I upgraded from iPhone 12 mini to 15 pro recently. Based on spec, it seemed to be a meaningful upgrade: real USB-C port, connectivity (external accessories), 120Hz screen refresh, much enhanced picture and video quality, 3x zoom, etc. The above are what I personally cared about.
After a few days of use, I'll sum up my personal like and dislike of the 15 pro.
Screen: Albeit 12 mini actually has better 477 PPI vs 15 pro 461 PPI, 15 pro looks noticeably better. It could be because of higher brightness of 15 pro vs 12 mini (2000 nits vs 1200 nits). 15 pro is much smoother when scrolling thanks to 120Hz refresh rate. Overall, 15 pro is more vibrant and lively. Thumb up for 15 pro.
Picture/Video: Much better pic quality in terms of pictures and video for 15 pro. For regular pictures and preserve storage, I only opted for 24M resolution. It still beats 12 mini in all aspects especially night scenes/pics. Thumb up for 15 pro.
Overheating: did not experience any
Usage time: 12 mini barely last a day without charging with moderate use. 15 pro is better but I still need to top up (restricted to 80% to preserve longevity) once a day (under 20%) at end of day. 15 pro is better but as good as I expected.
User experience overall: obviously 15 pro with the above improvement
Conclusion: is it worth it - Yes but it is also the most expensive iPhone that I ever purchased.
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My 12 mini was in mint condition but the tech is showing some signs of aging especially the battery degradation to 80% and I needed to charge everyday. The screen brightness is not very useful when it was bright outside and various other issues. I also want to take advantage of trade-in while I can. Too much hassle to sell on swappa. 15 pro is not heavy at all and one hand operation is possible. No regrets about the upgrade. MagSafe is plenty strong. I use a MagSafe wallet and it is secured. I babied my 12 mini but seeing the battery degradation really hurt my confidence hence I opted to charge to 80% to extend the battery health.