iPhone 12 Mini vs. iPhone 12 Buyer's Guide

In 2020, Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 as the successor to the popular ‌iPhone‌ 11, with a new squared-off industrial design, the A14 Bionic chip, an OLED display, and MagSafe. For the first time, Apple also unveiled a smaller version of the ‌iPhone‌ in the form of the iPhone 12 mini.

iphone 12 mini pricing
After years in which phone sizes have grown and after the popularity of the small-form ‌iPhone‌ SE, Apple finally answered the pleas of small-phone fans and offered the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌. However, the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ does have a few notable differences from its larger sibling. It also is $100 cheaper, starting at $599 instead of the ‌iPhone‌ 12's $699. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you and highlights what you are missing out on when you opt for the smaller model.

Comparing the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 mini

The ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ share virtually all of the same key features. Both phones have the same OLED Super Retina XDR display technology, A14 Bionic processor, 5G connectivity, dual and 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras, and are available in the same colors. More interesting is where the two devices differ.

Differences


iPhone 12

  • 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2532-by-1170-pixel resolution at 460 ppi
  • Less prominent notch due to larger display size
  • Battery life with up to 17 hours of video playback
  • Weight of 164 grams


iPhone 12 mini

  • 5.4-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with 2340-by-1080-pixel resolution at 476 ppi
  • More prominent notch due to smaller display size
  • Battery life with up to 15 hours of video playback
  • Weight of 135 grams

Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see where exactly the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ contrasts.

Display Size

The most noticeable difference between the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ is the display size. The ‌iPhone‌ 12 has a size of 6.1 inches, and the 12 mini has a size of 5.4 inches. This means that the larger phone will be able to display more content, with the UI elements of apps spaced further apart, and items such as the keyboard will be much bigger. The smaller phone, however, will be much more pocketable and easy to use with one hand.

apple iphone 12 super retina xdr display 10132020

The displays themselves use the exact same technologies and have the same features, but the main reason to prefer the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ will be because of its better fit in the hand and easier one-handed use.

As the notch at the top of the screen that contains the front-facing TrueDepth camera array is the same across the ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup regardless of screen size, the notch is at its most intrusive and noticeable on the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌. The notch is much closer to the sides of the device than on larger iPhones. Those who dislike the notch may therefore prefer the larger ‌iPhone‌ 12 as it is slightly less prominent on a 6.1-inch screen.

Dimensions and Weight

As a smaller phone, the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ obviously has a lesser height and width than the ‌iPhone‌ 12. The ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ is 15.2mm shorter and 7.3mm narrower than the ‌iPhone‌ 12. However, both phones are of the same 7.4mm thickness. The ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ is also 29 grams (1.02 ounces) lighter than its larger counterpart, at just 135 grams (4.76 ounces) in total.

iphone size comparisons b

Battery Life

One of the most important differences between these two iPhones is battery life. The ‌iPhone‌ 12 can deliver up to 17 hours of video playback, according to Apple. However, since the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ is much smaller, it can likewise only accommodate a smaller battery. This means that the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ only delivers up to 15 hours of video playback. Real-world battery life for both devices is likely to be lower than Apple's estimates, as mixed usage tends to be a bit heavier than pure video playback.

ip12vminifeature
If battery life is a priority for you, the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ may not be the best choice as it is undoubtedly the weakest point of the phone. If you choose to get the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌, expect to be having to charge it far more often than on a larger device. The larger battery in the ‌iPhone‌ 12 has a higher capacity and therefore can offer a longer battery life.

Final Thoughts

Screen size is ultimately a matter of personal preference, and Apple offers the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineups in three different sizes to meet all users' needs. Since the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ share features, and only differ when it comes to the practical side effects of having a smaller device, it comes down to individual taste.

The ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ seems to be designed for fans of small phones, and doesn't sacrifice any features when compared to the full-size ‌iPhone‌ 12. For many customers, buying the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌ will simply be whether form factor is more important than the slightly shorter battery life.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...