this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2025
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Why can't we go back to small phones? (www.spacebar.news)
submitted 1 day ago by corbin@infosec.pub to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] ilmagico@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

As a lover of small phones, unfortunately that's the truth. Apple tried a couple years ago with their iPhone mini and sold very few. Still, there should be enough of us that maybe some smaller phone manufacturers could fill this niche.

And maybr make it fully unlocked and repairable, replaceable battery, etc. while they're at it.

[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Did I overlook the sales numbers? Do they exist?

[–] ilmagico@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago

You're right, I thought I remembered that article giving actual figures but instead it just handwavily says they didn't sell many.

So, here is one that actually quotes a number, 3% of the whole iPhone lineup: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/04/21/iphone-13-mini-unpopular-march-quarter/

And another: https://www.cultofmac.com/news/iphone-13-mini-makes-up-a-tiny-percentage-of-apple-sales

And another, this one says 5% for some reason: https://www.notebookcheck.net/iPhone-13-Mini-sales-continue-to-disappoint-as-rumors-claim-the-iPhone-14-Mini-may-be-axed.593194.0.html

Either way 3% - 5% is a small number for Apple (or Samsung, or...) which might not justify making a small phone, but in absolute numbers, thats actually a lot of people! A smaller manufacturer should definitely be able to profitably fill this niche...