When the iPhone 12 series was introduced, special attention was given to the iPhone 12 mini. Finally, people who wanted a smaller form factor had a device that did not compromise performance. No matter how much praise is gleaned on the device, sales were apparently below expectations.
William Yang of JP Morgan, via AppleInsider, reportedly revised its 2021 iPhone building plan mix. Apparently, demand for the iPhone 12 mini is still weak by Apple standards, leading Yang to reduce the number of expectations by 11 million units. Yang apparently claims that Apple could possibly stop production of the device by the second quarter of this year if things do not turn around.
A separate report by Counterpoint Research (via Reuters) revealed similar findings. The iPhone 12 mini reportedly accounted for only 5% of total iPhone 12 series sales in the US during the first half of January. Both reports appear to confirm a growing amount of data suggesting that the iPhone 12 mini is not as popular as Apple had hoped.
By all accounts, the iPhone 12 mini is an excellent smartphone. And with a starting price of $ 700, it’s relatively affordable when it comes to flagship iPhones. However, the data may underline how the smartphone market has largely evolved further than the smaller form factor. Of course, the iPhone 12 mini may be easier to keep in a pocket, but the smaller screen size is not as pleasant to use when watching videos or playing games. And the smaller form factor means a smaller battery.
To be honest, the iPhone 12 mini only went on sale in November. And it started in the middle of a pandemic. However, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is apparently selling pretty well, and Yang has increased its expectations of the iPhone 12 Pro Max sales by 11 million units. Apple does not report unit sales for any of its products, so we will never get official figures. Even if the iPhone 12’s mini-sales are lower than Apple expected, it could still be high by other manufacturers’ standards.