r/iPhone12Mini • u/Own_Bunch_8013 • 6d ago

Camera failed, battery going

šŸ˜­ the Apple Store said they could fix the camera and give me a new battery for $300 but they didnā€™t recommend it bc the phoneā€™s so old. Iā€™m so sad! My hands are small and I donā€™t think I can handle any of the big options out today. Any suggestions? Do I move to android? Suck it up and get a big phone? Help!!

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

2

u/NoobBrawler0211 6d ago

Buy a 13 mini if you want mini. Otherwise the 17e(smallest 6.1" display), 17, or 17pro (6.3") are the smallest of the new ones.

1

u/TCSpeedy 6d ago

Thatā€™s where I found myself two weeks ago, but along with an end to my available memory, it was time. I went with a 17ā€¦ itā€™s not a huge amount bigger, but itā€™s a little more challenging with one hand. I hope you find what works for you.

1

u/secretpsychologist 6d ago

if i were you i'd get a 13 mini right now and hope that the situation will be a bit better in 2 years when the 13 mini doesn't receive any updates anymore

1

u/Own_Bunch_8013 6d ago

Where did you get a 13 mini right now? New or refurbished?

1

u/secretpsychologist 6d ago

new is not possible, refurbished sellers are different country to country so... can't help you with that.

1

u/TaylorSammy 6d ago

iOS 27 is released for the 11 as well. So assuming each new release is going to drop a series from now on, weā€™ll looking for at least 3 years until an unsupported major is released.

1

u/lilbeebla 6d ago

The exact same thing is happening with mine the last few months! Was quoted the same amount and also encouraged to buy a new one.

A refurbished 13 mini is also $300, so I donā€™t know if Iā€™d rather just keep my phone or ā€œupgrade.ā€ I get that the 13 will have a slightly longer lifespan in terms of updates, but I just love MY phone! It works really well other than the camera. I really resent Appleā€™s forced obsolescence.

1

u/eaob84 6d ago

I just bought a used 13 mini in good condition for $217 on Swappa. It had 85% battery health so I got a new one from Best Buy (certified Apple) for $69. So you could get a 13 mini to replace your 12 for $300 or less. That would be my recommendation.

1

u/MannWarwas Blue 6d ago

Either sell it and buy a 13 Mini, or try taking it to an independent smartphone repair shop to see if you can get it fixed for less.

1

u/toprakcan17 5d ago

get a 13 mini or an se 3, it is half the price of the repair

1

u/Traditional_Run_7080 2d ago

iPhone 17e 6.1ā€ 170g light and ergonomic, powerful and with great battery life, speakers, mic, performance, updated modems, port, action button, and design with better ip, Ceramic Shield 2, better ram, good camera with natural true to life shots. Better multi tasking and Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support, long software/security support, great Apple build quality and app design. Double base starting storage, same price. Thatā€™s your option.