Apple iPhone 12 Mini Blue 128GB

The iPhone 12 Mini is the best truly compact phone you can still buy, with a great OLED screen and solid A14 performance. Battery life is its biggest weakness, so heavy users should look elsewhere. At refurbished prices under $250, it's a fantastic deal for a pocket-friendly iPhone.

The A14 Bionic is no slouch, even years after launch. Apps open instantly, iOS 15.4 runs buttery smooth, and the 4GB of RAM handles multitasking fine for most people. Our database puts overall performance at the 57th percentile, which is solid but not exciting. The real weak spot is gaming, where it scores a 46.8 out of 100. That chip can technically handle games, but the small screen and limited cooling hold it back. For everyday tasks, social media, and photography, it still feels quick and responsive.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, this thing is a toy in terms of screen size and battery, but it's also a fraction of the cost and weight. The Google Pixel 10a will smoke it on camera software and battery life, but it's physically much larger. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro and OPPO Reno 15 5G offer fresher designs and faster charging, but neither matches the Mini's one-handed comfort. If you want a truly small phone, the iPhone 12 Mini is basically your only option. The Moto G 2025 is cheaper but feels like a brick next to this.

Since this is a refurbished model, pricing is all over the place. We're seeing a spread from $168 to $450 across vendors, with Newegg offering multiple grades. A Grade A+ unit at the lower end of that range is a steal for a pocketable iPhone with 128GB of storage. But if you're creeping toward $400, you're in used iPhone 13 territory, which gets you a better battery and camera. Stick to the $200-$250 sweet spot for a good deal.

The iPhone 12 Mini is the phone for people who miss when phones actually fit in a pocket. It packs the same A14 Bionic chip and dual-camera system as the regular iPhone 12 into a tiny 5.4-inch body that weighs just 135 grams. You get a sharp OLED display, 5G, and MagSafe, all in a form factor that's basically extinct in 2025.

But that small size comes with a cost, and we're not just talking about screen real estate. The 2438mAh battery is the obvious compromise here. It'll get you through a light day, but push it with 5G and gaming and you'll be hunting for a charger by late afternoon. Still, for a compact phone, the build quality and overall polish are hard to beat, especially at refurbished prices.

If you play a lot of mobile games or watch hours of video, skip this. The small screen and mediocre gaming score of 46.8 make it a poor fit. Also, if you need all-day battery without thinking about it, get a Plus or Pro Max model instead.

Buy this if you miss small phones and don't want to compromise on build quality or iOS. It's perfect as a secondary device, a phone for minimalists, or anyone with small hands who hates giant slabs. Just know the battery life is the trade-off, and set your expectations accordingly.