Apple released the iPhone 15 last month, with the new device offering two screen sizes of 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches.
The arrival of the latest iteration of the tech giant’s popular handset saw the company banish from its online store the iPhone 13 Mini, which, as its name suggests, offers a smaller 5.4-inch display.
The smaller design, which arrived with the iPhone 12 in 2020, proved popular among those who found the larger iPhones cumbersome or simply too heavy in the hand.
But the adoration never translated into significant sales, prompting Apple to drop the diminutive device with the launch of the iPhone 14 last year.
In Japan, fans of the Mini clearly remain, with the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini seeing a recent spike in demand among shoppers there, according to a recent report by Nikkei Asia.
In the week following the launch of the iPhone 15, customers were quick to seek out the iPhone Mini handsets on the online marketplace Nicosuma, with sales of both models reportedly doubling compared to the previous week. Interest in the more compact device appears to have been sparked by Apple’s decision to remove the iPhone 13 Mini from its online store when it released its latest handset last month.
“Used smartphones are now the main option for people who want the iPhone Mini series,” said Masatoshi Ohno, head of the consumer division that operates the online shopping site.
As Nikkei Asia points out, the more affordable prices that come with used phones are another factor driving the sales of Apple’s smaller iPhone. The best-priced iPhone 15, for example, comes with 128GB of storage and costs 124,800 yen (about $830) in Japan, while a used iPhone 12 Mini, albeit with half the storage at 64GB, can be had for as little as 40,000 yen (about $265), and an iPhone 13 with 128GB for 70,000 yen ($465).
For those wanting a smaller screen with a brand new iPhone, the only option is the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2022), which starts at $429. But the device has a dated design and the large top-and-bottom bezels mean that despite the more compact display, the footprint is only a little smaller than the 6.1-inch iPhone, leaving cost as the only real advantage.
In the market for a used iPhone? Then check out these tips on how to get a great deal.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
With the recent release of the iPhone 15 series, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s natural to start anticipating Apple’s upcoming range of smartphones — the iPhone 16 series — which is expected to be launched in September 2024.
Apple iPhone 15 Plus Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
A few grams here and a slight design change there, plus an internal specification boost later, and one of last year’s least interesting phones has been transformed into a serious contender for your money in 2023.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max was my first big iPhone ever, and I enjoyed the experience so much that I called it my favorite phone of 2022. That was primarily due to the exceptional battery life, which overshadowed my minor grievances with the camera. But the following year, shifting to the iPhone 14 Pro Max was a not-so-fun experience. Apple dropped the ball on battery life, the Dynamic Island wasn’t very useful for the first four months, the heavier design was unergonomic, and the cameras had issues as well.
This year, I decided to opt for the non-Max variant and go for the smaller iPhone 15 Pro. A month later, I can confidently say that this is the best Pro iPhone I’ve ever used. And that’s because of the number of ways it’s improved over its predecessor.
The iPhone 15 Pro is the perfect size
iPhone 15 Pro’s slightly curved edges (left) compared to the sharp edges of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Prakhar Khanna / Digital Trends
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