Apple Shifting Some Production From iPhone 12 mini to iPhone 12 Pro to Meet Demand

Apple has reportedly cut production of the iPhone 12 mini by two million units to create more manufacturing capacity for the iPhone 12 Pro, according to a new Morgan Stanley investment note seen by PED30.

iphone 12 vs iphone 12 mini

Apple is believed to have made the switch for the first quarter of 2021 in an effort to combat continuing lead times for the more popular ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro.

iPhone 12 Pro lead times remain extended far beyond any model launched in the past 4 years at 10 days. Lead times decreased from 22 days ~2 weeks ago as Apple ramps iPhone 12 production signaled by our iPhone supply chain team, led by Sharon Shih, recently raising March quarter iPhone 12 Pro builds by 2M units (which offset a 2M build reduction for the iPhone 12 mini).

The report supports previous analysis that the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ has suffered from lackluster sales, capturing just six percent of the total ‌‌iPhone‌ 12‌ sales during the launch period.

The report also highlighted that the non-Pro ‌iPhone‌ 12 models are believed to be performing better in China than in the United States. In China, the ‌iPhone‌ 12 is believed to have gained a 20.3 percent market share, which is a new 18 month high. The device is also said to have achieved the largest install base of any ‌iPhone‌ launched in China over the past four years through the first full month after being launched.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
apple unsold web store

Retail Accessories Apple Won't Sell You Now Available via New Site

Friday January 30, 2026 8:46 am PST by
A newly surfaced resale operation is seemingly offering Apple Store–exclusive display accessories to the public for the first time, potentially giving consumers access to Apple-designed hardware that the company has historically kept confined to its retail environments. Apple designs a range of premium MagSafe charging stands, display trays, and hardware systems exclusively for displays in ...
Apple Creator Studio

Apple's Next Launch is Today

Tuesday January 27, 2026 2:39 pm PST by
Update: Apple Creator Studio is now available. Apple Creator Studio launches this Wednesday, January 28. The all-in-one subscription provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...

Top Rated Comments

jrlcopy Avatar
66 months ago
I love my mini. :D
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vipergts2207 Avatar
66 months ago
Loving my iPhone 12 mini. Easily the best iPhone I've ever owned, which goes back to the 3Gs. As long as it sells enough for Apple to keep making a mini, that's all that matters.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bandrews Avatar
66 months ago

wow..and here we were told everybody wanted a small phone
I don't think anyone ever said "everybody wants a small phone".

Many people did say "I want a small phone"

Which is more than nobody but not as many as everybody.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BootsWalking Avatar
66 months ago
For years I begged for an iPhone with the form factor of an SE but with flagship specs and no bezels. Apple finally delivered with the 12 Mini. I bought the phone and love it to death. For me the value is there but for others less passionate about the form factor I think the phone might be too expensive to justify its existence. Apple will either have to reduce the price (including possibly trimming the specs to keep their margins), or discontinue the phone entirely. It'll be a sad day for me but I'm so pleased Apple even made the 12 Mini that I'll accept that fate with gratitude nonetheless.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
66 months ago
Long live the mini.

Seriously, I love it and never want to get anything larger.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
davebarnes Avatar
66 months ago
Let's try a better headline:
[HEADING=2]Apple Shifting From lower margin iPhone 12 mini to higher margin iPhone 12 Pro to make more money[/HEADING]
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)