Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) has released an analysis of the results from its research on smartphones for the period following launch of the new iPhone 12 family: iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
CIRP finds that the new iPhone 12 models accounted for 76% of U.S. iPhone sales in the period after their launch. The iPhone 12 had the largest share for a single model, at 27%.
“The new iPhone mini likely disappointed Apple with only 6% of sales in the period,” adds Mike Levin, CIRP partner and co-founder, in a statement. “It has most of the same features as the other iPhone 12 models, in a smaller form factor for $699. Its share was just above that of iPhone XR, launched in 2018 and now priced at $499, the one-year old iPhone 11, now selling for $599, and the 2nd generation iPhone SE, launched in April 2020 at $399. It seems that it’s higher price point compared to those three models limited the iPhone 12 mini appeal.”
CIRP bases its findings on its survey of 243 US Apple customers that purchased an iPhone in the four weeks following the launch of iPhone 12 Pro Max and 12 mini models on November 13, 2020, which was weeks three through six of availability for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote back in November, “Bigger is better, especially for people who use iPhone as their main device, have older eyes, need a long-lasting battery, want the best camera system, etc. – that’s why the iPhone 12 Pro Max is more in demand versus the iPhone 12 mini.”
This headline is a tad disingenuous. The data is from October through November. The first iPhone 12 minis were sold in November.
Nope.
“CIRP bases its findings on its survey of 243 US Apple customers that purchased an iPhone in the four weeks following the launch of iPhone 12 Pro Max and 12 mini models on November 13, 2020, which was weeks three through six of availability for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.”
I’m so old that I can remember when MDN criticized other manufacturers for introducing large screen phones, calling the 4-inch iPhones of the day “right-sized”.
Undoubtedly, MDN followed Steve Jobs’ train of thought. If the iPhone was the right size for him, then it was the right size for everyone. Oh, yeah, I want my Wendy’s triple-burger. Every fast food item comes in at least two sizes. Never assume what’s enough for one person is enough for another.
I continue seeing articles about how the iPhone 12 mini isn’t selling well, at all. Some people are so anxious to push the iPhone 12 mini into the “failed” category. There’s four models of iPhone 12, so there has to be some lowest-selling iPhone 12 on the totem pole. The only reason I wouldn’t go with an iPhone 12 mini is because I THINK the battery is too small to last a whole day. I would always go with the longest battery life possible even if it’s the largest in size and cost the most. Other than that, I think the iPhone 12 mini is a really nice size and it does nearly everything the larger siblings can. Battery life was always going to be the trade-off. Although I know there must be some people who like smaller smartphones, I imagined most consumers would want a larger smartphone. I still feel Apple did the right thing by giving consumers a choice and then they can confirm if there actually is a market for smaller iPhones. I don’t think Apple is losing anything.
Word has it that Wall Street is getting excited for Apple’s earnings due to higher than usual iPhone demand. Hmm. Sound of crickets. Quite a bit different from Tesla announcing they exceeded expected sales of their vehicles. Apple will do quite well for holiday quarter, so I’m not worried if investors aren’t quickly jumping on board.
MDN take is completely wrong. Can someone explain to me how stupid people managed when the small sizes of iPhone 3g, iPhone 4 were the norm? I remember big andriods were insulted as phablets, and how they need the big size for the big battery. Now big is better. Also the iPhone Mini was released in late November after the bigger iPhones were released. This is twisting the truth by the article writer. Lets us also not forget about Brexit and full Covid lock downs.
Any surprise there?
I think people were afraid of going down to a smaller phone without seeing them live… and since most ordering was done online this year.
I hope Apple doesn’t drop it. In fact, I hope they release an iPhone Pro mini as well.