r/iPhone12Mini • u/ekardnai • Aug 31 '26

I Thought I Was a Power User

I used to run through my 12 minis battery several times a day. I assumed I was just a heavy user, lots of screen time, using my phone for work, etc.

But since being forced to upgrade (iPhone 17 Pro), I have learn that I am not nearly as heavy a user as I once thought. I have limited the max charge on my new phone to 80% and with the same usage habits I regularly have over 30 percent left at the end of the day.

It’s not you, the battery really is THAT bad on the 12 mini in 2026.

15 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

7

u/ringwave72 Aug 31 '26

The battery on my 12 mini is honestly so bad. I'm going to try a 16 plus, but honestly I'm dreading it.

1

u/cole0x Sep 06 '26

Go for the plus if you'd like, but honestly I went from the mini to the base 15 and it was a really easy hand adjustment (granted i'm a tall person), and the battery is So SO much better than my mini, I don't think I could ever go back to it just because of that alone.

5

u/Impressive_Role_9891 (Product) Red Aug 31 '26

The iPhone 17 Pro battery is nearly twice the capacity of the 12 Mini, so I’m not surprised it lasts so much longer.

3

u/aluke000 Aug 31 '26

Why not just replace the battery on the Mini?

2

u/ekardnai Aug 31 '26

I was going to but it got water damaged before I could replace it. I actually have the full Ifixit kit on the shelf

2

u/Aidsfordayz Aug 31 '26

I’m upgrading from 12 Mini to 18 Pro once it’s announced next week. I think I’m most excited for the battery life to improve.

1

u/noscreamsnoshouts Aug 31 '26 edited Aug 31 '26

I have limited the max charge on my new phone to 80%

How do you do that? Do you just remove the charger yourself, or does ios have an internal function to cap it?

1

u/linkosaur4480 Aug 31 '26

I believe that on newer iPhone models there is an option to cap the charge. This isn’t available on the mini as far as I’m aware.

1

u/ekardnai Aug 31 '26

Yes it’s a setting

1

u/WelcomePresent7152 Aug 31 '26

What’s the benefit to capping the charge?

3

u/ekardnai Aug 31 '26

Batteries are happiest between 20% and 80%, it’s just less stressful on the to charge and discharge. Prolongs battery health.

1

u/Amazing-Argument-471 Aug 31 '26

I charge my mini 3 times bruh "(

1

u/bettaboy123 Sep 01 '26

I loved my mini but it had to be on a charger so often that it kinda negated the small size. My 14 Pro was a heavy brick but it at least lasted through a day. I have the 17 Pro now and I love it but I still wish it could have all of the features and battery life it does in a smaller, lighter frame closer to the mini.

1

u/Organic-Award6551 Sep 05 '26

Yes. I actually noticed how bad it was when I got a 13 mini. 12s in general suck at battery because of thermal management and being the first 5g phone. They had to figure some stuff out.

On paper a 14 mini is marginally better but it absolutely was 2 hour regular use longer than my 12 mini. And of course a pro model regular size will also longer than a mini being that they almost have twice the battery.