Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Review, Update: Specs of Miniature Mobile Incl. 4” Display, Dual-Core Processor, 1 GB RAM; Just Another Mid-Range Handset?

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini review, update: Powered by a 1GHz dual-core NovaThor processor, the Galaxy S3 Mini sports a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1 GB RAM, 8 or 16 GB internal memory (expandable up to 32 GB), 5-Megapixel camera, and an operating system of the Jelly Bean 4.1.1. Judging by its specs, critics are questioning if the mid-range handset is worthy to be called the S3’s little brother.

Upon its release in 2012, the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini had the potential to match 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.