The iPhone 13 series is selling very well… with one exception. The iPhone 13 mini is not attracting U.S. buyers, according to a report by a market-research firm.
This helps explain why the upcoming iPhone 14 series isn’t expected to have a “mini” version with a 5.4-inch screen.
iPhone mini is not a popular choice
Those in the market for an iPhone might be interested in which models other buyers are choosing. Or not choosing.
While the iPhone 13 series is doing unusually well, the iPhone 13 mini isn’t pulling its weight. It made up only 3% of Apple’s sales during the first three months of 2022. The same is true for its predecessor, the iPhone 12 mini, according to a report by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
Details of the iPhone 14 series are already leaking out, and these indicate Apple is replacing its 5.4-inch “mini” with a lower-cost 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max.
But Apple fans love the iPhone 13
In 2022, the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 is the most popular choice of Apple fans. This model makes up 38% of iOS handset sales
In general, the 2021 models are doing very well. “The new iPhone 13 models enjoyed some of the largest share we’ve seen in many quarters,” said Josh Lowitz, a CIRP analyst. “The four models, including 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, and 13 mini, accounted for almost three-quarters of sales in the March quarter. Last year at this time the then-new iPhone 12 models had 61% of sales.”
Upgrades coming more quickly
People are moving up to newer models more quickly than in the past. “iPhone buyers are also keeping their old phone for a shorter time, reversing a long- term trend,” said Mike Levin, a CIRP analyst. “In the past year the age of the old phone declined steadily, and now only about 20% of buyers had their previous phone for three years or longer.”
The change is being driven by high trade-in values, says CIRP. Someone can sell an iPhone 11 for enough to defray much of the cost of iPhone 13, for example.
