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Comment by vizzah | Hacker News Reader

Try iPhone 13 mini!

SE would have been my choice if Apple never released this model.

Mini is slightly smaller than SE and it's a crucial factor for me. And it also has more usable screen and where initially I was wary of FaceID - I don't miss the button! :]

I hope Apple continues with SE+mini merged model for the future.

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> And it also has more usable screen

Funnily, after playing with both for a couple minutes in the store, I decided on an SE exactly because of 13's screen. Because of rounded corners, the way it rendered content sometimes became downright ugly and didn't actually grant any extra space: http://puu.sh/JdxXl/985552f316.jpg

That's true in that specific context (most websites in Safari) in that specific orientation. The extra screen real estate you get in native apps, or even Safari in portrait orientation is not nothing.

This is an exception. In almost every other use case the mini will give you more screen estate.

I considered the 13 Mini, gave up due to two things: it's (really) expensive here in Brazil, and its cameras (or its main camera) isn't noticeable better than the one on SE. I couldn't justify spending the extra money for pretty much the same phone plus some niceties.

I use the 13 mini and am satisfied. The battery life is good, which is important… but I actually prefer touchID to faceID. The reason, I guess, is more consistent success and no accidental unlocking. It’s also nice to be able to unlock a phone on your desk without picking it up.

As another point of data, I use the 13 mini and am dissatisfied with the battery life. Listen to a podcast on your commute and watch tiktok on your lunch break and you'll be charging at 5PM.

As a motorcyclist I can not even use FaceID with a full face helmet and typing my access phrase is not an option either so I can only use touchID.

At the cost of some potentially reduced security, I've found that my iPhone will unlock while I'm wearing a full-face helmet as long as the chin bar isn't too high on my face, and the "unlock with a mask on" feature is enabled. It's hit or miss, but I usually give it a shot before pulling off a glove to passcode-unlock. It's worth trying again, if you haven't in a while.

Thanks, will give the "unlock with a mask on" feature a shot.

> As a motorcyclist I can not even use FaceID with a full face helmet […]

This is why I like my Shoei Neotec (I) modular / flip-up helmet. Especially since I got it 40% off when then Neotec IIs were announced. :)

The integrated sun visor is also nice.

i'm not sure which one i have but i know i have hte mini form factor and i love it. My wife and oldest son have the gigantic tablet form factor and it feels like i may as well be using an ipad hah. (and they hate using my phone too)

edit: settings -> general says it's an iphone 12 mini

I agree. The mini is smaller but has a larger screen than the SE. Face ID works really well.

I just hope the 13 has better battery life than the 12. My 12 mini drains half the battery on idle within 24 hours if mobile data is enabled.

I appreciate that's a fair concern, perfectly legitimate, but how far we have come that only having half a charge after 24 hours is disappointing.

That's half a charge after leaving the phone idle for the whole 24 hours. It's disappointing compared to previous generations of iPhone and even compared to much cheaper Android phones.

Any decent phone these days could easily last 3 days if left idling.

How's the battery life? My wife got a 12 mini and while I love the size, the battery is abysmal and barely lasts a day for her.

The iPhone 13 Mini has those sharp pocket destroying edges though.

Are you for real? The edges are not sharp at all.

Not razor sharp but sharp enough to leave marks on your trousers after some usage. Here is an example:

https://i.imgur.com/HZNUoVd.jpg

The iPhone SE has completely rounded edges which is more pocket friendly in this regard.

Looks like it gave those jeans some character!

You're talking about iPhone SE2, probably. I'm still using original iPhone SE, and its shape is on every pair of jeans I had in those 5 years.

Well I am certainly not carrying a device with two fragile glass surfaces without a protection case :( So it doesn’t matter at this point.

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