This year, Apple released a total of four iPhone models for the first time, including the iPhone 12 mini. Previously, there were no mini models in the iPhone lineup. In fact, the role of a more compact and affordable smartphone was performed by the iPhone SE. However, its design and most features were typically several generations behind the current flagships. Now the company has decided to please those who are not fond of "phablets" while still wanting to indulge in modern design and technology. Moreover, the price of the "mini" is 10 thousand lower than that of the regular iPhone 12. So, what else distinguishes them?
We have presented and analyzed the general information and all the details announced by Apple in our report on the results of the October presentation, so we will not repeat ourselves. We also recommend reading our testing of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, as we will refer to it multiple times in this text.
Let's start exploring the new product with the traditional list of specifications.
Technical Specifications of Apple iPhone 12 mini
SoC Apple A14 Bionic (6 processor cores: 2 high-performance + 4 energy-efficient, 4 graphics cores, 16 Neural Engine cores)
Touchscreen 5.4", OLED, 2340×1080, 476 ppi, capacitive, multitouch
RAM 3.63 GB (according to Geekbench 5)
Flash memory 64/128/256 GB
No support for memory cards
Cellular connectivity: UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, support for Gigabit LTE, 5G (not supported in Russia)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11b/g/n/ac/ac/ax, 2.4 and 5 GHz, MIMO)
Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE
NFC (only for Apple Pay)
GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS
Universal Lightning connector
Cameras: front (12 MP, 4K video at 30 fps, 720p at 240 fps) and rear modules 12 MP (4K video at 60 fps): wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle
Face recognition using TrueDepth
Lithium-polymer battery 2227 mAh (unofficial information), non-removable
Support for Qi wireless charging
Support for MagSafe accessories
Dimensions 132×64×7.4 mm
Weight 133 g
IP68 protection
Operating system iOS 14
And here is the traditional comparison of the new product's specifications with other Apple smartphones. We found it interesting not only to compare the iPhone 12 mini with its "older sibling" but also to show how it differs from the second-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 11, which still remain in Apple's current lineup.
| Apple iPhone 12 / 12 mini | Apple iPhone SE (second generation) | Apple iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.1", OLED, 2532×1170, 460 ppi / 5.4", OLED, 2340×1080, 476 ppi | 4.7", IPS, 1334×750, 326 ppi | 5.8", OLED, 2436×1125, 458 ppi |
| SoC (processor) | SoC Apple A14 Bionic + Neural Engine system | Apple A13 Bionic (6 cores) + third-generation Neural Engine | SoC Apple A13 Bionic + Neural Engine system |
| Flash memory | 64/128/256 GB | 64/128/256 GB | 64/256/512 GB |
| Connectivity | 5G, Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | Gigabit LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Rear cameras | 2 modules of 12 MP (video — 4K 60 fps): standard wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle (120 degrees) | one (12 MP; video 4K 60 fps) with one lens | 2 modules of 12 MP (video — 4K 60 fps): standard wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle (120 degrees) |
| Front camera | 12 MP (video - 4K 60 fps), improved FaceID recognition | 7 MP (shooting and transmitting video in Full HD) | 12 MP (video - 4K 60 fps), improved FaceID recognition |
| Fast charging | yes + MagSafe technology (wireless charging up to 15W, magnetic connection of accessories) | yes | yes |
| Dimensions (mm) | 147×72×7.4 / 132×64×7.4 | 138×67×7.3 | 144×71×8.1 / 158×78×8.1 |
| Weight (g) | 162 / 133 | 148 | 188 / 226 |
Thus, the new model has a larger screen than the SE, significantly so, and slightly smaller than the iPhone 11. Only the iPhone 12 / 12 mini supports MagSafe accessories and features the latest SoC Apple A14 Bionic. In other respects, the picture across all models is very similar.
Packaging and Accessories
Like the iPhone 12, the "mini" comes in a smaller-sized box, without a charger and headphones included.
However, the package includes informational leaflets and a sticker in the form of the Apple logo, a SIM card ejector tool, and a Lightning/USB-C cable, so if you own a MacBook or iPad Pro of the latest generations, you can charge your iPhone directly from their charger.
A high-power charger with a USB-C input (which is suitable for the included iPhone cable) can be purchased on the Apple website. A 20W block will cost 1000 hryvnias. But you can just as easily buy a third-party charger or use an existing one.
In addition to the charging block, a MagSafe charger arrived for testing as a separate accessory. Recall that the new generation of iPhones has introduced support for accessories with magnetic attachment to the back of the smartphone. Among these accessories is a charger.
Externally, it resembles a standard Qi wireless charger and is compatible with previous iPhones and third-party gadgets according to this standard. However, in the case of the iPhone 12/12 mini/12 Pro/12 Pro Max, it magnetically attaches to a specific area on the back surface, allowing for faster charging (its power is 15W instead of 7.5W in the Qi standard) and more reliable connection, without the fear of it slipping off.
The attachment works even when the iPhone is in a case. However, it may be that the case we tested the model with is special, with the MagSafe sign inside. When we put the case on the iPhone, an indication appears on the screen that indicates the connection of the MagSafe accessory. It seems unnecessary for a case, but perhaps this ensures the possibility of MagSafe charging through the case, which may not be available when using third-party cases.
Overall, the accessory is not in vain, and although it is significantly more expensive than many Qi chargers, and the smartphone charges significantly slower from it than via cable, for the new iPhones, it is a good addition. But we look forward to even more promising MagSafe accessories that are yet to be released for sale.
Design
Everyone says that the iPhone 12 mini is a smaller version of the iPhone 12. And that is true. But with two nuances. First, the size of the camera block is the same, so in the iPhone 12 mini, it occupies a larger percentage of the rear surface area, visually creating the impression of a larger module. Second, when you hold the smartphone in your hands, the first association that arises is not even the iPhone 12, but the iPhone 5/5s, which has been fitted with a glass back cover similar to the iPhone 4/4s.
The second point: the bezels around the screen are small and uniform on all sides, but they are only slightly smaller than those of the huge iPhone 12 Pro Max (which we will tell you about later in a separate article). The size of the "notch," where the front camera and sensors are located, is the same. As a result, the ratio of usable area of the front panel to that occupied by bezels and the notch is not in favor of the iPhone 12 mini.
Nevertheless, all of this is essentially minor complaints, because today the iPhone 12 mini is the only option for those who want to purchase a compact (with a screen smaller than 5.5 inches) flagship or near-flagship. This is easily verified: visit the website of any large network selling smartphones, set the filters for a screen up to 5.5 inches (plus or minus) and a price starting from 20 thousand. And "enjoy" the picture where there is nothing but "apple" devices.
It is all the more interesting to understand how successful the iPhone 12 mini turned out to be and how it falls short compared to larger new products from Apple. In terms of design, everything here is indeed very similar. The placement of buttons, connectors, and other elements. However, it feels much more comfortable in hand due to its size. This will especially appeal to girls with small hands and those who are used to the sizes of the iPhone 7/8.
The smartphone is available in five color options: black, white, red (ProductRed), light green, and blue. We had the black one for testing, and while it gives a pleasant, strict impression, it has one downside: the very markable rear surface made of glass. It is known that in other cases the material is the same, but in lighter colors, fingerprints are much more noticeable. Therefore, we would recommend paying special attention to the white and light green (mint) colors.
Screen
The screen of the iPhone 12 mini has a diagonal of 5.4" and a resolution of 2340×1080, which gives a significant 476 ppi. The front surface of the screen is made of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are slightly better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, we provide a photo where the white surface is displayed on the turned-off screens (left - Nexus 7, right - Apple iPhone 12 mini, which can be distinguished by size):
The screen on the Apple iPhone 12 mini is slightly darker (brightness in the photos 110 against 114 in the Nexus 7). The two reflected objects on the screen of the Apple iPhone 12 mini are very faint, indicating that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (specifically between the outer glass and the matrix surface). Due to the fewer boundaries (type glass/air) with significantly different refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked outer glass is much more expensive, as the entire screen has to be replaced. The outer surface of the screen has a special oleophobic (oil-repellent) coating (effective, slightly better than in the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.
With manual brightness control and when displaying a white field on the entire screen, the maximum long-term brightness value was about 610 cd/m² (claimed up to 625 cd/m² in normal mode and up to 1200 cd/m² in HDR mode), the minimum was 1.8 cd/m². The maximum brightness is very high, and considering the excellent anti-glare properties, reading even on a sunny day outdoors will be at a good level. In the dark, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness adjustment is available via the light sensor (located above the front speaker cutout), which is enabled by default.
