Apple has announced a new addition to the iPhone 12 line - the iPhone 12 mini. This marks the first-ever use of the term "mini" with the iPhone, joining the ranks of the iPad, iPod, and Mac.

The tech giant continues to adhere to its annual release schedule, having been barely over a year since info about the iPhone 11 dropped. This latest generation will be the first to include a 5G network, although other important things will be missing.

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It would seem Apple took the "less is more" approach when designing the iPhone 12 mini. The new phone features a 5.4 inch Super Retina XDR display. A step-up from the 4.7 inch of the most current iPhone SE, the 12 mini is impressive with it being a smaller phone altogether. Apple achieved this feat getting entirely rid of Touch ID in favor of Face ID, in addition to reducing the bezels around the display. This maximizes screen space while shrinking the overall profile. Apple's website states that the mini is 11 percent thinner, 15 percent smaller, and 16 percent lighter than the full version. The company also claims that this makes it the smallest, thinnest, and lightest 5G phone in the world. The $729 device boasts all of the same specs as its full-sized counterpart, but not when it comes to the iPhone 12 Pro and Max.

iphone 12 mini

Apple is continuing to invest heavily in its camera. The smartphone includes a 12-megapixel f/1.6 main camera. This makes it the fastest aperture Apple has had yet, even though Cyberpunk 2077 made fun of it. The main camera features improved low-light performance. The iPhone 12 mini will also include a dedicated Night Mode for the front-facing camera as well. Users can record in 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, the first smartphone ever able to do so. Apple is seeking to improve its phone's durability. It has debuted a "Ceramic Shield" glass coating, which claims to ensure 4x better drop performance. The dust and water resistance have been improved as well, earning an IP68 rating. Apple is also using the new MagSafe system on the iPhone 12 mini. This feature allows cases, wireless chargers, wallets or other accessories to snap onto the back of the phone.

The internal hardware is perhaps what is most impressive. iPhone 12s will use the A14 Bionic chip. It is 5nm chip that Apple claims to be 50 percent faster than its A13 predecessor. The A14 claims to be capable of running "console-quality games" on its six-core CPU and four-core GPU. In fact, Apple is so confident in its new chip that it's announced a new League of Legends game to show off the device.

It should be interesting to see how console-quality games come to iOS, especially given the latest twist in the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games. The Apple iPhone 12 mini is priced at $729. It will be available in five different colors: black, white, red, blue, and green. Preorders go live on November 6 at 5AM PT/8AM ET. The iPhones will ship November 13.

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Source: The Verge