Apple introduces iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence

If it were possible to do so, I would possibly buy this as my new "phone":

   - I almost never hold my phone to my ear
   - I don't need the dual-lens features of the new iPhones
   - Standby battery life seems up to the challenge
   - Apple doesn't offer the iPhone Mini anymore, which is what I'm carrying now. If I'm going bigger, why not actually go BIGger.

Things holding me back:

   - Not actually sure about the battery life
   - As far as I know you can't transfer your actual phone line to a Mini

Google Voice?

Samsung has a Galaxy fold which I’m interested in buying as a second device. I’d imagine Apple has to have something similar as a prototype as it seems like a no brainer

Problem with current folds is that I want the screen to open/extend. I don't want to open YET ANOTHER LARGER screen. This makes most sense tbf. You want a phone to extend into a tablet, and actually have the first screen still be usable. It cuts down cost and waste of always having at least one screen always off.

Original Huawei mate x and the new trifold does what I'd like. But then again... Huawei so can't in US lol.

iPad Mini cellular is data-only. PSTN calls and SMS require a VOIP client or separate dumbphone. E2EE audio/video are available in several messaging apps, including FaceTime, making good use of the larger screen.

TouchID is good for fast and reliable unlock.

Last last point makes me wonder: why have phone numbers at all?

I've been using data-only SIMs (and now eSIMS) since 2015. Bria voip client with voip.ms providing DIDs. Works wonderfully well and I can highly recommend going voip-only if you can.

The thing holding me back from going iPad Mini instead of iPhone was Apple Watch needs the iPhone (for some reason you can't use an iPad or Mac). Not an issue anymore. But now I rely on the amazing 16 Pro camera (with Halide shooting RAW) to mostly replace my mirrorless RX1, so yet another reason to stay iPhone.

There are still lots of services requiring a phone number (at registering or using it for 2FA). No one likes it but that's the reality.

And no, virtual numbers like Google Voice are often (but not always) blocked.

You'll likely run into frustrating app availability issues. Releasing iPhone apps on iPad is not universally done. (looking at you WhatsApp)

I can see why people want a phone number now. I was thinking more about why society doesn’t move away from phone numbers (for me, it’s been a hastle to be linked to a carrier and a country)

What better system can you think off? That allows calling the doctor, a restaurant, or that friend-of-a-friend who is selling a tractor? Without requiring people self-host a brunch of infrastructure (I like self-hosting stuff, most people wouldn't)

Also, inertia

i think the problem isn't the phone number, but the special hardware/vendor lock in that is required for it. if you travel a lot or live in a country where it is just easy to cross borders as a part of life, it quickly becomes obvious that being tethered to a regional provider for your phone number is a problem.

you end up paying ridiculous roaming fees to keep your number active in the other country, or you lose any ability for people to contact you by phone. it's incredibly frustrating when voip is so close, but not the 100% solution. couple that with providers still charging ridiculous fees to call numbers in other countries and it gets even worse.

> if you [] live in a country where it is just easy to cross borders as a part of life, [] providers still charging ridiculous fees

What places other than the EU does the "easy to cross borders as a part of life" apply to?

Does voip.ms work with 2FA services e.g. those used by banks? I have heard it doesn't and that's a dealbreaker for me.

why does it matter? but to answer: literally near any bordering country.

> dual-lens features of the new iPhones

Dual? I guess some of the iPhone 16 models might have 7-8 of them by now. (I have not checked the whole 16 lineup yet, they have not bumped up the lens count, or have they?). My old 14 has 2 though. Yup, just checked - it's two. I guess it must be like two plane engines. If one is broken the other will work (I also guess/hope that's how plane engines work).

> iPhone Mini anymore, which is what I'm carrying now

I tried. The battery was atrocious. To make the battery last till early or kinda late evening I had to actively not use the phone, so I finally gave in and moved to the smallest iPhablet i.e iPhone 14 at that time (actually there was 15 as well but I guess the only difference for me between the two was the price difference). It's been said iPhone Mini 13 was the last of the small phone lineage and there will be no more.

> I almost never hold my phone to my ear

Please tell me why people do this.

It works for most of them, but not all. And sometimes a service originally supports it, but then changes and doesn't, which means you need to get in touch with them to fix it.

I now have a Tello eSIM ($5/mo) that I use just for the 3-4 services that don't support voip.ms. And only turn it on when I need it.

When you around other people (so speaker phone is inappropriate) and don't have earbuds.

I'm pretty close to skipping out on my cell number. I very rarely use it. But that said, I do use it every so often, and when I do I need it pretty strongly. Also, I've had the same number for something like 15 years, and that's hard to walk away from.

Ok, thanks, as rumoured then.

I was trying to use Tello but despite supposedly activating the esim in my supposedly supported phone (6a), it reuses to do anything. I've just switched to tossble digits which a) works for me, and b) is much cheaper!

> I was thinking more about why

Good question - e.g. why isn't a phone number like an email address.

My guess is that it functions as an anchor - not to help motion, but to guarantee immobility. Like a physical address, the inconvenience of changing makes for fewer changes.

A low-pass filter, for system stability, if you want to look at it that way.