iPhone SE vs iPhone 12 Mini

Change of plans at my household. As you know, I gave my iPhone SE to my daughter as planned. However, she decided that she wants the 12 Mini instead. So today I wrapped up the SE and went back to Costco and got a 100% refund, to include the Apple Care plan.

She is getting the 12 Mini (discounted) for $594 + $23 tax, for a total of $617 delivered. Her out-of-pocket difference is $152, taking into account the full Costco refund. She is currently back on her first generation SE, and is eagerly awaiting the new phone. I have not seen her since we were at Costco, so I don't know anything about color, delivery date, etc.

As for the discount, her boyfriend's father is an Apple Store manager.

Well the soonest she can get one is 11/13, my is in the shipping process, waiting for the calendar to roll by.
I'm certain she will like the mini if she's been an Apple person all this time. 
What changed her mind about the mini vs the SE 2020?

Things just fell into place for her and she took advantage. When she did the math, $150-ish wasn't bad for such a big upgrade. She gets the newest processor, more RAM, better camera, a larger OLED screen, 5G, etc. Probably many of the same reasons you chose to upgrade.

Sounds exactly like my thinking. I hope she likes it, 2 days to go.

My daughter held off on the phone to instead get the 128GB version of the iPhone 12 Mini (in Barf Green). She's ordering the phone this Thursday from an Apple Store in Denver, and then picking it up by appointment two days later. Apparently, you can't just walk into an Apple Store anymore.

I saw my daughter in passing this morning as she left for work. Her new iPhone 12 Mini is sweet and much nicer than the SE. She got it in Product Red with a clear case, as the Barf Green was not available in 128GB.