• magic_lobster_party@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      The options on Android aren’t much better, unless you go for some obscure manufacturer who won’t support the phone with updates 1 year after its life cycle.

      Apple was for a while the only remaining flagship manufacturer who actually provided mini models. Ironic, because Android is supposed to be the alternative providing more options.

      • 3laws@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Moto is still kicking, Samsung has small models too, Asus is going alright, Sony at least the are skinny.

        • magic_lobster_party@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          I haven’t seen any phone offered by these manufacturers that is as small as iPhone 13 mini. At best they’re just marginally smaller than iPhone 15.

          There is no good alternative anymore if you’re looking for a truly small phone.

      • HughJanus@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        The options on Android aren’t much better

        Literally every one of them is better, because none of them are running iOS. That’s my subjective opinion.

        unless you go for some obscure manufacturer who won’t support the phone with updates 1 year after its life cycle.

        Samsung and Google both support devices for 5 years now. Doesn’t matter how long Apple “supports” the software because they don’t support the hardware.

        • magic_lobster_party@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          I’m talking about small phones. iPhone 13 mini was the last decent option when it came to small phones. Neither Google or Samsung make phones that small. The smallest phones they make are same size as a regular iPhone 13.

          Now there’s only a few “obscure” manufacturers left who make small phones. “Obscure” manufacturers usually lack long term support on both the software and the hardware side to be a decent option.

    • aksdb@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      As if there are equivalent and small phones with Android.

    • pavnilschanda@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I find that to be a good option. Unfortunately, given my current needs, the Apple Watch is the best device to meet them, so I’m stuck with the iPhone. And yes, I’ve researched the Galaxy Watch, too, but app integration and health measurements are considered lackluster compared to the AW.

      • KptnAutismus@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        that’s always the problem with android based stuff. good software is the one thing they can’t do.

  • FireWire400@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    It’s probably not gonna happen but maybe they’ll fill that gap with the next iPhone SE

    • xts@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Sadly I think the latest rumours were that they’d use the Xr/11 chassis for the new SE. hopefully not because if they use the 12/13 mini… oh boy it’d be great

      • FireWire400@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That would be unfortunate, I always saw the SE as not only the cheapest but also the smallest model but I guess it’s really just a way for them to use up old parts?

        • Earthwormjim91@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yeah that’s exactly what it is and why it’s cheap. They have a bunch of leftover or recycled chassis that they can shove new guts into and sell for cheaper.

    • appel@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I’m hoping against hope that Google copies Apple and turns the Pixel 5 into a mold for the Google version of Pixel SE. I know it’s not happening, but that phone is close to perfect for me, it’s still my daily driver. Just give me a P5 SE with updated guts every two or three years.

    • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Thing is, very few people bought the small phone. The community that wants them is very vocal, but they don’t show up in big numbers at the cash register.

  • pavnilschanda@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    As someone with tiny hands and tiny fingers, I’ve been thinking long and hard about this and in the future, when my 13 mini lets out its last breath, I’ll probably just go with a regular-sized iPhone and use Voice Control to swipe right and “go back” when I use it one-handed, since reachability doesn’t address how I struggle to reach the far end of the screen with one-hand (I even have to struggle a bit with the mini). Sucks that I’ll have to use voice control as a workaround, but I mostly bought an iPhone for the Apple Watch anyway.

    • PreviouslyAmused@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      The solution that I have been bouncing around is to get the watch for quick use, and then a larger phone to act more as a tablet. Of course this requires me to have multiple devices, which is annoying. But here we are.

    • c10l@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I considered getting a Mini a couple years ago. I tried one. It was not small enough for the reasons you describe. I have a regular sized iPhone for that reason.

      I’ve long said the mini flopped not because people don’t want small phones, but rather because it wasn’t small enough to be worth the tradeoff of a smaller screen.

    • butitsnotme@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      In Settings -> Accessibility-> Touch -> Assistive Touch you can configure a small button the floats on the screen (you can move it around), providing access to all sort of gestures and functions one handed.

      • pavnilschanda@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Tried that but none of the gestures include “go back” nor “swipe right” (the closest thing is “scroll right”). Even used a custom gesture as well and that didn’t work.

    • Kaliax@lemmy.sdf.org
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      1 year ago

      Run a Pop Socket on your phone and buy a couple of these:

      PopSockets Flexible Phone Mount & Stand, Phone Tripod Mount, Universal Device Mount - Black https://a.co/d/0aYtsed

      It makes an S22U so much more ergonomic for smaller hands. YMMV.

      • PreviouslyAmused@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        was just doing the math yesterday to see when I was going to have to get rid of mine. I get it, I just wish they would have kept it going

  • kratoz29@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I can see the appeal of these little phones, but I think the batteries weren’t as good as the other counterparts… so that aspect alone made me pass them.

  • MrCharles@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Why? Why do they make so few small phones? We have the tech, and people like me really prefer it over the behemoths of the modern day. WHYYYYYYY?

    EDIT: That gif came out WAY bigger than I expected. Apologies to your eyes, my friends.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    That marks the end of life for arguably the best premium small phone designed for one-handed use.

    Market research has consistently shown that most users want bigger screens and batteries, which are incompatible with a smaller phone.

    Supply chain analysts and journalists with inside knowledge have generally agreed that Apple could update the iPhone SE as soon as next year—but most rumors have suggested that it would go bigger, not smaller.

    Many op-eds have been written at tech sites (including this one, by me) saying it’s important for Apple to offer a one-handed phone size, even if it’s less popular than the bigger models.

    That said, supporting an additional size adds extra supply chain and production overhead—and it may not be the most financially prudent decision for Apple if it’s confident that it can covert mini owners to join the majority and opt for larger phones instead.

    Chances are that axing the iPhone 13 mini won’t do much to hurt Apple’s earnings, but it leaves a minority of consumers without an important option, and I still think that’s bad news.


    The original article contains 382 words, the summary contains 180 words. Saved 53%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

    • aksdb@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      Even Samsungs good update policy doesn’t beat Apple, where I can easily get 7 years worth of major versions (and still minor updates afterwards).

    • frazorth@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Unfortunately it hasn’t received a security update since March and Samsung have put it as EOL. Still a great phone but it’s not a small phone, it’s about the same size as the S23, it was just small compared to the S10 and S20 which were stupidly big.

      At this point, get an S23 or a normal iPhone if the S10e was a suitable size.

      Sent from my Galaxy S10e.