The Mighty Mini…

…how small is too small?…is it really practical?…will the battery last all day?…

These were just a few of the questions I had when the Apple iPhone 12 Mini was announced. It seemed like a great alternative to the ever-growing line of “max” options and phablets that are, quite frankly, a hassle to haul around in pockets and purses. For the first time in years, a truly one-handed phone was coming back to the market…how exciting! Now, I will say that the throwback vibe didn’t stop with the size since the design of the Mini (and all of the 12 line, really) gave a nod to the iPhone of yesteryear with its square body and blocky build. This was primarily overcome with the promise of a full-screen experience, equating to the body of a 2012 phone and the screen of a 2020 device. I’m open to compromise, so this would certainly do

Cue the morning of November 6th. I eagerly called T-Mobile promptly at 8 am (EST) to pre-order and was met with the welcoming questions of internal storage capacity (memory) and color preference. I opted for the standard 64GB since I don’t keep anything local to the device – Google is essentially my life’s safety deposit box – but did decide to shake things up with the green color as I was caught up in all things Baby Yoda with the season 2 return of The Mandalorian Preorder set, now all that was left to do was wait…

Early afternoon on Friday, November 13th, the little cutie arrived. After a much-needed Baby Yoda themed photoshoot, the real fun began with setting up the first Apple device I had in over 10 months. Oh, the joys of re-engaging my Apple ID, crafting the perfect Memoji, deciding on core apps to download, and performing the vast and meticulous settings overhaul. I typically start each new device as it’s own “being”, meaning that I don’t restore or transfer settings…yes, this is tedious, but it also gives me a chance to feel out the device and perform a periodic purge of content. The only real transfer that I rely on is the sync with Google. Oh Google, you precious precious thing. Anyway, I digress.

For the first few hours, it was amazingly novel to feel such a small device and use a phone that was practically the size of a pocket pack of tissues. Even now, a week later, I still am amazed at its tiny body each time I slide it into a pocket or grab-and-go with a small cardholder or wallet.

Now is the time to grab a drink, settle in, and for those who are on the fence, think about if this mighty Mini might be for you!

phone emoji = tech talk …… handbag emoji = couture chat

We should probably start with the most basic and easy tech breakdown of all – the iPhone 12 Mini is a replica of the iPhone 12. Besides battery (and obviously screen size) the color choices, camera, chip, carriers, and capacity are all identical. With the software being nearly indistinguishable from each other, the biggest and most obvious differentiator is size. That being the case, let’s start with how the battery and screen took the major blows to achieve mini greatness…

Without diving too deep into the battery diagnostics, the best way to describe the difference in battery life is by a factor of 2. The Mini shaves off about 2 hours of usage in all categories compared to its sibling, the regular iPhone 12. If the regular provides 17 hours of video, expect 15 from the Mini. Likewise, this is the case across the board with talk time, audio, and streaming. Yes, it’s less than other phones on the market and yes, it has to be charged at least once a day; however, I do find that I can go nearly an entire day with moderate use before plugging in prior to bedtime. Most other phones on the market will provide at minimum a day’s use, so the Mini does fall into the “meh” battery life category. On the plus side, it charges quickly, and with being so portable, charging on-the-go isn’t too much of a hassle. I’ve also found that I’m defaulting to “plugged-in” corded charging versus MagSafe “wireless” charging simply due to the price point of investing in enough MagSafe’s for every location I may want to charge (bedroom, office, kitchen, car, etc.). Additionally, if you like mobility and generally opt for the longer charging cables, the MagSafe cord length is a bit limiting. For a general battery rating, expect 3 out of 5 stars – not great, not awful, just kind of mediocre.

While we’ve got MagSafe on the mind, let’s talk about a few more considerations. As mentioned above, I have invested in multiple MagSafe chargers to keep at the ready for my nightstand and in my (home) office. Taking nearly a $100 hit for (2!) chargers was a little frustrating, but hey, it’s Apple. For those wondering, the phone will charge on the typical wireless charging pad, albeit slower than if it were wirelessly charged with the deigned MagSafe option. I tried out the Mini with my usual charging pads and also with my car wireless charger, all working just fine, but barely making a dent in battery life compared to similar time on the MagSafe. For that reason, I defaulted back to the lightning cable and MagSafe charger rather than continue to use the wireless pads I already had handy. With that out of the way, it became a game of whether to choose the plug-in cable versus MagSafe’s version of wireless. When deciding between MagSafe and the lightning cord, I point back to the price point. I found myself having more lightning cords handy, prompting it as a more accessible option. A word of warning though, the lightning cable that comes with the device is lightning to USB-C without any wall-brick adapter. Based on my cable hoarding situation with having so many devices over the years, I simply had to go digging for the appropriate wall piece but I recognize this is not the typical situation for many. Be sure to invest in the USB-C wall brick (through Apple) if you don’t happen to have one already or else you’ll be reliant on finding another charging alternative with USB-C access. For those planning a few steps ahead, USB-C female to USB A male connectors are a no-go. I tried to outsmart the system by purchasing this type of adapter on Amazon (4-pack for less than $10) but Apple blocks the charging capabilities since it’s not an official Apple adapter. Bummer but well played on their part.

Regarding the screen, the Mini is notably, well, mini. Its 5.4-inch face is dramatically smaller than the next size (iPhone 12) with a 6.1-inch screen. This happens to be the trend with the 12 line of devices – it’s a big jump from smallest to middle and then stays consistent between the 12 and 12 Pro, then jumps quite a bit up to the 12 Pro Max (6.7-inch). Having handled and used both the Mini and regular side-by-side, I won’t try to convince you it’s an easy downgrade in screen…it’s a pretty major difference. That being said, once your eyes have time to adjust to the smaller display, internet browsing and social media start to feel quite normal with the assistance of the edge-to-edge design. In using the Mini consistently, when I pick up my current work phone (OnePlus 8 5G) I almost feel blinded by the massive display and screen intensity. All of this to say, give the Mini some time and you will adjust to the screen being a fraction of what you are probably used to. For those wondering about eyesight playing a role, it’s a valid concern. I wore glasses for most of my life until I opted for LASIK earlier this year, pre-pandemic. With my eyesight at a consistent 20/15 (yay!), I don’t have any issues with the display and would suspect that any average eyesight could adapt. If you tend to size-up for text/font, this might not be the best device because even one step up from “normal” text size starts to eat the screen.

Now on to practicality and functionality. It operates and performs just as any iPhone would, with no issues on size impacting its ability to be functional. A helpful tip though – expect a learning curve with the keyboard. The keyboard will take up almost half of the screen and swiping is probably the best input method since typical typing can cause a few fat-finger moments given the smaller key dimensions. I find if I’m using two hands to type, it’s almost too much with the device’s small body frame. I’ve adjusted to having one hand hold the device and the other swipe to type. Two thumbs on the keyboard is one too many in this instance.

The camera on this cutie packs a punch. Being identical to the iPhone 12, I had decent expectations for photo quality all along, but the Mini is surprisingly easy to take on a photoshoot. Aside from its wonderfully packable size, the camera and associated editing capabilities are really great. It’s no secret that I was a huge fan of the Google Pixel 4 XL camera and auto photo adjustments, but I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised with the clarity, sharpness, and color the Mini offers. I’ll even add that editing on the smaller screen hasn’t proven a hassle. My only qualm is that I’m not an Apple native storage supporter, so I have to be sure to real-time sync my pictures to Google Photos. Not a knock on the Mini at all, just a consideration as part of the Apple adoption!

Taking all of the above into consideration, the iPhone 12 Mini is a device for those looking to get back to the grab-and-go feel of a mobile phone; although, it’s certainly not meant for extensive document editing, multitasking, or even creative design use. The sweet spot in the user market is really those individuals that want a functional, portable device meant to perform core capabilities well – internet browsing, calling, emails, and social media perusing. Understanding this target market, I would say the iPhone 12 Mini is a great investment at a reasonable price point. If you are a tried-and-true Apple user, opt for the larger memory and enjoy the fun this mighty Mini brings into your lifestyle

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Come one, come all! Welcome to the most versatile, handy, and chameleon-like device for all those accessory lovers out there. Ironically, the iPhone 12 Mini doesn’t have an overwhelming volume of dedicated cases (yet), but boy does this little love fit into nearly any pouch, pocket, or purse. Given the fact we can talk ad nauseam about what the Mini fits into, let’s break down our chat into two categories – case protection and accessory compatibility. While they might sound the same, these two categories open up various options when embracing the small body the Mini dishes up…

Case Protection: With the push from Apple to embrace wireless charging via MagSafe, the first question to ask yourself when looking to protect any of the 12 collection of devices is whether you are going to rely on MagSafe for charging. If not, any case will do and this category is a moot point so feel free to skip to accessories It’s worth pointing out that if you decide not to go the MagSafe route, the device is still wireless compatible (think charging pads and stands), so be sure to keep that in mind if you want to flex its wireless capabilities without fully dedicating to a MagSafe case. If you are looking to invest in a case that permits MagSafe charging, this is where the fine print and case descriptions/specifications become your friend. When I initially pre-ordered my Mini, I did a quick Amazon search for cases in order to buy and have something for when the phone arrived. Purchasing via Apple.com can sometimes have shipping delays, so I was avoiding the naked device situation with my Amazon backup purchase. Anyway, I noticed that Amazon did not have a large selection compatible with MagSafe, so be sure to read the details carefully if you are looking through marketplaces for purchasing. Currently, companies are rolling out MagSafe compatible cases nearly every day (Otterbox, Lifeproof, Spigen, Speck, etc.), so the field will become much wider in no time; however, the best option may still be Apple products if you are willing to wait for shipping. The Apple choices include a variety of silicon, leather, sleeves, and my personal favorite – the clear shell (which you will notice in all of the photos). By opting for Apple’s product line, you won’t be hesitating on if MagSafe will work properly and, much to my love for other case companies, Apple is still the most accurate when it comes to cut-outs for device openings and buttons.

Accessory Compatibility: Once you make the choice on case preference (or maybe no case at all!) the world is your oyster on accessories. The beauty of the Mini is that it fits into nearly all designer small bags, pouches, and clothing pockets. Without a case and with a little maneuvering, this cutie even fits in the Chanel mini o-case…yup, it’s astonishing, I know! I’ve had no problem putting this device in my smaller clutches and handbags, with the exception of true micro and nano bags. With micro and nano accessories, you basically fit a credit card and house key, so no phone really stands a chance

I would say that this is likely the most versatile and fashion-friendly device in a long time. Most of the time my concern is not whether the phone fits but whether it’s actually too small and leaving excess room for wiggle! Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll leave you with these photos for inspiration on accessorizing…

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As mentioned above, if you are in the market for an everyday device that isn’t doubling as a tablet, photo studio, or bogging platform, the Mini is a worthy contender. With trends still singing “It’s a Small World“, the iPhone 12 Mini is on-brand for those wanting to marry their love of phones with their love of fashion