Apple reportedly kills iPhone 12 Mini production earlier than expected

The iPhone 12 series has been a massive hit for Apple, but that doesn’t mean each device in the lineup is equally successful. According to a new report from TrendForce (h/t XDA), the company has silently canned the iPhone 12 Mini production.

The Taiwanese research firm says the Mini “suffered disappointing sales performances compared to other models” in the lineup. As a result, Apple killed off the phone’s production to drive sales of the three dominant iPhone 12 models.

The iPhone 12 Mini has plenty going for it, especially its flagship hardware in a compact, pocketable, and affordable shell. While it lacks fast charging, a larger battery, and a high refresh rate display, it remains one of the only flagship compact smartphones available.

Of course, there are now Android competitors from the 6.1-inch Sony Xperia 5 II to the 5.9-inch ASUS Zenfone 8. However, both are considerably larger than the 5.4-inch Mini. So, realistically, if you want a small flagship smartphone, the iPhone 12 Mini is the only option.

Will we get an iPhone 12S Mini?

Of course, Apple’s early termination of the iPhone 12 Mini does throw into doubt a future follow-up.

TrendForce suggests the rumored year-end iPhone 12S lineup will feature smaller notches and general optimizations but no grand overhaul. However, there’s no indication that a Mini model is part of its plans. It’s also unclear if an iPhone 13 Mini is, or will be, on the cards.

While some Android Authority readers still entertain the idea of compact smartphones and even Mini models from the likes of Samsung and OnePlus. But the demise of the iPhone 12 Mini suggests large smartphones — at least large iPhones — remains king.

Would you buy an iPhone 13 Mini if Apple released it? Be sure to vote in our poll above, and drop a comment down below.