Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Review: Specs Of Android Powered 2012 Smartphone Incl. Dual-Core Processor, Super AMOLED Screen; Can This Survive 2014?

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini review: Specs of the Android-running Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini include the latest mobile OS from Google, the Android 4.4 KitKat, a dual-core processor and a Super AMOLED screen. The unit, though much love by Samsung fans is facing heavy competition in 2014, thanks to a new slate of cheaper and high-quality Androids in the market.

Some of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini’s competition includes the Moto E, Moto G and the Nokia X. All Android-based, these units are not only well-designed, but are also affordable in many ways.

Samsung did not launch any new mobile phones during its event Thursday in Madison Square Garden. This makes the S3 Mini just a generation behind, with the S4 Mini as the incumbent “mini” flagship.

A review of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

According to a spec sheet by Phone Arena, it described the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini as having all the unique features that comes with the original S3, including TouchWiz and S-Voice assistant, SmartStay that shuts off the screen when you’re not looking at it and S-Beam with tap to share for songs and files as big as 10MB.

The gadget-focused site notes that Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini has a 1GHz dual-core processor, 5MP camera and a 16GB internal storage that could be up to 32GB. Connectivity options for the device include Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, microUSB and 802.11 ac Wi-Fi. The unit was officially released Oct. 2012 and is still in the window 18-month window for updates for Android.

According to CNET, it described the S3 Mini as the best entry-level Android $1 can buy. In heir review it noted that the S3 Mini has Android 4.2, 4G LTE, NFC and a solid 5-megapixel camera. It costs a $1 to have the S3 Mini on-contract, but generally its offered free by U.S. carriers. All of the characteristics they highlighted count as plus on why this phone is good.

A downside that CNET noted is that the S3 Mini has mediocre call quality and internal speed hiccups. There’s also, they a say a definite shutter lag.

Despite what the downside of the phone can have, PhoneArena describes the S3 best writing, “It’s a well-balanced performer with absolutely no major drawbacks.”

A key difficult for S3 Mini to become more popular or get into hands of more consumers is the fact that it’s past its prime and its competing against newer gadgets, Android and Windows Phone-based, that are cheap but possesses the latest mobile OS.

Nonetheless, until we see a Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini, both the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will seemingly continue to gain traction.