I want an iPhone Mini-sized Android phone (2022)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Desire for truly small phones (and what people still use)

  • Many participants want phones around original iPhone SE / 4 / 12–13 Mini size: one‑hand usable, pocketable, unobtrusive.
  • A lot are clinging to old devices (iPhone SE 1/2/3, 12/13 Mini, Pixel 4a/5, Galaxy S10e, Xperia Compacts, LG G2) despite battery aging, software bloat, and dropped app support.
  • Common complaint: modern phones are too wide and tall to reach the top corners without “finger gymnastics,” especially for smaller hands.

Existing “smallish” Android options and trade‑offs

  • Frequently mentioned: Asus Zenfone 9/10, Samsung S23/S25, Sony Xperia 5/10, Pixel 5/8, Unihertz Jelly series, Bluefox NX1, Rakuten Hand, Mudita Kompakt, Qin F21, Soyes, Blackview rugged minis.
  • Critiques:
    • Many “compact” phones are only a few mm smaller than standard flagships; volumes and weights are similar.
    • Niche brands often have poor cameras, weak radios or carrier support, no NFC/5G, thick bodies, and almost no OS/security updates.
    • Some rugged/mini devices are praised as “protest phones,” but seen as compromises rather than true daily‑driver flagships.

Battery life, swappability, and modularity

  • Some strongly want user‑swappable batteries (citing older Samsungs, LG V20, HTC, Japanese keitai, Samsung XCover) for resilience, blackouts, and intensive medical use (e.g., continuous glucose monitoring).
  • Others argue modern fast charging, external battery packs, and water resistance make swappable packs less compelling and harder to design safely.
  • Modular projects (Ara, Fairphone, Framework‑style ideas) are admired, but Fairphone is region‑limited and not very small; Unihertz/Fairphone‑style vendors rarely deliver long software support.

Why small flagships “don’t exist”: market vs manipulation

  • One camp: repeated attempts (Sony Compact line, Android minis, iPhone 12/13 Mini) sold poorly; battery physics and fixed‑size electronics make small phones inherently disadvantaged; panel makers don’t want tiny runs.
  • Opposing view: bigger phones boost ad real estate, engagement, streaming, and in‑app revenue; “digital addiction” plus “bigger number” marketing shape demand; small phones are often intentionally nerfed (battery, camera, “non‑Pro”) so their failure is self‑inflicted.
  • Several note stated vs revealed preference: many say they want small phones but at the store choose better camera, battery, or price instead.

Apple‑specific discussion

  • Strong nostalgia for iPhone 4/5/SE1 and 12/13 Mini as “peak iPhone” utility devices; many vow to keep Minis until they die, or consider buying used ones.
  • Suggested reasons Minis died: poor battery life (especially 12 Mini), cannibalization by cheaper SE, weak marketing, store staff steering buyers away, and no “Mini Pro” with top cameras.
  • Others say Apple’s data simply showed too few buyers; maintaining extra tooling and SKUs for a low‑single‑digit segment wasn’t worth it.

Software, UX, and ecosystem constraints

  • Modern apps and websites are often uncomfortable on small screens: huge padding, banners, upsells, popups, and ad blocks crowd out content, especially in banking and news.
  • Some basic needs (banking, 2FA, government, parking, restaurants) force current Android/iOS versions and Play Integrity/attestation, limiting Linux phones, e‑ink phones, and VoIP‑only solutions.
  • Foldables split opinion: some see Flip/Razr as the only way to get a small pocket footprint; others find them still ergonomically large when open, fragile, and creased.

Niche alternatives and speculative ideas

  • Mentions of Japanese flip/keitai phones, QWERTY devices, e‑ink phones, and a “ThinkPad of phones” with repairable parts.
  • Concepts like a thick “brick” computer plus tiny local terminals, or an e‑ink outer display + OLED inner foldable, are floated but recognized as unlikely to be mass‑market soon.