The iPhone 12 series has arrived. This time around, Apple has given us not one, but four iPhone models to choose from. Following in the footsteps of last year’s product line, we have the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. And new for this year, we have the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini — essentially a smaller and more affordable version of the mainstream iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 mini release date is set for November 13, with preorders starting on November 6. Keep reading to see how the iPhone 12 mini stacks up to the rest of the iPhone 12 family.
This iPhone 12 mini overview is part of our larger series on the iPhone 12 family. Learn more about the iPhone 12 lineup by visiting our iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max overviews.
Table of Contents:
- Hardware Specs
- Size and Colors
- Display
- Camera
- Battery and Charging
- Water Resistance
- Is iPhone 12 worth it?
iPhone 12 mini specifications
The iPhone 12 mini is a smaller version of the iPhone 12, which we looked at earlier. This means that you get the same great tech specs as the iPhone 12, but in a smaller and lighter package. Just like the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 mini packs a powerful A14 Bionic chip, 5G wireless connectivity, and a class-leading dual-12MP rear camera setup. You even get a high-resolution Super Retina XDR OLED with support for True Tone and Dolby Vision HDR — albeit at a smaller, 5.4-inch size. Thanks to an extremely high 85.1% screen-to-body ratio, this is all crammed into a phone that’s smaller than the iPhone SE (2020).
| iPhone 12 mini | iPhone 12 | iPhone 12 Pro | iPhone 12 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||||
| Display | 5.4-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 (476 ppi) | 1170 x 2532 (460 ppi) | 1170 x 2532 (460 ppi) | 1284 x 2778 (458 ppi) |
| Cameras | Ultrawide: 12MP sensor with 13mm, f/2.4 lens and 120-degree FOV Wide-angle: 12MP (1.4μm pixels) sensor with 26mm, f/1.6 lens and OIS | Ultrawide: 12MP sensor with 13mm, f/2.4 lens and 120-degree FOV Wide-angle: 12MP sensor (1.4μm pixels) with 26mm, f/1.6 lens and OIS | Ultrawide: 12MP sensor with 13mm, f/2.4 lens and 120-degree FOV Wide-angle: 12MP sensor (1.4μm pixels) with 26mm, f/1.6 lens and OIS Telephoto: 12MP sensor (1.0μm pixels) with 52mm, f/2.0 lens (4x optical zoom) and OIS | Ultrawide: 12MP sensor with 13mm, f/2.4 lens and 120-degree FOV Wide-angle: 12MP sensor (large 1.7μm pixels) with 26mm, f/1.6 lens and Sensor-Shift OIS Telephoto: 12MP sensor (1.0μm pixels) with 65mm, f/2.2 lens (5x optical zoom) and OIS |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Battery | 15 hours video playback | 17 hours video playback | 17 hours video playback | 20 hours video playback |
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 135g | 164g | 189g | 228g |
| Water Resistance | ||||
| Release Date | November 13, 2020 | October 23, 2020 | October 23, 2020 | November 13, 2020 |
| MSRP | Starts at $699 | Starts at $799 | Starts at $999 | Starts at $1099 |
A14 Bionic chip
The iPhone 12 mini is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic chip with Next-Generation Neural Engine. The A14 is approximately 20% faster than last year’s A13, making it the most powerful processor ever seen in a smartphone.
The A14 Bionic processor consists of six CPU cores, four GPU cores, 16 machine learning cores, and an image signal processor. The CPU block features two high-speed CPU cores and four power-saving cores, resulting in great performance and great battery life. These supercharged CPU cores work in tandem with the GPU cores, ML cores, and ISP to deliver a snappy and lag-free experience regardless of what you throw at it.
The A14 Bionic’s innovations don’t end there. The A14 is the first mobile processor to be built using TSMC’s brand new 5nm process technology. The advanced lithography and innovative architecture mean that the A14 isn’t just faster than the competition — it’s also more energy efficient.
5G wireless
We live in an ever-connected society. Because of this, most of what we do with our smartphones is online. Whether it’s streaming video, posting to social media, or simply browsing the web; fast internet access is essential. The iPhone 12 mini is the smallest and lightest 5G phone in the world, so nearly everything you do on your phone will feel faster and more responsive. In addition, the entire iPhone 12 family supports more 5G bands than any other smartphone, including Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband with mmWave spectrum. This means that 5G will work faster and in more places than on most competing devices.
The iPhone 12 mini also supports Apple’s new Smart Data Mode technology. This means that when you don’t need 5G speeds, your phone will seamlessly switch to 4G LTE. This gives you the best of both worlds — 5G speeds when you need it, and better battery life when you don’t.
iPhone 12 mini size
The iPhone 12 mini proudly showcases the same unified design theme as the rest of the iPhone 12 family — just shrunk down a bit. This means that the notch is still there, but the rest of the visuals have been streamlined and modernized.
The iPhone 12 mini dimensions are 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29 in), and the iPhone 12 mini weight is 135g. This means that the iPhone 12 mini is considerably smaller and lighter than the mainstream iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 mini is even smaller than the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2020) and iPhone 8, despite having a much larger 5.4-inch display — a feat made possible by its high 85.1% screen-to-body ratio.
iPhone 12 mini colors
The iPhone 12 mini is available in five colors: Black, White, (Product)RED, Green, and Blue. Your choice affects the color of the back panel and physical buttons on the sides.
iPhone 12 mini display
The iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR screen. The impressively high 85.1% screen-to-body ratio means that the iPhone 12 mini screen size is comparable to last year’s 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro, while being a smaller phone than the iPhone SE (2020).
The iPhone 12 mini display is based on OLED technology and features a sharp 1080 x 2340 resolution at 476 pixels per inch. Like the rest of the iPhone 12 family, the iPhone 12 mini supports true HDR with 1200 nits peak brightness and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio — and it’s able to play HDR video content encoded in Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG formats.
The iPhone 12 mini display is extremely durable thanks to an all-new type of glass called Ceramic Shield. Born out of a collaboration with engineering partner Corning, Ceramic Shield uses a high-temperature crystallization step that grows nanoceramic crystals within the glass matrix to make the display four times as durable as previous iPhones in drop tests.
iPhone 12 mini camera
The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini share the same great camera array. Both phones offer a dual-12MP setup with ultrawide and wide-angle lenses. The 12MP ultrawide module has a five-element 13mm, f/2.4 lens with a 120-degree field of view. The 12MP wide-angle module has an all-new seven-element 26mm, f/1.6 lens with optical image stabilization.
Computational photography
The iPhone 12 mini supports Apple’s entire range of computational photography tools such as Portrait Mode with Advanced Bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, Deep Fusion with Night Mode, Night Mode Time-Lapse, and Smart HDR 3. Apple’s powerful computational photography work in harmony with the powerful camera modules to deliver some of the best quality images ever produced on a smartphone of this price. Learn more about all these new computational photography features and more in our best iPhone camera roundup.
Video capture
The iPhone 12 mini’s camera prowess doesn’t end with stills. The iPhone 12 mini can capture highly detailed 4k video at 24, 30, or 60 fps. It even supports HDR recording with Dolby Vision at up to 30 fps. The iPhone 12 delivers smooth video thanks to optical image stabilization on the wide-angle lens and software-based cinematic video stabilization on both camera modules.
iPhone 12 mini battery life and charging
The iPhone 12 mini offers great battery life for a phone of its size. It is officially rated for up to 14 hours of local video playback, 10 hours of streaming video playback, and 50 hours of audio playback. Apple is able to pull this off thanks to its power-efficient processor and display.
The A14 Bionic chip in the iPhone 12 mini is the first 5nm mobile processor, making it faster and more energy-efficient than anything else on the market. Similarly, the Super Retina XDR display is built on OLED panel technology, so it consumes less power than an LCD when displaying darker backgrounds and images.
MagSafe wireless charging
The iPhone 12 mini doesn’t just offer better battery life than most other small phones; it also makes wireless charging more convenient than ever before. MagSafe uses magnets to automatically align wireless chargers and accessories to the back of your iPhone 12 mini. MagSafe is able to charge at up to 15W, making it three times as fast as traditional 5W Qi standard wireless charging.
Is the iPhone 12 mini waterproof?
No phone is truly waterproof. However, all modern smartphones offer some degree of water resistance. The iPhone 12 mini is rated IP68 under IEC standard 60529. This means it is fully dustproof and able to withstand liquid submersion at a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes. Although the iPhone 12 mini is IP68 certified, you shouldn’t take it in the shower or go swimming with it. But if it happens to get splashed or fall in the sink, you should be fine.
Is the iPhone 12 mini worth it?
The iPhone 12 mini is the best small phone in late 2020. It is a great option for anyone who wants uncompromising performance in a smaller footprint. The iPhone 12 mini features are the same as its larger siblings — only in a smaller and more pocket-friendly enclosure. But starting at $699 for 64GB and $849 for 256GB, the iPhone 12 mini isn’t cheap. Used iPhone 12 mini prices are lower than they’ve ever been, making it the perfect time to buy!
Here’s how Swappa can help make the upgrade a bit more affordable:
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‣ Pick up a gently used iPhone SE (2020) for a third of the price
Not everyone needs the latest and greatest iPhone. For many, a slightly older model will do. Last year’s iPhone SE 2 is a great option for anyone looking for a tiny phone with great specs. It may not have the same A14 Bionic chip as the iPhone 12 mini, but its A13 Bionic is no slouch — and still one of the fastest smartphone processors today. Instead of paying $699-849 for an iPhone 12 mini, pick up a used iPhone SE (2nd gen) for a fraction of the price. Keep reading on our iPhone 12 mini vs iPhone SE 2nd Gen Comparison page.
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Stop — before you pre-order an iPhone 12 mini, consider buying gently used on Swappa. Brand-new pones typically make their way to the Swappa marketplace just a few days after release, so you’ll be able to save some cash by buying on Swappa instead. After all, good things come to those who wait.
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