[noleli2]

I still love my original SE, and with the fresh battery I put in last year I’m still quite happy with it. But it doesn’t support iOS 16, and performance with modern apps isn’t what I’d like.

Should I hold out for another couple years, or get a small-ish 13 Mini while I still can and hope that it tides me over until there’s another actually small phone.

(I kinda want to do one of those ridiculous mods like putting the guts of a 13 Mini inside the original SE, but I’m not that skilled )

[709]

There are rumors that Apple is actually going bigger in the coming years with some ridiculous 'Ultra' model, so I'd say 95% no to your question. Apple will never* make a small phone again (*until they do). Realistically the 13 mini is the smallest you're going to get for a long time. It'll become the 4th gen SE form factor whenever that comes out.

[Brad]

FWIW, I'm right there with you, noleli2. I desperately wish Apple would sell a flagship small phone (and integrate Touch ID, pretty please?) but I'm not keeping my hopes up. If/when Apple announces the true death of the SE/mini lines, I'll probably be scrambling to order one immediately from third-party resellers before their stock vanishes.

[PB PM]

Talk of a 2024 SE refresh seem to be back and forth. Last one I saw said it was back on.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by PB PM Talk of a 2024 SE refresh seem to be back and forth. Last one I saw said it was back on.

Yes, but it won't be as small as the original SE.

[noleli2]

Hm, yeah, MacRumors seems to think the next SE will be bigger than 5.4”.

[kieran]

I had the 13 mini and it was a nice change from the size of the previous phones, but I ultimately went back to the 14 Pro.

Apps today are just being designed for the larger screens, and it felt cramped on the smaller screen.

That size and weight though was so hard to give up.

[chucker]

In theory, I miss the smaller sizes. Nicer to hold and carry. In practice, actually using an iPhone is much nicer with the bigger sizes.

[turtle]

I still have my 13 mini I got shortly after release. I'm still enjoying it, but I'm gonna move up in size for the reason Kieran said. I like the size in my pocket, but some things are just getting way too cramped for me. I'm also missing the better cameras.

Even if Apple does release a small phone again, it will likely be crippled cameras and that is enough of a reason for me to move up when the time to upgrade comes.

[noleli2]

Really interesting to hear the consensus that iOS is better on a bigger screen. I’ve been using it on a 4” screen for over a decade (iPhone 5 2012–2016, then iPhone SE 2016–present) and have never felt like I’m missing out on anything. But I appreciate the perspective.

[dglow]

I use a 12 mini in screen zoomed mode. This normalizes the mini's ppi with the rest of the iPhone lineup, and provides the experience of a 5 or SE in a home button-less design. I love it.

[noleli2]

Being in my late 30s, I’m told I may not be able to keep cranking Dynamic Type all the way down to its smallest forever, but I’m going to keep milking that for as long as I can

[dglow]

fwiw, I find small text to be crisper in zoomed mode on a mini, likely due to the non-native resolution scaling performed in the default (non-zoomed) screen mode