Apple is rumored to shake up its core smartphone portfolio in 2022 by replacing the potential iPhone 14 mini with a larger model called iPhone 14 Max. It appears that Apple is really done with the concept of a mini iPhone. Prior to its debut, the iPhone 12 mini was highly anticipated owing to its premise of a power-packed phone fitted inside a palm-friendly form factor. However, the actual market reception was quite different.
As per multiple market analysis reports, Apple couldn’t ship as many units of the iPhone 12 mini as it had hoped. After cutting down the planned production run, Apple instead turned its focus towards the Pro models that were experiencing higher demand. And a couple of weeks ago, a TrendForce report mentioned that Apple has prematurely ended the production of the iPhone 12 mini, less than a year from its official launch.
As per an investor note from TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo accessed by MacRumors, Apple is going to phase out the ‘mini’ iPhone next year in favor of a larger ‘Max’ model that will just be a scaled-up version of the vanilla iPhone 14. This particular variant will reportedly go by the name iPhone 14 Max and is said to feature a 6.7-inch screen.
Max Makes More Sense
Over the past couple of months, we’ve come across multiple reports claiming that the iPhone 13 mini will be the last of its kind, and the ‘mini’ moniker will ride into the sunset with the aforementioned device. It will be replaced by a Max model with the debut of the iPhone 14 series in 2022. The ‘Max’ model will also introduce a size uniformity in Apple’s smartphone lineup next year.
The vanilla iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will reportedly feature a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max might come equipped with a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED . Interestingly, the iPhone 14 Max is said to carry a price tag of less than $900. To keep the price in check, Apple is reportedly going to eschew some tricks such as an in-display fingerprint sensor — and likely a high-refresh-rate LTPO screen as well — and will instead keep these perks exclusive to the pricier iPhone 14 Pro duo.
It appears that Apple will make the process of iPhone selection a tad easier for buyers in 2022. s will first have to decide a size that aligns with their usage scenario (and fits comfortably in their hands too). Once there, the only question remains whether the buyer wants to go with the ‘Pro’ model with all its fancy camera tricks, or stick with the larger-screen avatar of the standard iPhone 14 offering. The strategy appears to be sound, at least on paper, and might yield better results for Apple vis-a-vis the ‘mini iPhone’ philosophy.
Source: MacRumors