Also see our recent series comparing the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the iPhone 5: Part 1 and Part 2.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of the most sought after smartphones of the year. It’s a high-end device that packs pretty much the highest possible hardware specs at this point in time. Software-wise it’s not too shabby either, the smartphone comes pre-loaded with Android 4.2.2 (the latest version of the OS) and a lot of Samsung-designed apps and customizations.
Nevertheless, the SGS4 covers just one market segment, and as we all know, the mobile market is comprised of mid and low-range devices as well. Being one of the biggest manufacturers out there, Samsung has all the price points covered. With the Samsung Galaxy S brand practically selling itself, coming up with a similar branding for a mid-range series of devices was pretty much a no-brainer, hence the Samsung Galaxy SX Mini line-up (where X=3, and more recently, 4).
With the above being said, let’s take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and see what we can expect from this particular device once it hits the shelves, according to rumors.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini – Purported Specs
The Galaxy S4 Mini is the smaller sibling of the Samsung Galaxy S4, but apart from a handful of similar design cues, the two don’t have a whole lot in common.
According to leaks and rumors, the Galaxy S4 Mini will feature a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display boasting a resolution of 540 x 960 and a pixel density of 256 ppi. The device is pretty much dwarfed by its more powerful counterpart, which packs a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 441 ppi.
In terms of processing power, there are still a few unknowns surrounding the SGS4 Mini. What we know so far based on leaked information is that the handset should be retailed in two main variants, one of which would boast dual-SIM capabilities. Reports have also indicated that the CPU will differ on these two models, the single-SIM variant packing a quad-core processor, with its dual-SIM sibling hiding a dual-core CPU under the hood.
The device will also feature 8/16/32 GB of internal storage (expandable by up to 32 GB via microSD), and 1 GB of RAM. That’s half of what the full-sized Galaxy S4 has to offer (16/32/64 GB storage, 64 GB microSD, 2 GB of RAM).
Lastly, the Mini will allegedly sport an 8 MP rear-facing camera (which is 5 MP lower than Galaxy S4′s 13 MP sensor), and run on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. In other words, the OS version is one of the most notable similarities between these 4.3 and 5 inch Galaxy S smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini – Release Date Rumors
Same as the S4, sources have reported that the SGS4 Mini will be launched in two flavors: White Frost and Black Mist. As to when exactly this gadget will go on sale, unfortunately nothing has been confirmed thus far. Nonetheless, reports claim that the device will most likely hit the shelves at the end of May or beginning of June, following an official unveiling that should take place sometime soon.
Do you consider the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini to be a worthy low(er) budget alternative to the high-end Samsung flagship? Feel free to share your opinions by leaving a comment below.
Vlad Andrici is editor for gforgames.com and writes about technology issues.