I will never stop yearning for iPhone Mini phone/screen sizes. But I've stopped asking for it because that would be pointless at this point.

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mrweasel 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The smaller screen sizes doesn't seem to be something that anyone really tests for anymore. If I have to lookup something on my phone it's pretty often that I just give up in anger. Websites will have a header, and maybe a footer or some sticky element and even on the iPhone SE2/3 the result is having maybe 25% of the screen for actual text/content.

In the review the author write:

> The iPhone Air is the perfect solution to this, its screen size sits right in the middle of the normal Pro and Pro Max sized phones

That's probably true for them, and a lot of other people, but I'd argue that it's WAY to large. The Air is larger in all dimensions, except it's 1,7mm thinner, it even weighs more than the SE. It's also larger than the iPhone 17, but lighter and thinner. I don't really get the need for the phone to be thinner, if you're just going to make it larger in all other directions.

To some extend I get the larger screen, because it's just because it's not made for me. I don't use my phone for much other than calls and a few apps, but for a ton of people it's their only computing device, so a slightly larger screen makes a difference. I just wish that Apple would also make a device for people who just needs their smartphone or the occasional parking app and mobile payments, but who doesn't care about the browser, video and to some extend the camera.

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ChrisMarshallNY 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> The smaller screen sizes doesn't seem to be something that anyone really tests for anymore.

I do. I write iOS apps.

I just recently stopped using an original SE as my low-end test (because of the OS support). I now use a Mini 12 as my low-end test.

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mrweasel 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Thank you! Even Apple seems to forget the SE, I frequently see UI elements in Apples own software overlap, so I think it's even rarere to see 3rd parties care.

	▲	ChrisMarshallNY 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It’s important to test whacky screen sizes; especially now. I’m not a fan of Liquid Glass’ profligate waste of screen space. The new iPadOS lets you resize windows into weird shapes, like tall and narrow, or short and wide (or narrow). I think VisionOS is even more flexible. Also, I want my apps to continue working, when you flip them into landscape. A lot of apps become worthless, in that state. I understand the new foldable will likely have challenging dimensions.

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artisinal 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

From holding both I prefer the iPhone 17 over the Air when it comes to dimensions. Weight is roughly the same. And the 17 has so much more features. Plus the 17 is only slight more expensive. And it has the better aluminum housing.

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Ntrails 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have an iPhone SE and will hold onto it until the day they make something vaguely commensurate but better.

It isn't like I would be rushing to upgrade anyway but the refusal to cater is tiresome

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bushwart 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

A thinner phone fits better behind a front pocket wallet.

	▲	mrweasel 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Sure, but again comparing it to the SE, which I consider the better form factor, it's 1.7mm thinner. Unless you count the camera bump, in which case the SE is thinner. The SE also have a small camera bump ~2mm, so 9.3mm max thickness, compared to the Air at 11.3mm. The Air suddenly becomes a chunky phone, especially if, like most, you put on a cover.

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ssl-3 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Maybe it's driven by battery size?

All phones need to do phone-stuff that uses power, and (for any given generation of tech) battery capacity scales with volume.

If all else is the same, then: A thinner phone has less internal volume for things like the battery than a thicker phone does. Perhaps if it had the XY dimensions of an SE at this thickness, it would have bad battery life. (We all remember phones with bad battery life, yeah? It was an awful time.)

But if it's also made wider/taller ("bigger"), then: There's more volume for a battery.

And, of course: This increases the frontal area.

But because people make fun of bezels, this means that the screen should also increase in size accordingly.

And so we have it: The iPhone Air. It's both big and skinny, it does all the usual phone stuff without giant garish bezels, and the battery life is pretty OK (instead of terrible).

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panos_news an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm a fan but the people have spoken. When placed next to normal or large iPhone, they will always go one of these two

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ChrisMarshallNY 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I was a fan of the original 5/SE form factor.

I had a Mini 13, and traded it for a 17Pro. I thought I’d be missing the form factor -and I do, but not much. The 17 definitely feels “clunkier,” especially with its Casekoo, but I now find that comforting. I’ve dropped it, several times, and it hasn’t a scratch.

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operation_moose 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I finally had to give up my SE2 about a month ago (battery life gone, and with it nearing EOL it didn't seem worth it to get a replacement).

I still miss it so much. Perfect size, and touch ID is so much better than faceID.

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jbverschoor 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The air is the new mini. With the same amount of low sales.

It's under appreciated because of the "Pro" label of the Pro, and because of battery-hell.

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mrweasel 6 hours ago | parent [-]

The mini didn't even sell that badly, it just sold incredibly poorly for an iPhone. For almost any other brand it would have been a massive success.

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amluto 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I wish Apple had released a Mini Pro. Aim at the high end and give it the top CPU and the better camera. And quit making the thin part thin — just make the whole body as thick as the camera bumps or even 0.5mm thicker to protect the camera lenses a little bit (and use the added volume for more batter capacity).

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stasomatic 2 hours ago | parent [-]

They should do a Kickstarter and collect pledges :) Many say they want small phones and manual transmissions but then don't show up.

I'm a dyed in the wool Apple sheep, but when I saw this smallish Android phone with a BB style kb, I couldn't resist. Should be shipping next week: https://www.unihertz.com/products/titan-2-elite?srsltid=AfmB...

I would've paid twice the price if Apple made something like this.

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mingus88 an hour ago | parent [-]

> Many say they want small phones and manual transmissions but then don't show up.

I wonder if this is some kind of enthusiast bias where owners of these niche products love them so much they run them into the ground so the demand slumps

I prefer manual transmissions and take care of my cars so I am not out there buying a new car as often as other folk. I suspect people who find a phone they really love aren’t trading it in every couple of years like most people.

I mean, why would you stop using a device you care for, especially when the segment is shrinking. An older manual transmission is probably just better than a newer one that they don’t make as many of.

	▲	amluto 9 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Seems backwards to me. I even bought a 16 Pro because I wanted a nicer phone, and I returned it because I liked it less than the Mini. If there was a new Mini I would have purchased and kept it.
	▲	stasomatic an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I can't say much about maintaining older cars because I lease and that's a different topic. The idea is romantic, but my circumstances are what they are. It comes down to economies of scale for manufacturers. If anything, the outliers like the Minis or 6-speeds should be priced much higher than regular offerings, but the general perception is that something named a Mini or something you have to row on your own should be less expensive. I'd love me an iPad mini Pro, I'd pay around $700-800, but how many of us are there for Apple to bother?

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abujazar 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Exactly this. And the profit would be huge compared to any Mac. I suspect Apple dropped it just because they're making even more from selling oversized and over-specced phones.

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mrweasel 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Yeah, they probably lost almost zero customers by cutting the mini from the lineup. The people buying iPhones, in my experience, tend to just pick another iPhone. So they could simplify manufacturing, testing and so on and still sell the same number of phone, just more profitable ones.

	▲	robin_reala 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The people buying Minis in my experience don’t pick another iPhone, they just hang on to the Mini.

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michielt 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Same! I still using my iphone 13 mini. Only the camera sucks when I look at somebodys else his holiday pictures on their phones.

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birdfood 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I too (like the other repliers) am using a 13 mini. And I likely will replace it with another refurbished one when I must.

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PlunderBunny 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I’m still on my iPhone 12 mini, so when I have to eventually replace it, I’ll upgrade to a iPhone 13 mini.

	▲	codetiger 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Am on my 11 Pro, its not giving up yet.

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frizlab 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Same. I still use the 13 mini, and will probably buy it again refurb when mine dies.

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zombot 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Asking anything from Apple is pointless. Listening to one's customers is for the small and hungry, megacorps don't do that.