IT’S been roughly six months since the release of the current generation iPhone 12 – including the Pro and mini models – which is not that long at all, so don’t expect a bump up in performance with this purple iPhone.
Apple has had a history of releasing the colours for phones midway through their release cycle, specifically the red models which are tied to raising money for HIV/AIDS treatment programmes.
But why purple?
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Well, according to simple Google research, purple was the favourite colour of the late Steve Jobs, who died 10 years ago this upcoming October 5. Maybe that’s the reason or maybe it’s a coincidence. Either way, it’s not a strong bold purple, but rather muted, almost lilac in tone. If you want a stronger purple, you’ll need to shell out extra for a case.
For the purposes of this review, the writer was provided an iPhone 12 mini and an iPhone 12 mini silicone case.
In terms of specifications, the iPhone 12 mini is an exact match for its slighter larger brother. Both are powered by the powerful A14 Bionic chip, both have the same great camera and both have the same memory capacity – topping out at 256GB.
They also share the same great display, but the Mini has a 5.4-inch screen, while the mainline iPhone has a 6.1-inch screen. In practice, moving over from the larger model to the Mini was easier than expected, though it takes getting used to if you’re used to typing messages quickly. Of course, that also depends on how big your hands are.
The smaller size also means a smaller battery, which therefore means a shorter battery life. In practical use, a charge could last through a workday, but you will probably need to avoid heavy gaming and video watching.
Coinciding with the release of the purple iPhone, Apple also released an update for their mobile operating system, iOS 14.5.
In addition to Apple Watch functionality – you can unlock your phone while wearing a mask – there are a number of other improvements. Controversially, for some circles, is an option for increased app tracking transparency. Basically, apps like Facebook and Instagram have access to user data and use that information for advertising. Apple is allowing users to opt out of that.
There are also updates to Maps, Music and Podcasts. Maps gets Waze-like features; Music gets a bunch of UI refinements that make the app sleeker; Podcasts has had a similar aesthetic refresh.
The iPhone 12 mini is available from RM3,399, while the full-size iPhone starts at RM3,899. –The Vibes, May 3, 2021
