How long will the iPhone 13 mini be for sale on Apple's website?
November 3, 2022 8:07 AM Subscribe
For Reasons (involving Apple gift cards), I want to buy my next phone directly from Apple's website. I'd prefer to wait as long as possible before upgrading, but I don't want to risk Apple not selling the phone I want anymore - the iPhone 13 mini. Does anyone know how long I can (or can likely) wait to purchase the iPhone 13 mini directly from Apple?
Even if the 13 is discontinued by Apple it will still be available on Apple's Refurbished outlet for a long time. As of today they're still selling iPhone 11s and that model is 3 years old. I think you have plenty of time.
The secret of Refurb is that they're as good as new (new batteries, new screens, new cases, 1 year warranty) for a significant discount. But supply comes and goes, sometimes hourly, so you have to be vigilant.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:29 AM on November 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
The secret of Refurb is that they're as good as new (new batteries, new screens, new cases, 1 year warranty) for a significant discount. But supply comes and goes, sometimes hourly, so you have to be vigilant.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:29 AM on November 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
It's difficult to know. Almost certainly the latest they will be available will be the release of the iPhone 15 next fall. But they could disapppear from the store before then, if Apple has stopped manufacturing them entirely and they run out of stock. They will probably still be there for the holiday season. (By the way, it's my favorite phone I've ever owned and I too am super annoyed they are no longer making "minis", although battery life could be better). They will likely start to pop up in the refurbished section from time to time which is basically just as good as buying new from apple (you can get apple care, for example)
posted by dis_integration at 8:35 AM on November 3, 2022
posted by dis_integration at 8:35 AM on November 3, 2022
I think it's a safe bet that they'll continue selling the iPhone 13 at least until the next major iPhone models are announced, which will probably be September-ish 2023.
Beyond that: No later than the 2024 announcement, Apple will likely be transitioning new iPhone models to charging over USB-C instead of the proprietary Lightning port. Even if they continue selling the iPhone 13 mini after the 2023 announcement (possible), I'd guess that the 2024 announcement will be the end of the line for the iPhone 13 mini as we know it. EU regulations don't prevent them from continuing to sell existing models that predate the requirement for standard USB-C charging, but Apple sometimes chooses to make big changes all at once instead of dragging them out over multiple model years.
Complicating any speculation: Apple likes to keep a lower cost phone in the product line, but by 2024 the form factor of the iPhone SE would be extremely long in the tooth, and it seems unlikely that Apple would want to retool it to accommodate a USB-C port. I could see the 2023 announcement being the end of the line for the current iPhone SE and the general form factor of iPhones with big bezels and home buttons, with a corresponding price drop on the iPhone 13 mini to make it the new low cost phone (but probably still at a higher price point than the SE sells for now). But in 2024? Who knows!
posted by fedward at 9:19 AM on November 3, 2022
Beyond that: No later than the 2024 announcement, Apple will likely be transitioning new iPhone models to charging over USB-C instead of the proprietary Lightning port. Even if they continue selling the iPhone 13 mini after the 2023 announcement (possible), I'd guess that the 2024 announcement will be the end of the line for the iPhone 13 mini as we know it. EU regulations don't prevent them from continuing to sell existing models that predate the requirement for standard USB-C charging, but Apple sometimes chooses to make big changes all at once instead of dragging them out over multiple model years.
Complicating any speculation: Apple likes to keep a lower cost phone in the product line, but by 2024 the form factor of the iPhone SE would be extremely long in the tooth, and it seems unlikely that Apple would want to retool it to accommodate a USB-C port. I could see the 2023 announcement being the end of the line for the current iPhone SE and the general form factor of iPhones with big bezels and home buttons, with a corresponding price drop on the iPhone 13 mini to make it the new low cost phone (but probably still at a higher price point than the SE sells for now). But in 2024? Who knows!
posted by fedward at 9:19 AM on November 3, 2022
Possibly helpful:
Apple's current list of vintage iPhones
Apple's current list of obsolete iPhones
From the site: Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.
You have some time.
posted by emelenjr at 10:20 AM on November 3, 2022
Apple's current list of vintage iPhones
Apple's current list of obsolete iPhones
From the site: Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.
You have some time.
posted by emelenjr at 10:20 AM on November 3, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks, guys, very helpful! Quick question: the research I've done indicates this will be the last small Apple phone for a while. Am I right in thinking that that's the general consensus from those who know? I far prefer small phones (definitely agreed, dis_integration!) and I need to stay within the Apple ecosystem. I'm currently on an old SE that's slowly working less adequately, but I wouldn't upgrade now if I knew there were a new small Apple phone beyond the 13 mini coming out later...
posted by ClaireBear at 10:36 AM on November 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by ClaireBear at 10:36 AM on November 3, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yes, the rumors are that apple has again given up on small phones, expressing surprise that a device they basically advertised against didn't sell well. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I am dreaming that they turn the SE back into a small model, but do not think this is likely.
Based on how stock of the original SE disappeared after it was killed, I would not expect the 13 mini to last all the way to September. The small phones do have a small group of fans, and once the 13mini stops production, the remaining stock will probably go fast. After the SE stopped being commonly available, refurbs and other inventory did spontaneously show up on their site, but you had to be fast to grab one.
I am currently on a 12mini that is fine, but I plan to buy a 13mini this winter and keep it on the shelf for a year or two. I regret limping my original SE along for 4+ years b/c I didn't do this last time.
posted by stobor at 11:30 AM on November 3, 2022
I am dreaming that they turn the SE back into a small model, but do not think this is likely.
Based on how stock of the original SE disappeared after it was killed, I would not expect the 13 mini to last all the way to September. The small phones do have a small group of fans, and once the 13mini stops production, the remaining stock will probably go fast. After the SE stopped being commonly available, refurbs and other inventory did spontaneously show up on their site, but you had to be fast to grab one.
I am currently on a 12mini that is fine, but I plan to buy a 13mini this winter and keep it on the shelf for a year or two. I regret limping my original SE along for 4+ years b/c I didn't do this last time.
posted by stobor at 11:30 AM on November 3, 2022
This speculation isn't worth the electrons that transmitted it to you, but I think the iPhone 13 mini is the last "premium" small iPhone. I would not be surprised by a "new" iPhone SE around 2024, in the general form factor of the iPhone 12/13/14 or 12/13 mini, but I couldn't tell you which size it would be (who knows, maybe Apple could surprise us all and have two sizes of iPhone SE). To most people nowadays the regular 12/13/14 size is already "small," though, so it's difficult to predict whether a new SE would come in the even smaller size of the 12/13 mini, or just be like an iPhone 14 with some features removed (perhaps with a lower quality screen, just one camera, and/or some other cost cutting).
FWIW this year's iPhone 14 is such a small upgrade over the iPhone 13 that the Verge still recommends the 13 as the best iPhone for most people in 2022.
posted by fedward at 11:43 AM on November 3, 2022
FWIW this year's iPhone 14 is such a small upgrade over the iPhone 13 that the Verge still recommends the 13 as the best iPhone for most people in 2022.
The iPhone 14 seems like the obvious choice for anyone who needs a new iPhone but doesn’t want to step up to the 14 Pro. But hear me out: the iPhone 13 does almost everything that the 14 does, and it’s $100 cheaper. Sure, if your carrier is offering you a good trade-in offer or dirt-cheap financing for the 14, or you want the (slight) year-over-year upgrades, then go ahead and get that one. It’s great! But if trade-in deal season is over or you’re paying out of pocket, we think the standard iPhone 13 is the better buy; the $799 14’s improvements are so minor that they’re not worth the extra money.The iPhone 13 mini is still basically a current phone model, and still compares favorably on specs and performance with phones from other manufacturers (aside from the smaller screen and smaller battery, but if you want a smaller phone you get what you get). I don't think it's likely Apple will stop selling it any time soon, but I also don't think they're going to sell another one like it. Even if there is a future iPhone SE in the size of the iPhone 12/13 mini, it's not likely to have all the same premium components.
posted by fedward at 11:43 AM on November 3, 2022
If you decide to go the Apple refurb route, Refurb Tracker is helpful for knowing when your preferred model is in stock.
(Apple refurbs are, as JoeZydeco mentioned, as good as new for a discount, so you have plenty of time if that works for you.)
posted by beryllium at 12:53 PM on November 3, 2022
(Apple refurbs are, as JoeZydeco mentioned, as good as new for a discount, so you have plenty of time if that works for you.)
posted by beryllium at 12:53 PM on November 3, 2022
All of the above advice is good, I’m just here to give you two thumbs up on your excellent taste in phone. Given the rumours, I’ll be holding onto my own 13 mini for a very long time.
Also, unsolicited advice: the Apple leather cases are pricey but in my experience add the least bulk to the phone, while making it a lot easier to grip. They do wear a bit though — I’ve got a backup in a drawer waiting to go one day.
posted by breakfast burrito at 5:03 PM on November 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also, unsolicited advice: the Apple leather cases are pricey but in my experience add the least bulk to the phone, while making it a lot easier to grip. They do wear a bit though — I’ve got a backup in a drawer waiting to go one day.
posted by breakfast burrito at 5:03 PM on November 4, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by AndrewInDC at 8:26 AM on November 3, 2022 [1 favorite]