iPhone 12 Mini and Pro Max release date: New huge and tiny phones go on sale as Apple advises people to buy online rather than go into stores

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Apple's huge and tiny versions of the new iPhone – the 12 Mini and 12 Pro Max – have finally gone on sale.

The new iPhones are usually released in mid-September, but delays mean that the full set of new phones have become available two months later.

The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro went on sale towards the end of October, but the Pro Max and Mini – which are the biggest iPhone ever and the smallest in years – were delayed by another couple of weeks.

Apple advised that people buy the new phones online rather than in-store if they can, so that they can receive contactless delivery. In many cities, the company is offering same-day delivery.

But those who do go to pick up phones in person will be met with a range of measures intended to keep the risk as low as possible.

Phones cannot actually be bought by queuing up in the traditional way: in England, customers must click and collect, and in the rest of the UK customers must reserve appointments to meet with its staff.

When people do go into stores, they will be subject to a series of measures, including face masks, temperature checks, limits on the number of people who will be allowed inside and regulations requiring social distancing.