Apple's September event is expected to be packed with new Apple products, including the iPhone 15 lineup and the Apple Watch Series 9. But it may also end up being a curtain call for older models, including the small-screen iPhone 13 mini.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iPhone 13 mini inventory is starting to run low. Current Apple Store delivery estimates range from two to eight weeks, depending on the model you get, suggesting a massive shortage of Apple's smallest flagship model.

Gurman noted that iPhone 12 and Pro Series inventory is also running low. Given that the iPhone 12, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be discontinued after tomorrow's launch event, it is likely that the iPhone 13 mini will join them.

Given that there was no iPhone 14 mini last year and no iPhone 15 mini is expected to be announced, it seems likely that this will be the end of Apple's small screen phone series.

The only option for those expecting a small-screen iPhone experience is the iPhone SE (2022) with a 4.7-inch display. Unfortunately, the iPhone SE is a bit outdated in terms of design and hardware, with no full-screen display and running on the A15 Bionic chipset. It's not that bad of a phone, but there's a reason it's known as the "cheap iPhone."

The iPhone SE also does not have a consistent release schedule, and rumors now suggest that the iPhone SE 4 will not appear until sometime in 2025, or three years after the previous model. There is also speculation that the iPhone SE's screen size may increase to 6.1 inches.

Unfortunately, despite what some online discourse would have you believe, people did not seem that interested in a smaller iPhone. That is why two generations of smaller iPhones lasted until they disappeared altogether.

And the iPhone 14 Plus also proved to be relatively unpopular compared to its siblings, especially the iPhone 14. In other words, Apple may find it difficult to give people a reason to buy a fourth iPhone model.

Therefore, if you are looking for a smaller iPhone but do not want to compromise on the iPhone 8-inspired design of the iPhone SE (2022), this may be your last chance. This is because once the iPhone 13 mini is gone, it seems unlikely that we will see an iPhone smaller than 6 inches for the foreseeable future.