Apple iPhone 12 Mini Review and Price

With the emergence of larger iPhones such as the iPhone XS Max and its predecessors, the appearance of a portable iPhone that can easily slide into your pockets has been a relief to many. Basically, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini is simply the fun-sized version of the iPhone 12. As a result, the only remarkable difference between them is their screen sizes and battery capacity.

The iPhone 12 mini sports a 5.4″ Super Retina XDR OLED screen that boasts 1080 × 2340 resolution and also features scratch-resistant ceramic glass and oleophobic coating. Additionally, it also offers a dual camera with Night Mode similar to the iPhone 12. Therefore, all these and many more make up the mini. Let’s take a closer look at the key specs below.

Apple iPhone 12 Mini Key Specifications

Display and Display

The Apple iPhone 12 mini is well-kit for modern usage and related mishaps. Firstly, it comes with Gorilla Glass 6 reinforced panels on the back and Ceramic Shield on the front, making the mini as durable as ever. Additionally, the smartphone shows off an aluminum frame and weighs only 135 grams, making it as light as an iPhone 5 if not lighter. In addition, its Ceramic Shield is more shatter-resistant than most would expect as it has been reinforced with microscopic ceramic crystals to improve it to up to 4 times its normal strength. Clearly, the iPhone 12 mini should not be underestimated due to its size as it is stronger than most devices on the market even beating the durable Redmi Note 10.

Moreover, with an Ion-strengthened screen and oleophobic coating, the mini enforces scratch and smudge resistance, therefore killing 2 birds with one stone. In other words, it makes lingering fingerprints a thing of the past as they can be wiped off in a fell swoop. Additionally, we have the dazzling 5.4″ Retina XDR OLED screen with augmented 1080p resolution.

The display offers nice sleek bezels, and it also features a notch at the top which houses the selfie cams and Face ID technology. The iPhone 12 mini decks it all off with an elegant matte finish which allows for a tenacious grip which in turn assists in one-hand usability. Moreover, the silencer, SIM slot, and volume keys are on the left side of the device while the Power key can be found on the right. Finally, the lightning port, the mouthpiece, and a stereo speaker are found at the bottom of the phone.

Camera

The iPhone 12 mini features the same dual-camera setup as the iPhone 12 (obviously). Firstly, it shows off two 12 MP cameras on the rear and one 12 MP at the front. Additionally, the SL 3D scanner for Face ID augments the Portrait mode when you’re taking selfies. The main unit utilizes a 12MP sensor with 1.4µm large pixels and a 26mm wide lens. The aperture is perceived as brighter at f/1.6 compared to f/1.8 of its predecessors. It also offers Optical image stabilization to aid amateur users with shaky hands and dual-pixel autofocus to make you the center of your photo. Additionally, the second camera offers smaller 1.0µm pixels and 13mm with an aperture of f/2.4 for ultrawide coverage. Also, auto-focus and Optical Image Stabilization are absent.

The selfie camera is a 12MP module with 1.0µm pixels and a 23mm with f/2.2 aperture. In addition, it offers a fixed focus. Moreover, the portrait mode utilizes the Face ID 3D scanner to capture depth, and as a result, delivers more realistic selfies. Finally, all 3 cameras feature Expanded Dynamic Range and Dolby Vision HDR coupled with Night Mode/Time Lapses which exponentially enhances cinematography and photography on the iPhone 12 mini.

Battery and Performance

The iPhone 12 mini is powered by the new Apple A14 Bionic chip. It is running on 5nm infrastructure making it a world first, with over 11.8 billion transistors on board. As a result, it is 20% more efficient than the A13 in processing. The A14 features a Hexa-core with dual-firestorm cores and quadra-ice storm cores which are both clocked at 3.1GHz and 1.8GHz respectively. Additionally, the ice storm cores offer TurboBoost capability to speed up to 3.1GHz when it’s needed. Moreover, the system graphics are being handled by the new and improved 4-core Apple GPU, which delivers superfluid graphics and user interactions. Additionally, we have the new 16-core NPU for machine learning that offers a whopping 70% increase in AI performance. In other words, it makes your smartphone even smarter. Therefore, aiding Siri, Apple’s intelligent assistant, to serve you even better.

The mini gives you 4GB of high-speed RAM, while the Pro offers a generous 6GB instead. Finally, the Apple A14 Bionic chip is the key player behind the scenes as it is what makes new features such as Deep Fusion and Night Mode possible and feasible in the iPhone 12 mini. In conclusion, the Apple A14 Bionic chip is nothing short of a beast in performance and it beats the competition single-handedly.

Moving on to battery power, the mini comes with a battery capacity of 2,227mAh. Hence, battery life is a major concern for potential prospects who wish to purchase the device. The mini can manage 12 hours while playing videos or browsing the internet. Moreover, the talk time also is about 12 hours. Finally, adjusting for standby time, a total endurance rating of 69 hours was calculated. Not too shabby of a result as our expectations were not as high. The iPhone 12 mini supports 20W fast battery charging via USB Power Delivery and adds 12W wireless charging to the mix. Therefore in practice, the mini can go from flat to full in less than an hour and a half. A decent charging speed but the battery size is not very large so it should be expected.

Connectivity

The A14 Bionic chip comes coupled with the X55 5G modem from Qualcomm. As a result, the iPhone 12 mini supports the latest 5G technology. Therefore you should expect unbelievable network speed while surfing the internet or downloading files. Moreover, the phone comes equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, a dual-band, hotspot for seamless wireless connections. In addition, we have Bluetooth 5.0, A2D, and LE for better local connectivity. Additionally, the device offers GPS with several positioning systems such as A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS. It also comes with NFC capability inbuilt and features lightning charging ports and USB 2.0 for physical connections.

Price and Availability

The iPhone 12 mini is currently available for purchase online at retail giants such as eBay and Amazon. Moreover, it is also available in Nigeria at established dealers and online stores. The iPhone 12 mini sells for a price of $679.99 that’s about NGN280,000 in Nigeria.

Verdict

The iPhone 12 mini offers an enticing design with a firm grip and world-class durability. In addition, you get an amazing OLED screen with over 477-pixel density the highest for any iPhone. Additionally, it delivers relatively good battery life to its cell size. Last but not least, it houses the most powerful processor chipset on the planet currently and is 5G enabled. And to crown it all, it is the cheapest among the iPhone 12 series. So if you wish to experience what the iPhone 12 offers without having to break the bank, the iPhone 12 mini is definitely for you.

Also Read, Apple Smart Battery Case

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple iPhone 12 Mini

Is 12 mini a good phone to buy?

In short, it’s one of the best iPhones. Even if you’re committed to Apple phones, the iPhone 12 mini has little competition if you’re after a small yet high-end handset.

Is iPhone 12 Mini better than iPhone 11?

Overall, both phones have strengths over each other such as the iPhone 12 mini being noticeably better in terms of display and portability, which makes it the ideal device for those who prefer something sleek and simple.

Is iPhone 12 Mini waterproof?

The iPhone 12 Mini is water-resistant. It has a rating of “IP68” which means it’s fully protected from dust and can handle being underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 6 meters. If your phone gets dropped in a puddle, or a shallow pool, or gets wet from the rain, it will be just fine.