SUBSCRIBE
FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE
No Result
View All Result
  • MOVIES
  • TV
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • COMICS
  • SNEAKERS
  • TOYS
  • VIDEO
  • WIN
Fortress of Solitude
No Result
View All Result

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini - Header

Home > Tech > Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini: Review

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini: Review

Evan SaundersbyEvan Saunders
November 5, 2013
in Tech

In 2012, Samsung released the Galaxy SIII Mini, which provided a low-end solution based on the design of the Galaxy SIII. While some of the hardware matched that of the original Galaxy S, the SIII Mini provided sufficient features and capabilities that would fill a gap otherwise unable to by the Galaxy Ace and Galaxy Pocket. Having achieved some level off success with the device, Samsung released the updated version a short while after the flagship, Galaxy S4. The successor, the Galaxy S4 Mini, is proof that there is definitely a market for users seeking smaller screened devices, but is the Mini just a watered down attempt at mimicking the larger, flagship device, and will pricing be the deciding factor when making your choice?

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini - Back Front

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini resembles the look and feel of the Galaxy S4, with its glossy, polycarbonate plastic rear cover and plastic chrome edging. While the plastic does not feel as cheap as you would expect, the rear cover is something of a fingerprint magnet, requiring a wipe down after every use. Other similarities include the button layout, front sensors and camera, colours, and positioning of all ports. Picture a squashed Galaxy S4. The design may be a lot smaller than the original, but it is much easier to use in one hand.
The device ‘boasts’ a 4.3” qHD Super AMOLED display with a 960x540px resolution at 256ppi; lacking substantially below the S4 at almost double the pixel density. The colours may be bright and sharp, the resolution does not deliver much performance in terms of viewing images, videos, or running any graphics intensive games. Additionally, fonts are often too small within apps, which become pixelated as you increase its size.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini - Angles

It is supposed that the S4 Mini provides similar hardware and software features as its higher-end big brother, but a closer look under the hood may reveal something quite different. Although there are different variants of the device, the i9190 is common in South Africa, which doesn’t include features such as LTE and NFC found in the i9195 model (only recently released), but does include an IR blaster. The S4 Mini sports a Qualcomm Dual-Core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, 1.5GB RAM, 8/16GB internal storage (5/13GB usable), microSD port, 1.9MP front-facing and 8MP rear-facing cameras, and modest 1900mAh removable battery.

For standard use, the S4 Mini performed admirably, but suffers strain at times for more power intensive apps and games, which stutter for a few frames before returning to normal frame rates. The device ships with Android 4.2 and Samsung’s latest version of its TouchWiz UI, although slightly watered down, and often cluttered appearance. While the running the most recent firmware offers users a few additional features, it often appears to be too bulky to be used as with the normal S4. For this reason, Samsung have removed much of the features found on the S4, such as Air Gestures, Air View, Mutli-Window, Smart Pause, Smart Rotation, Smart Scroll, and NFC (as previously mentioned). These features may even be superfluous even to those running the full TouchWiz UI on the S4, and would have dramatically decreased the limited performance we already observe on the S4 Mini.



Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini - Specs

Battery life on the S4 Mini, for normal use, is often better than many of the other devices I’ve tested previously. Running a lower-specced smartphone aids the overall performance, which often has a battery life of at least two days. On the odd occasion, I could operate the device for a full three days before reaching critical levels. This, for me, was one of the standout aspects of S4 Mini.

The S4 Mini’s 8MP rear-facing camera also has a pretty decent performance, on par with many of the other leading devices, but only in well-lit shots. This means that outdoor imagery is a breeze, and looks bright and crisp. In poorly-lit areas, however, the device starts showing its ‘budget’ status, with images becoming grainier the less light there is. Unless you’re positioned at the perfect angle, you’ll often struggle to find the ideal photo under indoor room lighting.



Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini - S3 Mini vs S4 Mini
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini vs S4 Mini

One of the major challenges of launches a Mini variant of any device is that it doesn’t compete against the company’s other low-end devices, or even the previous generation flagship. This is exactly the case for Samsung, as there are already a few budget smartphones within their roster, not to mention the, now, lower price point of the Galaxy S3, which still manages to hold its own against some of the leading contenders; something you won’t find on the Galaxy S4 Mini. It’s no surprise, then, that the S4 Mini hasn’t been fairing too well in the market compared to the S3 Mini, which was more of a novel idea at the time.

After all is said and done, the device still has a few pretty decent features thrown in that you won’t find on the other budget smartphones, even from Samsung’s perspective. This makes for a quite a conundrum for Samsung, as the device’s potential is there to be seen, but without many sales, there’s no doubt why Samsung has lowered the pricing in some regions. A really enjoyed the Galaxy S4 Mini, and I would definitely recommend one if you manage to find a good deal during the festive season (below the R4,500 RRP), and you’re not willing to dish out on a new S4.

You can find the full specifications here.



ShareTweetSend
ADVERTISEMENT

POPULAR

  • The 15 Most Powerful Anime Characters Of All Time

    The 15 Most Powerful & Strongest Anime Characters Of All Time

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 10 Best Anime Series Of All-Time

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The 15 Most Powerful Characters In The Marvel Universe

    26 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 12 Most Powerful Characters In The DC Universe

    180 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Wyatt Russell Receiving Death Threats For John Walker Captain America

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Related Posts

Crucial X6 Portable SSD Review – Small Enough to Fit in Your Pocket
Tech

Crucial X6 Portable SSD Review – Small Enough to Fit in Your Pocket

April 21, 2021
Dave Bautista Is Begging Warner Bros. To Play Bane
Movies

Dave Bautista Is Begging Warner Bros. To Play Bane

by Caryn Ganess
April 21, 2021
Netflix Shadow and Bone Review
TV Series

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone Review – Honest Opinion

by Sergio Pereira
April 21, 2021
adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 Bright Blue Available this Weekend
Sneakers

adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 Bright Blue Available this Weekend

by Evan Saunders
April 21, 2021
Watch Mortal Kombat 2021 Review
Movies

WATCH The First 7 Minutes of The Mortal Kombat Movie

by Staff Writer
April 20, 2021
ADVERTISEMENT

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fortress of Solitude

Fortress of Solitude

Fortress of Solitude has become one of the most popular geek entertainment interest websites in South Africa and covers news and reviews on movies, games, comic books, gadgets, TV series, toys, sneakers and more.

The articles on Fortress of Solitude are written by a group of talented, professional and experienced freelance writers, all experts and leaders in their various fields.

Categories

  • Board Games
  • Books
  • Comic Books
  • Competitions
  • Gaming
  • Internet
  • Movies
  • Podcast
  • Sneakers
  • Tech
  • Toys
  • TV Series

Newsletter

Sign up for news in your inbox.

  • For more information on COVID-19
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy & Site Disclaimer
  • Contact Fortress of Solitude

© 2021 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. Registered in South Africa. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Comics
  • Sneakers
  • Toys
  • Video
  • Win
  • Contact

© 2021 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. Registered in South Africa. All Rights Reserved.