Apple CEO Tim Cook was in Shanghai, China this week opening its newest retail store in the Jing’an Temple, signifying its commitment to the Chinese market ahead of a massive state-run business conference.
Chinese actor and TV personality Ryan Zheng was In attendance at the opening of Apple’s latest store and had a chance to meet the CEO. During his meeting, Zheng managed to get his green iPhone 13 mini signed by Cook. Zheng later posted about his interaction with the CEO on Weibo, with a photo of his signed iPhone. Zheng also revealed he told the Apple CEO to “please continue to produce the mini.”
While Zheng didn’t share Cook’s response to his request, it’s unlikely that the mini will make a comeback anytime soon, with the Pro Max models often being the most popular in the lineup, mainstream consumer interest in a smaller iPhone just isn’t there.
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The lackluster demand for the iPhone 12 and 13 mini prompted Apple to axe the model in favor of the larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus in the lineup. The mini was later scrapped entirely from the company’s line-up in 2023 following the introduction of the iPhone 15 series. Its ultimate death left many diehard fans of the mini iPhone disappointed that there was no longer a small-sized flagship iPhone.
While the 5.4-inch model didn’t sell well, according to market research and consumer reports, it did gain a cult-like following over its lifespan. iPhone mini users preferred the more compact design to its larger counterparts. The device was very reminiscent of the iPhone 5 days where the phone fit comfortably in a user’s hand.
The iPhone 12 mini faced several issues after its launch, with many users pointing out its poorer battery life compared to the standard models. Apple addressed these concerns with the iPhone 13 mini a later year with the A15 Bionic chip and a 10% larger battery.
At the time, Apple advertised the iPhone 13 mini with one and a half hours longer battery life compared to its predecessor, however, these changes weren’t enough to drive up the adoption of the smaller phone, which later resulted in its discontinuation.
