Apple's cheapest 'Mini' iPhone brings incredible value for money
When you’re looking for a Mini iPhone in 2024, you’re faced with only two choices. Either you go with the iPhone 13 Mini, with its upgraded chip and battery, or the iPhone 12 Mini, which is considerably cheaper.
As time goes on, the iPhone 13 Mini continues to drop slowly in price, but the iPhone 12 Mini has now plummeted in value. When taking into account how similar the specs are with these two phones, the reduced price of the iPhone 12 Mini looks like a very attractive deal
⭐Pros
- Cheapest Mini iPhone
- Updates until 2026
- Truly pocket-sized
⭐Cons
- Lower resolution display
- No optical zoom
- Poor gaming performance
iPhone 12: First Look
⭐ Unique Features
In most ways, the iPhone 12 Mini is just as powerful a performer as the iPhone 12 – it even packs 5G connectivity into its tiny frame. The only downside is the battery life – which takes a noticeable hit when compared to the iPhone 12.
⭐ Design and Build
The iPhone 12 Mini stands at 132mm long, and just 7mm thick, almost exactly the same dimensions as the iPhone 13 Mini, but slightly slimmer.
The iPhone 12 Mini’s design carries over all the design choices from the iPhone 12 – from the notch display to the flat, boxy sides – except shrunk down into a very manageable little package.
How Affordable is the iPhone 12 Mini?
Along with its reduced size, the iPhone 12 Mini also comes with a reduced price-tag compared to the iPhone 12. Today, you can find a refurbished iPhone 12 Mini for a third of its original price!
If you’re looking for a Mini iPhone, there’s only two options to choose from: The iPhone 12 Mini, or the iPhone 13 Mini. Choosing between them is as simple as deciding if the newer, more advanced tech found in the iPhone 13 Mini is worth spending the extra!
Storage starts at 64GB, but with data usage steadily rising, I recommend opting for the 128GB version!
|
Model |
Price |
Our Price* |
|
iPhone 12 Mini |
£699 (64GB) |
£175 (Very Good Condition) |
|
iPhone 12 |
£799 (64GB) |
£218 (Very Good Condition) |
⭐Did you know?⭐
Unlike many Android phones, iPhones don’t come with expandable storage – which means there is no option to add storage with a microSD card.
Yes, for most people 128GB is enough. This gives you space for apps, photos, videos and other files without running out of space too quickly. Most people use their phones for everyday stuff like social media, browsing, streaming and messaging which don’t require much storage. But if you take high-res photos or 4K videos, download big games or store large music or movie libraries offline you might find 128GB fills up faster.
You can use cloud storage like Google Drive, iCloud or OneDrive to offload files and 128GB becomes more manageable. For most users who don’t use their phone for media storage or high end tasks 128GB should be more than enough!
Processing Power: The A14 Bionic Chip
The iPhone 12 Mini uses the A14 Bionic chip, the same as even the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This chip features limited AI processing, but has an impressive top speed- but what does that all mean?
The answer is simple: the A14 chip is much more than just capable of giving you the performance you need to have a stable and reliable iPhone experience. Unless you’re a pro gamer or 3D designer, this powerful model will give you every bit of power you need.
Finally, the iPhone 12 Mini was launched with iOS 14, and is upgradable to the most recent versions of iOS. Assuming 6 years of software updates (as Apple have previously stuck to), it will keep running smoothly and securely until 2026.
3.0 GHz | 4GB RAM
Battery and Charging
When the iPhone 12 Mini made its debut alongside its bigger sibling in 2020, Apple packed it with enough power to impress, boasting up to 15 hours of video playback, or up to 10 hours continuous streamed video. For a phone this small, those are some impressive numbers.
The phone supports fast charging for a quick power-up, offers the convenience of wireless charging adhering to the universal Qi standard, and benefits from Apple’s smart battery management. Apple’s unmatched battery efficiency means that despite the reduced battery size, the phone can still keep going all day long.
Read more about Battery Health here: How to Take Care of Your Phone Battery
iPhone 12 Mini: Camera Capabilities
⭐iPhone 12 Camera Specs⭐ |
|
Main Lens: 12MP, ƒ/1.6 (great low light performance) |
|
Wide Lens (120° FOV): 12MP, 13mm, ƒ/2.4 |
|
Selfie (TrueDepth): 12MP, ƒ/2.2 |
The iPhone 12 mini doesn’t skimp on its camera. The device comes with the same dual-lens camera sensor as the iPhone 12: Both Wide and Ultra-wide.
Compared to the iPhone 11, the iPhone 12 mini offers improved low-light photography thanks to its Night mode being available on all cameras, including the ultra-wide and the front selfie camera. This means your evening shots and selfies come out clearer and brighter on the iPhone 12, making it a noticeable upgrade from the iPhone 11.
Display: Super Retina XDR
While the smaller screen on the iPhone 12 Mini means you get fewer pixels to work with, the pixel density on its screen is the same as any other iPhone, thanks to it using Apple’s Super Retina XDR display.
Here’s how far you need to zoom in before you can see the individual pixels on the screen:
⭐ Sustainability ⭐
Apple uses carbon offsetting to make their own operations 100% carbon-neutral, and have the ambitious goal of offsetting the total carbon footprint of all of their products by 2030.
The fact that you can’t buy a new iPhone direct from the manufacturer means that the iPhone 12 Mini is a no-guilt purchase in 2024. Only refurbished models remain, which means that if anything, by buying an iPhone 12 Mini and taking care of it, you’re saving a device from ending up in a landfill site.
– Steven Athwal
Sustainability Expert
Summary: Should you buy the iPhone 12 Mini in 2024?
⭐You should buy the iPhone 12 Mini if…
If you’re looking for the cheapest mini iPhone available, this is the iPhone for you. And you should know that you’re not sacrificing much compared to the iPhone 13 Mini.
⭐You should avoid this phone if…
If you’re looking for the best possible Mini iPhone with the latest features and the longest expected lifetime, then the iPhone 13 Mini is a better choice than the 12 Mini.
