Apple iPhone 12 Mini
Specs
General
| Device Type | Apple Iphone |
| Model | A2399, A2176, A2398, A2400, A2399 |
| Announced | 13 October, 2020 |
| Released | 13 November, 2020 |
| Status | Available |
Design
| Water Resistant | Water resistant (up to 30 minutes in a depth of 6 meter), IP68 |
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm |
| Weight | 135 g |
| Protection | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame |
| Colors | Black, White, Red, Green, Blue |
Display
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Display Type Display Technology => A number of display technologies and types used in mobile phones => TFT (Thin Film Transistor), IPS (In-Place Switching), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), Super AMOLED (an even advanced version of AMOLED), Resistive Touchscreen (Resistive touchscreens contain two layer of conductive material with a very small gap between them which acts as a resistance), Capacitive Touchsceen (Capacitive touchscreen technology consists of a layer of glass coated with a transparent conductor) | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Size | 5.4 inches (13.72 cm) |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 px (FHD+) |
| Display Colors Display Colors is refers to the number of different shades of colors that the screen is capable of displaying => 64K colors, 256K colors and 16 million colors, Obviously 16M is highest available range of colors and better than others. | 16M colors |
| Pixel Density Pixel Density (PPI) is refers to the concentration of pixels on a particular display, measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Pixel density is calculated by dividing the diagonal pixel resolution of a display by its diagonal size, higher pixel density better display quality. | 477 ppi |
| Touch Screen | 3D Touch Touchscreen, Multi-touch |
| Display Protection Display Protection => Gorilla Glass is a special alkali-aluminosilicate glass shield with exceptional damage resistance that helps protect mobile displays from scratches, drops, and bumps of everyday use, It is always better to go for a smartphone with Gorilla Glass for that added protection and peace of mind. | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Features |
HDR10, 625 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak), Dolby Vision, Wide color gamut, True-tone Glass front + Gorilla Glass), Glass back + Gorilla Glass), Aluminum frame, IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified), Siri natural language commands and dictation, Google Maps, Audio/video/photo editor, Document editor |
| Secondary Display | No |
Camera
| Front Camera | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" |
| Camera Setup | Double |
| Main Camera Camera is able to capture photographs and usually videos, The most important characteristics of a camera are the resolution (measured in megapixels), lens focus type (fixed or automatic), higher megapixel cameras are known to capture higher quality photos, but not always a good measurement of the photos quality. |
12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6" |
| Image | 4000 x 3000 Pixels |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Camera Features | Phase detection, OIS, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama), Video (4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), stereo sound rec.) |
| Flash Flash Light => There is commonly two types of flash lights are used in camera mobile phones, LED Flash (LED flash offers lower power consumption with drive circuitry that takes up very little room, LEDs can be strobed faster than any other light source), Xenon Flash (xenon flash produces an extremely intense full-spectrum white light for a very short duration) | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
Hardware
| Operating System OS => Every computer system run on a base software called Operating System (OS). Operating System controls all basic operations of the computer (such as smartphone, PDAs, tablet computers and other handheld devices). The Operating System allows the user to install and run third party applications (apps), apps are used to add new functionality to the device. | IOS 14 |
| Chipset Chipset is a group of integrated circuits designed to perform one or a more dedicated functions, often with real time computing constraints, Popular smartphones are equipped with more advanced embedded chipsets that can do many different tasks depending on their programming. | Apple A14 Bionic |
| CPU CPU (Central Processing Unit) mostly known as processors, CPU processes instructions in order to carry out certain functions that make your device operate properly. Processors are often described as the brain of computers, smartphones and tablets, Smartphones and tablets rely on processors to carry out their every task, Processors are an incredibly important factor in selecting any type of computing device, including your smartphone. | Hexa Core (3.1 GHz, Dual core, Firestorm + 1.8 GHz, Quad core, Icestorm) |
| Architecture | 64 bit |
| Fabrication | 5 nm |
| GPU GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a single-chip processor designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display, This includes things such as lighting effects, object transformations, and 3D motion. | Apple GPU (four-core graphics) |
| RAM (Memory) RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes that allows information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computer systems, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices. | 4 GB |
| Internal Storage Internal Storage is a data storage space (flash memory) mostly used in smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices where operating system, apps, music, photos, videos, files and other user data Is stored. | 64/256/512GB Built-in |
| Card Slot Memory Card Slot is a special slot for inserting a memory card. Memory cards allow you to expand the phone's built-in memory, A memory card (sometimes called a flash memory card or a storage card) is a small storage medium used to store data such as text, pictures, audio, and video, for use on small, portable or remote computing devices such as mobile phones, mp3 players, digital cameras. | |
| Sensors Sensors are electronic components that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. The specific input could be light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure and location, The output is generally a signal that is converted to use in computing systems, a location sensor, such as a GPS receiver is able to detect current location of your electronic device. | Accelerometer, Face ID, Barometer, Compass, Gyro, Proximity |
Network
| SIM TYPE SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is a small card that contains mobile network subscriber's account information. This allows the phone using the card to attach to a mobile network. The SIM card is most commonly associated with GSM and UMTS mobile networks. Moving a SIM card from one phone to another allows a subscriber to switch mobile phones without having to contact their mobile network carrier. SIM cards can also be used by a phone to store limited amounts of data, such as phone numbers and text messages. | Nano SIM |
| SIM Technology | Dual Sim, Dual Standby or eSIM |
| 2G Network | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G Network | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G Network |
LTE |
| 5G Network | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave |
Multimedia
| FM Radio | |
| Stereo Speakers | YES |
| Loudspeaker | YES |
| Audio Jack | Lightning to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter |
| Audio Features | Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus |
Connectivity
| Wi-fi Wi-Fi is a popular wireless networking technology using radio waves to provide high-speed network connections that allows devices to communicate without cords or cables, Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming the preferred mode of internet connectivity all over the world. | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Bluetooth Bluetooth is a wireless communications technology for exchanging data between mobile phones, headsets, computers and other network devices over short distances without wires, Bluetooth technology was primarily designed to support simple wireless networking of personal consumer devices. | v5.0 with A2DP, LE |
| GPS GPS The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based radio navigation system, GPS permits users to determine their position, velocity and the time 24 hours a day, in all weather, anywhere in the world, In order to locate your position, your device or GPS receiver must have a clear view of the sky. | Yes + A-GPS support, & GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| USB | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| EDGE EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment) is a wireless network technology generally considered the next step in the 2G network offers data transfer rates up to four times faster than ordinary GSM networks, Generally, EDGE is used for the purpose of wireless data transfer, such as sharing pictures and videos or browsing the Internet via a mobile phone connection. | |
| GPRS GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G cellular communication system's global system for mobile communications (GSM), Generally, GPRS is used for the purpose of wireless data transfer, such as sharing pictures and videos or browsing the Internet via a mobile phone connection. | |
| Speed | 3G (HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps), 4G LTE-A, 5G capable, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Wi-fi Hotspot | |
| NFC NFC (Near field communication) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish peer-to-peer radio communications with each other by touching them together or bringing them into proximity, usually no more than a few inches. |
Features
| Messaging | iMessage, SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email |
| Web Browser Web Browser => a web browser is a software application used to locate, retrieve and display content on the World Wide Web, including Web pages, images, video and other files, The primary function of a web browser is to render HTML, the code used to design or markup webpages. | HTML5 |
| Games | Built-in + Downloadable |
| Torch |
Battery
| Battery Type Battery Type => Cell phones run on various kinds of batteries depending on the manufacturer, phone size or shape and features. There are basically four types of cell phone batteries => Lithium Polymer, Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium. | Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) |
| Capacity Battery Capacity is a measure (typically in Amp-hr) of the charge stored by the battery, and is determined by the mass of active material contained in the battery. The battery capacity represents the maximum amount of energy that can be extracted from the battery under certain conditions. | 2227 mAh |
| Placement | Non-removable |
| Wireless Charging Wireless Charging (Inductive Charging) uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through an inductive coupling to an electrical device, which can then use that energy to charge batteries or run the device. | Yes |
| Talk Time Talk Time is the longest time that a single battery charge will last when you are constantly talking on the phone under perfect conditions, Ambient temperature and highly dependent on the cellular network environment such as the distance to the closest cell network tower. | up to 15 hrs |
| Music Play | up to 50 hrs |
| Extra |
Fast charging 18W, 50% in 30 min (advertised) USB Power Delivery 2.0 Qi fast wireless charging 15W |
Introduction:
The Apple iPhone 12 Mini, introduced in October 2020, brought a refreshing compact form factor to Apple’s iPhone lineup. It’s designed for users who prefer smaller smartphones without compromising on performance or features. Despite its diminutive size, the iPhone 12 Mini packs the same powerful A14 Bionic chip found in the larger iPhone 12 models, along with 5G support, a vibrant OLED display, and a dual-camera system. This review takes an in-depth look at the iPhone 12 Mini, exploring its design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and more, along with a balanced view of its pros and cons.
Specifications at a Glance
- Display: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (2340 x 1080 pixels, 476 ppi)
- Processor: Apple A14 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage Options: 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB
- Rear Cameras: Dual 12 MP (wide f/1.6, ultra-wide f/2.4) with Night Mode and 4K video recording
- Front Camera: 12 MP TrueDepth camera (f/2.2)
- Battery: 2,227 mAh
- Water and Dust Resistance: IP68 rating (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes)
- Operating System: Originally iOS 14, upgradable to iOS 16
- Audio: Stereo speakers, Lightning port (no headphone jack)
- Dimensions: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm
- Weight: 135 grams
Design and Build Quality
Aesthetics:
- Compact and Lightweight: The iPhone 12 Mini is the smallest and lightest iPhone in the 12 series, making it incredibly easy to use with one hand. Its compact size is a breath of fresh air in a market dominated by large smartphones.
- Flat-Edge Design: The iPhone 12 Mini features a sleek, flat-edge design reminiscent of the iPhone 4 and 5, giving it a modern yet classic look.
- Color Options: Available in a range of vibrant colors, including:
- Black, White, (PRODUCT)RED, Green, Blue, Purple
- Matte Glass Back: The matte glass back complements the glossy aluminum frame, offering both a premium feel and some resistance to fingerprints.
Durability:
- Ceramic Shield: The front display is protected by Ceramic Shield, which Apple claims offers four times better drop performance compared to previous models.
- IP68 Rating: The iPhone 12 Mini is water-resistant up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, making it durable against accidental spills and brief submersions.
- Aluminum Frame: The aerospace-grade aluminum frame is both lightweight and durable, contributing to the device’s overall build quality.
Ergonomics:
- Comfortable Grip: The small size and flat edges make the iPhone 12 Mini comfortable to hold and use, especially for users with smaller hands.
- Face ID: The TrueDepth camera system enables fast and secure Face ID authentication, even in low light.
Overall, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s design is a perfect blend of style, durability, and compact convenience, making it ideal for users who prefer smaller, easily manageable smartphones without sacrificing premium features.
Display
Specifications:
- Size: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED Display
- Resolution: 2340 x 1080 pixels (476 ppi)
- Panel Type: OLED
- Color Gamut: Wide color (P3)
- True Tone: Adjusts display color temperature based on ambient lighting
- HDR Support: Supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision
- Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1
- Brightness: Up to 625 nits typical, 1200 nits peak (HDR content)
Performance:
- Sharpness and Clarity: Despite its smaller size, the iPhone 12 Mini’s display offers incredible sharpness and clarity, with a pixel density of 476 ppi. This makes text and images look crisp and detailed.
- Color Accuracy: The OLED panel delivers vibrant and accurate colors, with deep blacks and bright whites. The wide color gamut (P3) and True Tone technology enhance the visual experience, adapting the display to various lighting conditions.
- HDR Content: The iPhone 12 Mini is fully capable of displaying HDR10 and Dolby Vision content, making movies and photos look more dynamic with better contrast and color.
- Outdoor Visibility: The display’s brightness of up to 1200 nits (peak) ensures good visibility even in bright sunlight.
In summary, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s display, though small, is one of the best in its class, offering vivid colors, sharp details, and excellent brightness.
Performance
Hardware:
- Processor: Apple A14 Bionic chip with six cores (two high-performance and four energy-efficient)
- RAM: 4 GB
Performance Evaluation:
- Speed and Efficiency: The A14 Bionic chip is incredibly powerful, ensuring smooth and responsive performance across all tasks. Whether it’s gaming, multitasking, or running demanding apps, the iPhone 12 Mini handles everything with ease.
- Gaming: The A14’s GPU delivers excellent gaming performance, even for graphics-intensive titles. Despite the smaller screen, the gaming experience remains immersive thanks to the vivid display and responsive touch controls.
- AI Capabilities: The Neural Engine in the A14 Bionic enhances machine learning tasks, improving everything from photography to augmented reality experiences.
- Battery Optimization: The efficiency cores in the A14 help optimize battery life by handling less demanding tasks without sacrificing performance.
Benchmark Scores:
- Geekbench 5: The iPhone 12 Mini scores similarly to the other models in the iPhone 12 series, with around 1,600 (single-core) and 4,000 (multi-core), making it one of the fastest smartphones available at its release.
Overall, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini offers flagship-level performance in a compact package, making it ideal for users who want a small phone without compromising on power.
Camera
The Apple iPhone 12 Mini features a dual-camera system that, despite its simplicity, offers impressive photography and video capabilities.
Rear Cameras:
- Primary Lens: 12 MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.6 aperture and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
- Ultra-Wide Lens: 12 MP ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.4 aperture and a 120° field of view
- Night Mode: Available on both the wide and ultra-wide lenses, Night Mode significantly improves low-light photography.
- Smart HDR 3: Enhances photos by adjusting contrast, color, and lighting in real-time for more balanced images.
- Deep Fusion: Improves detail and texture in photos taken in medium to low light conditions by using advanced machine learning.
Front Camera:
- Resolution: 12 MP TrueDepth camera
- Aperture: f/2.2
- Features: Portrait Mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Animoji, Memoji, 4K video recording at 60 fps, Night Mode, and Deep Fusion
Camera Performance:
- Daylight Photography: The Apple iPhone 12 Mini captures stunning images with great color accuracy, sharpness, and dynamic range. The Smart HDR 3 feature ensures well-balanced photos even in challenging lighting.
- Low-Light Photography: Night Mode on both the wide and ultra-wide lenses allows the iPhone 12 Mini to capture bright and detailed images in low-light conditions. Deep Fusion further enhances the detail in medium to low light.
- Ultra-Wide Lens: The ultra-wide lens is great for capturing expansive landscapes and creative shots, though it performs best in well-lit environments.
- Portrait Mode: The Portrait Mode works well with both the rear and front cameras, providing pleasing background blur and advanced depth control.
Video Recording:
- 4K Video at 60 fps: The iPhone 12 Mini is capable of recording high-quality 4K videos at 60 frames per second. Video quality is excellent, with smooth motion, vibrant colors, and effective stabilization.
- Dolby Vision HDR: The iPhone 12 Mini supports Dolby Vision HDR recording, which enhances video quality with better contrast and dynamic range.
- Audio Quality: The iPhone 12 Mini records clear and crisp audio, making it suitable for vlogging and other video content creation.
Limitations:
- No Telephoto Lens: The absence of a telephoto lens means users are limited to digital zoom, which may result in a loss of detail in zoomed-in shots.
In conclusion, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s camera system, while more modest compared to its Pro counterparts, offers excellent performance in most scenarios, making it a solid choice for photography enthusiasts who prefer a smaller device.
Battery Life
Battery Specifications:
- Capacity: 2,227 mAh
- Type: Non-removable lithium-ion battery
- Charging: Supports fast charging and wireless charging, including MagSafe
Battery Performance:
- Adequate Battery Life: The Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s battery life is decent for its size but may not satisfy heavy users. It typically lasts a full day of moderate use but may require a top-up in the evening if used heavily.
- Screen-On Time: Users can expect around 5-6 hours of screen-on time, depending on usage patterns.
- Standby Time: The iPhone 12 Mini performs well in standby mode, with minimal battery drain when not in use.
Charging Options:
- Fast Charging: The iPhone 12 Mini supports 20W fast charging, reaching up to 50% charge in about 30 minutes. However, the fast charger is sold separately.
- MagSafe: The iPhone 12 Mini supports Apple’s MagSafe charging system, which allows for easy alignment and a more consistent wireless charging experience.
- Qi Wireless Charging: It is also compatible with standard Qi wireless chargers.
Battery Longevity:
- Degradation: Like all lithium-ion batteries, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s battery will degrade over time. Apple’s iOS includes features like Battery Health to monitor its condition.
- Battery Replacement: Apple offers a battery replacement service, which may be necessary after a few years of use.
In summary, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s battery life is sufficient for moderate use, though power users may find it lacking. The fast charging and MagSafe capabilities add convenience but at an additional cost.
Software
Operating System:
- Original OS: iOS 14
- Upgradability: Supports updates to the latest iOS versions, ensuring continued functionality and access to new features.
User Experience:
- iOS Ecosystem: The Apple iPhone 12 Mini benefits from the seamless integration of Apple’s iOS ecosystem, providing a smooth and user-friendly experience. Features like Continuity, Handoff, and AirDrop make it easy to switch between Apple devices.
- Performance Over Time: The A14 Bionic chip ensures that the Apple iPhone 12 Mini runs iOS smoothly, even with the latest updates.
- App Compatibility: The device remains compatible with the vast majority of apps on the App Store, with new features and apps being supported as iOS evolves.
Software Features:
- Face ID: The facial recognition system is fast, secure, and works well in various lighting conditions.
- Animoji and Memoji: The TrueDepth camera enables animated emojis (Animoji) and personalized avatars (Memoji) that mimic the user’s facial expressions.
- Augmented Reality: ARKit provides immersive augmented reality experiences, leveraging the A14 Bionic chip’s capabilities.
- Apple Services: Access to Apple Pay, iCloud, Apple Music, and other services enhances the device’s utility.
Future-Proofing:
- Software Support: The Apple iPhone 12 Mini will continue to receive iOS updates for several years, ensuring it remains functional and secure.
Overall, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini offers a robust software experience, with all the benefits of Apple’s ecosystem and a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer smaller devices.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Compact Design: The Apple iPhone 12 Mini is one of the smallest and lightest flagship smartphones available, making it ideal for users who prefer one-handed use.
- Powerful Performance: The A14 Bionic chip ensures top-tier performance, handling everything from gaming to multitasking with ease.
- Super Retina XDR Display: The OLED display offers sharp, vibrant visuals with excellent contrast and color accuracy.
- Dual-Camera System: The camera setup delivers excellent photos and videos in most conditions, with Night Mode and Dolby Vision HDR support.
- 5G Connectivity: Supports 5G networks, future-proofing the device for faster mobile internet speeds.
- MagSafe and Wireless Charging: MagSafe adds convenience and opens up possibilities for new accessories.
- Premium Build Quality: The Apple iPhone 12 Mini features a durable design with a Ceramic Shield front cover and IP68 water resistance.
Cons:
- Limited Battery Life: The smaller battery means shorter battery life compared to larger iPhones, which may be a drawback for heavy users.
- No Telephoto Lens: The absence of a telephoto lens limits zoom capabilities, relying on digital zoom instead.
- No Headphone Jack: Like other recent iPhones, the iPhone 12 Mini lacks a headphone jack, requiring wireless or Lightning-compatible headphones.
- Small Screen: While the compact size is a plus for some, the small screen may be a drawback for those who prefer larger displays for media consumption.
- High Price for Storage Upgrades: The base model starts with 64 GB of storage, which may not be sufficient for all users, and upgrading to higher storage options can be expensive.
- No Included Charger: Apple no longer includes a charger in the box, so users will need to purchase one separately if they don’t already have a compatible charger.
Conclusion
The Apple iPhone 12 Mini is a standout option in the iPhone lineup, offering a premium smartphone experience in a compact form factor. It is ideal for users who prioritize portability without sacrificing performance, display quality, or camera capabilities. The device’s powerful A14 Bionic chip, vibrant Super Retina XDR display, and capable dual-camera system make it a strong contender in the smartphone market.
However, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini’s smaller battery may be a concern for power users, and the lack of a telephoto lens could be a limitation for photography enthusiasts. Additionally, the absence of an included charger and the high cost of storage upgrades may be drawbacks for some.
In summary, the Apple iPhone 12 Mini is an excellent choice for those who want a small, powerful, and feature-rich smartphone. It offers a great balance of performance, design, and camera quality, making it a top pick for users who prefer compact devices.
Review
Disclaimer Note
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