03 Jun Samsung Unveils Budget Galaxy S4: Galaxy S4 Mini
For those of you who love Samsung’s latest mobile powerhouse, the Galaxy S4 but not the price so much, you’ll be happy to learn that Samsung have confirmed the rumours of a Galaxy S4 Mini.
In an effort to further expand their mobile device portfolio, and make their products available to a wider audience, Samsung will release a slightly stripped down version of their widely popular Galaxy S4 (which to date has already sold over 10 million units).
The Galaxy S4 Mini is actually not quite that mini, with a 4.3 inch HD super AMOLED screen with a screen resolution of 960×540 megapixels (the Galaxy S4 has a 5 inch screen with a resolution of 1,920×1,080 megapixels), which is still bigger than a large portion of the smartphones currently available. It also doesn’t look all that different from its full featured sibling, however, the S4 Mini is a little bit shorter, thicker, and wider than its high end counterpart.
In terms of tech specs, the S4 Mini offers stripped back features that allow for the phone to be placed in the mid range smartphone market. Instead of the 1.9 GHz quad core processor, the Galaxy S4 Mini features a 1.7GHz dual core chip, along with 8GB internal memory and 1.5GB of RAM, which is still more than enough for the average smartphone user. The rear- facing camera comes in at a respectable 8MP, while the front-facing camera offers 1.9MP. So, this lightweight version of the S4 is perfect for those that are a little overwhelmed (and maybe a bit intimidated) by the feature rich S4, and are looking for a great mid range alternative.
Looking at the software features, the S4 Mini supports many of the same features the S4 has. This includes the camera software (such as Panorama Shot, Story Album and Sound & Shot), in addition to other software like Group Play, S Translator and WatchOn. While it lacks some of the other software features of the S4, most smartphone buyers after a mid range phone won’t feel as though they are missing out, particularly with the Galaxy S4 Mini expected to be sold at a modest price.
Samsung says it will be offering a 4G, 3G and dual SIM version of the device, depending on what makes sense for each market. Availability and pricing have not been announced, but stay tuned for updates!