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Apple has not publicly explained why it discontinued the iPhone mini. The strongest available explanation is that the smaller model sold poorly relative to other iPhones: Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) data, as reported by MacRumors, put the iPhone 13 mini at 3% of iPhone 13 sales in April 2022—half the share reported for the iPhone 12 mini. That points to weak demand, but it is not a confirmed statement of Apple’s reasoning.
What happened to the iPhone mini?
Apple introduced the iPhone 13 mini on September 14, 2021, as the second generation of its compact iPhone line. There was no iPhone 14 mini. Instead, Apple added a Plus model to the iPhone 14 family. When Apple announced the iPhone 15 lineup on September 12, 2023, it removed the iPhone 13 mini from its retail lineup.
At the time, MacRumors reported that refurbished Apple stock and third-party retailer inventory might remain while supplies lasted. That was a report about availability in September 2023, not a guarantee of stock today. MacRumors, September 12, 2023
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Why is weak sales performance the leading explanation?
MacRumors reported CIRP sales-mix data showing that the iPhone 13 mini accounted for 3% of iPhone 13 sales in April 2022. The report said that share was half the iPhone 12 mini’s share. These are reported proportions, not unit totals or audited Apple sales figures; the data is attributed to CIRP through MacRumors.
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MacRumors described continued weak mini sales as likely the main reason Apple ended the format. That is a journalistic inference from the sales data, not an official Apple explanation or a disclosed internal decision. MacRumors, September 16, 2023
The iPhone 13 mini’s 2021 launch does not prove Apple had seen strong demand for the first mini. Phone development and product planning happen well in advance, so a follow-up generation could already have been in the pipeline while sales concerns were emerging.
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Does the change prove everyone wants a bigger iPhone?
No. Apple replaced the mini position in its lineup with a larger Plus model, but that change alone does not show that screen size was the decisive factor. The same MacRumors analysis discussed reports of weak demand for the iPhone 14 Plus, which complicates the idea that customers simply prefer bigger phones. The available evidence supports a portfolio decision shaped by relative demand, but it cannot isolate the role of size from other factors.
Ars Technica also noted that Apple kept the larger iPhone 13 after removing the mini and cautioned that there was no evidence at the time that an anticipated iPhone SE refresh would become a mini successor. Ars Technica, September 12, 2023
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Did Apple give an official reason?
No official Apple statement explaining the discontinuation appears in the cited sources. Apple’s iPhone 13 mini Product Environmental Report, dated September 2021, documents the product but does not discuss why the mini line ended. The sales explanation should therefore be treated as the best-supported interpretation, not as Apple’s stated rationale.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you still buy an iPhone mini?
The iPhone 13 mini is discontinued, and the cited reports do not establish current stock or availability in 2026. Any remaining used or refurbished devices depend on individual sellers and marketplaces. Before buying one, check the phone’s condition and battery health, the seller’s return policy and warranty, and the price against alternatives. Availability and terms vary by seller.
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- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
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