First World Problems: The Quest for the Perfect iPhone
The Struggle is Real
As my phone contract came to an end, I found myself faced with a familiar dilemma: to upgrade, or to stick with my current device. I’ve always preferred a phone that fits comfortably in one hand, rather than requiring three. The 14 Pro was an experiment to see whether I could adjust to this brave new world of ‘phablets’, and it wasn’t for me. But to my horror and dismay, my contract ended just days after Apple killed off the last small phone in its line up.
The iPhone 16e: A Phone That’s Just Too Big
I’ve been whinging on here about phones getting bigger for a while now. The 14 Pro was an experiment to see whether I could adjust to this brave new world of ‘phablets’, and it wasn’t for me. Instead of launching an iPhone SE 4 and continuing the tradition of providing a smaller budget model, Apple dashed my hopes by replacing the iPhone SE 3 with the new iPhone 16e. It’s a phone that’s just as large as the standard iPhones from the 12 onwards at 6.1-inches, just with fewer features; no multi-lens camera setup, no MagSafe, not even a particularly affordable price. I genuinely don’t understand the iPhone 16e.
The Solution: A Refurbished iPhone 13 Mini
Instead of upgrading, I was going to have to downgrade. And so, to get something close to the phone I actually wanted, I went ahead and bought the iPhone 13 mini from the official Apple refurbished store. These come and go, and will likely disappear for good come September. The 13 mini is a delight, with a form factor that remains a pleasure to use.
The Reality Check
Alas, dear reader, the happy ending you are hoping for was not to be. Nostalgia alone does not a good phone make. While the form factor of the 13 mini remains a delight, from a performance perspective, the four-year-old phone showed its age far more than I had hoped. The main issue is battery – Apple ships even refurbished models with the latest software, and iOS 18 was built for newer phones. I’d read reports of iOS 18 borking the battery of the 13 mini, and I found it to have much less stamina than the 13 mini I used with iOS 15 in 2021.
The Verdict
In short, the 13 mini just felt older and tireder than I expected, to the point that after a few days I returned it to Apple. I now face the heartbreaking, devastating and downright desolate reality that the perfect iPhone for me no longer exists. I must either settle for carrying a brick in my pocket, or using an old device that compromises on performance and will likely stop receiving security updates in the coming years.
Conclusion
I’m left with a choice: to carry a large phone that’s not ideal for me, or to use a smaller phone that’s no longer supported. It’s a first-world problem, I know, but it’s one that’s left me feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best iPhone for small hands?
A: Unfortunately, Apple no longer offers a small iPhone option.
Q: Can I still use an old iPhone?
A: Yes, but it will likely stop receiving security updates in the coming years, and may not be compatible with the latest software.
Q: Are there any alternatives to the iPhone?
A: Yes, there are many other phone options available, such as Android devices from Samsung, Google, and more.
Q: Will you ever find the perfect iPhone again?
A: Only time will tell, but for now, it seems like the perfect iPhone for me is a thing of the past.
