Samsung galaxy s3 mini description. Review of the mini version of the flagship - Samsung Galaxy S III mini. A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other

Samsung Galaxy The S III Mini is by no means a device for the technically concerned part of the audience. Rather, for those who want to trust brands and not delve into details.

Specifications

Launched at the end of 2012, the Galaxy S III Mini received a fresh version of the operating system. Android systems 4.1 Jelly Bean, and with it new useful features.

Unlike the most technologically advanced Samsung smartphone of 2012, the mini S III has a dual-core processor. Despite having half the number of cores, it (namely the NovaThor U8420 chipset) provides high performance and also has a better impact on time battery life. But under average loads, the battery capacity is enough for two days of work. Despite all this, the Galaxy S III Mini falls short of the title of flagship model for fans of small screen diagonals: its screen resolution is only 480x800 pixels, and a five-megapixel camera is by no means a flagship figure for today.

Specifications Galaxy S III Mini
operating system	Android 4.1.1
Dimensions and weight	121.6 x 63 x 9.9 mm, 111.5 g
Display	Super AMOLED, 4 inches, 800x480 pixels (pixel density 233 ppi)
CPU	dual-core, NovaThor U8420 ( clock frequency 1 GHz)
Memory	1 GB RAM, 8/16 GB, micro SD support
Camera	5 MP (2592x1944), flash, autofocus, HD video recording
Communications	Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, A-GPS, Bluetooth
Battery	1500 mAh

The performance of the smartphone is ultimately quite good high level, however, in tests it is inferior to some of its competitors. In particular, Acer CloudMobile S500 is in both Vellamo and AnTuTu, and Huawei P1 is only in AnTuTu.

Appearance

The camera also copes quite well with video shooting.

Example of a video taken Samsung camera Galaxy S III Mini

Competitive environment

Among smartphones for 4000 UAH, the Galaxy S III Mini looks tiny. Its closest competitors, Acer Cloudmobile, Huawei Ascend P1 and last year's flagship Samsung Galaxy S II are equipped with 4.3-inch displays, and the first two also have a decent screen resolution. They also surpass the Galaxy S III Mini in performance, but are inferior to it in battery life. Also, Acer and Huawei cannot boast of their own shell - but this is a matter of taste. Some people prefer naked Android, who cares? Samsung TouchWiz, to whom - HTC Sense.

If the average screen size is an important criterion for choosing a smartphone, then the Galaxy S III Mini will only have to compete with the Sony XPERIA P for the buyer’s wallet. Both smartphones have displays with a diagonal of 4 inches, and Sony has the best resolution (screen and camera) and even a metal body with a very interesting design. XPERIA smartphone P was released on the almost prehistoric version of Android OS 2.3, but should have already been updated to 4.0.

A comparison table of smartphone capabilities in the UAH 4,000 category looks like this.

Bottom line

In essence, the Galaxy S III Mini is a cocktail of a flagship name and design, a fresh version of the operating system, high performance, and other fillings at the middle class level. At the same time, the device is characterized by enormous charisma, the origins of which, as it seemed to me, are in the very successful shape of the body and the polished TouchWiz shell. And the highlight of this model is Android versions 4.1, which is not yet available to competitors and, of course, a name with which the smartphone, as they say, will go far. At the same time, the price tag of 4,000 UAH eloquently hints that the buyer will have to pay part of this amount just for the “S III” in the name, and not for tangible technical advantages. After all, the same Acer Cloudmobile or Huawei P1 with better performance, screen resolution and camera will cost the same amount.

4 reasons to buy Galaxy S III Mini:

• very natural body shape;
• Android 4.1 and high performance;
• autonomy is above average;
• It's also a bit of an S III.

3 reasons not to buy the Galaxy S III Mini:

• low screen resolution for its price category;
• the screen lock and Home keys are faintly visible on the body;
• Low camera resolution for its price category.

Today we present to your attention wonderful device Samsung Galaxy S3 mini. We have previously written a review of a device from this line, namely
, which is designed for 2 SIM cards. Why is it remarkable? this phone? We can say right away that it is suitable for those who are looking for a basic smartphone for work without any bells and whistles. The average price in retail stores varies around 10,000 rubles, but you can find it cheaper.

The smartphone is packed in a thick cardboard box white. On the front there is an image of S3 mini, the inscription of the model and the company name. On the back of the box are its technical specifications.

The package includes primarily a smartphone. The color range is not wide - black and white. The outline of the gadget resembles a stone - small, but also very beautiful. All this adds to the stylishness of the device. By weight Samsung galaxy s3 mini easy. It is comfortable to use even with one hand. But I want to immediately put the glossy back panel in a case to protect it from scratches, traces of dirt and dust. Removing the back panel is scary, as there is a feeling that one awkward movement will crack.

In addition, in the box you will find a quick user guide and other useful documentation; good quality micro USB cable; Charger with output current 700 mA. In the kit you can also find headphones with a headset that has a volume control and a power button. They come with additional ear pads for headphones.

Behind Samsung galaxy s3 mini There is a 5 megapixel camera peephole with a diode flash. The speaker is also slightly offset compared to the S3. I would like to note that it is excellent - the sound quality is good and loud enough. The speaker is not much different from the original S3 version, despite the fact that it is the Mini version.

On top there is a jack for a standard 3.5 mm headphone input and a jack for opening back cover. On the right is the on/off unlock button, which is a little misaligned, making it a little inconvenient to use, but perhaps this is a matter of habit.

At the bottom there is a connector for micro USB cable and a regular microphone. On the left side you can find a solid rocker for adjusting the volume, which is also somewhat inconveniently located.

Specifications

The device runs on a dual-core NovaThor U8420 processor (clock frequency 1 GHz) and a Mali 400 graphics accelerator (coprocessor), so there are no problems with video. The base is Android 4.1.2 “Jelly Bean”, which works great. No slowdowns were noticed behind him. To the owner Samsung Galaxy S3 mini you should count on 1 GB random access memory and 8 GB internal memory, which can be expanded using memory cards up to 64 GB. Of the 8 GB, perhaps 5-5.5 GB will be available.

The weak point is the 1500 mAh battery, which is objectively small, although the manufacturer claims that the phone will work for 470 minutes in 3G mode. In fact, everything is still better than AnTuTu Tester showed. In video playback mode Samsung galaxy s3 mini gives 7 hours, naturally, at maximum brightness in HD quality. This is a very good indicator, since its larger brother Galaxy S3 plays 7.5 hours. There are absolutely no problems with the lifespan of this phone, despite the small battery. Extending the charge for two days is more than realistic.

S3 mini vs S3

If we compare the S3 mini with the regular S3 original version, we will see the following difference between them:

1. With 3 mini the thickness is a little thicker, although this does not affect the convenience in any way.
2. But at the same time, S3 mini is smaller in width.
3. The diagonal has decreased - from 4.8 inches to 4 inches.
4. The LED flash is located below the main camera.

Otherwise, of course, there can be no complaints regarding ease of use, since all forms are preserved and even the corners are smoothed; the controls are in the same places and the dimensions are preserved.

Screen

The smartphone has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen that displays 16 million colors. The expansion due to the size of the device is not so large 480*800 pixels.

• Oblique lines appear ugly, which is visible during normal use at normal distances. This fact really spoils the impression.
• The quality of the display leaves much to be desired.
• Very inconvenient keyboard due to very small buttons.

• Color rendition is good.
• Super AMOLED.

Camera

The camera in the C3 mini is the most common - HD 5 megapixels with autofocus. Video is recorded in 720p resolution (30 frames per second). The front camera is 0.3 MP, which can also record video.

Unfortunately, photos with LED flash don't look very good, but you need to remember that this is not a smartphone for high-quality photos. It is taken for other purposes.

Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy s3 mini is a device that justifies the money you spend on it, but it has its pros and cons, which we will discuss below.

• Display.
• Lack of light sensor.
• Some may not like the materials on the rear glossy case.
• Camera.

• Ease of use.
• Compactness.
• Stylish appearance.
• Great time of life.
• The hardware will allow you to play more or less difficult games.

Video

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini review

Samsung has decided to release the Galaxy S III mini. From the title it would seem clear that a copy should be waiting for us large smartphone on a slightly reduced scale. In fact, it turned out that Samsung resorted to a trick that consisted of exploiting the name of a hit phone.

The company decided to present its lightweight version under the guise of a simplified flagship. The new product looks like a smaller Galaxy S III - the body shape and color are the same. The characteristics have also become more modest, but the cost has also been noticeably reduced. The new product seems to hint that you have a small hi-end phone. However, it is not so small and the most productive Samsung device in the line, when compared by screen diagonal. But let's talk about design.

Design

You don't need to be particularly insightful to figure out the source of inspiration for a model's appearance. Details of the Galaxy S III are easily recognizable - from the button with a metal outline on the front panel to the “metal” strip that surrounds the side edges of the smartphone. Oddly enough, I would like to find fault with the beveled edges - they were not reduced in accordance with the proportions of the body, but were left the same as in the large Galaxy S III. As a result, the smartphone seems to be overly striving for an ellipse rather than a thin rectangle. And because of its smooth coating and white color, it even resembles an elongated “remnant”.

The ergonomics of the Galaxy S III mini are excellent. However, you wouldn’t expect anything else from a company that can make even devices with 5-inch screens convenient. The thickness is 9.9 mm, which is a good indicator for devices in its price category and with a 4-inch screen. There's actually a good balance between ridge height and a comfortable fit in the palm. Of course, I was pleased with the weight - only 111.5 grams and it does not weigh on the palm and is barely felt in the pocket.

The main material is glossy plastic, whose soilability interests us mainly in the context of the back cover. It is varnished, and therefore quickly and abundantly becomes covered with fingerprints. But it is not very noticeable due to the white color.

It was not possible to form a final opinion on the build quality due to the fact that we have a test sample. Mainly, when squeezing, squeaks appeared in the upper part of the body, but in commercial batches the defects will most likely be leveled out.

Despite the general similarity with its “big brother,” the Galaxy S III mini has many differences in details, as well as very controversial decisions. We will talk about them in detail in the next section.

Connectors and controls

The peculiarity of the Galaxy S III mini is that the front camera, light and proximity sensors are located to the left of the speaker.

Our example with a white body fully preserves the disease of the older model with a similar color.

The two touch keys are not highlighted at all; only the backlight reminds of their purpose after direct contact. Moreover, as we remember, the blue case of the Galaxy S III does not have this drawback. I wasn't too pleased with the central physical button. The fact is that the metal contour is motionless - only the central white pad is pressed. This creates some discomfort due to a slight “cutting” effect. On the other hand, in principle, the presence of a physical button is a noticeable plus. It’s easy to find by touch, and there are two more buttons on the sides that are intuitively perceived - Samsung brand loyalists will not complain about the need to change habits.

If we had no complaints about the ergonomics of the case as such, the location of the buttons on the ends turned out to be not ideal.

On the right is the phone's on/off key. In principle, its installation “under the finger” depends on the specific person and cannot be the subject of objective criticism.

But the volume rocker is somewhat low - you have to lower your index finger to use the keys.

The top side of the smartphone contains only a 3.5 mm headset jack.

At the bottom, even by exclusion, one can assume the presence of a microUSB connector and a microphone slot.

On the back there are two parallel openings for the system speakers to the left of the camera, and an LED flash is installed directly below it.

However, the most interesting design tricks are found under the hood. To begin with, an unusual choice with the ability to change the SIM card without removing the battery - this does not happen often.

But the presence of microSD under the battery looks even more unusual. It has a somewhat unusual mount - the card is held by the body itself. How to install it correctly is shown by a small instruction printed directly on the back side. printed circuit board. Nothing complicated if you understand the two steps. But, of course, the need to remove the battery to change the card cannot be called an optimal solution.

If you close your eyes to the flaws in certain moments, the Galaxy S III mini cannot be accused of being too thoughtless in its attention to detail. Rather, our expectations were not met in relation to the hit progenitor.

Screen

The smartphone was not a special discovery in terms of display - the Super AMOLED matrix has already been reviewed by us several times at different models. Large viewing angles and rich colors, coupled with acceptable readability in the sun, are the most notable features of the technology used. With a diagonal of 4 inches, a resolution of 480x800 pixels means a pixel density of 233 ppi. If you have not dealt with HD smartphones before, picture clarity will not cause any issues. After getting acquainted with this year's flagships, some pixelation still catches the eye.

The display supports up to five simultaneous touches.

Galaxy S III in July disappointed us with a brightness of only 167 cd/m2. The S III mini fares even worse - 156.53 cd/m2 with the same display technology. It is not surprising that in sunny weather the picture becomes illegible. The brightness of the black point due to Super AMOLED technology is zero, which means the contrast tends to infinity.

During Galaxy test The S III failed to wow us with actual screen color temperature measurements. In its mini version, a relatively smooth graph is observed, not counting the small 10% drop that occurs on all screens. In the rest of the interval it slowly tends to the reference level, but does not fall below the 7000K level. Therefore, a shift in balance towards blue is inevitable.

Gamma measurements became almost a copy of the Galaxy S III graph. We are again faced with a significant “overexposure”, designed to artificially increase the insufficient real brightness of the display.

Camera

The smartphone's photography capabilities do not in any way claim to be flagship ones. On the back cover there is a 5-megapixel “eye” capable of producing frames with a resolution of 2592x1944 pixels. The maximum resolution for video recording is 1280x720 pixels, although the original Galaxy S III is capable of shooting FullHD video without any problems. There is autofocus and flash.

We have repeatedly seen the camera interface from Samsung’s point of view in other smartphones of the company; the Galaxy S3 mini did not become a fulcrum for the implementation of radical new ideas. Familiar options like ISO and white balance are side by side with additions like a variety of shooting modes and effects.

The resulting frames clearly indicate high-quality optics installed in the smartphone. First of all, the Galaxy S III mini managed to take excellent pictures in the evening - the result is immediately indistinguishable from a barely cloudy day. There are no complaints about the detail of the images and macro photography. Perhaps, since no smartphone with a 5-megapixel module has demonstrated such high-quality photography.

The compliment, of course, does not concern the front camera.

Unfortunately, video recording does not deserve the same praise. The videos turned out with a pronounced lack of detail.

The front camera showed a picture corresponding to the declared 0.3 MP.

Characteristics

Considering that we have in our hands a device that “claims” to be related to the best-selling Samsung smartphone, it was impossible to avoid their direct comparison. It’s all the more interesting to find out what compromises users will have to endure for the money they save, in addition to a smaller screen.

According to their own Galaxy specifications The S III mini appears to us as a completely ordinary smartphone of the current middle class. From a software point of view, the model is notable for the presence of Android 4.1 out of the box. However, Google, with its characteristic haste, has already released 4.2, again making a feasible contribution to the fragmentation of the platform. We hope that the current version of the system will arrive on the Galaxy S III mini without delays.

If you close your eyes to the lack of LTE support, then from the rest wireless standards there is the widest possible list. Here is the fourth generation of Bluetooth, NFC, and a full list of Wi-Fi specifications. And there is even support for the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation. True, it is not very justified. A pedestrian will not be able to appreciate the advantages of the paired work of GLONASS and GPS, and a motorist is unlikely to consider a 4-inch smartphone as a replacement for a navigator.

“Hardware” resembles a mandatory set of any more or less decent smartphone. So this is a dual-core NovaThor processor with a frequency of 1.0 GHz. At the same time, the older Galaxy S III boasts a 1.4 GHz quad-core chip made by Samsung. However, both processors are equipped with a Mali graphics chip. As we can see, the Mali-400MP is not the fastest graphics solution.

Now about the main thing - what is the model from the Galaxy S III, and what was the reason for the mention of “mini”. LTE was taken away from us, the processor was “cut down” from four to two cores, camera parameters were reduced and battery capacity was reduced. Although the last point is controversial - with a discount on the screen diagonal. To compensate, they added GLONASS, Android 4.1 and left the display technology. By and large, with the exception of appearance, there are not very many points of intersection with the Galaxy S III. Of course, the dimensions of a smartphone do not allow the same components to be built into it, but the screen could be equipped with a higher resolution - at least 960x540 pixels.

Performance testing

The Novathor U8420 chip manufactured by ST-Ericsson has not been seen on models other than the Galaxy S III mini, which makes it more interesting to evaluate its capabilities. And, despite the difference in the number of cores, we decided to arrange a direct confrontation between “father” and “son”, pitting the Galaxy S III mini against the S III. In theory, the main advantage of a flagship is a more powerful processor.

AnTutu System Review immediately put everything in its place. In all tests based on processor calculations, the S III has a two- and even three-fold advantage. But in the graphics test, both smartphones showed comparable performance, which was to be expected.

Using graphical benchmarks you can clearly judge how much power they need multi-core processor. It turned out that they practically do not need it. With the same graphics chip in electopia, the gap is tiny, and in RD 3D the advantage of one point is entirely on the side of the S III mini.

A browser check confirmed the AnTutu System Review readings. As a result, we can state that the Galaxy S III mini has a sufficient supply of computing power. The only trump card of the older competitor naturally emerged only in “processor” tasks.

At one time during Galaxy review S III, we said that the flagship has a level of battery life on par with the record holder Galaxy Mini 2. So, Galaxy S III mini lagged behind its opponent by only 4 percentage points. No comments are needed - the battery life of the Galaxy S 3 mini is quite good.

Galaxy S3 mini software

As we have already said, the smartphone has Android 4.1 with the unchanged TouchWIZ add-on. Shell abilities, as well as basic ones Android capabilities 4.0, we looked at earlier using the example. Therefore, in order not to repeat ourselves, let’s try using the Galaxy S III mini as an example to familiarize ourselves with the improvements in version 4.1.

First on the list is Google Now, this is a kind of assistant-prompt, working on the basis of an analysis of our behavior. After all, Google, as you know, loves to collect all kinds of information about user activity. To launch the program, select "Google" on the lock screen or hold touch button“Home” by selecting the same inscription. Google Now offers a great variety of messaging options, but to implement them you need to use your smartphone for at least several months. Then the so-called information cards will provide information that is potentially of interest.

The system keyboard received one-button language switching and self-learning prompts for entered words. However, Samsung removed the Android keyboard, so we were not able to test it.

Standard Android browser from now on added Google Chrome, which is especially attractive due to its synchronization function between desktop and mobile versions. Switching between open tabs is very convenient; you just need to flip them like pages left or right.

Google Maps is finally no longer free, but not the most practical service due to the need to connect to the Internet. Users were allowed to select an area on the map and download its map in order to have access even offline. However, not every scale of territory is supported.

Both on Google+ and YouTube client a sliding panel appeared on the left. It gives quick access to the main sections of services and settings.

Android 4.1 ran on the Galaxy S III mini without errors or noticeable delays. However, “super speeds” were also not noticed. Traditionally, not everyone will like the clutter of Samsung programs and services.

Conclusion

If we consider the Samsung Galaxy S III mini in isolation, we see a stylish smartphone for those who seem to want to have the capabilities of advanced phones in reserve. It has a good camera, a medium-sized (but good-quality) screen, and the hardware platform can cope with multimedia tasks and 3D games, and its battery life is quite good.

At the same time, since we are dealing with a stripped-down version of the flagship, as its name clearly indicates, some characteristics could be “tightened up.” For example, increase the processor frequency by 200-400 MHz and raise the screen resolution a little. And it wasn’t worth cutting off the ability to shoot FullHD video. But LTE can be left to the flagships.

In a good way, the smartphone fell into the gap of smartphones where the choice is not too great. However, the cost seems too high and will make the device truly competitive only over time - when Samsung begins to gradually reduce the price tag.

Price

Judging by store prices, the version with 8 GB of memory can be bought for an average of 16,000 rubles. It is not yet possible to purchase the model without going through official sales, so it is too early to think about options for purchasing the Galaxy S III mini at a lower price.

The most interesting thing is that the opponent new Galaxy S III mini features products from Samsung itself. In particular, the official one costs 2-3 thousand more, but offers a 4.3-inch screen, a faster processor, and Android firmware 4.1 they promise him.

Galaxy Advance looks no less interesting - having approximately the same characteristics, it can be found for about 11-12 thousand rubles. But no Android 4.1 or even 4.0 - only 2.3. It is possible that this will not change at all.

If we look towards other manufacturers, then the Chinese Meizu MX could be an interesting analogue. A dual-core model with 16 GB of memory can be purchased for 14-15 thousand. Moreover, the phone has a 4-inch screen, but with a resolution of 640x960 pixels.

Pros:

• attractive design;
• Super AMOLED screen;
• relatively good performance;
• high-quality camera;
• Android 4.1 out of the box with TouchWIZ proprietary shell;
• good autonomy.

Minuses:

• processor frequency could be higher;
• inability to shoot FullHD video;
• low brightness and disturbed white balance of the screen;
• inconvenient location of the memory card slot;
• overcharge.

Samsung Galaxy S III mini software screenshots

Main menu and applications

Wallpaper

Calculator

Alarm

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	63 mm (millimeters) 6.3 cm (centimeters) 0.21 ft (feet) 2.48 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	121.6 mm (millimeters) 12.16 cm (centimeters) 0.4 ft (feet) 4.79 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	9.9 mm (millimeters) 0.99 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.39 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	111 g (grams) 0.25 lbs 3.93 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	75.84 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.61 in³ (cubic inches)

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	45 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	ARM Cortex-A9
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have more high performance compared to 32-bit processors, which for their part are more productive than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Availability more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	2
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1000 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. IN mobile devices ah it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-400 MP1
Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	1
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random Access Memory (RAM) in use operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	1 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR2

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	Super AMOLED
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	4 in (inches) 101.6 mm (millimeters) 10.16 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.06 in (inches) 52.27 mm (millimeters) 5.23 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	3.43 in (inches) 87.12 mm (millimeters) 8.71 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.667:1 5:3
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	233 ppi (pixels per inch) 91 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	59.64% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.	LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	2592 x 1944 pixels 5.04 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels)
Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about maximum speed recording (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	Autofocus Digital zoom Geographical tags Panoramic photography Touch Focus Face recognition

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML HTML5

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours.	1500 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices.	Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.	14 hours 10 minutes 14.2 h (hours) 850.2 min (minutes) 0.6 days
2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	460 h (hours) 27600 min (minutes) 19.2 days
3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.	7 hours 50 minutes 7.8 h (hours) 469.8 min (minutes) 0.3 days
3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	360 h (hours) 21600 min (minutes) 15 days
Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery.	Removable

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates maximum amount electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device next to the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.96 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.59 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

additional characteristics

Some devices have characteristics that do not fall into the above categories, but it is important to point them out.

additional characteristics Information about other device characteristics.

SM-GT-I8190 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.624 W/kg; body - 0.758 W/kg SM-GT-I8190 - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 1.030 W/kg; body - 1.280 W/kg SM-GT-I8190N - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.434 W/kg; body - 0.521 W/kg SM-GT-I8190N - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) US: head - 0.530 W/kg; body - 1.300 W/kg SM-GT-I8190T - SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) EU: head - 0.390 W/kg; body - 0.521 W/kg

It became the most successful Samsung smartphone during the entire presence of the Korean company in the telecommunications market. The Galaxy brand has become well recognized among users, but the presence of the letter S in the name followed by a number adds even more attractiveness to the model.

Samsung's desire to exploit the Galaxy S III brand is understandable. Just think - the word mini appeared. The main thing is that the potential buyer sees the same flagship, only more compact and cheaper. Is this really a full-fledged modification of the older model with a minimum number of changes, or is it still a mid-level device with a set of functions familiar to such devices?

Of course, the photo module of the smartphone we are considering today does not reach the quality of the Galaxy S III. The usual matrix, which is installed in many mid-level phones, is not surprising and offers what you expect from it.

The camera can shoot HD video, an example of which can be seen below.

Interface

The smartphone works under Android control 4.1 with proprietary TouchWiz shell. The device's interface is very similar to that of the Galaxy S III. Many of the “chips” of the older model migrated to the younger one. For example, it also features eye tracking to prevent screen locking. It is possible to change the image scale by tilting the smartphone, you can pause the track playback by placing your hand on the screen, etc.

There are few built-in applications, the most useful of them is Chrome browser. This web browser is much more convenient to work with than the standard Android browser. Work with tabs and page navigation is organized more logically, and there is the possibility of synchronization with the desktop application.

There is nothing new in the software functionality of the Galaxy S III mini. The main thing is the fact that the smartphone initially runs Jelly Bean, while many competitors will have to wait a long time for an official update. The system interface works noticeably faster, without annoying slowdowns typical for previous versions Android.

Performance and battery life

Deja vu again: Galaxy S III mini is built on the NovaThor U8420 platform with a 2-core gigahertz processor, Mali-400MP graphics and 1 GB of RAM. We saw something similar during Galaxy preparation S Advance. There was also a NovaThor chip, albeit labeled U8500. The differences between the two models are minimal, except that the new product has more RAM. Judging by the tests, the U8420, despite the lower numerical index, is slightly superior in performance to its “colleague”. The difference, however, is minimal.

conclusions

As you can see, as the review progressed, we gradually moved away from comparing the mini with the Galaxy S III. In fact, the “new” smartphone is a familiar one, only in the same body and with Android 4.1 out of the box.

When the first rumors about the Galaxy S III mini appeared online, many thought that it was a smaller version of the flagship with similar specifications. Everything turned out to be even simpler. This is a regular mid-range model with the design of its older brother. Besides trademark and appearance, the two devices have nothing else in common. Why did Samsung need to give the smartphone the name of a top model? The Korean manufacturer’s calculation is clear and simple: the power of marketing and a well-known brand will help not only sell outdated components, but also make good money on it.