iPhone 12 Mini Introduced With 5.4-Inch Display, Starts at $699

Apple today introduced the iPhone 12 mini with a 5.4-inch edge-to-edge Super Retina XDR display, a new flat-edge design with new colors, 5G support, a faster A14 Bionic chip, an improved dual-lens rear camera system, and more.

First introduced in the new iPad Air last month, the A14 Bionic chip is the fastest smartphone chip ever, and the first to be built on a 5-nanometer process. Apple says the six-core CPU in the A14 chip is up to 50 percent faster than any other smartphone chip. And for machine learning, the Neural Engine in the A14 chip is up to 80 percent faster than in the A13 chip.

iPhone 12 models feature a new "Ceramic Shield" front cover for improved durability, with Apple advertising 4x improved drop test performance compared to the previous-generation iPhone. Apple says the devices feature "tougher" glass than any other smartphone.

Equipped with a dual-lens rear camera system, the iPhone 12 mini's 12-megapixel Wide camera lens has an ƒ/1.6 aperture, the fastest yet on an iPhone. Apple says this lens provides 27 percent more light improved low-light photos and videos. The other lens is a 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide lens with a ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view.

On the back of the iPhone 12 models is a new magnet-based MagSafe system that allows for precise wireless charging and easy-to-attach accessories from Apple, like a leather wallet for the Apple Card, which will be available to order starting Friday.

iPhone 12 mini will be available in five aluminum finishes, including blue, green, black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED. Pre-orders begin Friday, November 6 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, with shipments and in-store availability beginning one week later on Friday, November 13. Pricing starts at $699 with AT&T or Verizon activation, or $729 otherwise.