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It seems like 4.3 inches is the new mini, as Android’s premier OEMs are launching devices of that size with the “Mini” tag on them to help fill out sectors of the device market that demand such a product. I’m talking about devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Mini, as well as the newly-announced HTC One Mini. How does the latter stack up to the beast it’s named after? And how does the HTC One Mini fare up against the stiff competition that is the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini? Let’s find out.
HTC One Mini
HTC has officially announced the Mini version of its 2013 flagship Android device. Fittingly dubbed the HTC One Mini (pictured on the right in the graphic below), this little guy packs some decent power and should come in at a decent price. It’s a 4.3-inch smartphone with a 720p HD display, Android 4.2 with HTC Sense 5, Qualcomm’s 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, HTC’s UltraPixel camera with Zoe, a 1.6MP front-facing camera, 16GB of internal storage and more.
Oh, and despite it getting a bit shrunken HTC still kept room for those beast-like BoomSound stereo speakers with Beats Audio featured on the front. If you’re skeptical as to how good these speakers can sound, I suggest you walk into your nearest carriers’ store (well, except Verizon right now) and give it a try for yourself.
HTC One
Of course, it doesn’t quite hold a candle to the beast it’s based on — the HTC One (pictured on the left in the graphic above). Our HTC One review tells it all, but here’s a quick primer on the specs of that device for you:
- 4.7-inch 1080p Super LCD 3 display
- Android 4.1 with Sense 5 (will be upgraded to Android 4.2 soon)
- Qualcomm’s 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor
- 2GB of RAM
- HTC UltraPixel camera with Zoe, and a 2.1MP front-facing camera
- 32GB or 64GB of internal storage
- HTC BoomSound with Beats
- ….and more
The device is highly regarded as HTC’s best work yet, and it shows in every nook, cranny and crevice of its body. The aluminum build, tight curves and simplistic design make it something you are proud to show off to the world. Of course, such a great device comes with a price tag which is considerably more expensive than lesser offerings like the aforementioned Mini variant. You get what you pay for, they say, and all I know is that you get a whole lot of oomph for the money you’d spend on this thing.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
While we’re at it, why not look at the HTC One Mini’s direct competition? Samsung’s “mini” variant is also closely based on the design of the Galaxy S4, and like the HTC One and One Mini, the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini isn’t quite as powerful as its bigger brother. (Read our Samsung Galaxy S4 review to find out just how powerful that is.) That said, its purpose as a low-cost, yet viable, option for those who don’t want a huge (or hugely expensive) smartphone is fulfilled quite nicely.
The Galaxy S4 Mini houses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 processor, and a dual-core SoC clocked at 1.7GHz. Other specs include a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 display, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card slot), an 8 megapixel rear camera with a 1.9MP front camera, Android 4.2 with Nature UX and more.
Battle of the Minis
So who wins the Mini battle here? Well… it’s tough to say. Each OEM had to cut a couple of corners to keep costs down. For HTC, the slightly weaker processor, less RAM, and lower internal storage made way to keep that UltraPixel camera, HD resolution and that same high quality build. For the S4 Mini, what you lack in storage and resolution is made up for with a beefier processor, a microSD card slot, more RAM and the ability to keep a respectable camera on there. The trade-offs are clear.
It’s a wash, really. Folks will have to get both in their hands and see how it feels for themselves, and if you still can’t decide then close your eyes, set a budget, and see which one gets closest to the price point you feel more comfortable with.
[polldaddy poll=7260059]
Of course, if you have the room in your budget I’d say spring for the regular HTC One and Galaxy S4, but these are some very fine alternatives otherwise. Who do you think wins in the end? Drop a vote in the poll, and leave a comment letting us know which one of these small guys you’d end up taking if you were to wake up craving a mini phone one day.
Im being honest here as a samsung fan. Looks wise, The One looks better as far as mini versions go. I mean look at the GS4 mini.. freakin ugly. I think GS4 full size does look better than the One tho.
Yeah it’s pretty interesting in terms of what each thinks is “Mini”… the One Mini shaves off dramatically less.
In terms of looks, I have to say the HTC One – and by extension the Mini since it seems to be a carbon copy scaled down – is one of the sexiest phones I’ve seen in ages.
I don’t think the S4 Mini looks bad, but scaled down, it seems resemble a more midrange phone. The HTC One has such beautiful and original design elements that even smaller, it still stands out.
Specs-wise… just like the full S4 vs One… close call. I think in this case it mostly depends on how small of a device you want.
What are options in the poll?
one mini vs s4 full?
Please correct or just remove….
Sorry about that. Corrected!
I think the mini looks great …I can’t wait to see how it performs.
HTC One mini has a better display and more storage. Galaxy S4 mini has the rest (SD slot, CPU, RAM, smaller size) better.
both are a waste of time.
I’m a GS3 owner. If I needed a replacement today, I would get the full-size One.
LOL the pictures above are of the s3 mini not the s4 mini. Nice job!
I noticed that, good catch.
All of Samsung’s phones look the same anyway, so I don’t see that it really matters that much.
Samsung Galaxy S mini series SUCKS, period.
if the s mini sucks, what does that make the htc with much less features.
Because its not all about crappy features and ugly looking touchwiz, some people actually like things like build quality and better aesthetics, as well as better speakers and android skin
That’s all entirely subjective.
Yea, it is, and check out the poll 60% (hTC mini) vs. 18% (Samsung Mini). At least 60% of people have similar taste.
Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions, I voted for the HTC One Mini, not because I prefer sense, their speakers or am obsessed with the idea that aluminum equals better build quality, but because of the screen resolution and internal memory of the S4 mini. I actually own the S4 and find it better than the HTC One in most ways, front facing speakers I will admit I like though.
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How powerful must a smartphone
be, considering most these quad cores cannot even play basic 2D games
without stuttering and lag…The S4 mini is plenty fast enough and can
handle smoothly most games the “Beasts” can’t…plus it has probably the
best direct sunlight readability, and great audio all in a comfortable
to hold package.
The screen alone would make the S mini suck. 540p screen? Did Samsung really have to skimp on the screen to be sub-720p? It’s 2013… I’d think every new smartphone (especially Android!) should have a 720p screen by now.
It does not suck. I wouldn’t mind getting stuck with Galaxy S mini. But the sexiness of HTC one mini is undeniable. It’s a hands down winner to me.
Why is everyone voting for the one Mini? Sure, it has better speakers and a bit sharper screen, but the rest of the specs don’t measure up. One gig of ram in 2013? No NFC? 16 GB Internal storage, with no SD card – not enough for most people, smaller battery, lesser camera, and a completely retarded navigation button setup. The S4 Mini also has an IR Blaster which HTC cut out. And, if you’re buying these devices because you want a small but still good phone, well, the one Mini’s Dimensions are much larger than the S4 Mini’s – it barley counts as a small phone.
starts with M and ends with L
“MagicaL MetaL. Ooooo Shiny. HuurrrrDurrrrrr.”
I’m guessing that people are voting for the One Mini because that’s their preference.
i agree and ive been and still am using htc but the one mini is not a mini especially when compared to the desire hd i still use which was considered to be big back 3 years ago. i know that the s4 mini skimped on the screen but if your after a smaller mobile then id go with the s4 mini as it looks great and keeps a reasonable sized screen onto a smaller shell.
How can you count “No NFC”? Are you saying the S4 Mini HAS NFC? It wasn’t on the chart.
8GB internal? Hope you don’t plan on downloading apps. Although I agree with your expandable since you WILL need it. 16GB internal is not enough anyways. That’s a moot point to me. So I won’t go further on that.
Don’t even get me started on the camera. The Mini is keeping the SAME camera that’s in the HTC One. smaller size, yet WAY better sensors. It’s also keeping it’s speakers and Beats.
Button setup? Yes. I totally agree. HTC F’d that one up. How many times have I held home thinking that was my multitasking?
Size-wize, I agree with you. It doesn’t seem like it’s much smaller. Those few mm would help me with typing landscape. But it’s not really much different.
You cant knock the one mini for not having nfc which the s4 mini lacks as well. Also you can brush it off as a “bit sharper screen” and then act like 1gb of ram vs 1.5 gb of ram is some crazy gap… And you are actually wrong about the 16gb thing, not that i think it should be 16 gb it should be more but 16gb is actually enough for most people. The people who max out with sd cards are in the minority. The One’s camera is worse than the Mini’s? Not that i’ve done comparison shots so i could be wrong but I do not think that the S4 mini has the same exact camera as the GS4. IR blaster is far from mainstream.
They are both decent phones, don’t act like one is head and shoulders above another… they are both competitive mid range devices.
***comment removed by the NSA***
I’d go for the one mini, I like just like htc’s build quality and sense 5 more so than touchwiz.
How powerful must a smartphone be, considering most these quad cores cannot even play basic 2D games without stuttering and lag…The S4 mini is plenty fast enough and can handle smoothly most games the “Beasts” can’t…plus it has probably the best direct sunlight readability, and great audio all in a comfortable to hold package.
What do you expect when you’re filling 1080p with mobile hardware. PCs use hundreds of watts to fill 1080p when your phone uses something around 1 or 2.
You know that’s not just the phone’s fault, right? The game has to be properly optimized as well. If not,then you’d need trucklords of GPU power to force it to run good. LoL!!
I’d prefer the HTC one mini’s screen
The one mini is barely that much smaller than the one also spec wise the only thing the one mini has over the s4 mini is the screen otherwise faster cpu, more ram, ir blaster, nfc, storage all in favour of the s4 mini and the fact that the s4 mini is actually a smaller device and not just barely smaller.. Look wise the one mini looks much much better but I feel lack of ois with the 4mp camera will mmean not the greatest of camera.. The reason the og and lumia lines have great low light photography has lots to do with ois and also the 1gb ram I fear for too.. Again like with the bigger versions it all comes down to what you want.. Personally I see the s4 mini as more of a mini device rather than the htc one mini.. HTC one mini really isn’t that much smaller and for a 4.3″ device it’s quite big.
I guess it all depends on whether you prefer the One’s Mini superior build quality and its 720p screen or if you prefer a the microSD card slot and NFC support on the GS4 Mini. Otherwise, they seem to be the same; though, in my opinion I think a much better screen is better than NFC. 720p is three times the resolution that is qHD after all.
Yes. After using 480p for 2 years, I REFUSE to use something less than 720p. I never realized how much stuff can fit on a 1080p screen. Now I see the whole rage back then when 720p phones were coming out. LoL!!
No one use the NFC feature anyway so ill go with the better screen and build.
Meh vs Meh = Meh
Ill go with the one mini.8 months from now samsung will forget the s4 mini like what happend to the note 2, its not even a year old and it seems like samsung already forgotte them.
What’s up with hyping these phones
What I meant to say was what’s up with hyping phones like these, or the Moto X, as “nice alternatives at a reasonable price” when the specs are only marginally better – if they’re better at all – than the 18-month-old Galaxy Nexus, and the specs can’t touch the DNA which, at various times, has been available for the “reasonable price” of FREE! Yet, once those phones entered this league, they were soundly ignored.
Great information dear. some more stuff about Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 to share
sexy htc one mini……I can’t believe they all like to tag mini to those phones. 4″ is huge and more than big enough for me. I don’t use a man purse, so it’s just the right size for my pocket. You really can’t go wrong with either mini. I just prefer the skin on the htc one.
Even though I prefer the processor, ram and sd card of the S4 Mini, the screen resolution kills it, anything less than a 720P screen is unacceptable for me. Also the tiny 8GB internal memory is a killer, is their going to be any internal storage on that thing? I have the 16GB S4 and Samsung’s Touchwiz and bloat takes up a huge amount of memory.
More like Samsung had made a successor to the HTC One S, LOL! S4 mini has very similar specs and the same AMOLED panel. (Samsung manufactured the screen of the One S).
Funny how people are saying more internal memory is better here when elsewhere people are saying how HTC has no external memory. S4 mini has up to 64GB microSD support.
“more respectable camera”. I know a lot of people who dislike the ultrapixel camera of the One but still it’s not like Samsung has any better low light performance. You’ll find yourself in “low light” much more often than you think. Many times my camera prefers the lower shutter speeds and overexposing your images slightly, even if there is quite a bit of light (you can change this in settings but it takes some time not like on a DSLR where you just scroll a wheel).