Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Review, Update: Android 4.4.2 KitKat For Compact Handset W/ Good Specs Maybe Possible W/ ROMS?

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini review, update: Specs of the Android compact handset Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini include a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GB RAM, 8-16GB of internal storage with microSD support, and a 5MP camera. According to a status update, the handset is not going to have an official Android 4.4.2 KitKat update.

Though it has enough RAM, Samsung noted that it still won’t effectively support a platform upgrade. In order for it to get Android 4.4.2, it’s very possible that custom ROMS maybe made or step in to give such access.

When the handset was unveiled in 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini had the potential to match the iPhone 5. Although the Galaxy S3 was the flagship model at that time, the Mini could have swayed users who didn’t prefer large screens. It could have been a second option against Apple’s flagship model. However, because of the drastic downgrade of its specs, the Mini was clearly not for the big leagues.

With a dimension of 121.6 x 63 x 9.9 mm and a weight of 111.5 grams, the Galaxy S3 Mini clearly aimed for portability with very familiar and user-friendly ergonomics.

Its 4-inch display, on the other hand, veered away from the Galaxy series’ quality screens with a lower resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It also failed to give a pixel-packed HD screen with only 233 ppi. Still, engadget.com says, “What it lacks in pixel density, it makes up for in brightness and color representation.”

Under the hood, we can see that the S3 Mini is nowhere near its predecessor. While the S3’s stellar quad-core Exynos chip made its processor almost seamless, the Mini’s 1GHz dual-core NovaThor processor coupled with 1 GB of RAM provided a slower response time in terms of performance.

What is commendable about the Galaxy S3 Mini is its battery life. After dropping the size from the S3’s 2,100mAh battery to a 1,500 mAh battery, the Mini surprised critics by showing how long it can last. This might be because of the help of the screen which takes up less juice.

Meanwhile, its camera is at par with most mid-range smartphones. Its 5-MP back camera has an LED flash and a video capability of 720p at 30 fps. Its front camera has been sadly downgraded to VGA.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is not that bad. It has excellent battery life, user-friendly ergonomics, and middling software. The problem with this model is that it does not quite live up to its name. When Samsung went for a cheaper and smaller S3, it delivered an average mid-range handset.