Before adding a Plus model to its iPhone lineup starting from the iPhone 14 series, Apple had a compact and small-sized iPhone – iPhone mini in the lineup. The iPhone 12 mini was the first compact-sized iPhone that was launched in 2020.
Apple continued the 5.4-inch iPhone in the iPhone 13 series but we did not see any iPhone 14 mini in the iPhone 14 series. While many were expecting that Apple would discontinue the iPhone 13 mini, it did not happen last year.
Now, rumors have emerged that Apple will discontinue the iPhone 13 mini after the launch of the iPhone 15 series, which is due today.
As Apple is set to unveil the new iPhone 15 series at its Wanderlust event today, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has come up with last minute tidbits. He has highlighted that there is no or low stock of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini.
Latest tidbits from retail:
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 10, 2023
– Low/no stock of Watch Ultras, watch bands, leather cases, MagSafe wallets, iPhone 12, 13 minis, Pro phones
– Merchandise reset on evening of Sept. 12 with manager call set for after event. Uncharacteristic for event days
– Plan to push USB-C bricks
If we check online, Apple’s online store in the U.S. is showing at least 2-3 weeks of shipping time for the aforementioned iPhone mini models. This is a clear indication that the iPhone 13 mini might be discontinued after the launch of the iPhone 15 series.
For fans of small-sized phones that could be easily operated using one hand, iPhone mini was the perfect device. When Apple launched the iPhone 12 mini in 2020, it was assumed that there would be a huge demand for it. However, data has revealed that iPhone mini accounted for a minuscule portion of the total iPhone sales.
According to a report by Consumer Research Intelligence Partners (CIRP) in April 2022, iPhone 13 mini accounted for just 3% of iPhone sales in the U.S. in the quarter ending in March.
iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini both suffered from low sales numbers, which is why Apple decided to skip the iPhone 14 mini. Instead, the company added a bigger screen model to the lineup – iPhone 14 Plus.
If you are planning to buy iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini, this is the perfect time. While shipping might take time, it is highly likely that both mini models will be discontinued after the iPhone 15 series launch.
As for the iPhone 15 series, it is rumored that Apple will introduce four iPhones this year – iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Despite rumors of Apple switching to the ‘iPhone Ultra’ moniker this year, Gurman has cleared that Apple is sticking with the Pro Max name this year.