iPhone SE2 or 12 Mini
Discussion
I’m due an upgrade from my current iPhone 8 and am giving consideration to the iPhone SE2 and 12 Mini. I’m happy with the form factor of the 8, hence looking at these two replacements. I don’t want a bigger device, I’ve tried a standard 12 and I find it a bit too big.
On paper I can see that the Mini seems to give a lot of advantages, in particular the bigger better screen, 5G, better camera, and slightly better processor and battery. However the SE has a home button (call me old fashioned!) and is about £300 cheaper over the course of a 2 year contract.
Does anyone have any direct experience of both phones, and if so which would you recommend? I don’t mind paying the extra for the mini if it’s appreciably better, but those that I’ve spoken to about the SE2 have all been very positive.
Thanks very much!
On paper I can see that the Mini seems to give a lot of advantages, in particular the bigger better screen, 5G, better camera, and slightly better processor and battery. However the SE has a home button (call me old fashioned!) and is about £300 cheaper over the course of a 2 year contract.
Does anyone have any direct experience of both phones, and if so which would you recommend? I don’t mind paying the extra for the mini if it’s appreciably better, but those that I’ve spoken to about the SE2 have all been very positive.
Thanks very much!
If you largely don't care about phones, cameras, specs in general, get the SE.
If you are the type of person who might get a bit annoyed by the slighty washed out screen on the SE, get the Mini.
If you value taking nice pictures, get the mini. Not massively different, but the mini will have the current state of the art.
Theyre all IOS, they all work the same in 99% of areas. That's coming from me who is on the upgrade plan and gets the latest top model every year. You buy into the hype, get it out of the box and turn it on aaaaaaaannnddd.. it's an iPhone.
If you are the type of person who might get a bit annoyed by the slighty washed out screen on the SE, get the Mini.
If you value taking nice pictures, get the mini. Not massively different, but the mini will have the current state of the art.
Theyre all IOS, they all work the same in 99% of areas. That's coming from me who is on the upgrade plan and gets the latest top model every year. You buy into the hype, get it out of the box and turn it on aaaaaaaannnddd.. it's an iPhone.
Fundamentally, I think it comes down to which interface / experience you want.
If you've never used the "new" (FaceID / no home button) interface then the SE2 gives you the old style experience just as you're used to. No adjusting, nothing to get used to, exactly the same form factor but a faster CPU, better camera, etc. Same old, same old.
12 Mini is better in all sorts of ways, I wouldn't go back from FaceID now. Go for it if you're up for trying something new.
Read the "experience" section at https://daringfireball.net/2020/04/the_2020_iphone... - I agree with it all. The "new" way is very different and it's hard to go back once you're used to it - my wife goes back and forth between a XR and a SE2 work phone and finds it really jarring.
If you've never used the "new" (FaceID / no home button) interface then the SE2 gives you the old style experience just as you're used to. No adjusting, nothing to get used to, exactly the same form factor but a faster CPU, better camera, etc. Same old, same old.
12 Mini is better in all sorts of ways, I wouldn't go back from FaceID now. Go for it if you're up for trying something new.
Read the "experience" section at https://daringfireball.net/2020/04/the_2020_iphone... - I agree with it all. The "new" way is very different and it's hard to go back once you're used to it - my wife goes back and forth between a XR and a SE2 work phone and finds it really jarring.
I made the move from an 8 to a 12 mini earlier this year - I'd highly recommend it. The Apple Gods heard my pleas for an "iPhone 5 re-issue."
I'd been putting off a swap as I felt the SE just wasn't really an upgrade and it was a decision of form over function.
12 Mini is perfect for me, near enough the top specs and with a camera setup I'm more than happy with. For the odd occasion where the improved spec camera would be nice, it just isn't worth the compromise of having what feels like an iPad in your pocket/hand.
I'd been putting off a swap as I felt the SE just wasn't really an upgrade and it was a decision of form over function.
12 Mini is perfect for me, near enough the top specs and with a camera setup I'm more than happy with. For the odd occasion where the improved spec camera would be nice, it just isn't worth the compromise of having what feels like an iPad in your pocket/hand.
Many thanks for the replies. I think I’d been holding onto the home button (and hence SE) as that’s what I’m used to, but if I don’t make the jump this time I will almost certainly have to next time! I’m sure I’ll get used to swiping up for home quickly enough, plus there are obviously a lot of other advantages to the Mini, in particular the screen.
My phone before the 8 was a 6S so I’m used to this shape now, but to be honest the SE doesn’t really excite me, probably as I’ve effectively had that same shape for the last 5 1/2 years! I reckon the Mini is the way to go then.
Many thanks for all of your input.
My phone before the 8 was a 6S so I’m used to this shape now, but to be honest the SE doesn’t really excite me, probably as I’ve effectively had that same shape for the last 5 1/2 years! I reckon the Mini is the way to go then.
Many thanks for all of your input.
If it's any help - my personal phone is an XS. When I got it the camera was the 'wow' factor compared to my old 6 plus.
Then work supplied me a 12 mini. The night (dark?) mode on that camera is pretty amazing. I have to fiddle with my DSLR for ages to get results that are even close to the 12 mini in low light.
Then work supplied me a 12 mini. The night (dark?) mode on that camera is pretty amazing. I have to fiddle with my DSLR for ages to get results that are even close to the 12 mini in low light.
I was trying to make the same decision as you few months ago. It’s a difficult choice, SE is such good value.
I actually chose a refurbished iPhone X from Amazon renewed, and sim only plan. It’s been great, I’ll need a new battery within a year though which is the only downside.
I can say I much prefer the finger print reader than Face ID.
I actually chose a refurbished iPhone X from Amazon renewed, and sim only plan. It’s been great, I’ll need a new battery within a year though which is the only downside.
I can say I much prefer the finger print reader than Face ID.
My kids have a couple of original SE that are still in daily use and working well.
I'm on an 8 and looking at either a 12 mini or 12 to replace it.
A friend of mine has gone from a 7 to an SE2 and found it disappointing.
She doesn't rate the camera or the battery life.
She's an artist and model and has created some excellent work on the 7 that she's been unable to replicate on the SE2 - Though I appreciate her requirements may be different to yours or mine
I'm on an 8 and looking at either a 12 mini or 12 to replace it.
A friend of mine has gone from a 7 to an SE2 and found it disappointing.
She doesn't rate the camera or the battery life.
She's an artist and model and has created some excellent work on the 7 that she's been unable to replicate on the SE2 - Though I appreciate her requirements may be different to yours or mine
cologne2792 said:
My kids have a couple of original SE that are still in daily use and working well.
I'm on an 8 and looking at either a 12 mini or 12 to replace it.
A friend of mine has gone from a 7 to an SE2 and found it disappointing.
She doesn't rate the camera or the battery life.
She's an artist and model and has created some excellent work on the 7 that she's been unable to replicate on the SE2 - Though I appreciate her requirements may be different to yours or mine
I went from an 8 to an SE2 and the camera and battery life are significantly better. She either has a duff one or she has buyers remorse and is looking for an excuse to dump it early for something shinier, nothing wrong with that of course but anyone calling the SE2 as not as good as the 7 is telling porkies!I'm on an 8 and looking at either a 12 mini or 12 to replace it.
A friend of mine has gone from a 7 to an SE2 and found it disappointing.
She doesn't rate the camera or the battery life.
She's an artist and model and has created some excellent work on the 7 that she's been unable to replicate on the SE2 - Though I appreciate her requirements may be different to yours or mine
geeks said:
I went from an 8 to an SE2 and the camera and battery life are significantly better. She either has a duff one or she has buyers remorse and is looking for an excuse to dump it early for something shinier, nothing wrong with that of course but anyone calling the SE2 as not as good as the 7 is telling porkies!
I agree. My wife has the SE2 and the camera is brill to my eye. JustADay said:
Many thanks for the replies. I think I’d been holding onto the home button (and hence SE) as that’s what I’m used to, but if I don’t make the jump this time I will almost certainly have to next time! I’m sure I’ll get used to swiping up for home quickly enough, plus there are obviously a lot of other advantages to the Mini, in particular the screen.
My phone before the 8 was a 6S so I’m used to this shape now, but to be honest the SE doesn’t really excite me, probably as I’ve effectively had that same shape for the last 5 1/2 years! I reckon the Mini is the way to go then.
Many thanks for all of your input.
Once you've figured out the equivalent swipes you'll get used to no home button in a few hours. I went from a 7 to 12mini and don't miss the home button at all - in fact I find it annoying to use on my work 8!My phone before the 8 was a 6S so I’m used to this shape now, but to be honest the SE doesn’t really excite me, probably as I’ve effectively had that same shape for the last 5 1/2 years! I reckon the Mini is the way to go then.
Many thanks for all of your input.
geeks said:
I went from an 8 to an SE2 and the camera and battery life are significantly better. She either has a duff one or she has buyers remorse and is looking for an excuse to dump it early for something shinier, nothing wrong with that of course but anyone calling the SE2 as not as good as the 7 is telling porkies!
That's good to know.She doesn't do buyers remorse - must have a duff one.
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