New iPhone Advise Please

Good afternoon all.

I use a very old family hand-down iPhone 6…

After receiving some vouchers for work, I’d like to replace it.

Budget wise then a new iPhone SE or Apple refurbished iPhone 12 mini. I don’t want anything too big.

Any thoughts / guidance?

Thanks.

the 12 or 13 mini are slightly smaller than the SE but thicker.

The SE 2020 or 2022 are both really good phones, if you look at CEX/Gifgaf or any of these, the refurbished phones are excellent value.

I bought a refurbished 13 mini from musicmagicpie for christmas and it is pristine

I have a 12 mini

It is a good size for me and has an excellent camera. My sister in law bought a refurbished 12 mini from Apple and she is delighted with it

I wanted a good camera, didn;t want a massive phone. Bought a 13 mini and very happy with it. Recently bought Mrs NBT a 2nd hand one

my 12 is still going (bought on release day) and I love it. Ill be sad when its gone

I recently bought a refurbished 13 mini from Amazon as you can’t get them from Apple anymore, it’s been fine and looked in mint condition.

just be aware you’re all merely delaying the inevitable 😂 with iPhones at least as Apple have seemingly abandoned the idea of smaller phones!

Disclaimer, i look after the mobiles at work, and I’m the only user to insist on having an android. theres about 65 company phones in the wild.

Anyway, my point, you’ve done well keeping the 6 alive this long, no idea how 😀

We buy the iPhone SE 2022 and and 13 as our entry level and mid tier devices generally and haven’t had any massive influx of returns, unlike the models between 8 and se 2020 which just seemed to come back to us within a year.

So yes, i don’t think you can go wrong with either choice that suits you

I have just gone from Apple to Android the choice and price of phones are amazing,  I recently got a refurb through amazon Samsung S21 Ultra I am shocked how good it is.  Just a thought.

I went from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 11, which is a bigger screen and makes a massive difference to usability. I thought I liked small phones, but in this case, bigger is better.

My work phone (which is actually my only phone) is an SE 2022 and its fine for me but then I only use it for the occasional texts, calls and very rarely checking emails. Not sure I’d want to do regular web browsing on it (but I use my iPad for that).

Refurb 12 mini here. Very happy with it. Take a look at the Compare option on Apple’s website to check out the specs of those you might be interested in.

Decision and purchase made – refurb 256MB iPhone 12 Mini from Apple.

Job done.

Thanks all.

zilog6128Full Member
just be aware you’re all merely delaying the inevitable 😂 with iPhones at least as Apple have seemingly abandoned the idea of smaller phones!

Strange that as  MacRumors indicate of a new SE that could be released next year.

Mrs_oab moved from SE to 13 mini.

Both very similar performance, slightly better cameras on 13 mini.

SE= smaller screen, thumbprint button which is quicker and easier when unlocking or paying with phone.

13 mini = nicer, bigger screen, faffy face unlock .

I don’t know if I’ve just been unlucky, but I’ve broken the glass back twice on my iPhone 12, meaning I had to upgrade to the titanium backed 15 Pro

Love my i13 Mini, replaced a full size 11.
I’d read that the new SE would be a larger format.
Am considering stockpiling i13 minis as I love it so much but this is obviously daft.

Also daft as I often carry an iPad mini as well.

Maybe a max size phone would do it all 🤔

Another 12 mini owner, very happy with it. Only wish is that it had the super duper camera that the pro’s have, not available on the smaller models afaik.

edit to add: it’s also survived sliding off my car roof at 50mph onto a dual carriageway unscathed, (it was in a pretty bog standard case) so obviously a tough little thing. Perhaps the size helps in this regard.

Strange that as  MacRumors indicate of a new SE that could be released next year.

yeah but remember SE = “shit edition” not “small edition” 😂 The new SE will be based on iPhone 14 AFAIK so will be bigger than current SE.

Maybe a max size phone would do it all

I got a Pro Max 15 (my first “big” phone) and barely use my iPad now!

Any Samsung phone of half the price of an iPhone would be my choice.

Will be a shame if the new SE will be bigger and some the articles are suggesting that 😔 I  was holding out on it be a smaller phone, might have to look at a reconditioned Mini instead.

This thread has got me looking at a 12 mini to replace my 7 year old phone with the engine warning light on (or rather battery needs says it needs a service/replacment and charging port is very temperamental).

I have just ordered a 12pro from BackMarket to replace my 8 which is having more frequent tantrums of late.
As well as the pro’s improved camera I was swayed by the St-Stl. I’m sure it makes little or no practical difference.

Bought Mrs DB a refurbed 12 Mini from the Applestore about 6 months ago – she’s very happy

Any Samsung phone of half the price of an iPhone would be my choice.

Might be yours, but you’re not the person asking about a replacement phone, specifically an iPhone. Kinda like telling someone who wants a Trek to go buy a Cannondale. As someone who owns both, I have no problem with either, just making a point. Bikes, that is, nothing would make me buy an Android phone.

Do all apps still work on a 6? Plus it must be shockingly slow/bad battery

As above, don’t discount bigger iPhones on size.

Ive got a 15 pro max. Mrs FD said I would hate the size and it would be too big. Now 6 months on she says she will be getting a ‘Max’ next.

Yes they are expensive, but the battery last for ever , the camera is brilliant etc etc. but they are bloody expensive!

I’ve got a 13 Mini that I no longer need. Green. Let me know if you want to buy it. Battery health 86%.

I really like the smaller size but the battery was becoming a bit annoying and I got caught out a couple of times so I bought a full size 15 Pro. Perhaps I should have just replaced the battery (or used my phone less during the day).

If you have a facility to charge your phone during the day eg at a desk and/or don’t trouble the battery then the mini is a good option. My Apple Watch also drains the phone battery substantially quicker.

I used to always say I wanted a smaller phone, but then i hit 50.
Also, even a regular sized 12 wouldn’t fit in my shirt pocket at work (uniform)
So i decided that as it didn’t fit, i may as well get the bigger phone after all.
Much prefer it, and battery life is significantly increased.
My dad is still perfectly happy using my old iPhone x, and it works absolutely fine.

I’ve been looking around for a refurbished 12 or 13 mini. Can anyone recommend the best (or worst) places to buy them? Currently using an old 6S, which still works, but with only 16GB of memory, I can’t fit all of the apps on that I regularly use at the same time.

Cheers

T

I’ve had good luck buying from the Currys Outlet on eBay, have bought a couple of phones from them over the years that were pretty much perfect with 100% battery.

Also recently bought a monitor & Mac Book – again both perfect.

Or buy from the Apple Refurb store but not sure you’ll find the Minis?

Actually Minis available here https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/iphone/iphone-12-mini

Don’t get a 64GB iPhone