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Comment by DennisAleynikov | Hacker News Reader

It just seems like nobody wants the 14 or 14 Plus, there hasn't been any demand and apples been cutting back production there

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The Apple Store near me told me that the 14 Plus sold less than even the 13 Mini. Which is kind of wild to me, I thought most wanted bigger phones and huge batteries, which is why the Mini line was killed. I say that as someone who thinks the 13 Mini is the best phone I’ve ever owned, but I always figured it was niche compared to huge phones

Yeah the 13 mini is a pretty excellent form factor. It fits in most hands, pockets, and slots in bags. It’s even small enough to toss in a suit jacket without being visible or causing the jacket to sag.

Fits in most hands, sure, but I never understood this "fits in pockets" obsession - tons of similar comments for all kinds of gadgets, when even a 2x version would fit any normal pocket (on a jeans say, or a coat) just fine.

Hmm an iPhone mini leaves a small enough impression in a pocket that it is acceptable to run with it in a shorts pocket

An iPhone 14 plus barely fits 100% in some tighter pockets on jeans/trousers and gives significant restriction in movement and comfort. YMMV.

Yeah, being able to run with it in my pocket is great too. I find the armbands are super uncomfortable.

You may want to look at it from a non male perspective: for smaller people and tighter trousers or small exterior pockets on skirts and other clothing the smaller (mini) version often just fits and is one comfortable to wear even with regular movement (think of very tight stretching jeans).

Most women I know favor the larger models tho (and usually carry a handbag or something with them).

Though they are also the driver for the Samsung Flip models being the bestselling folding phone, which is interesting.

Surely you've seen people who put their phone and wallet on a table before sitting down, because they can't comfortably sit with them in their pockets?

Mens' clothes have adapted significantly over the past 15 years to accommodate growing devices - it's just happened slowly enough that it's hard to notice.

Modern jeans are made with deeper front pockets; and a lot of sportswear has added/redesigned pockets. I have running clothes from 20 years ago with nothing but a space for some keys, and others with only shallow pockets with no button or zip - hardly suitable for carrying a $1000 phone! Modern running clothes often add a large, zipped, sweat-proof pocket specifically designed for carrying a phone.

People's experience of this will vary with their style preferences, naturally - nothing modern exceeds the pockets on a 1990s pair of cargo pants or JCNO jeans! And if you update your clothes regularly, your entire wardrobe might have gained large pockets without you noticing.

>Surely you've seen people who put their phone and wallet on a table before sitting down, because they can't comfortably sit with them in their pockets?

Yes, never understood them either. It's no issue to sit with a phone and wallet in the pocket/backpockets. This is more of a The Princess and the Pea-style issue than a real problem....

I don't know, I have pretty normal guys' levi's jeans (model 514), waist size 30, length 32. The jeans fit comfortably, they're not painted on.

My iphone 7 fits ok-ish in my front pokets if I stand but I have to adjust it and pull it down when I want to sit. It's the main reason why I was looking at the 13 mini as opposed to the regular.

I find that the 13 mini is about the largest thing that is comfortable in my pocket while sitting or on a bike.

As for a coat/suit jacket I can always tell when someone has a large phone in their suit jacket pocket. If you care about that sort of thing it really ruins the line and drape of the jacket.

You want to put it in the pocket and be able to move freely after that. It worked for me with Nokia 3310, it does not work the same with any modern phone.

My iPhone XS was deeply annoying in my jeans pockets. My 13 Mini is much better.

I was interested in the 14+ for a family member, but the pricing is awful. I'd rather go up to the 14 Pro or look into the 13 series (same phone for less).

I hope they bring back the mini if the plus flops.

Almost everyone I know having a big Iphone bought it because it was the most expensive one. No one does it because they like to hold a mini TV. I may be biased, but I have a wide sample.

When you can get an iPhone 13 Pro for almost the same price but it is objectively better (or alternatively get an iPhone 13 on clearance, which is almost the same device) it isn’t hard to see why the regular 14 isn’t selling amongst people who are upgrading early in the release cycle and are therefore more likely to be enthusiasts.

In what way is the 13 Pro better? Curious.

Than the iPhone 14 (non-Pro)? It has a brighter screen which runs at 120Hz (not 60) and it has the additional telephoto lens (and LiDAR, though I don't think there's any use for that still). I also think it looks nicer, but that's a personal preference.

Because Apple didn't upgrade the CPU in the non-pro this year the iPhone 13 Pro is still the better device.

Ah I think I misread. Thanks!

Even a less popular iPhone product would still easily be a massive production operation compared to most other electronic hardware being made.

Supply might be good for now but there's consequences in the near term.

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