They didn't put the good cameras in the Minis so it wasn't really a good experiment. I don't want a cheaper phone, just a smaller one. The improved camera is the only reason I upgraded past the 1st gen SE.

Most likely, the market for a small phone from a mainstream manufacturer is more than strong enough to sustain itself and even be profitable. The real culprit here is that there’s been a shift in the industry — it’s not enough for products to “just” make a profit, they now have to also be smash hits and money printers. Niche audiences may as well not exist, no matter how dedicated they may be, everything must target the masses.

Apple is long past a minimal phone lineup. It's not a question of offering just grey or white as the only choices. I'm stuck with an ancient iphone and would upgrade if a pocket-sized one happened. Hasn't happened.

exactly. the only reason the 13 mini even existed at all is because it was too late to cancel the model entirely when the absolutely abysmal sales numbers for the 12 mini finally rolled in. my partner absolutely loves her 13 mini, but agreed its a very vocal minority

> A huge portion of the world only has 1 computer and it's their phone.

If those people wish to use phones for something they're not suited for, that's their business. But companies can, and should, have more than one product for different use cases. Nobody says "well only 5% of the market wears this size clothes so you better get used to going naked", instead manufacturers make all different sizes so as to capture more profits. I don't even particularly care if the smaller phone costs more because it's not as much in demand (so, less economy of scale). The problem is that nobody makes one at all, so I can't get what I want at any price whatsoever.

I wonder if there isn't a market for budget Androids in this range. Personally I have an Oppo Asomething that was around $50. I'd pay more for a smaller version which would probably have slightly better performance.

> A huge portion of the world only has 1 computer and it's their phone.

This is something that really surprised me to realise a couple of years ago - that unless they work in tech, most households (I don't know if most isn't an exaggeration, but a large proportion) don't have a laptop or desktop between them now.

Personally the lifespan of my phone is much shorter when I can't easily hold it and type on it with the same hand. Inevitably I end up dropping it trying to do that anyway.

So I really don't understand people who would choose a larger phone, over a smaller one and then save the money they would have spent replacing it (plus the money they would have paid extra because larger is more expensive) to buy a cheap laptop or something

Apple makes at least some products that only the laptop class uses.

> The problem is that these people are very loud on the internet but sales for small phones are abysmal.

iPhone SEs sold like hotcakes and they were smaller than the minis.

It is a lot like demand for spacious pockets in fashionable clothing. People largely think you can get that with no tradeoff on anything regarding the clothes. And, you just can't.

So, for phones, people say they want a small one to fit in your pocket. With, fair. But that generally means a smaller screen when you are using it. Which people don't really want.

Foldables help a ton with this. And I think that will ultimately pan out. People are understandably worried about being early on that train, though.

As a member of the desktop class, I'm fine with any size phone that fits comfortably into my pockets.