Apple recently unveiled the iPhone 12 series and one of the most interesting models is the iPhone 12 mini. While its compact size is unusual in the smartphone landscape that is dominated by huge screens, several manufacturers have been paying attention lately to the demand for smaller smartphones. The iPhone 12 mini is Apple's solution for those consumers.
In the past, Apple has loaded the best specs into its larger, higher-end models. However, the iPhone 12 mini includes many of the best features of its counterparts, with the notably exception of the smaller display and the lack of the additional camera included with the Pro models. Therefore, consumers interested in the iPhone 12 mini will not have to sacrifice many features for a smaller device.
In total, the iPhone 12 series includes four models and all of them come with a Super Retina XDR OLED display. This is a first for Apple considering only the iPhone 11 Pro models feature an OLED screen with the regular iPhone 11 given an unimpressive LCD display. The iPhone 12 mini is 5.18-inches in height and 2.53-inches in width, with a 5.4-inch display. In comparison, the regular iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are 5.78-inches by 2.82-inches with a 6.1-inch display. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest of the series at 6.33-inches by 3.07-inches, with a 6.7-inch display.
Compact Alternatives To iPhone 12 mini
With all the latest specs, the iPhone 12 mini is perhaps the best compact smartphone in the market. However, there are a few alternatives for consumers who want to stay away from Apple's latest device. For those who want to stay within the iOS platform, the iPhone SE is a cheaper option and similar in size to the iPhone 12 mini. The iPhone SE has dimensions of 5.45-inches by 2.65-inches, with a 4.7-inch LCD screen. It is one of the few remaining iPhone models with Touch ID, but that also means the iPhone SE has larger bezels - unlike the iPhone 12 mini's full-screen display.
Running on Android, Samsung's Galaxy S10e is the smallest phone in the S10 series. The Galaxy S10e is 5.60-inches by 2.75-inches with a 5.8-inch AMOLED display--not the curved displays present in Samsung's flagship phones. Unfortunately, Samsung has not released a smaller model for its latest S20 series. Google's Pixel 5 is also a great compact smartphone at 5.7-inches by 2.8-inches, with a 6.0-inch OLED display. In fact, the Pixel 5 manages to fit a larger display in a phone that's similar in size to Pixel 4a, which has a 5.8-inch display.
The iPhone SE, Galaxy S10e, and Pixel 5 are fantastic alternatives to the iPhone 12 mini. However, the iPhone 12 mini offers the best value for consumers interested in a compact smartphone. The Galaxy S10e features an older processor while the Pixel 5 is equipped with a lower-tier Qualcomm processor. In comparison, the iPhone 12 mini is powered by Apple's new A14 Bionic chip, just like the rest of the iPhone 12 series. Depending on the success of Apple's iPhone 12 mini, it is likely that more manufacturers will release smaller devices, creating welcomed competition in the small smartphone market.
Sources: Apple