Moving on from My Mini: Deciding Which new iPhone to Get

By mehgcap, 11 September, 2024

Decisions, Decisions...

I've used an iPhone 13 Mini almost since it came out. I got it in November of 2021, and have been very happy with its small size and light weight. The battery was great for a few months, but new iOS features and time took their toll. Now, despite a battery replacement, I'm lucky to get through a day of light to moderate use without having to recharge before bed. Going out in the evening is stressful, because I always wonder if my phone will have the juice. Plus, I'm optimistic about Apple Intelligence and want a phone that fully supports it. I thus find myself in the market for an iPhone 16, but I've been stuck for days.

Do I get the iPhone 16, the smallest (and cheapest) one available? Do I increase the battery life by spending more to get the Pro? Which factors do I need to consider as a blind person? What's LiDAR, and should I care? Exactly what do the different phones have for battery life?

I thought that writing out my experience would not only help me organize my thoughts, but might aid others in navigating similar decisions. If you have a smaller phone and want a new one, read on. You may have to look up the specs of your current/future phone, but hopefully, much of this article will apply to you even without plugging in your own numbers.

Screens

This is an easy one to knock out. As a blind person, neither the screen quality nor brightness matter to me. At first, I was concerned about OLED compared to LCD, because a blacked-out OLED draws less power than an LCD. I leave screen curtain on all the time, so this could impact my battery life.

It turns out that all iPhones have had OLED screens for years. That said, if you are considering iPhone SE 3, note that it uses LCD. I don't honestly know the actual impact on battery life, but it's worth keeping this in mind. Of course, Touch ID and the smaller size may be worth it to you. Still, the SE 3 also has a smaller battery capacity, so you won't get a whole lot of time between charges regardless.

Cameras and LiDAR

My use of cameras is mostly for OCR, images that AI describes to me, and the occasional "real" picture. Low light performance matters only because I don't always know if I'm lighting a shot well enough. The camera on my 13 Mini has done a great job through the years, so I don't need the latest and greatest in iPhone camera technology. I don't shoot video, I don't use macro mode, I don't need incredible zoom. The camera on iPhone 16 will likely be far more than I'll ever need.

There is one factor to consider beyond just the quality, though, and that's stabilization. Optical image stabilization, or OIS, was introduced with iPhone 7 Plus. All these years later, and hardware stabilization is still only available on the Pro models. I don't know how much of a difference this makes, but I know unstable lenses make for blurry pictures. Again, my 13 Mini has never seemed to have a problem with its lack of OIS, but maybe I'd get even better results with an OIS-equipped phone.

LiDAR is an interesting wrinkle in this decision. LiDAR, or laser image, detection, and ranging, basically gives iPhone better 3d data. This is used in multiple ways:

  • it allows for faster, more accurate camera auto-focus, especially in low light
  • it allows for better augmented reality support
  • door detection, person detection, and some other accessibility features only work on LiDAR-equipped devices

I don't really use AR apps, but better auto-focus is good. If I can't see what I'm taking a picture of, letting my phone do a better job of figuring out where to focus for me sounds like a positive thing. While I'd like to play with the LiDAR-based accessibility features, I don't know that I'd use them very often. If I want to find a door, I have my guide dog. If I don't have him with me, I would need to juggle a carefully-aimed iPhone in one hand and a cane in the other. I can't see myself doing this very often beyond some initial testing.

Is LiDAR a factor for me? Yes, but not a strong one. If I wind up with a Pro, I'll be happy to have LiDAR. If I don't, I probably won't miss it. Same for hardware OIS: if I have it, I might get better pictures and OCR results, but my 13 Mini has done well in that department so far, so I probably won't miss OIS if I don't have it in my new phone.

Battery

This is a big one. Honestly, it's the primary reason I'm considering upgrading. If my Mini could survive a day or so without running flat, I'd be content to wait another year. The question is: how much more battery do I want?

Of course, comparing battery life estimates on spec sheets isn't ideal. Real-world use will always result in very different numbers than what Apple publishes. Still, it's a place to start.

Apple publishes three numbers for each of its phones: how many hours the phone can last while streaming video over wifi, how many hours it can stream video stored locally on the phone, and how many hours it can play locally-stored audio. The last number is always the highest, since audio means the screen (a huge power draw) isn't involved. iPhone 13 Mini has these battery estimates:

  • local video: 17 hours
  • streamed video: 13 hours
  • audio: 55 hours

Compare that to the various iPhone 16 models' battery estimates:

  • iPhone 16: 22 hours for video, 18 hours for streamed video, and 80 hours for audio
  • iPhone 16 Plus: 27 hours for video, 24 hours for streamed video, and 100 hours for audio
  • iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hours for video, 22 hours for streamed video, and 85 hours for audio
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: 33 hours for video, 29 hours for streamed video, and 105 hours for audio

Of those, the base model iPhone 16 is obviously the worst. Even so, it beats the 13 Mini, and not by a little bit. Local and streamed video both last five hours more, and the audio playback estimate is a full 25 hours more. Jump up to iPhone 16 Pro, and the numbers get even better: ten more hours of local video playback, nine more hours of streamed video, and 30 more hours of audio playback.

While it's impossible to extrapolate what sort of battery life I'd actually get on either phone, the numbers make it clear: jumping from iPhone 16 to the Pro will nearly double my gains over the 13 Mini for both video playback tests, and will add five more hours of audio. That's a big difference!

Size and Weight

This is the other big one for me. I'm very used to my tiny phone, and don't want to give it up. Physics and our current technology, though, tell me I can't have both a small phone and a great battery life. I have to get a bigger phone if I don't want to have to find an outlet twice a day. How can I minimize the increase?

It's clear now why my battery comparisons didn't focus on the Plus and Pro Max: the battery advantages are enough with the smaller phones, and getting the biggest possible phone isn't something I want to do. Let's look at the sizes to see what I can expect, excluding the huge phones. As with battery estimates, numbers on a page can't tell the full story. It's the best we can do, though, short of printing up some dummy units to carry around.

My beloved iPhone 13 Mini measures 131.5mm high, 64.2mm wide, and 7.65mm thick. I found this comparison of iPhone 13 Mini to iPhone 8. Interestingly, iPhone 8 is slightly wider and taller, though it is very, very slightly smaller from screen to back glass. If you have a 12 Mini or 13 Mini, you know the size we're dealing with. If you have a 7 or 8, just imagine it a bit smaller in width and height, with squared sides.

Now, the upgrades. iPhone 16 is similar in size to iPhone 16 Pro, but both are quite a bit larger than my Mini. Here are the height, width, and depth measurements for all three. I'll continue using millimeters. I'm also putting a comma between each number so it's easier to parse when you read this with speech. Sorry to the sighted readers who are confused by the formatting.

  • iPhone 13 Mini: 131.5, 64.2, 7.65
  • iPhone 16: 147.6, 71.6, 7.8
  • iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6, 71.5, 8.25

Honestly, having them laid out like that helps. I didn't realize how close the 16 and 16 Pro are in size. The Pro is a little deeper and taller, but not by much. Both phones are about 1.6cm (0.7 inches) taller than my 13 Mini, and about 9cm (0.35 inches) wider. They're deeper, too, meaning they're bigger from screen to back glass. That'll probably be noticeable when my phone is in my pocket, especially with a case. I doubt I'd feel the difference between the Mini and the 16, but at 8.5mm, the Pro will likely make itself known.

Weight has never been a huge factor for me, but it's certainly worth including in a comparison like this. My current iPhone 13 Mini weighs 141g. iPhone 16 is somewhat heavier, at 170g, and the Pro is heavier still, at 199g. That makes the Pro 41% heavier than the 13 Mini, which is a lot. The 16 isn't as much of an increase, being about 20% heavier, making the Pro about twice as much of an increase as the 16. Even so, the Pro is 7.03 ounces, which is under half a pound. Despite the increase, the weight would be noticeable, but not overwhelming.

Processor

Fortunately, this is an easy one. The main difference between the Pro and non-Pro is the presence of a single GPU core. The Pro is better for gaming, but I probably won't notice the difference in day-to-day use.

No RAM numbers have been published, but the reviewers I've read and listened to generally agree that both phones have 8GB. It's a guess, yes, but an informed one.

Other Considerations

What else does the Pro have that the 16 doesn't?

  • more and better microphones
  • advanced video recording capabilities
  • a better camera with more tricks up its sleeve
  • faster USB-C transfer speeds
  • titanium body in different colors than the aluminum of the 16

None of these are important to me, though I can understand the microphones mattering quite a lot to many users. My normal use case doesn't have me using the mics often enough to consider them, though. Similarly, I don't transfer data over USB enough to want the faster speed. I have yet to seriously damage the frame of any iPhone, so the titanium isn't a factor.

What's the Decision?

For about $200 more, I can get a 16 Pro instead of a 16. This will get me LiDAR, more battery life, better cameras, and--on the down side--a deeper phone. Or, I can save $200, have a slightly smaller phone, and still get serious improvement over the battery in my 13 Mini. This would lose me LiDAR, OIS, and even more battery life.

As of the time of writing, I still don't know what I'll do. It might depend on how I feel when pre-orders open, and/or what carrier deals are available.

I hope this helps you if you find yourself in the same boat as me. You probably value different things than I do, but I tried to include enough detail here that you could apply your own analysis to the information in this post. Good luck with your choice, and let me know in the comments what you decided. Also drop a comment if I missed a point of comparison or didn't factor something in.

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Comments

By Dennis Long on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

I say this for a few reasons.
1 The battery in the 15 pro is 4290 ma.
2 if the rumors are to be believed the battery in the SE 4 will be 4279 ma. You won't notice a 12 MA difference.
3 it will support apple intelligence.
4 it will have an action button.
5 it will have a 6.1 inch display.
6 it will have face Id.
If it says anything I'm thinking of downgrading from my 15 pro max to the SE4 because I simply don't use Lidar and the other pro features to make it worth my cost.
Links below to where I get my info from.
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/09/05/when-to-expect-iphone-se-4/

https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_se_4_battery_size_tipped-news-60847.php

By mehgcap on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

The upcoming SE is definitely worth considering. When it comes out and we know the specs, it might be worth a new or updated post. Until then, though, I'm not pinning my hopes on rumors.

Also, and this is admittedly anecdotal, the 15 seems to have worse battery life than people expected. There's a thread on the iPhone subreddit where people compared the 15 to the 13, and a common comment was how disappointed users were in the 15's battery compared to previous generations.

By Kareem Dale on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

Thanks for writing this article. It was very helpful as I make my decision. I am no longer considering the SE 4 as I have a SE 3 at this point. As has been posted about on this form and other articles and blogs, the SE models continue to have problems with Siri and other problems that don't seem to exist When you go to the latest models outside of the SE line even though it doesn't always make perfect sense why. I was set on getting the 16 but now based on this very helpful article, I have to reconsider whether or not to get the pro. I probably will wait until I can handle both of the phones to see if the size of the pro is prohibitive

By Brian on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

Greetings Mehgcap,

First, this was an excellent post with wonderful insight into what we have to look forward to with the next batch of Apple iCandy, as well as what the new hardware and software means for you, in consideration of your personal use case. If I could dissuade you at all, it would be in an attempt to ask you to consider Dennis Long's suggestion on waiting for the iPhone SE4. This is what I myself plan on doing, but more about that below. In the end it will ultimately depend on your specific day to day needs, versus the need to be trendy, and buy a new device just because it has shiny bells and whistles.

Second, in an attempt to provide some documented facts about both your current model iPhone (13 Mini), as well as my own current model (SE3), allow me to humbly inform you that both of us indeed have Camera OIS in our current models.
Source: https://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/?modelList=iphone-se-3rd-gen,iphone-13-mini,iphone-15

I would offer that in the end, the functional qualities of any newer model device would benefit you the most with the following features:
👍 USBC, because that is the defacto standard, and it works better than Lightning ever did.
👍 Battery, because simply more is always better in this instance.
👍 Apple Intelligence, but primarily as it has the potential to improve both Siri, and VoiceOver as well. I imagine Dictation will also benefit from this.
👍 Build quality, Disregarding the dumpster fire that was the iPhone 5c, typically the newer iPhones are of a better build quality. As these devices are ever so slowly making their way toward true rugged quality, newer is typically better.

In closing I would encourage you to weigh all the pros and cons of what you actually need in your daily life. To be more productive. To be more independent, and to be more successful.

As I hinted above, I too will be taking Dennis Long's suggestion going forward. I have owned both an SE2 as well as an SE3, and can honestly and proudly say that in my life, in my personal use case, I have never been happier with these models. I will grant you that my reasoning is purely my own, and as it fits my daily needs; all the better. Size is everything in a mobile device, and in this case I find smaller is better. When was the last time you could comfortably place your iPhone inside your shirt pocket (looking at you, Bingo)? Speed is always an ongoing debate when it comes to technology. How fast can you download, or stream something? How many seconds does it take for a webpage to load on said device, how fast are the loading of apps? As you and I have the same exact processor (A15 Bionic) and the same amount of cores (see source above), I will let you answer that question for yourself.

Will my battery stand up to an iPhone 16 battery, god no. Does that matter in my personal use case?
Will a larger screen matter to me?
A brighter screen?
The new side sensor coming with the iPhone 16s?

Again, god no. I would also suggest you, and anyone else reading this, to be wary of buying a brand new device on day 1. If you look into some of my earlier posts, you will come across the train wreck that was my experience with a brand new iPhone 15 Pro last year. 😭

Thank you for reading. 🙂

By Morgan Watkins on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

Mehgcap,

I share the same concerns and the same choice dilemma, but I have made my decision.

I had an iPhone 12 mini, and when I relized that the iPhone 13 mini might be the end of the road for delightfully small phones, I got that model, too. But, as much as I love the footprint, or perhaps I should say pocket print, of this tiny phone, it is not going to meet my desire to incorporate Apple Intelligence in my daily work. And, being a big fan of ChatGPT, I also decided that I wanted a new, more capable, iPhone. And, I really don't want to spend so much time trying to charge up my iPhone 13 mini during the day.

So, as I have done in the past, I also limited my shopping to either the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 16 Pro. I decided I wanted the most speed and the largest battery life to start as high as possible. I did not consider the Plus or Pro Max because I don't want to carry a slab of heated floor tile in my poctket, and I never look at the screen. I also wanted as much RAM, random access memory on my new iPhone as possible. I have read, but do not know for absolute fact, that the Pro version can be configured with a full terabyte and that the regular iPhone 16 tops out at 512GB. So, as I have done before, I ordered a new folio case for an iPhone 16 Pro yesterday so it can arrive before the new phone. It's my way of finalizing my decision.

Whichever iPhone you get, have fun!

By Geovanni Bahena on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team
I bought an iPhone 15 pro max last October. Admittedly, I did this for battery, mostly. Pros: • By the time I got home from work, I was always at 70ish%. Granted it’s a little lower now as I can use my phone a little more at the office given I work in IT support now. yay! However, Still being at 55% before bed is something I’m happy with. • I never thought I’d say this, but having more screen, does make it a little easier to type when needed, at least for me. • Ever sense I moved to pro models, I am noticing that I get better results when taking pictures for apps like Seeing AI. Cons? Are there any, really? I guess the main thing is size. Getting into my pocket was tricky at times. Now, to get a 16 pro max this year? Apple says that it’s the best battery ever, but don’t they say that every year, even with their products? “this is the best iPhone we ever created!” But I must say that I am a little more tempted to get, lets say maybe a 16 plus. Given that the chipset this year has been upgraded in all models.

By Tiffani Milburn on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

that’s a tough decision. Especially since there are a few different models with slightly different features. I have a 12 mini and even though the battery isn’t as good as it used to be, I’ve decided to buy a battery case for mine. I bought this phone about a year ago and I’m not ready for a new one yet, I tend to be more conservative when it comes to upgrading my phone. By conservative I mean using it until it can’t be used anymore. I think it’s a shame that Apple discontinued the mini, but I think that’s because unfortunately most of the sided public prefer a larger device. It seems like the only way at least as I understand it to get a smaller one is if you’re willing to go with the SE. Personally I am not interested in the SE, because I prefer the Face ID, and I think the SE has an older processor, but I could be wrong. So when it comes time to upgrade mine, I have no idea what I’ll end up doing.

By David Lai on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

I have the same problem -- I have a 13 mini, and I love using it. Mainly, I love the form factor.

This year's lineup really sounds tempting, but I guess for me, I still can't justify a big purchase in 3 years. Once they get touch ID back in some way, like on the screen (with Android phones nowadays), then I'll upgrade. Until then, I'll sit on the side with my mini.

By Missy Hoppe on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 02:05

I just wanted to thank you for this blog post. As much as I really, really want the ultramarine color of the regular iPhone 16, it sounds like holding onto my 13 pro might be a more prudent option. I genuinely have no idea if I've ever actively used LIDAR, but based on what you're saying, I'd be foolish to get rid of it just for a phone that is visually prettier; I appreciate the vision I have, but sometimes, color perception causes me to make stupid decisions. I'll listen to reviews and demos of the new phones, and if it seems like I'd truly benefit from visiual intelligence, I can always buy an iPhone16 at a later date. I know I won't be doing anything on launch day, so that's enough for now.

By Kelly Pierce on Thursday, September 26, 2024 - 02:05

I am an iPhone 13 owner and love the small size. I will hold onto it until it no longer has the latest iOS. Besides, the rumors suggest the iPhone pro in 2026 will have 12 gigs of RAM and a two nanometer processor, which will enable it to offer much more functionality.

Last week, I attended a concert. I was wearing shorts and have my 13 Mini in one pocket and a 5,000 mA battery charger, the size of two lighters, in the other. I used the phone to navigate to the venue from the bus stop a half mile away. After the opening act, I realized I was at 60 percent battery and needed a full charge to navigate home. I plugged in the battery charger and the phone reached 100 percent in less than an hour. The charger and cable are small enough to fit into a shorts pocket. It is perfect for giving me the extended battery I need from time to time without the Dred of the bigger phone.

By Holger Fiallo on Thursday, September 26, 2024 - 02:05

Just got the 16 pro max. Should be here tomorrow or today.

By Jared on Thursday, September 26, 2024 - 02:05

My iPhone 16 arrived on the 20th so I've used it for almost a week. I've never gone to bed with under 35% battery. My usage pattern is light usage during the day since I'm working and heavier usage at night. The same usage pattern would require me to partially charge my iPhone SE 2 at least once a day to keep it above 20%.

By Fred on Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 02:05

I think you should go with the pro model if you spread out the cost over a 36 month period. We’re talking about very little daily cost. Good luck. I’m in the same boat as you are, but I do think I will go with the pro model.

By Holger Fiallo on Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 02:05

For $30 a month I will get it from Verizon. Went from 13 pro to it.

By tunmi13 on Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 02:05

I obtained my iPhone 15 a few days ago. Apple usually drops their prices on previous models when a new one comes out, so I was able to get one for $700 on the Apple Store. Well, more like $803 when adding the "install carrier later" option, one-day delivery which added about 9 dollars I believe, and over $60+ in tax. I was going to get the 16, but as far as AI goes, I just don't see a heavy need for it right now. That's not to say I don't find anything in AI, considering I have GPT and Copilot installed, but I believe I'm fine without it at the moment.
Usually my decision is just to wait a few years, then upgrade to the prior model. For instance, if the iPhone 20 were to come out (assuming they call it that), I might get the iPhone 19 or something (also assuming that my 15 lasts 3-4 years).

By tunmi13 on Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 02:05

To be honest, I doubt we'll be getting Touch ID on future phones any time soon. They are still on iPads so I've heard, but it seems Apple is heavily leaning toward Face ID, and I currently do not see any plans of deviating from this. After all, how long has Face ID existed now?
If I'm not mistaken, I've heard (and take this with a grain of salt) even the SE is moving on. The thing about Apple is they can only do something for so long before they're like, "screw it. New system. Bye bye." They don't really go back on their word.

By Top Shelf on Thursday, October 3, 2024 - 02:05

TouchID won't be available on future SE models because the FoxCon assembly line that will produce the next SE won't have provision for TouchID. The SE3/SE2/SE is manufactured on the iPhone 8 line which retires after it produces it's last SE3. (this of course may already have happened) My guess is that the SE4 will be manufactured on the iPhone 14 line which of course has a different form-factor and no TouchID. A shame really as TouchID is very useful IMHO.