a 13 Mini. Upgrading from a 10 Max but don’t want a bigger heavier iPhone so had a moment where I considered a much much smaller iPhone. Negotiated a two year contract rather than a three so v happy. Should arrive tomorrow.
I have been waited for the smaller phone since years then finally replaced my iPhone XS by 13 mini. Its best phone i had ever, 5.4" is still big enough screen to write emails, posts on socials and watching YT videos or gaming. No more larger phone ever if possible. It lays in pocket perfectly no matter you're in work or on sport activities like running or biking, and completely no issues with battery working time - one day of very active up to two days when i am not using phone a lot.
Nice review Mark. I picked up an iPhone 13 mini this week and really pleased with it. Great form factor, screen size is great and not as small as maybe I was expecting so fine for all I use on the iPhone. Also agree on the battery life been absolutely fine for my daily use and as you say MagSafe items seem to fit the mini perfectly. Great little iPhone and really hope Apple keep this model in their line up and just improve it going forward.
I actually just switched from being a 12 year loyal Samsung Epic and Samsung Galaxy owner. I own a Galaxy 3 Watch and Galaxy Buds Pro. My wife got me a Samsung S20 FE but I cant stand it's size. It's a 2 handed phone. I'm waiting for my IPhone 13 Mini. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow.
I went from a 12 pro to a 13 pro then returned it for the 13 mini. This review is SPOT ON with how I feel about it. I agree with every single sentiment. Such a great device. I hope this isn’t the last mini made!
@@TSchmoog It was definitely something I considered before doing so but while it’s nice, the 60hz on the mini is more than fine. I’m not a gamer so seeing my Twitter feed and texts scroll smoother isn’t a big deal to me. On an iPad I think it’s much more obvious and pleasing.
Thanks for your great comment. I have the 13 mini now but feel the need to return it to try the 13 pro for the immersiveness of the bigger screen. Then I may go back to the mini. I watch about 3-4 hours of UA-cam a day and battery life has been fine on mini and screen is noticeably larger than my 6s. Do you enjoy watching video any less on the mini than you did on the larger pro?
@@onlineservices2050 Bigger is always better for video - same theme with TVs. I also have an iPad so when I really want to watch videos for long periods of time, thats my go to. I dont have a problem watching videos on the mini either though. Its also nice to hold in 1 hand in front of you lets say if you’re eating and drinking with the other. If the iPhone is your only portable media consumption at home, I would suggest go with the larger phone.
Finally, a review from someone who understands what the mini is for and who it is targeted at. Bizarrely enough we were discussing this at work today with my colleagues - one of whom has the 13 mini and loves it - for all the reasons you mention - such as the one handed use capability. He finds with his use it does a couple of days between charges during the week.
Awesome review. You've sold me on the 13 mini. I've been using the galaxy note 8 for 5 years and I'm due for an upgrade. I enjoy the larger screen but hate the feeling of having a giant phone in my pocket. Thanks for the amazing review!
What a wonderful, enthusiastic, honest review! I just ordered the 13 mini (wont get it til the end of Sept) because I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 12 minii, and I heard they are not going to make the mini in the next versions. The ONLY thing that's been frustrating with the 12 mini is the battery. In fact, I had to get a new one afte ronly 1-1/2 years. I have never had a pro phone, but the regular 11 felt too big for my hand and didn't fit well in every pocket or purse. Once I got the 12 mini, I never looked back. It is PERFECT! So now I look forrward to better battery life and the camera improvements. WHY WOULD APPLE NOT KEEP THE MINI IN THE LINEUP?
My all time favourite phones were the 4s and the Xs which was beautiful in gold. The 13 Mini is a go between of those two phones. I wish the Mini had the Stainless Steel of the 4s. If they had made a Mini Pro, I would have bought that! I think THAT would’ve been too popular!
The iPhone Mini 13 display is the same size display as iPhone 7 Plus. So people saying it’s too small just proves they lost all perspective or not too smart to realize it.
I really think more people would fall in love with this phone, like you did, if they just had a chance to play around with it for a bit. This phone should be selling way better than it was...it will be a shame if Apple discontinues the mini after this year.
i replace my 64GB 2016 iPhone SE with the 13 Mini and love the 13 Mini, great battery life and everything. After 5.5 years my SE battery was detoriating fast, and it was time for an upgrade
Picking mine up today from the 12 pro max. Looking forward to the one handed use. Making me feel nostalgic about the 4s. Great review btw. Definitely subscribing.
I was moving from Android. Since I could afford it, I bought an iPhone 14 Pro. I never liked it from the start: it is a huge heavy brick, and I found myself reluctant to put it in my pocket because it dragged. Then I got "the iphone 14 black screen of death" (google it). I took the dead brick back to the store and exchanged for an iPhone 13 mini. Oh boy, what joy! This is a gorgeous little thing that you can barely notice in your pocket, and does everything you need a phone to do! Buy one before they run out, I reckon...
I have had the 13 mini,totally love the mini,the bigger phones is not for me,clunkers,they look it they feel it,love my decision,few of my friends went with the 13 mini &’have no regrets, different strokes for older folks.
I’m loving the iPhone 13 mini. Going back to the iPhone XR is like lifting a plate. The battery has been fine with the caveat that filming and editing/rendering videos in splice seem to tank the battery quickly.
just switched from XsMax...what a change but to your point, so nice having a phone I can easily manage in one hand, that also fits just right in any pants pocket. From a productivity standpoint, absolutely no diminishment.
That's it, you sold me. I'm tired of my phone poking me in my side from it's hugeness! I'm going from the 12 pro to the 13 mini (in Starlight hehe) and you really helped me seal the deal! Great vids!!
I'm on day 3 with my new 13 mini and loving it besides the battery life running on ios 16.5, but I'm coming from the XS Max. Even though the battery life drains faster than I like, I'm so OCD I would always charge my phone even when at 50%, never had macro so I don't miss that. The one handed usage is all the reason to get the mini, also it won't pull your pants off. The fact that the rumor is that they will discontinue the mini is a mistake by Apple, but something tells me it'll be back and even better.
Mark, great review and one that mirrors my own experience. You do need to at least put a minimal case on your Mini. That at least will protect against scratches. As for battery life, I put mine in Low Power mode after taking it off the charger. Whatever is turned off, I obviously don’t miss and if I do need that function I can always turn Low Power off. The end result is that I usually end the day with 60% battery remaining! As you said, battery life is NOT an issue. I was able to get a wallet like Apple's for a fraction of the price and yes, it adds depth making the Mini even easier to hold. I took off several apps that I don’t intend to use on a phone that Apple gives, mostly productivity apps as I have no intention of using a phone for spreadsheets, power point or writing papers and a host of other space eating apps. I also took off all games and anything else that detracts from the main purpose of the Mini, that of being a communications device. I do banking, texting, email and several utility type uses that make it useful. I think that’s the key, it should be USEFUL as opposed to productive. The Mini is not meant to produce stuff but it can and is useful. As a result, I have about 100GBs of storage available BUT What I have left on my Mini are apps that add usefulness to my life. Maybe the reason you like the camera is because you are using the 12 Pro Max camera system on the Mini which is nearly what you have on your 12 Pro Max iPhone. 👍🏻 I also got the iPad Mini 6 and THAT is what I use for content consumption/portable games! They actually compliment each other. Needless to say, I’m very happy with both products. Hopefully, Apple will reconsider killing the Mini or maybe they intend it to become the next SE version. I also agree that we may have hit 'peak' iPhone. Beyond speed and camera functions, there’s not much more that any of the manufacturers can offer and I also am not a fan of bigger and bigger phones. I really like being able to easily put my Mini in my front jeans pocket WITH wallet and almost forgetting it’s in there! I think that if they ever make the Apple Watch totally independent of the iPhone, I may be done with upgrading my phone once and for all. Btw, since the Apple Watch 6/7 are so fast, I've turned off the display always on feature. The result is my watch battery can almost run 2 days! The display pops on when I need it. Anyway, great review!
I’m coming from the iPhone XS Max to the 13 mini and let me tell you it’s the best switch up ever. This lil thing fits in your pocket so well and I can text on one hand again like it’s 2009 😆
There most likely not gonna be a 14 mini so hole onto it for a couple years. Though I heard rumors that the next iPhone SE may be a rehash of the 12 or 13 mini
Had the 12 Pro before the 13 and I recently found my 4s in a closet. The moment I held it I said I am getting a MINI! The feel is so nice. 1 handed texting is really something I missed and having a small tv crammed in my pocket always bugged me. I now have the 13 Mini and this has to be my favorite iPhone ever. so easy to use. Easy in and out pockets. Also battery is more than enough for my daily use.
I'm planning to go from a 12 Pro to a 13 Mini. I am a little bit concerned about losing the telephoto lens, and the Lidar is going to be really tough for me to lose. (I am a serious, if amateur, Lidar lover.) But I've loved the Mini ever since I first held it last year.
Very nice review and this echoes exactly how i feel about the iphone 13 mini. Had the same doubts and went even back and forth between the regular 12 and 13 mini. Because of the weight I already switched from the 12 pro to the regular 12 . Glad to have made the choice because the mini does not feel intrusive anymore and finally blends in normal life.
Nice review and great video, I fully agree with all the points. My iPhone history: 3 -> 4S -> 6S -> SE2 -> 13 mini I always stuck with the smaller size and was happy with it since the beginning. That people now see it as a revelation to use a smaller phone does not surprise me after the heavy bricks that have been largely preferred in development by Apple, Samsung & co. It is just not practical to have a phone that you can't even put in your pocket or operate with one hand.
Agree 100%! 2 > 4s > 5s > 6s (my personal fave, would still have it if it hadn’t got run over unfortunately) > 8 > waiting on the 13 mini to come. I never wanted anything bigger than the 6 tbh, but I’m excited for the screen real estate and better camera at least.
Fantastic review. My brand new iPhone 12 Pro (had it for 5 days) got stolen at a music festival last weekend, and I'm looking for something reasonably priced to replace it. The whole time I had the Pro I thought it was a little too big, and now I'm looking forward to returning to the 5.4" footprint.
I just mailed an iPhone 6S to my sister in the USA - I had bought a used phone so I could get going using the v6 Watch while waiting for a friend to get his new phone as I'd agreed to buy his XS Pro Max. I later packed the 6S, ready to put on eBay but something always held me back. I really really liked the phone. It was still zippy and I was saddened I couldn't just give it to someone I knew who would love it. Well. Turns out that iPhones are the better type of phone to have if you use hearing aids - and my sister needed new hearing aids. And really couldn't afford a new phone too. But this iPhone 6S will work with the used watch her daughter gave her for Christmas AND with any hearing aid she buys. So mailing her this phone made me really happy. Someone I love will get to use it and I'm sure she'll just love using it. And she'll soon be able to hear better as well. It's a win all the way around. And yes, I would love a 13 Mini but the XS Pro Max will likely be my phone for a few more years to come. It's boring but I can't fault its battery life.
I didn't even consider it until I held it in my hands at an apple store. It's just a perfect size. Absolutely comfortable to use with one hand. I can even use the pinch function singlehanded. This actually ruins all other phones for me because nobody makes anything in this size, and sadly, from the looks of it apple will be deprecating this form factor as well. So get it while you can.
Love my mini and plan to have it for many more years. I think Apple's mistake was calling it a "mini". People hear the word "mini" and associate that with a small screen which equals 'worse phone'. I wonder how different sales would've been if the name indicated its practicality rather than its size, such as the iPhone 13 Fit, or something like that. Great review!
One of most informative videos I have seen so thanks. Had Max ever since was a Max. Upgraded 12PM And got 13 Max but due to little extra thickness and larger larger camera bump return got 13 Pro and very happy. Carry two phones so upgrade 12 to 13 Mini and really like it. Was funny when you said 12 Pro seemed massive compared to 13 Mini because definitely the case and as I said used to have Max. I also would recommend the Mini or the 13 Pro and once again great video. Thanks
Right… hands up if you’re switching from a bigger phone to the iPhone 13 mini ⬇️
It is always your reviews that get me in the shit with my wife 😂. I'm a 12 Pro user and the only thing that bugs me is having a brick in my pocket while I'm running. Definitely upgrading.
@@TimWhild 😂 I get told that a lot 🙈
@@MarkEllisReviews to be fair I don't need much encouragement 😂
Sounds like a change is as good as a rest. How else would an iPhone 12 feel 'boring', or smaller screen feel like an upgrade? Now I don't keep my phone in my pocket or (I don't think) use it one-handed, so my reasons for smallness aren't there. I've currently got a 7, so big (or iPhone 13 size) feels like a real upgrade to me, because it's what I haven't got now. I know the minis have more 'real estate' than my 7, but I was surprised how small one still felt when I gave it a quick look in my local Tesco. Weirdly, it felt narrower than the 7. That's probably because the screen is taller but just as wide. Having said all this, after a few years of 'big phone', I'm sure I'll leap back to mini mode again...because we always want the thing we haven't got.
@@jandekker6008 Your feeling was right. Due to the aspect ratio of 19.5:9 the screen of the 13 mini is actually one millimeter narrower than the screen of the iphone 7 with its 16:9 aspect ratio.
If Apple continues to refine the mini by increasing battery life, and reducing bezel sizes, it will be so perfect. The iPhone 5 was made for human hands and the mini is almost there.
Totally
Well, looks like the 13 will be the last iphone with mini version
@@izaskunmuruzaballecumberri2083 thats just random rumours, we will find out next year
Correct. At 5.4” it has a great screen width but is still slightly too big. What matters is width for full-screen photo and video size. Apple needs to decrease the rim around the screen and between the screen and sides to make the most of the space. They can also make the phones slightly shorter because there’s plenty of dead screen space above and below full screen, even with the atrocious eyesore of the “notch.” Doing this, they can make the mini 5.2” easily, which is ergonomic perfection and allows one free hand and easier phone calls, what a phone is for!
It is so nice already, no need to wait! The battery is really nice - especially if you upgrade from a 6/6s/7/8
I changed from 12 pro max to 13 mini. It's a huge change and managed to save my fingers and wrist from the heavy weight of the max. Really love to go back to the era of iphone 4.
Hey shem, Can you tell how the 13 mini battery life is holding up on day to day basis?
@@randy5297 I'm not a heavy user and only use for web surfing, social media and youtube watching. At the end of the day I'm left with about 30%. My 12 pro max will be left with 70%.
I would say this phone is not for heavy user and if you are, u may want to consider batt pack if u r always on the move away from ac charger.
Exactly, i am also tired of heavy weight phones and was willing to have a lighter one to work with.
I have the 12 pro max right now , and want to make the same change as you … how is it so far ???
@@emadrid89 Perfect. The screen size took me about 2 weeks to get used to it as I moved from 12 pro max which is way bigger. Now it looks very normal. The 12 pro max is with my wife and when I use it now, it feels like an ipad mini......you seriously have to try the mini to truly appreciate the long lost ease of use ever since phone gets bigger and bigger. It is so light that I dont even feel it in my pocket. 12 pro max is simply a brick.
Had the same switch from iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 13 Mini and couldn’t be happier. Will hold on to it as long as possible. Maybe Apple will bring back the mini again in the future. Mark is right, the battery life is just fine. I do more on the mini than I did with my 12 Pro.
Been on a 13 mini for two weeks. It’s absolutely PERFECT in every way - the only thing I miss dearly from the Xs is the zoom lens. Wide angle is great, but a 50mm equivalent is so useful.
Well, apparently, Apple are idiots who only look at sales (ofc, that's what a company has to do and does, but still...), cause the 14 line doesn't have a mini. Only iPhone 14, 14 max, 14 pro and 14 pro max. The pro version supposedly have pill + hole cutout and the regular two have still remained the notch.
So only 6.1 and 6.7 inch phones. So you can choose either oh, i"well, it kinda fits"Phone or i"damn, this shit is too big"Phone this year.
As a guy who worked with 6.7, 6.55, then immediately switched to a long term 6.1 inchers (S10 + P30) and STILL, even with regular sized hands, wished for smaller... the 5.4 inch 12/13 mini were almost perfect shape, size and weight. The 12 mini had a bad notch, top speaker placement, speaker sound, battery life, but the 13 mini refreshed it all.
And now theres no 14 mini because of....reasons?! Because it dodnt sell that well? What? In my country, the 12-13 regular//pro/pro max are always stock, yet 12/13 mini are always sold out. Then the biggest comapny here makes stock with several and immediately sold out.
Apple - PEOPLE WANT POCKET SIZED, ONE HAND PHONES OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
btw-a 5.2 would be great too, but a 4.7 (iPhone 6/7/8) are too small. Imagine a sub 130g 5.2 inch iPhone 14 mini with no notch, 3500mAh battery. You can do it if you omit the shit wireless charging, bs faceID (fingerprints are faster and more secure) etc
@@ancientslav4863 Yes, if the rumours prove true, that would be really unfortunate. My take on the 13 mini from two weeks in still holds absolutely true: it's the *perfect* phone, but the missing zoom lens is a real bummer at times.
@@analogikahamburg For me, a perfect iPhone is one that loses the notch (kinda what 14 pro line will have), 5.4 inch like 13 mini or smaller 5.2, USB-C instead of lightning, 3.5mm jack, fast charging at least 30W, 120hz oled, 2 day battery life on 3500mAh and 499$. Thus, this will never happen ever
@@ancientslav4863 I hear you on USB-C and 2-day battery life. The rest, I really don't care about - except price.
But a product's gotta cost what it's gotta cost.
I thought I had made a unique decision to move from the 12 pro max to the mini…but scrolling through the comments made me realise so many others have done the same. Absolutely loving it! One handed use, in-pocket comfort, less downward pressure on track pants are all serious advantages…
No, you're really not alone judging by these comments!
@Tweed Penguin O Wise One - thank you for showing me the light. I will aspire to have the same level of self confidence that you have so that I too, can some day, go on UA-cam comments and distribute unwanted advice.
@Tweed Penguin
Why do you need to post snarky comments to feel better about yourself?
Fresh IPhone 13 mini user here and I must say I'm in love with it! Everything in it is wonderful! Would recommend it to every fan of smaller phones
I love my 13 mini! It has the perfect size and weight. The battery life has been fantastic. I hope Apple keeps this on their line up.
Can you share how much the battery holds for you and with what usage? Thanks :)
@@marinamarkova7916 I tend to use it from 6 am to 10 pm with 20% , I was actually surprised that even after a day on university y still managed to have around 45% left on battery at 7pm and used it to run and listen to music for 1 hour and it only dropped 5% and still managed to watch some videos. It is really good
Well, apparently, Apple are idiots who only look at sales (ofc, that's what a company has to do and does, but still...), cause the 14 line doesn't have a mini. Only iPhone 14, 14 max, 14 pro and 14 pro max. The pro version supposedly have pill + hole cutout and the regular two have still remained the notch.
So only 6.1 and 6.7 inch phones. So you can choose either oh, i"well, it kinda fits"Phone or i"damn, this shit is too big"Phone this year.
As a guy who worked with 6.7, 6.55, then immediately switched to a long term 6.1 inchers (S10 + P30) and STILL, even with regular sized hands, wished for smaller... the 5.4 inch 12/13 mini were almost perfect shape, size and weight. The 12 mini had a bad notch, top speaker placement, speaker sound, battery life, but the 13 mini refreshed it all.
And now theres no 14 mini because of....reasons?! Because it dodnt sell that well? What? In my country, the 12-13 regular//pro/pro max are always stock, yet 12/13 mini are always sold out. Then the biggest comapny here makes stock with several and immediately sold out.
Apple - PEOPLE WANT POCKET SIZED, ONE HAND PHONES OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
btw-a 5.2 would be great too, but a 4.7 (iPhone 6/7/8) are too small. Imagine a sub 130g 5.2 inch iPhone 14 mini with no notch, 3500mAh battery. You can do it if you omit the shit wireless charging, bs faceID (fingerprints are faster and more secure) etc
The mini has been discontinued
@@AntLive29 why has it been discontinued?
Two rumours I've heard which I don't like:
1) They discontinue the Mini
2) They downgrade it to replace the SE
What I really want is a Mini Pro, with a telephoto lens and ProMotion that actually does go down to 10Hz for better battery life.
And since it's tiny and light, they should make it 2mm thicker to make battery life a non issue whatsoever. But they won't do any of this, because they still want us to spend a 1000$ more for their phone.
I agree. The problem is if they didn’t have the mini I would’ve purchased the regular pro. Their spreadsheet people will realize this so there’s no financial benefit for them to keep the mini around.
I totally agree, but if apple makes another SE phone, I think it would have the design of the iPhone Xr/11.
If one day this spec does come in mini, i am going for it. I have small hands and find big phone harder to handle.
I want that too!
Well done, Mark. In the modern world where companies keep enlarging their phones, smaller ones tend to stand out. I love how we can once again text with one hand :) i love the classic usage, this reminds me of my first iPhone which was iPhone 5. Believe it or not, I still have it in my drawer. So far, you're my new favorite Apple reviewer.
I'm honoured by that - thanks!
Recently my son lost his iPhone in a lake and we dug out my old 5s to tide him over (I had a 7 with a broken screen that he eventually got after repairs and a new battery). I’d completely forgotten what a pleasure the 5 was to handle, particularly compared to current phones.
It’s now sitting as the house backup phone and works perfectly fine.
Have you not used the swipe keyboard it works wonderfully
Was doubting it when I bought it but I’m loving it now so many people are recommending it
The iPhone 13 Mini is my next upgrade next month. I love it’s size. It’s pocket friendly. Better specs, OS & camera wise. Better battery life. My day to day smartphone. And lastly, portability made me sway to lust for this phone. Thank you for your unbiased review!
Bro how's your mini going are u having any issues with the battery life??
WEll, I must say...I've been researching all the new iPhone 13's and yoU gave me ALL I need to know to make my decision! I haven't upgraded since my ever-so-steady iPhone 6s so this IS a big jump for me. And even though my 6s is still working absolutely fine I've hit the wall as far as updates! Gotta love thAT. Anyway, I'm in! Thanks [as always] for a great/animated intelligent review of the mini!
Awesome! Glad I could help!
It’s amazing how we all get used to the smaller screen. The drive for bigger and faster is negated once you go “backwards”. Makes you wonder what we all have been doing all these years
applied to life too ..
I never understood the mindless thirst people had for huge, heavy phones. Finding "small" phones in the Android world has been a huge roadblock every time I think about changing phones. On the flip side its saved me hundreds of dollars over the years as I usually stick with the same phone for years :)
Fantastic review. Best review I’ve seen on the mini. Thanks for not doing the specs/benchmarks (so boring and meaningless to so many users) and instead focusing on your user experience. Well done!
Wow, thank you!
Indeed. Honestly, it’s my first time when I watched Mark Ellis review. I’d add his radio like voice is very nice, calm and makes watching even more encoruges. Thank you for review. Subscribed.
Yep, love it when we get a good reviewer like this who doesn’t list off the specs we all know and tells us instead exactly how the device performs everyday and what to expect.
The iPhone Mini is my favorite phone since the 4s! I hope Apple sees how much people like the 13 Mini to keep it around
Great review, I love how you get rid of all the boring stuff so quickly and so flippantly!
I have a mini and I find the screen more than adequate. I find it odd how people actually call it a mini and forget it’s screen is almost as large as that of the plus sized iPhones 7 and 8 of just a few years ago…
To be fair, while watching 16:9 content, the usable diagonal is around 4.5 inches
The boring stuff definitely has a place - I’m just glad other people cover it!
@@denissmith7671 this.
This was the very best review I’ve seen. I’m moving from a 7 and the only thing holding me back from the mini was my desire for larger screen size. I have small hands and was apprehensive about the 13 size. But as this video points out, my 7 screen size is actually smaller than the mini. So basically I’ll get the best of both worlds with the mini. The $100 difference makes no difference and the battery life is fine for me since I’m not a heavy video user. Thanks a big bunch.
I’m in the same situation currently having a 7 and can’t decide on the 13 mini or the pro. Tough decision!! Haha. Did u make a selection and are you happy with your choice?
My thoughts exactly! I am absolutely in love with my new iPhone 13 Mini. I don’t think I can ever go back to a larger iPhone. I don’t think I’ve been this enthusiastic about a phone in a very long time. I really hope #Apple keeps it around and improves on it every year. @Apple if you’re listen, please please please keep this model around!
Thanks for for the great review by the way.
r u 12 ?
If you would ever want to get another iPhone in the future then you will have to go back to a larger iPhone since 13 mini its going to be last existing iPhone mini.
Bought my iPhone 13 mini.
Very beautiful size. Doesn’t feel small.
Battery is just wow. Easy full day use with 30 - 35% remaining end of the day.
One of the good things about the mini is that you can throw a bulky case on it. Especially if you’re prone to dropping things (or if you have a toddler that occasionally steals your phone and drops it for you).
waah
waah
waah
I got the iPhone 13 mini two days ago as an upgrade from my previous iPhone xs. I used to change my phone quite frequently, but when I bought my new iPhone 13 mini, I felt like I didn’t want to buy any phone again because, for me, this phone is the most perfect in all aspects, and I guess this could be the reason why Apple doesn’t want to continue creating a small flagship iPhone again, because people who buy such a small and powerful iPhone like this could probably not buy any future iPhones anymore. The iPhone 13 mini is ideal! The only downside is the back-glass because I think it would be better if it was made from aluminum just like the 1st generation iPhone SE.
One of the best iPhone reviews I have ever seen, regardless of model. Very on-point, practical and no bullsh!t or deep dive into specs that is often a little unnecessary . Keep it up!
Wow! Thanks, Ian!
I’ve had a IPhone 12 mini for over a year and I also recommend it. Agree the smaller size and lighter weight is it’s strength, I also have the wallet attachment which takes 2 cards plus cash (for emergencies). The only way I’d not recommend the mini is if it’s your only apple product. If that’s the case then I’d recommend the larger pro size. However as I own an iPad Pro and Mac book air, the mini is the best solution for me and it helps that it’s the cheapest option too.
I’ve also had the 12 mini since last year. I love it. My only thing worth mentioning is when texting or typing a lot it can be very uncomfortable for your thumbs to the point of a sore wrist/thumb joint after a heavy typing. Also quite a bit fat fingering during fast typing, though auto correct fixes most of it.
@@andrescast i also own the 12 mini for almost a year now , and while it is great and the small form factor is nice , some times i just wish i had more screen realeastate also some websites just look odd on it since it's so narrow , wish they made the smaller phone at about 5.8" and made a pro version of that , would be my perfect phone.
Same boat as you, Sheff! I did upgrade to the 13 mini (only because of the rumors of no 14mini). I had zero issues with battery on my 12 mini as I'm not face down in my phone all day. I use my phone for "phone things". I make work calls all day, text, email, camera, some videos and have no problems going all day. I find it funny that Mark says "I didn't use the 12 mini" but talks about all the "issues" it had. Bottom line, if you want a smaller form factor and aren't totally glued to your phone all day.... the mini will be 100% fine for you.
But it seems battery doesn’t last long
Totally agree with you. I am from the 8 and was looking forward to the mini but after trying it I felt it’s too small and prefer the normal 13 size is it’s closer to the 8 size.
this is an amazing phone , recently shifted from 11 pro to 13 mini … small size and very powerful gadget. absolutely loving it …all these years cant get out of that feeling to hold iphone 4/4s/5 … alwayz wondered now this had to shift back to those incredible sizes ..
So many people are shifting!
I went from a 5 SE phone [that was simple to use, compact, light weight and did everything I needed it to do and included everything] to the 13 Mini, that’s bigger, thicker, heavier and doesn’t come with an adapter or headphones so you have to buy them separately so more $$$ spent and when you buy the headphones they no longer come with that little case and you can’t use ordinary headphones any longer, you need to purchase headphones with a different plug on the end that cost more.
You can no longer charge your phone and listen to music or watch a video at the same time without having to purchase another contraption, so another $50 🇨🇦 added on to the expense of the phone.
When I try to take photos or videos of sunsets, the moon or lights I get this annoying little green dot that appears in the photo and when trying to take videos this little green dot bounces around with no way to get rid of it. Never happened with my 5 SE.
The black camera area at the top of the phone that dips down onto the phone screen interferes with of any video or film I want to watch in landscape mode.
Apple uses the excuse of trying to reducing packaging by excluding all these extras that use to come with a phone but it’s really just to increase their bottom line. The joke of it is that all these extras you have to purchase for the new phones all comes in packaging too so I don’t see how they have reduced packaging! As far as I’m concerned Apple are a bunch of thieves!
I have a 13 mini and I love it because you will never loose reception as you can be in the middle of a jungle and still be able to use it as it taps into satellites which makes it the win for me I love my mini 13
Love that someone is doing reviews after a bit of time using the product than straight away from the box
I have been waited for the smaller phone since years then finally replaced my iPhone XS by 13 mini.
Its best phone i had ever, 5.4" is still big enough screen to write emails, posts on socials and watching YT videos or gaming. No more larger phone ever if possible.
The 13 mini is my favorite phone of all time. I would’ve paid more just to have a 120Hz refresh rate.
13 mini doesn't have 120hz refresh rate.
@@shidee91 Yes, he is saying he would have been willing to pay more to get that feature.
@@musefan4 lol girl
The vibes…the voice…the choice…love it all about your videos. There’s serene calmness there. ☕️
😊 thank you
Just stumbled across this review and wow! Best 13 Mini review I’ve seen thus far. Subbed. :)
Wow. Thanks so much!
i have a 12 mini and i love it. never had an issue with battery life, so for anyone worried about that, don’t be. the 13 mini would be even better.
i am looking to upgrade to Apple’s next iPhone in 2022, but for now, i’m happy with the 12 mini
I’ve loved my iPhone XR, but it’s an absolute brick. It’s a beast of a phone.. I can’t wait to upgrade to this tiny but mighty mini! 😍
After watching your review, I decide to buy this 13 mini and I feels like much happier now since I could grip this phone very well in my (small) hands. I know the battery life won't be as same as 12 Pro that I've been used before, but this new mini is going with fine battery too. Even Pro version has great colors such as Graphite, but this mini has come with new Starlight color which is one of my new favorite color tho, looks more elegant than regular silver alumunium. This 13 mini is such a great update, hope the selling number is increase far better, so Apple will keep mini production for a good in future. Thank you for your video mate!
Thank you for your informative review. I’m a longtime iPhone user, having had a 3GS, 4s, 6 and 8, the latter is still in use. The battery life is still good enough for me. I had budgeted to change it last year, but I didn’t. I am happy with the screen size on the 8 as I have an iPad Pro for most things, other than photos and phone calls. The iPhone is only for use when the iPad isn’t available.
Having listened to your review and others, I have viewed the Mini and consider it to be the most suitable. It’ll continue to comfortably fit in my trouser pocket and my hand. Perhaps just as importantly, I’m used to a smaller screen, so I’ll be benefiting from a slight improvement.
I’ve now ordered the Mini, didn’t need to change, but the 8 has done me well and still has trade in value!
Thanks for your review I’ve found it to be very helpful.
I’m glad I could help in some small way 😉
Just like you, my first was 3GS and then 4s, 5s, 6s and currently using XR and I find the phone rather huge in my front pocket. Thinking of getting a 13mini. I just hope the battery run as good as my XR.
Similar journey, although you started a little earlier, 4, 5s, 7, and currently SE2020. I’m currently near the end of the contract, but I think I’ll wait another year before going again however O2 are already throwing offers around to keep me in the cycle and the 13mini is tempting.
How do you like it? I’m considering upgrading from the 8 to the mini as well
I’ve just ordered one these, I’m even happier now. Well done chap!
I’m loving my 13 mini. Didn’t like the close up photo ability at first, but then found I could move back a bit and zoom in, and that works well.
My first iPhone and I got the iPhone 13 mini. Size is great to me. The sales rep kept telling me it’s tiny it’s tiny. When she open it I thought that a good size. I have only had it for 5 days and have enjoyed my new phone. I recommend getting the iPhone 13 mini.
Absolutely love your review. As I’m watching this, iPhone 14 has launched for pre-ordering where I am but I was actually inclined to getting the iPhone 13 mini save for the same concerns of battery life and screen size that you had. With this review, I’m gonna just go ahead and get the 13 mini! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you - enjoy!
@@MarkEllisReviews In terms of just video quality what is better the pixel 7 or the 13 mini. I'm coming from 4xl but video is horrendous with lots of noise. I hope you respond. Ty for your time 👍
@@jcap8391 Apple always wins on video quality in my experience!
Amen! Thank you so much. This is exactly what I’m about to have delivered! Have had the 11pro max and will NOT miss the lead foot phone, which I just want to prop up to use most of the time. Thank u thank u!
The iPhone 13 mini is the best iPhone ever imo. Great review!
Thanks!
Taking a similar journey. Ordered a 13 Mini. Upgrading from a 10 Max but don’t want a bigger heavier iPhone so had a moment where I considered a much much smaller iPhone. Negotiated a two year contract rather than a three so v happy. Should arrive tomorrow.
The most helpful review of the mini ever! Thank you!
I have been waited for the smaller phone since years then finally replaced my iPhone XS by 13 mini.
Its best phone i had ever, 5.4" is still big enough screen to write emails, posts on socials and watching YT videos or gaming. No more larger phone ever if possible.
It lays in pocket perfectly no matter you're in work or on sport activities like running or biking, and completely no issues with battery working time - one day of very active up to two days when i am not using phone a lot.
Nice review Mark. I picked up an iPhone 13 mini this week and really pleased with it. Great form factor, screen size is great and not as small as maybe I was expecting so fine for all I use on the iPhone. Also agree on the battery life been absolutely fine for my daily use and as you say MagSafe items seem to fit the mini perfectly. Great little iPhone and really hope Apple keep this model in their line up and just improve it going forward.
Glad you're enjoying it!
I actually just switched from being a 12 year loyal Samsung Epic and Samsung Galaxy owner. I own a Galaxy 3 Watch and Galaxy Buds Pro.
My wife got me a Samsung S20 FE but I cant stand it's size. It's a 2 handed phone. I'm waiting for my IPhone 13 Mini. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow.
Outstanding video!! Did the same... traded in my 12 ProMax for the 13 mini and love it... don't miss the bigger, heavier... bloated Max at all!!
Thank you!
I went from a 12 pro to a 13 pro then returned it for the 13 mini. This review is SPOT ON with how I feel about it. I agree with every single sentiment. Such a great device. I hope this isn’t the last mini made!
I'm about to send my 13 Pro Max back for the 13 Mini
Was it difficult ‘downgrading’ from the promotion display? I’m debating between the mini and the pro for that reason
@@TSchmoog It was definitely something I considered before doing so but while it’s nice, the 60hz on the mini is more than fine. I’m not a gamer so seeing my Twitter feed and texts scroll smoother isn’t a big deal to me. On an iPad I think it’s much more obvious and pleasing.
Thanks for your great comment. I have the 13 mini now but feel the need to return it to try the 13 pro for the immersiveness of the bigger screen. Then I may go back to the mini. I watch about 3-4 hours of UA-cam a day and battery life has been fine on mini and screen is noticeably larger than my 6s. Do you enjoy watching video any less on the mini than you did on the larger pro?
@@onlineservices2050 Bigger is always better for video - same theme with TVs. I also have an iPad so when I really want to watch videos for long periods of time, thats my go to. I dont have a problem watching videos on the mini either though. Its also nice to hold in 1 hand in front of you lets say if you’re eating and drinking with the other. If the iPhone is your only portable media consumption at home, I would suggest go with the larger phone.
Finally, a review from someone who understands what the mini is for and who it is targeted at. Bizarrely enough we were discussing this at work today with my colleagues - one of whom has the 13 mini and loves it - for all the reasons you mention - such as the one handed use capability. He finds with his use it does a couple of days between charges during the week.
Awesome review. You've sold me on the 13 mini. I've been using the galaxy note 8 for 5 years and I'm due for an upgrade.
I enjoy the larger screen but hate the feeling of having a giant phone in my pocket.
Thanks for the amazing review!
What a wonderful, enthusiastic, honest review! I just ordered the 13 mini (wont get it til the end of Sept) because I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 12 minii, and I heard they are not going to make the mini in the next versions. The ONLY thing that's been frustrating with the 12 mini is the battery. In fact, I had to get a new one afte ronly 1-1/2 years. I have never had a pro phone, but the regular 11 felt too big for my hand and didn't fit well in every pocket or purse. Once I got the 12 mini, I never looked back. It is PERFECT! So now I look forrward to better battery life and the camera improvements. WHY WOULD APPLE NOT KEEP THE MINI IN THE LINEUP?
What a wonderfully refreshing take on a newly released device. Kudos to you Mark.
Thank you, Matt - that genuinely means the world.
I absolutely LOVE my new 13 mini! ❤️
saw this when looking for a review on the new mini. Stayed and watch due to the voice. You can do podcast with that voice.
Thank you! And I already do 😊 podcasts.apple.com/podcast/eight-or-sixteen/id1567934849
My all time favourite phones were the 4s and the Xs which was beautiful in gold. The 13 Mini is a go between of those two phones. I wish the Mini had the Stainless Steel of the 4s. If they had made a Mini Pro, I would have bought that! I think THAT would’ve been too popular!
Just got a mini… started watching videos to see if reviews liked it as much as me… loving it.
How is it after 5 months?
Great review right to the point and honest no "intermission" type shenanigans going on.
Thank you!
The iPhone Mini 13 display is the same size display as iPhone 7 Plus. So people saying it’s too small just proves they lost all perspective or not too smart to realize it.
the aspect ratio plays a huge role when it comes to usability dummy....
Nope. iPhone 13 Pro display is still smaller than 7 Plus, it's just taller. So 13 mini is much smaller.
Thanks mate, this was the best tech review I´ve seen for ages. Excellent work! You also sealed my decision on the next phone.
That's lovely to hear - glad I could help!
no boring stuff here. subscribed! thanks for those vids!
I really think more people would fall in love with this phone, like you did, if they just had a chance to play around with it for a bit. This phone should be selling way better than it was...it will be a shame if Apple discontinues the mini after this year.
i replace my 64GB 2016 iPhone SE with the 13 Mini and love the 13 Mini, great battery life and everything. After 5.5 years my SE battery was detoriating fast, and it was time for an upgrade
My favorite iPhone ever. (love one hand use & ability to easily fit in pocket...plus it has all I need and more.)
I came for a good review and I found my favorite voice on yt 👀 This voice is so soothing.. venus voice
It’s odd, I still always plump for the bigger screen and more features, but may be I need to re-evaluate that kind of think. Food for thought for sure
Picking mine up today from the 12 pro max. Looking forward to the one handed use. Making me feel nostalgic about the 4s. Great review btw. Definitely subscribing.
As a film student, thank you for calling it “rack focusing“.
I was moving from Android. Since I could afford it, I bought an iPhone 14 Pro. I never liked it from the start: it is a huge heavy brick, and I found myself reluctant to put it in my pocket because it dragged. Then I got "the iphone 14 black screen of death" (google it). I took the dead brick back to the store and exchanged for an iPhone 13 mini. Oh boy, what joy! This is a gorgeous little thing that you can barely notice in your pocket, and does everything you need a phone to do! Buy one before they run out, I reckon...
I have had the 13 mini,totally love the mini,the bigger phones is not for me,clunkers,they look it they feel it,love my decision,few of my friends went with the 13 mini &’have no regrets, different strokes for older folks.
❤
Thanks for this video!
The 13 mini is severely underrated.
Hopefully Apple will still produce the mini in the future
They won’t unfortunately
no they wont..so in return i hope the price for the mini 13 goes down ...or there should be another S version of the iphone coming out..!!!!!!
@@xerogaviazzzus why?
@@owengordon idk ask 'em
@@owengordon Classic corporate bullshit, didn´t meet the expectations with sales etc. It´s quite sad.
That was just what I needed to see Mark. I’ve been agonising for months as to what iPhone to upgrade to, and now I know, so thanks for that.
Glad to be of assistance!
I’m loving the iPhone 13 mini. Going back to the iPhone XR is like lifting a plate. The battery has been fine with the caveat that filming and editing/rendering videos in splice seem to tank the battery quickly.
Awesome - and I guess that's the kind of thing that's going to chew away at the battery a bit!
just switched from XsMax...what a change but to your point, so nice having a phone I can easily manage in one hand, that also fits just right in any pants pocket. From a productivity standpoint, absolutely no diminishment.
Great review! My husband is going to upgrade to the 13 mini
Nice - hope he enjoys it!
I like your reviews! Got my iPhone 13 mini 3 weeks ago and I absolutely love it so far. Everything you say is correct!
That's it, you sold me. I'm tired of my phone poking me in my side from it's hugeness! I'm going from the 12 pro to the 13 mini (in Starlight hehe) and you really helped me seal the deal! Great vids!!
I'm on day 3 with my new 13 mini and loving it besides the battery life running on ios 16.5, but I'm coming from the XS Max. Even though the battery life drains faster than I like, I'm so OCD I would always charge my phone even when at 50%, never had macro so I don't miss that. The one handed usage is all the reason to get the mini, also it won't pull your pants off. The fact that the rumor is that they will discontinue the mini is a mistake by Apple, but something tells me it'll be back and even better.
Mark, great review and one that mirrors my own experience. You do need to at least put a minimal case on your Mini. That at least will protect against scratches. As for battery life, I put mine in Low Power mode after taking it off the charger. Whatever is turned off, I obviously don’t miss and if I do need that function I can always turn Low Power off. The end result is that I usually end the day with 60% battery remaining! As you said, battery life is NOT an issue. I was able to get a wallet like Apple's for a fraction of the price and yes, it adds depth making the Mini even easier to hold. I took off several apps that I don’t intend to use on a phone that Apple gives, mostly productivity apps as I have no intention of using a phone for spreadsheets, power point or writing papers and a host of other space eating apps. I also took off all games and anything else that detracts from the main purpose of the Mini, that of being a communications device. I do banking, texting, email and several utility type uses that make it useful. I think that’s the key, it should be USEFUL as opposed to productive. The Mini is not meant to produce stuff but it can and is useful. As a result, I have about 100GBs of storage available BUT What I have left on my Mini are apps that add usefulness to my life. Maybe the reason you like the camera is because you are using the 12 Pro Max camera system on the Mini which is nearly what you have on your 12 Pro Max iPhone. 👍🏻 I also got the iPad Mini 6 and THAT is what I use for content consumption/portable games! They actually compliment each other. Needless to say, I’m very happy with both products. Hopefully, Apple will reconsider killing the Mini or maybe they intend it to become the next SE version.
I also agree that we may have hit 'peak' iPhone. Beyond speed and camera functions, there’s not much more that any of the manufacturers can offer and I also am not a fan of bigger and bigger phones. I really like being able to easily put my Mini in my front jeans pocket WITH wallet and almost forgetting it’s in there! I think that if they ever make the Apple Watch totally independent of the iPhone, I may be done with upgrading my phone once and for all. Btw, since the Apple Watch 6/7 are so fast, I've turned off the display always on feature. The result is my watch battery can almost run 2 days! The display pops on when I need it. Anyway, great review!
I’m coming from the iPhone XS Max to the 13 mini and let me tell you it’s the best switch up ever. This lil thing fits in your pocket so well and I can text on one hand again like it’s 2009 😆
There most likely not gonna be a 14 mini so hole onto it for a couple years. Though I heard rumors that the next iPhone SE may be a rehash of the 12 or 13 mini
Had the 12 Pro before the 13 and I recently found my 4s in a closet. The moment I held it I said I am getting a MINI! The feel is so nice. 1 handed texting is really something I missed and having a small tv crammed in my pocket always bugged me. I now have the 13 Mini and this has to be my favorite iPhone ever. so easy to use. Easy in and out pockets. Also battery is more than enough for my daily use.
I bought a mini 13 and love it. I still have my 11 pro but it see little use now. The Mini is so easy to carry around which is why I bought it.
I'm planning to go from a 12 Pro to a 13 Mini. I am a little bit concerned about losing the telephoto lens, and the Lidar is going to be really tough for me to lose. (I am a serious, if amateur, Lidar lover.) But I've loved the Mini ever since I first held it last year.
I ordered the 13 mini recently and was worried abt the size.. ty for the reassurance 😭
Very nice review and this echoes exactly how i feel about the iphone 13 mini. Had the same doubts and went even back and forth between the regular 12 and 13 mini. Because of the weight I already switched from the 12 pro to the regular 12 . Glad to have made the choice because the mini does not feel intrusive anymore and finally blends in normal life.
I changed my mind from 13pro to 13mini after saw this review thank you
Nice review and great video, I fully agree with all the points.
My iPhone history: 3 -> 4S -> 6S -> SE2 -> 13 mini
I always stuck with the smaller size and was happy with it since the beginning. That people now see it as a revelation to use a smaller phone does not surprise me after the heavy bricks that have been largely preferred in development by Apple, Samsung & co. It is just not practical to have a phone that you can't even put in your pocket or operate with one hand.
4s, 5s, 7. 13 mini coming tomorrow! Woohoo! I hate the phablet fad.
Agree 100%! 2 > 4s > 5s > 6s (my personal fave, would still have it if it hadn’t got run over unfortunately) > 8 > waiting on the 13 mini to come. I never wanted anything bigger than the 6 tbh, but I’m excited for the screen real estate and better camera at least.
What a lovely chap. Thank you for your clarity and enthusiasm. I’m sold!
Haha - thanks!
I switched from iPhone 11 to mini, no regrets. Size is perfect for my IT needs.
I bought the phone. Two weeks. Battery is really good. No issue. Tiny & easy fits pocket. Wish they had 1Tb memory. Great phone!!!
Fantastic review. My brand new iPhone 12 Pro (had it for 5 days) got stolen at a music festival last weekend, and I'm looking for something reasonably priced to replace it. The whole time I had the Pro I thought it was a little too big, and now I'm looking forward to returning to the 5.4" footprint.
I just mailed an iPhone 6S to my sister in the USA - I had bought a used phone so I could get going using the v6 Watch while waiting for a friend to get his new phone as I'd agreed to buy his XS Pro Max. I later packed the 6S, ready to put on eBay but something always held me back. I really really liked the phone. It was still zippy and I was saddened I couldn't just give it to someone I knew who would love it. Well. Turns out that iPhones are the better type of phone to have if you use hearing aids - and my sister needed new hearing aids. And really couldn't afford a new phone too. But this iPhone 6S will work with the used watch her daughter gave her for Christmas AND with any hearing aid she buys. So mailing her this phone made me really happy. Someone I love will get to use it and I'm sure she'll just love using it. And she'll soon be able to hear better as well. It's a win all the way around. And yes, I would love a 13 Mini but the XS Pro Max will likely be my phone for a few more years to come. It's boring but I can't fault its battery life.
i love my 13 mini,, it really is the ideal phone size. I had my share of giant phones, and happily switched away (used a galaxy note 3 and 4)
What an amazing narrator you are! A perfect complement to the iPhone 13 mini.
I didn't even consider it until I held it in my hands at an apple store. It's just a perfect size. Absolutely comfortable to use with one hand. I can even use the pinch function singlehanded. This actually ruins all other phones for me because nobody makes anything in this size, and sadly, from the looks of it apple will be deprecating this form factor as well. So get it while you can.
Love my mini and plan to have it for many more years. I think Apple's mistake was calling it a "mini". People hear the word "mini" and associate that with a small screen which equals 'worse phone'. I wonder how different sales would've been if the name indicated its practicality rather than its size, such as the iPhone 13 Fit, or something like that. Great review!
Good comment I was thinking the same thing
Super glad I bought the 13 mini, which is going to be the last mini iPhone!
This review just helped me decide to go on ip13 mini really.. I was stuck between mini & pro, but now i have decided already.. thank you!
No problem! Glad I could help!
One of most informative videos I have seen so thanks. Had Max ever since was a Max. Upgraded 12PM And got 13 Max but due to little extra thickness and larger larger camera bump return got 13 Pro and very happy. Carry two phones so upgrade 12 to 13 Mini and really like it. Was funny when you said 12 Pro seemed massive compared to 13 Mini because definitely the case and as I said used to have Max. I also would recommend the Mini or the 13 Pro and once again great video. Thanks
Ah, glad it worked for you!
Just upgraded to this from my iPhone X. Can't wait to finally have a great, small iPhone! I much prefer a smaller phone. Good review :)
How do you like it after this time?