Those hoping for a palm-sized version of the iPhone 15 series are disappointed to know that Apple has decided to skip out on introducing a Mini variant yet again. Unfortunately, it now appears that the company is probably killing off the compact option entirely, evident from the quiet removal of the iPhone 13 Mini from its official online store just shortly after the new line-up’s debut last night.
The move is indeed very recent, as I can confirm that the variant’s listing was still present when I was preparing for an article that’s related to this topic yesterday. Now, Apple has refreshed its website to feature a new line-up which consists of the new iPhone 15 series, iPhone 14 series, the regular iPhone 13, and the third generation iPhone SE. And yes, it looks like the iPhone 13 Mini’s other siblings, namely the Plus and the two Pro models, didn’t make the cut either.
As usual, Apple didn’t detail why it decided to kill off the compact variant, or the other iPhone 13 offerings apart from the vanilla model for that matter. It is believed that the poor sales figures for the former is the cause for its discontinuation, as external research has found that only a very small percentage of users will opt for the Mini. As for the latter variants, it is most likely that their removal is just to pave the way for the new iPhone 15 series, while at the same time having the iPhone 14 series replace them as the more affordable options available.
All is not lost for compact-sized iPhone fans though, as the equally small third generation iPhone SE is still being offered on Apple’s website. The only caveat is that it comes with a smaller display due to its throwback design, but it does pack the same A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 series as well as other upgraded hardware. It’s also cheaper than the discontinued model, coming in at RM2,249. By the way, you’ll be glad to know that local distributors such as Machines and DirectD still have the iPhone 13 Mini on sale at this time.
So is this really the end of the Mini variant? Right now, it sure looks like it. But as I’ve mentioned in my previous article, there’s still a way for Apple to actually save it. However, that’s up to the company itself to decide.
