HTC One Mini vs. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact: Choosing between these two beautifully designed Android compact versions is a tough call to make since Sony always makes devices in their own style instead of trying to stick to the norm. The HTC One Mini is one of the direct competitors of the new Sony device since they are both smaller versions of their flagship phones the HTC one and the Xperia Z1.

Aesthetics
When it comes to the aesthetics, both devices follow in the design of their flagships. The only major difference is that they are smaller. The HTC One Mini comes with a solid aluminum chassis. HTC however did add a bit of plastic to the edges but this does no change the solid feel. It has a curved back panel and a tasteful speaker both on top and under the display. One problem with the aluminum casing however that it is a bit slippery. It can also be easily scratched by the keys and coins in your pockets.

The Xperia Z1 compact also uses the same aluminum casing that was found on the Xperia Z1. It is all encased with Dragontrail glass giving it a clean finish both on the front and on the back. The edges have been made a bit angular which also makes it look fashionably business-like. The downside to this glass finish however is, it is highly susceptible to annoying smudging and fingerprints especially if you chose the black colored model.

Displays
In regards to the display on these two devices, it is a perfect tie. The HTC One Mini is hooked up with a 4.3-inch Super LCD2. It has a resolution of 1280 by 720p HD. The device has 342 pixels per inch. Users will enjoy really vivid colors and contrast that allow for multiple viewing angles without losing clarity or sharpness.

The Xperia Z1 compact also comes with a 4.3 inch screen with 720p HD resolution. It uses the Sony Triluminos TFT display technology and well as the innovative X-Reality Engine that gives it high contrast and natural colors. However, it does not allow for the multiple viewing angles that HTC One Mini does.

Processing Power
Despite bringing the size of the Xperia Z1 down, Sony kept the very same Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core chip in the Xperia Z1 compact. This processor has been clocked at 2.2GHz and has 2GB of RAM as well as an Adreno 330 GPU. This means that it is actually a bit faster than the Xperia Z1 and only second to the LG G2.

The HTC One Mini is not as powerful as its flagship predecessor. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with a Krait 300 core setup. The dual core processor has been clocked at 1.4GHZ which is less than that of the Xperia Z1 Compact. It has 1GB of RAM and an Adreno 305 GPU. It beautifully handles the 4.2.2 Jelly Bean platform using the HTC Sense UI.

The Cameras
HTC decided to use the same camera they have on the HTC one on their new HTC One Mini. It has a 4-MP BSI and also comes with Optical Image Stabilization. The details on images taken are not the best and the only conclusion on the camera is that it is reasonable.

Xperia Z1 compact on the other hand has an explosive 20.7-MP with a Sony Exmor RS BSI. It is capable of capturing video at 1080p and also uses an LED flash. The Xperia Z1 compact wins this round hands down.