Apple is preparing a smaller 5.4-inch iPhone 12, possibly called the iPhone 12 mini. And it may be the least capable device in the new iPhone lineup.

According to a new leak via MauriQHD on Twitter (via Notebookcheck), Apple is preparing a mid-range chip called "B14" that could be used in the iPhone 12 mini. This could be an "A14" Bionic that "saves battery but not power.

To be clear, MauriQHD has no established track record as a leaker. Furthermore, the tweet states that the chip could be designed for the iPhone SE Plus or iPhone SE 3 in the future.

Earlier this year, Apple included its latest A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone SE 2020, so it would be a big surprise if the company decided to include something other than A14 Bionic in the iPhone 12 mini.

However, if Apple decides to go in that direction, the less powerful B14 chip may help keep the cost of the iPhone 12 mini down.

The most recent rumors suggest that the iPhone 12 mini will cost about $50 more than the iPhone 11 because of the addition of 5G. However, earlier reports indicated that the iPhone 12 mini could be as low as $549 without 5G.

If the iPhone 12 mini moniker sticks, the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 may come with a less powerful chip. And the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 with the A14 would be the true successor to the iPhone 11.

However, there is something strange about the timing of this rumor. If Apple is really working on the B14 chip, you would think that we would have heard about it more than a month before the iPhone 12 launch. But anything is possible.

The iPhone 12 mini is expected to have an OLED display in an even more compact design than the iPhone SE 2020. And the device is still expected to feature dual rear cameras.

In addition to the A14 Bionic, the iPhone 12 Pro lineup would include a third camera for telephoto shots and a LiDAR sensor for enhanced photography and AR performance. Apple's iPhone 12 event should be held in October, so it shouldn't take too long to find out if the B14 is the real deal.