Mini Won't Give Up Its Round Screens, Even If They're Hard To Use

Round gauges have been part of the brand's identity from the beginning.

By: Anthony Alaniz

Oct 28, at 11:00am ET

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A few years ago, Mini went all in on big screens. It launched a new operating system that puts most vehicle information on one large round display in the center of the dashboard, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

Round gauges are integral to the brand’s identity, and they have been there from the beginning. Over the years, they have moved from the center of the dash to behind the steering wheel and back to the center, but they have always been round.

In the digital age, Mini brought that heritage into the modern era with a big round display in the center of the dash, and the automaker is proud of it. In an interview with Australia’s Drive, Alexander Brockhoff, Mini Australia’s general manager, said:

‘The round display is unique to Mini, and we want to keep that as part of the history.’

Modern Minis include a head-up display for vital vehicle information, but the screen controls everything else. The interior lacks physical HVAC controls, but it has a volume knob.

Heritage That’s Here To Stay

2007 Mini Cooper Interior

Photo by: Mini

While Mini has no plans to ditch its round center display, the automaker is open to updating it. Brockhoff told the publication:

‘But at the moment, I think from a design point of view, it's important that we keep kind of this character alive. And technology will always evolve further to make the integrations even better in the future.’

How it could evolve remains to be seen. Consumers aren’t as upset by the screens as they are by the lack of physical switches. If Mini makes any significant cabin changes, we would wager they will add more buttons, as other brands have promised.

Mini’s round display also makes standard functions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto look awkward. The screen-mirroring systems appear as a box-like window—they just weren’t designed for circular screens. The best way to avoid the UI ugliness is to use the native OS. Brockhoff said:

‘But if you then use the local navigation system, obviously, it uses the whole screen of it. When customers actually go and experience it... I think it works quite well.’

Big Hype

New Mini Digital Design

The automaker introduced the MINI Interaction Unit and its 9.4-inch OLED display in mid-2023. Mini launched the system in the Cooper Electric, and it has spread across the entire lineup.

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Mini went to great lengths to ensure the display captured the brand's spunky personality. At its launch, Stefanie Wurst, Mini’s former global boss, said: