I agree.

My iPhone 12 Mini has seen better days, and I will need a new phone soon. It is disappointing that there is no alternative to the iPhone 12/13 Mini in 2025.

The smaller form factor is more comfortable in my hand, and fits better in my pockets. With the slim bezels, I have never felt that the screen was too small.

It is funny to think that the screen size on the iPhone 12 Mini is very similar to the screen size on the older plus models.

sigh

You should get 5 years of updates out of it I suspect. It was originally released in September of 2021. So, 2026 might be the final year of iOS updates you'll get, then it's just a matter of how long they back port any security fixes. Sometimes devices end up getting longer support so it's tough to say for sure.

At this point one of these SE type devices is on my list for any future upgrades. I've gone to carrying a pocketable camera with me pretty much anywhere so having a good camera on my phone is no longer necessary, which means no more Pro model for me.

Are you concerned about the screen size, then yes this is bigger.

If your concern is pocketability this new phone is only 0.25 inches larger in the diagonal.