Updated: November 13, 2020 5:29:15 pm
Apple iPhone 12 mini review: The ideal iPhone for those who want a device with a smaller screen. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
A couple of years ago a colleague wanted me to suggest a replacement for his iPhone 5c. That phone had sold out and he wanted a new phone, but with a strange request: the new phone had to be the same size. It was a tough decision for me: I could suggest the iPhone SE, which was roughly the same size, but older, or the iPhone 7, which was newer and had a better processor and camera. In the end, he reluctantly settled on the iPhone 7, nearly a half inch larger than his latest phone. But my colleague is not alone and there are many others who simply hate big phones for a variety of reasons. And this is exactly the crowd that the new iPhone 12 mini will try to please.
IPhone 12 mini price in India Rs 64,900+
IPhone 12 mini Specifications: 54-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (1080 x 2340p, ~ 476 ppi) | Apple A14 Bionic with 4GB RAM | 12 MP, f / 1.6, 26mm (wide) + 12 MP, f / 2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide) + 12 MP, f / 2.2, 23mm (wide) front camera + 2227 mAh battery with fast charge | iOS 14 | 135 g
So who is the iPhone 12 mini for?
Well, in my opinion, this phone works for three groups of people.
1. Those who need a smaller phone, because they have smaller hands or are just used to a smaller phone, there are still some iPhone 5c or SE users out there.
Apple iPhone 12 mini alongside the older iPhone SE 2020, which has a Touch ID button on the front. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
2. You want an iPhone 12, but you don’t want to spend that much. So you’re willing to compromise on a smaller iPhone 12 that is priced less.
3. You just want to be different. With a chassis size of 5.4 inches, the iPhone 12 mini is clearly the most unique size available on the smartphone market right now.
So how effective is the iPhone 12 mini as a smaller phone?
While I knew the iPhone 12 mini was small, it ended up being smaller than I expected when I unpacked the review device and held the phone in my hands. In fact, my fingers can completely wrap around the phone and I’m not a giant. However, compared to the iPhone 5c or iPhone 7, this phone offers more screen as it has an 85% screen-to-body ratio thanks to the slimmer bezels. So even though it’s almost as small as the 4.9-inch iPhone 5c, there’s a lot more room in this new phone. And this is a lighter phone at around 30 grams compared to the iPhone 12.
IPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro in space gray and iPhone 12 mini in Product RED. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
I have a feeling this phone will please a lot of women who use handbags, because this will be perhaps the only phone that will slip into a smaller bag like that. Also, for those who are used to tucking their phones into a jeans pocket, this is a dream size.
iPhone 12 mini: What’s good?
But you might not want to keep this phone out of sight as a smaller phone doesn’t mean it’s a less fancy phone in any way. The flat edges of the iPhone 12 series stand out with their frosted aluminum look. However, the review unit I got was the even sexier Product Red, which stands out as the highlight.
The glass finish on the back for wireless charging makes it a bit different from previous Red products, but it’s still high-fashion tech at its finest. But since the camera bump is significant, you may want to give it extra protection with a cover; that is a sad reality if you have opted for the Red Product. I tried Mujjo’s sleek case that comes with a built-in card holder and that could increase your mini’s style quotient.
While Apple has made it as a smaller phone, it hasn’t skimped on other corners. So the quality of the screen is the same as the larger iPhone 12 models. However, if you are moving from a bigger phone, you will have to think about this. Somewhere your brain and eyes get used to a bigger screen and it’s harder to adapt to something smaller. I struggled with the mini’s smaller screen size because in recent years I have gotten used to bigger phones. I guess this is also a function of age and younger people will have no problem with this.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 mini are viewed from left to right. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
The iPhone 12 mini runs on the same A14 Bionic as the iPhone 12 Pro Max and processing power is not an issue at all. Trust me on this, because I’m reviewing the iPhone 12 Pro Max on the side as well. The phone is buttery smooth and can handle anything you throw at it. Even while recording in 4K, the phone was very stable. I shot a 1 minute video in 4K at 60fps, edited it on the phone, changed the color and exposure, and got the output processed in a couple of minutes. Could we imagine doing that on a phone that you could literally grip with your fist years ago?
The only compromise you make with a smaller phone is the battery. Yes, the mini has a battery that is almost 20 percent smaller than the iPhone 12. With regular use, I got about 12 hours of battery life from it.
The iPhone 12 mini has the same dual camera setup as its big brother: a 12MP wide and a 12MP wide. The results are impressive and exactly what you would expect from an iPhone. The faster processor has made low-light photography a bit faster. In good light, you get stunning images with the subtle hues of the sky captured perfectly.
Sample image of iPhone 12 mini. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Sample image of iPhone 12 mini. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Image taken from the iPhone 12 mini in wide angle mode. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Image taken from the iPhone 12 mini in ultra wide mode. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Image taken from iPhone 12 mini in low light using Night mode. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Image taken from the iPhone 12 mini. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Sample shot of the iPhone 12 mini. Image taken with 5x zoom. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Low-light images are excellent, especially with the wide-angle camera. The details are a bit smudged when you use the ultrawide in the same conditions and it is understandable. You can get 5x digital zoom as there is no telephoto lens here. But that’s again with some noise. Still, as the results below will show, this is one of the best smartphone cameras out there with very few tricks and some very solid results to show for it.
Apple iPhone 12 mini Review: It fits easily in your hand, ideal for those who need a small but powerful phone. (Image Source: Nandagopal Rajan / Indian Express)
Should you buy the iPhone 12 mini?
In my books, the iPhone 12 mini is solving a specific problem, that of size. This is the best, and perhaps the only, phone for those who want a compact phone that will fit in their hand, that will slip into a jeans pocket or small purse, and will not slip out of their shirt pocket. This is also a cheaper iPhone 12. Yes, this is the ideal phone for those who had a powerful, smaller and cheaper iPhone. Most mainstream users can look at the iPhone 12.
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