We’ve been hearing about the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini for a while now, with most recent indications pointing to an announcement on June 20th. It looks like Samsung decided to reveal the news early, as the phone is finally official.
So what does the smaller brother of the GS4 bring to the table? As you would expect, it isn’t exactly a high-end device, but it is also no pushover. The phone has a 4.3-inch qHD display, a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB RAM and 8GB storage. There is also microSD support, a 1,900 mAh battery, an 8MP back cam, 1.9MP front cam and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean onboard. The GS4 Mini will also be just 8.94mm thick and will weight 107 grams.
This one isn’t going to blow anyone away, but if you really prefer smaller screens but want to stick to the classic Sammy Galaxy look – this could be exactly what you are looking for. Unfortunately, no word on pricing or availability at the moment.
We do know that it will come in a few different versions: a 3G model, a 4G LTE model and a 3G dual-SIM version. It will also come in White Frost of Black Mist color options.
What do you think, do you hope this phone comes to your local market or could you care less? Let us know in the comments below.
Is this the second Windows Phone 8 device from Huawei? (credit: @evleaks)
The Huawei Ascend W2 has popped up again and this time instead of a blurry snap shot we've been treated to what looks like a press image of the Windows Phone 8-toting smartphone.
This latest leak comes from the oft-reliable @evleaks, who provided the picture along with the words "Huawei Ascend W2, 2013" - and nothing more.
Left in the lurch
What this means is that apart from knowing that the Ascend W2 will likely make an appearance sometime this year. Details on specs, release date and price are still a relative mystery.
Previous reports have suggested the Ascend W2 will sport a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 display, 1.5GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 2000mAh battery and an 8MP rear camera with 1080p HD recording.
If the press shot does transpire to be true then Huawei may be onto a winner as the Ascend W2 looks set to be an attractive smartphone, with a definite design upgrade from the toyish Ascend W1.
In an attempt to balance out its supply chain, Apple is said to be using Foxconn competitor Pegatron for production on a certain budget handset that's been rumoured for some time.
Pegatron, which sounds one of the forgotten Transformers, has actually made some iPhones and iPad Minis for Apple in the past.
It's also reported that Pegatron is upping its work force by up to 40 per cent during the second half of this year, adding further fuel to the cheaper iPhone fire.
It looks like Apple may have taken this on board in its decision to share the load a bit more, and while a competitor, it'll mean less of a burden for Cupertino's favourite supplier.
The existence of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini was hardly in question after the raft of rumours and leaks we've seen over the past few months - even the Korean firm managed to let slip on its own website.
Following on from the Galaxy S3 Mini, the S4 Mini has received a modest boost in terms of specifications, but don't expect to see any eight-core power or full HD displays here.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini release date
In terms of a Galaxy S4 Mini release date the trail is pretty cold for the moment, although we hope to find out more at the London event on June 20, so we shouldn't have too long to wait.
Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S4 Mini will be coming, with more details to be announced "in due course". Phones4U in the UK was the first to give any indication, tentatively reckoning the Galaxy S4 MIni will appear in July.
We're equally in the dark when it comes to the Galaxy S4 Mini price, but if the Galaxy S3 Mini is anything to go on you can probably expect it to set you back around £320 (around $485, AU$500) SIM-free.
When it comes to the display on the Galaxy S4 Mini you're greeted with a 4.3-inch, Super AMOLED qHD display - that's 960 x 540 - so it's certainly no match for the full HD offering on the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The good news it the S4 Mini's display is an improvement over the 4-inch, WVGA offering we got on the Galaxy S3 Mini - and this helps make the handset that bit more appealing.
It's worth considering that even though Mini is in the name, it's actually got a bigger screen than the 4-inch iPhone 5 - plus it's also cheaper - although the iPhone's Retina display has a far better resolution.
Internal grunt
Under the hood the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini packs a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, backed up by a not too shabby 1.5GB of RAM.
Once again that's up on the S3 Mini and should see things run smoothly on screen, and 8GB of internal storage sounds acceptable - that is until you read that only 5GB will be available to the user.
Thankfully the S4 Mini's saving grace is the inclusion of a Samsung smartphone tradition - a microSD slot, which supports cards up to 64GB in size.
That power will be responsible for running the latest version of Google's mobile platform, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which Samsung has sprinkled with its TouchWiz interface.
This means you'll also get a raft of Samsung apps, such as Samsung Knox, S Voice and S Travel, included on the S5 Mini, which some may find useful, but others will just view them as unnecessary bloatware.
Well connected
All the expected bells and whistles are present on the Galaxy S4 Mini with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS all featuring inside the 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94mm, 107g plastic frame.
There are some added extras however, with an infra-red blaster, NFC technology and 4G connectivity also finding their way inside.
In some regions the Galaxy S4 Mini will only be available as a 3G handset, which also doesn't feature NFC, although it's not clear which markets will receive which model just yet.
And the rest
So what else can you expect from the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini? Well it's got an 8MP rear facing camera complete with LED flash, plus there's a front facing 1.9MP snapper for those pouty profile pictures and important video calls.
There's a 1900mAh battery hiding round the back which we hope will give a decent amount of life, although we'll put that to the test in our Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini review.
You'll be able to pick from two colours as well - White Frost and Black Mist - although we wouldn't be surprised if more colours appeared later this year, especially as Samsung has confirmed new shades for the Galaxy S4.
We hope to spend some time with the handset at Samsung's event in London in a few weeks time, so keep your eyes peeled for our hands on Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini review.
Or are you just standing further away from the S4?
Samsung has taken the surprising route of announcing the phone-we-all-knew-about Galaxy S4 mini ahead of the expected launch event in June.
The new S4 mini packs a number of top end features in a diminutive package, with things like S Translate, Group Play and an upgraded camera system. However, it does away with a lot of the 'innnovation' so Smart Scroll and friends don't seem to have got a look in (which, if you read our review, is a good thing).
In terms of hardware it's as expected: a Super AMOLED qHD (960 x 540) 4.3-inch screen sits on top of a polycarbonate phone (coming in White Frost and Black Mist... or white and black) with dimensions of 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94mm. It's going to be super light too, with a weight of just 107g.
All the speeds
Coming in both 4G and 3G flavours, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini will have a dual core processor clocked at 1.7GHz, although the South Korean brand hasn't confirmed whether this will be the expected Snapdragon 400 or an older S4 chip – the former would really help the phone whip along through the arduous tasks thrust on it by a modern smartphone user. Or a parent prodding at the new phone bought by their offspring.
Samsung has delivered a strong nod to the recent 'Internal Memory-Gate' (working title) of the Galaxy S4 by noting that while the S4 mini only comes with 8GB of storage, 5GB of that is user accessible and 'may change after a software upgrade'. It does have microSD slot capable of reading cards up to 64GB, and 1.5GB of RAM doesn't sound to shabby at all.
Android 4.2.2 is adorning this little number, so you'll be getting all the fancy menu systems and layouts offered to the S4 proper, and an 8MP camera on the rear should be enough to keep you snapping happily too.
It's a mini adventure
Is it better than the Galaxy S3 mini, which we weren't overly impressed by? In like for like terms, of course it is, with nearly everything upgraded. However, the clarity of the screen is the same as the predecessor, something we had an issue with, and we can't help but wonder if Samsung has done enough to the phone to make sure that the dual core processor can handle all the new elements that Samsung us throwing in.
The good news is we'll have our answer in the not-too-distant future, with the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini on show at the 20 June event in London. We sadly don't have a release date just yet, nor anything approaching a price, but we're going to make it up: The Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available from July 5 and will start at £329 for the 3G version.
