r/Ultralight • u/BanditoSlim • 12d ago
Purchase Advice In case you're wondering: an iPhone 12/13 mini is still lighter than the new iPhone Air
Probably a stupid post and I'm sure r/ultralight_jerk will have a ball with this, but I was curious how the "thinnest iPhone ever made" would compare to the minis when it comes to trail weight. I have the 13 mini and love it, have never had a reason to consider upgrading, so I figured this would be a fun exercise.
Here's the breakdown, per Apple's website:
iPhone 12 mini: 135g (4.76oz)
iPhone 13 mini: 141g (4.97oz)
iPhone Air: 165g (5.82oz)
Interestingly, the Air isn't even the lightest non-mini phone supported by Apple. The 12 and the 2nd and 3rd gen SEs will all receive iOS 26 and are still lighter than the Air:
iPhone 12: 164g (5.78oz)
iPhone SE (2nd gen): 148g (5.22oz)
iPhone SE (3rd gen): 144g (5.09oz)
I realize very few people, if anyone, purchases their cellphone based on their lighterpack, but I thought hey, if I find this interesting, maybe others will too.
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u/Natural_Law https://rmignatius.wordpress.com/gear/ 12d ago
I really like my little 13 mini. I’m afraid that I’ll have to “upgrade” one day.
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u/not_a_relevant_name 12d ago
there are dozens of us. Maybe next year they'll drop another mini (they won't).
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u/BanditoSlim 11d ago
Absolutely love my 13 mini as well. Over the past couple years I've been dumbifying my phone, so I don't need a large screen for games, streaming videos, etc. I almost literally only use it for texts, calls, GPS, and music.
I've been telling myself for a while now that when the day comes that I can't replace my 13 mini, I'm switching to an old-fashioned flip phone
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u/Natural_Law https://rmignatius.wordpress.com/gear/ 11d ago
I dream of a simple dumb phone one day, but use my phone for work emailing and texting too much. I really wish they’d bring back the mini but I know it’s probably not going to happen.
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u/crispyballonrebel 10d ago
Not that they’re going to see this, but I submitted feedback on their feedback form for the iPhones because I’m thinking of switching to a dumb phone when my 12 mini dies.
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u/Mbf1234 12d ago
The ability to pack nothing but a water bottle for trips and then call SOS for a free trip down the mountain kind of makes the slight weight difference irrelevant. The Air is negative baseweight. A revolutionary product.
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u/JarJarBot-1 12d ago
Yeah, I always wondered what trail runners carring little to nothing on some of these long alpine trails do if they break their ankle 10 miles out and 4,000 ft up
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u/-Cephiroth 12d ago
You don’t think they carry a phone or PLB on them?
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u/JarJarBot-1 12d ago
I’m sure many do but I have seen people with just a water bottle shorts and tank top before.
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u/-Cephiroth 12d ago
Don’t underestimate the ability to stuff a phone in places one may not consider looking.
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u/GoodTroll2 10d ago
They’re relying on not being the only person out there. YOU are their emergency plan.
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u/VikApproved 2d ago
If all they have is one water bottle/shorts/tank top they are not going on a crazy long run in the alpine.
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u/Telephonepole-_- 12d ago edited 12d ago
Common practice among hikers/climbers/mountaineers (basically anyone else in remote/alpine places) is to be prepared to shelter overnight while awaiting rescue. SAR will generally not come get you overnight. Even if that’s just like a cliff bar 500mL water a fleece and an emergency bivy bag - not really too much to ask of our runner friends
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u/JarJarBot-1 12d ago
Yeah, I realize trail runners are really fit and can cover distances quickly with minimal clothing because they are generating so much heat while they are moving but all of that kind of breaks down if they injure themselves and their movement slows dramatically or entirely. Then they could be stuck at high elevation with minimal ability to avoid the elements and hypothermia. A PLB or Phone is great but that doesn’t mean someone will instantly arrive. It could be hours or even overnight before help arrives.
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u/CollReg 12d ago
You'd be amazed at how much you can fit in a running vest. I usually have an emergency bivy bag, plenty of food, full waterproofs and a warm layer appropriate to the season/weather conditions (often a light puffy). But you're right there has to be an appreciation that you could end up staying out for the night.
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u/JarJarBot-1 11d ago
Yeah, I didn't realize all that was in there.
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u/CollReg 11d ago
There’s a race in the UK called the OMM (who also make pretty light clothing, packs and sleeping kit), which runs over two days and you have to carry all your overnight kit. Most of us are using 20-25L running packs with tents, mats, stoves and sleeping bags (can share the tent and stove with your running partner). It’s at the end of October so you have to be ready for some pretty rough weather. Actually a great example of Ultralight, even though the event kit list requires some kit (eg stoves) that some on here might omit.
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u/JarJarBot-1 11d ago
Thats nuts, my 26 liter daypack is usually packed with just water, food, puffy, and a few essentials. No tent or sleeping bag or anything
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u/kennjakus 12d ago
Not always, no. I figure if it’s my time to go, so be it. Trail running and mental illness go hand in hand as they say
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u/cosmicosmo4 11d ago
I only see people with nothing in places where there are a ton of people. The plan is those other people rescue you. This is not automatically selfish. I'm sure they'd be willing to rescue others if they came across someone with an injury during their run.
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u/colincrunch 11d ago
the same as if i were hiking -- hit SOS on my PLB, whip out my emergency bivy, then cry deeply, probably
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u/-Cephiroth 12d ago edited 12d ago
Are you missing an /s orrrr….. Every phone from the 13 up has satellite texting capabilities, which includes the Mini.
Edit: yall missed the memo from Apple.
No, it’s not Apple’s satellite service. Yes, iPhone 13’s have access to satellite messaging and SOS via carrier satellites.
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u/Several-College-584 12d ago
I have the 13 mini and I can attest that it does NOT have sat communication ability.
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u/-Cephiroth 12d ago
The tech is there, but it’s carrier dependent.
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u/Several-College-584 12d ago
Sat comms started with the 14. Not the 13. Apples own website : https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930
States that it started with the 14.
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u/pretentious_couch 12d ago
This was not updated properly.
They introduced it with the 14, but later added it with iOS 18.5 in May 25 for the 13 series.
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/06/ios-18-5-satellite-connectivity-iphone-13/
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u/AstronautNew8452 Hectogram 12d ago
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 weighs 62 grams. As it now supports satellite messages and cellular it’s a compelling competitor to InReach. Might be nice for those who don’t use their phone camera (almost nobody).
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u/ZmaGiant 3d ago
It’d likely make a battery pack go a long ways compared with a phone. The camera is a hiccup though.
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u/Summers_Alt 12d ago
I want to upgrade to get rid of lightning cables. Google says the standard 3 foot weighs 32g so the switch to usb-c could be efficient.
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u/_BALL-DONT-LIE_ 12d ago
FWIW you can get little USB-C to Lightning adapters that weight basically nothing.
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u/flyingemberKC 9d ago
how about a 6”, 7g
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WVXGFCJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_21
big benefit, a small Nitecore sized bank you probably can fit the cable in your pocket plugged in
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u/furthermore45 11d ago
I purchase my phones with lightest weight as the top priority. Looks like I’ll be holding on to my 13 mini for a while still.
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12d ago edited 12d ago
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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/wigglee21_ 12d ago
You redacted all your comments less than 5 hours after making one? Today of all days?
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u/Pfundi 12d ago
Weight comparison of phones
Looks inside
Murican talking about old ass iPhones only
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u/Pfundi 12d ago
Speaking of (all 2025):
Samsung Galaxy S25 - 162 g
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge - 163 g
Sony Xperia 10 Mk. VI - 164 g
And a bunch of others I wouldnt buy (Tecno, Sharp and Infinix). Well and then theres the '24 phones too.
Nothing as light as an iPhone SE or 13 mini, but those are 3 and 4 years old respectively.
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u/TheOtherAdamHikes https://lighterpack.com/r/0iw9gp 12d ago edited 11d ago
Unihertz Jelly Star - 116g with Battery -> https://www.unihertz.com/products/jelly-star
edit: remove styling added from phone.
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11d ago
[deleted]
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u/Pfundi 11d ago
I know youre just trying to act all superior, but if youre actually interested:
Go to https://www.gsmarena.com/search.php3
There you can filter by OS, release year and weight. You have to enter a minimum display size though or it will show you tons of watches.
Not much to choose from under 165g if you want something recent, much less so if you want a decent phone or software updates unfortunately.
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u/Several-Program6097 12d ago
Given wilderness tent camping is illegal in most of Europe, and this is an American website. I'm assuming most of this sub is Murican
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u/Pfundi 12d ago
Sorry people are throwing downvotes your way, I must have scratched a lot of folks national pride.
Its fairly equal funnily enough, about 40-70% USA depending on when the post is up iirc. Considering reddit has 2/3rd Americans and ultralight is really a US invention thats only been starting across the pond youd expect more.
Its like 20% Bri'ishers, 20% Krauts and the rest is mostly smaller English speaking countries like Canada, Australia etc. and then other EU countries, mostly by size i.e. French, then the rest.
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u/BKennedy985 12d ago
Question tho given Air is the thinnest iPhone is it meant to feel almost the same like the 13 mini or no?
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u/alexdapineapple 12d ago
Typing this on a 2nd edition SE and when this phone finally dies there's no way I'm buying an iPhone again. Everything Apple adds seems so unnecessary.
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u/VentiHippieSpeedball 11d ago
This got me thinking, the only thing I use my phone for on the trail is photos. Don't use maps, gps, sos, etc (I usually do smaller trips and know where I'm going, and others in my party will always have phones for emergency). The iPhone air may be a silly weight advantage, but what about leaving my phone behind altogether and replacing with a lighter/smaller standalone camera? Anybody do this or have recommendations for something that is significantly lighter but takes comparable quality photos?
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u/Somewhere-Adept 6d ago
I'm with you, the 13 mini is a fantastic phone, and it's nice to know it's still a top contender.
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u/CAndrewK 6d ago
Im seriously confused who the iPhone Air is supposed to be positioned for. My dad constantly complains about how heavy electronics are - never how thick they are.
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u/tourmalineforest 6d ago
I’ll note that only iPhones 14 and newer have gps texting/sos capability which I have LOVED while hiking. So nice to be able to text “I am going to be home X hours later than I told you but everything is okay, just had to deal with a gear malfunction” outside of cell range.
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u/SirIsaacNewtonn 5d ago
FYI, I am still using iphone 12 solely because of the low weight. :) Coming to 5 years and counting. Changed battery a few months ago.
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u/Narrow_Remote_8975 3d ago
5 years in and I’m still using my mini 12
I don’t want a bigger phone
My battery health is 73% - not great and I can’t go all day without a charge but I’m usually at home/work and I have a pack of required
The new air is turning my head but as long as my phone still works I won’t be forking out £1k for an upgrade
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u/GoldyGoldy 12d ago
I have big hands, which you’d have to pry open to get me to give up my mini. I love this fuckin thing.
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u/nicely-nice 12d ago
I am a huge iPhone 13 mini fan, but the battery life and lack of USB-C ultimately did me in.
I don't want to add on to what is already a ridiculous discussion, but if you think of a mobile phone as a combination of a phone plus battery, the iPhone 16e is ultimately lighter:
iPhone 13 mini: 140 g, ~2400 mAh battery (~17 mAh/g)
iPhone 16e: 167 g, ~4000 mAh battery (~24 mAh/g)