I don't want an iPhone Slim, I want my iPhone mini back

iPhone 13 mini in MagSafe case with MagSafe Wallet
(Image credit: Joe Wituschek)

I remember when Apple originally announced the iPhone 12 mini. It was the smallest 5G phone in the world (back when 5G was supposed to be a big deal), and as someone who loves tiny phones, I was over the moon. Unfortunately, I was never able to get my hands on the model.

That changed when the iPhone 13 mini rolled out. With the battery life improved, I went for it immediately. I actually had an iPhone 12 Pro at the time but, even with considering the fact that I'd be losing a zoom lens, the 120Hz Pro Motion display, and other features, I jumped at the chance to simplify my iPhone setup.

While you get more features with the iPhone Pro models, you also get a much bigger and heavier phone. While I appreciated some of the features, it always felt like carrying a brick around in my pocket, so I loved how small and light the iPhone 13 mini was in comparison.

Give me my iPhone mini back

I was such a fan of the iPhone 13 mini that I was devastated when Apple announced it was ditching the tiny iPhone in favor of another huge phone: the iPhone 14 Plus. Since then, I've been waiting for the company to learn the error of its ways and reimburse the beauty of a tiny phone. 

At first, I thought it might turn the iPhone SE into the iPhone mini, but the latest rumors seem to indicate the iPhone SE will instead take on the form factor of an iPhone 15 with another 6.1-inch screen. With that likely the case, my hope was that Apple would realize that the iPhone mini was more fun than the iPhone Plus — the wannabe iPhone Pro Max.

Then, the rumors started swirling that the company would in fact ditch the iPhone Plus model. I got hope again. Unfortunately, that hope was short-lived since, according to a report from today, the company is — instead of going back to the wonderful iPhone mini — going with a whole new iPhone Slim model.

iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 display side by side

(Image credit: Joseph Keller / iMore)

While the idea of a slim iPhone sounds interesting — the new iPad Pro is certainly impressive — it seems like it too will stick with a 6-inch display. It's like Apple has decided that there are only two screen sizes anymore. A bigger screen size for the Pro Max and the same size for everything else.

It seems that, if I want to get an iPhone mini back in my life, I'm going to have to wait it out for the long-expected iPhone Fold. If Apple won't make a tiny phone, at least it can make a bigger one that I can fold down into a smaller one. Even if that shows up, I'm still holding out for an iPhone mini.

It was — and still is — the best iPhone Apple ever made. I'd trade in my iPhone Pro in a heartbeat if Apple ever brought it back. Hear me, Tim Cook!

More from iMore

Joe Wituschek
Contributor

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.

  • gian posatiere
    Good thing Apple doesn't take into account the tiny amount of people that want a smaller phone so they can concentrate on the thing more people want slimmer phones with bigger screens.
    Reply
  • Redmer
    When the iPhone 15 came out, I promptly "upgraded" my 14 pro to a 13 mini. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I didn't want to miss nabbing one before they disappeared.
    Reply
  • sbartzen
    Plan on keeping my 13 mini as long as it works. So much easier to fit in pockets of everything. Don't really need or want a bigger device.
    Reply
  • n6mac41717
    You probably also drive a stick shit (like me) 😄

    We'll just have to wait for the fold...
    Reply
  • FFR
    iPhone mini fans, don’t have to wait long, the new iPhone SE will launching in the next 6 months.


    As for the iPhone slim, can’t wait to see what Apple has been cooking. ‍
    Reply
  • Annie_M
    I'm definitely watching this thread with interest!
    Reply