Advancements in battery technology, increasing component prices, and growing dissatisfaction with the space that phones occupy in our lives suggest it might be the right moment to revisit the concept of mini-phones. Are you on board?
Conversations with two friends who arenāt tech enthusiasts have led me to reconsider whether Apple and Asus exited the mini-phone market too quickly.
One friend, anticipating criticism, cautiously showed off his new iPhone Air. He was quick to justify his choice, likely due to the lukewarm reviews from my tech press colleagues. His argument was straightforward: āI donāt need three cameras. I just want a phone thatās comfortable to use when Iām lying in bed,ā which was hard to dispute.
Another friend was looking to replace his aging iPhone 13 mini, Appleās last compact phone released in 2021. His personality differed from the first friend, but his needs were similarly basic.
He didnāt prioritize photography and wasnāt a heavy user. His phone requirements were simple: WhatsApp, Instagram, email, and a few music apps, all in the most compact and unobtrusive design possible.
Jim Martin / Foundry
Donāt call it a backlash
The dissatisfaction with smartphones is not easily defined as a backlash, but there is a growing sentiment that many are tired of the space these devices occupy in their lives.
While Millennials and Gen Xers reminisce about times enriched by face-to-face interactions and privacy, Gen Zers lament the constant connectivity. Thereās even a minor revival in the use of basic phones.
For smartphone manufacturers, the reality is that many users are looking for simpler devices. This might not be as alarming as it seems.
With the costs of components rising, manufacturers are finding it hard to innovate. Theyāre faced with either raising prices on new models or offering minimal upgrades.
The solution could be offering less: smaller phones with simpler screens, reduced RAM, basic processors, and less complex camerasāall at a potentially lower, mid-range price point.
In the past, poor battery life was a major drawback for small handsets. However, this is no longer an issue. OnePlus recently introduced a phone, similar in size to an iPhone 17 Pro, with a battery capacity around 88% greater, thanks to silicon-carbon (Si/C) technology.
Modern mini-phones, equipped with denser batteries and efficient mid-range processors comparable to flagship models, might just meet the needs of many users.
Mattias Inghe
Haunted by failure
The challenge lies in the fact that both the last wave of mini-phones and the current thin models have not been commercially successful. This could be more about how they were positioned in the market.
Perhaps consumers were uncomfortable paying high prices for devices with fewer features, even if those features were not needed by many.
Instead of a slimmed-down iPhone 17 Pro Max or a smaller iPhone 13, what if there was a more compact and affordable iPhone 17e?
I know at least two people who would be interested in such a device. Who else might be?
