To me it serves two needs really well:
- A phone that fits in the hand for those who have long desired a smaller iPhone. This isn't me, but I know a lot of people who bemoaned the death of the smaller line of iPhones and many have held onto their old phones longer than they otherwise would have (not a bad thing, just a data point...) - A versatile device that allows switching of modes as required. Great for commutes, travel, etc.
It's not for everyone and I'm normally a Pro Max user so definitely don't fit into the first category, but I'm really tempted on this one