iPhone 12 mini review: this iPhone is a dainty delight

Two-minute evaluation

Apple’s iPhone 12 mini is a triumph, with top-end tech and a premium design combining to supply a telephone that may compete with among the easiest handsets in the marketplace, and all in a smaller physique than you’d count on for a flagship system.

This is primarily the iPhone 12 reprised, however in a smaller type issue that can go well with these in search of a extra compact telephone than top-end producers – together with Apple – have been capable of supply for the previous few years.

This is the smallest iPhone because the iPhone 5S, and also you’ll discover it as quickly as you choose it up. Even evaluating this telephone to the iPhone SE 2020 makes it really feel small, however it doesn’t lose any of that premium edge we discovered with the iPhone 12.

You will get a barely improved expertise with the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max because of their extra highly effective engines, larger batteries and a number of different tweaks, however should you’re after a small iPhone you not have to fret about lacking out on the very best options.

The 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED show is pin-sharp, and it’s markedly higher than the LCD show on the iPhone 11. You’ll notably see the enhancements when watching video that helps HDR.

The iPhone 12 mini additionally has a premium design, with a protected glass design known as Ceramic Shield and angular aluminum edges that can pull your thoughts again to the times of the iPhone 4 as quickly as you first deal with it. It is available in a alternative of 5 colours (black, white, pink, inexperienced or blue).

iPhone 12 mini

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

It could really feel like an iPhone for the nostalgists, however it’s something however in the case of spec. The newest A14 Bionic chipset powers this system – we discovered it to work practically flawlessly, no matter we threw on the telephone – and also you’ve bought a top-end digicam array with two 12MP rear shooters that carry out simply in addition to these on the iPhone 12.

Then there’s the addition of next-gen 5G connectivity know-how, permitting you to expertise quicker speeds and simpler connection when utilizing cellular knowledge. This is nice futureproofing know-how to have on board, however at launch 5G isn’t extensively obtainable in lots of areas, that means it received’t be a transformative expertise for most individuals straight away.

There’s additionally MagSafe, Apple’s new magnetic docking tech, which lets you join a wi-fi charger and different equipment (simply a couple at launch) by merely snapping them to the rear of the telephone.

The iPhone 12 mini isn’t with out its frustrations, because the battery life isn’t as highly effective as some could hope for, and 64GB of storage doesn’t really feel like sufficient for a telephone in 2020. That stated, these are minor points that many who like the alternatives Apple has made elsewhere will be capable of stay with.

The iPhone 12 mini is constructed for many who have been eager for a smaller iPhone that is simple to make use of in a single hand, and if you'd like Apple’s full-on smartphone expertise in a extra compact bundle, this is the iPhone for you.

Even should you're dedicated to Apple telephones, the iPhone 12 mini has little competitors should you're after a small but high-end handset. The closest Android will get is the likes of the 5.9-inch Asus Zenfone 8, with most flagships such because the Samsung Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9 ranges being above 6 inches.

Update: Apple has confirmed the iPhone 12 mini will obtain iOS 15 when it lands later this 12 months so you may get all the most recent options on this handset.

iPhone 12 mini launch date and worth

The iPhone 12 mini is on sale now world wide
Starts at $699 / £699 / AU$1,199, costs enhance for extra storage
Doesn't embody headphones or a charging block in field

The iPhone 12 mini begins at $699 / £699 / AU$1,199. That's for 64GB of storage, and the worth goes up for extra storage – try the chart beneath for full pricing.

iPhone 12 mini costs
Region	64GB	128GB	256GB
US	$699	$749	$849
UK	£699	£749	£849
AU	$1,199	$1,279	$1,449

For context, the iPhone 12 begins at $799 / £799 / AU$1,349, the iPhone 12 Pro begins at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max begins at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849.

iPhone 12 mini is on sale now world wide after being delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The iPhone 12 mini was introduced in October 2020, after which it was launched on November 13 that very same 12 months.

You can typically discover it for a little lower than the RRP in third-party shops, however being an iPhone this has held its worth fairly effectively.

The iPhone 12 mini comes with out a charging block or earbuds within the field, with Apple seeking to minimize down on e-waste. If you don’t personal the best charger or a pair of headphones, this is set so as to add to the price of your system as you’ll want to purchase these individually.

If you need some new headphones, you would possibly wish to try Apple's AirPods Pro or our collection of the very best headphones.

Design

An iPhone 4 reminiscent design with angled edges
The smallest iPhone for a variety of generations
Easy to carry and use in a single hand

The iPhone 12 mini’s design is its distinctive promoting level, and it’s a welcome different for many who need a smaller iPhone, and who’ve seemed on in dismay as Apple has launched ever-larger handsets (but in addition don't need the dated-looking design of the iPhone SE, Apple’s different mini-sized telephone).

It primarily mirrors the iPhone 12 design, however in a smaller physique that’s simpler to wrap you hand round; and regardless of the smaller dimension the telephone nonetheless manages to pack a massive 5.4-inch display screen – extra on that beneath

With dimensions of 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm it’s the smallest iPhone in a very long time, and that’s together with the iPhone SE that was launched earlier in 2020. It’s additionally gentle, with out feeling too gentle – at 135 grams it’s simple to slide into a pocket, however doesn’t really feel low-cost.

It could seem apparent, however should you’re in search of a small iPhone and also you’re not too nervous about the fee, then the iPhone 12 mini is an on the spot, don’t-even-think-about-anything-else alternative.

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Away from the telephone’s sheer dimension (or lack thereof), the iPhone 12 mini comes with flatter edges than we’ve seen on latest iPhone generations. It’s at all times good to see design evolution in an iPhone, however this transfer, which nods to the look of older iPhones, received’t be to everybody’s style.

We discovered the telephone simple to carry, and it feels as premium as the opposite members of the iPhone 12 household. The mini’s design definitely isn’t a case of Apple utilizing cheaper supplies to be able to hit a lower cost level, and also you're getting the identical design parts and construct high quality as in the remainder of the iPhone 12 vary, together with the aluminum body.

The rear of the telephone is glass, and it doesn’t really feel slippery, as glass on some smartphones can. You’ll rapidly begin to discover fingerprints showing on the rear of the telephone although.

The energy button is on the best aspect of the telephone, whereas on the left are the amount buttons and silence change.. On the underside edge are the Lightning port for charging, and the stereo speaker, with a grille both aspect of the connector.

Your shade selections are blue, white, pink, inexperienced, or black, and that remaining one you possibly can see pictured all through this evaluation. It looks like a good mixture of ‘standard’ colours and choices for many who need one thing a little brighter for his or her telephone.

One of the large modifications design-wise is one you possibly can’t see: MagSafe, a series of magnets contained in the rear of the telephone, which let you join a number of equipment akin to circumstances, wi-fi chargers or a automotive mount.

This is one thing Apple already provides equipment for, and we’re certain to see extra, each Apple and third-party sooner or later. It’s a worthwhile replace, even should you don’t want to make use of the obtainable equipment from day one.

Display

New Super Retina XDR OLED know-how is spectacular
A excessive 476 pixels per inch
Still a 60Hz show regardless of rumors of 120Hz

The iPhone 12 mini has a phenomenal display screen, and it’s top-of-the-line we’ve ever seen on an iPhone. For the primary time, the corporate has introduced its Super Retina XDR OLED know-how to all its new iPhones, and the distinction between this and LCD is exceptional.

The display screen right here is 5.4 inches, and also you’re comfortably capable of attain all corners when utilizing the telephone one-handed.

The decision is greater than on the iPhone 11 at 1080 x 2340, and the distinction is noticeable. That decision works out to 476 pixels per inch, and it’s the sharpest show we’ve ever seen on an iPhone, so whereas the display screen is smaller than the iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max, it’s arguably higher. The image is crisp and clear, and the brightness is spectacular too.

iPhone 12 mini

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

The show is additionally HDR10-ready, that means you’ll discover extra element in darkish and light-weight areas when watching content material encoded with the know-how. The distinction is most notable if you’re watching video from sources like Netflix or iTunes, however it additionally means photographs and different pictures look higher.

Lots of Android producers at the moment are together with high-refresh-rate screens on telephones, which makes for smoother pictures if you’re gaming, watching video or scrolling your Twitter feed, however Apple hasn’t included this on the iPhone 12 mini.

The 12 mini is nonetheless utilizing a 60Hz show, so the scrolling expertise isn’t as spectacular as on another telephones that price a comparable quantity – and should you’re swapping from a telephone that does have a greater refresh charge, you’ll doubtless miss it right here. It’s unlikely you’ll discover in any other case, however it’s a function we’ve loved seeing come to telephones, and we’d wish to see Apple implement it quickly.

Camera

Rear digicam makes use of two 12MP shooters
12MP selfie digicam works remarkably effectively too

iPhone 12 mini

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

On paper, the iPhone 12 mini’s digicam setup appears similar to the iPhone 11’s, however there are sufficient tweaks to justify the next-gen billing – and notice that this is precisely the identical digicam array as on the iPhone 12 although, so that you received’t miss out on something by choosing the smaller telephone.

There’s a 12MP ‘standard’ wide-angle digicam with a f/1.6 aperture, and a 12MP ultra-wide digicam with a 120-degree discipline of view and an f/2.4 aperture. There’s no telephoto sensor right here, as on the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, and which means your zoomed pictures received’t look as spectacular, as there’s no devoted digicam to do the heavy lifting.

Apple’s cameras are among the many most succesful automated shooters in the marketplace, and the snappers on the iPhone 12 mini carried out very effectively in our testing.

Low-light efficiency is the primary enchancment over the last-gen system, in response to Apple, largely all the way down to the primary digicam’s aperture going from f/1.8 on the iPhone 11 to f/1.6 right here, and certain sufficient we discovered that the digicam carried out very effectively in darkish settings – you possibly can see an instance of this beneath.

Apple’s Night Mode works with each the rear cameras this 12 months (and on the selfie digicam), and it really works in a comparable method to different producer’s know-how the place the iPhone will discover the dearth of sunshine and asks you to carry the telephone nonetheless, for a variable period of time (relying on how a lot gentle is round )to make sure it might shoot.

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iPhone 12 mini camera sample — A shot with good pure lighting with out Night Mode (Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

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You’ll typically be requested to maintain the telephone nonetheless for something as much as 15 seconds, and should you’re in a position to do this we discovered that Night Mode produced handsome pictures – though this additionally depends upon your topics not shifting, so it’s not a nice choice for photographs of your pets or different topics that aren’t good at following orders.

If you’re taking pictures in near-complete darkness then even Night Mode is going to battle, however you’ll be impressed by how a lot the digicam is capable of brighten the publicity to make a picture taken in darkness really feel prefer it was shot in daylight.

Portrait pictures - the place the telephone can alter your background to focus in your face both by blurring it or filling it with a shade - return right here, and we discovered them to work effectively on the rear digicam with out a lot fiddling round.

The cameras can really feel a contact gradual at occasions, however that’s doubtless owing to the Apple’s Smart HDR 3 know-how, which works robotically on some pictures. This makes use of synthetic intelligence to establish parts of what you’re taking pictures, and optimize the publicity to focus on sure options or areas.

Video recording on the iPhone 12 mini is spectacular – you’re capable of file in 4K at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second, and Full HD recording is obtainable alongside options like slow-motion.

The greatest change right here is the introduction of Dolby Vision HDR, and in our testing we discovered the standard to be markedly higher than that of non-HDR clips we shot, with footage trying extra colourful and detailed. It’s a stable improve for many who need higher video high quality, even when by itself it’s not a purpose to purchase the iPhone 12 mini.

The front-facing digicam is one other 12MP sensor, and this shall be greater than appropriate for selfies and video calling. The high quality is spectacular, and Portrait mode works fantastically effectively because of the 3D depth sensor doing the heavy lifting (it’s additionally this sensor that powers Face ID).

iPhone 12 mini camera samples

An instance of the selfie digicam on the iPhone 12 mini (Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

This isn’t a big improve over latest iPhones, however that isn’t a problem, because the selfie digicam has been persistently robust over the previous couple of generations of iPhone. Low-light efficiency may very well be higher, however it nonetheless works effectively sufficient – and, as talked about, Night Mode is obtainable right here too, so your night-time selfies ought to look simply pretty much as good as your daytime ones.