Samsung's Galaxy S5 Mini specs versus HTC One Mini 2, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, Motorola Moto G LTE
As with the original flagship, Samsung is counting on the midrange phone's fingerprint scanner, heart-rate monitor, and extra apps to stand out.
It isn't only in the upper reaches of the smartphone landscape that a battle of the fittest rages on. For the last few years, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and Sony have been duking it out in the mid-tier with their "Mini" creations, slightly smaller and more scaled-back versions of flagship phones.
Samsung's third-generation Mini, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini, takes on its usual Android rivals in the HTC One Mini 2, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, and the Motorola Moto G 4G LTE (which is its own standalone budget device.)
Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini vs HTC One Mini 2, Moto G LTE, Sony Xperia Z1 Compact
Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini | HTC One Mini 2 | Motorola Moto G LTE | Sony Xperia Z1 Compact | |
---|---|---|---|---|
OS | Android 4.4 KitKat | Android 4.4 KitKat | Android 4.4 KitKat | Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (upgradeable) |
Screen size | 4.5 inches | 4.5 inches | 4.5 inches | 4.3 inches |
Resolution and material | 1,280x720 Super AMOLED | 1,280x720 LCD | 1,280x720 LCD | 1,280x720 LCD |
Pixel density | 326 ppi | 326 ppi | 326 ppi | 342 ppi |
Dimenions (inches) | 5.2 x 2.6 x 0.36 | 5.4 x 2.6 x 0.42 | 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.46 | 5.0 x 2.6 x 0.37 |
Dimensions (mm) | 131 x 64.8 x 9.1 | 137.4 x 65 x 10.6 | 130 x 66 x 11.6 | 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 |
Weight | 4.2 ounces / 120 grams | 4.8 ounces / 137 grams | 5 ounces / 143 grams | 4.8 ounces / 137 grams |
Camera | 8 megapixels; 1080p HD video | 13 megapixels; 1080p HD video | 5 megapixels; 720p HD video | 20.7 megapixels; 1080p HD |
Front-facing camera | 2.1 megapixels | 5 megapixels | 1.3 megapixels | 2 megapixels |
Processor | 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 | 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 | 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 | 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 |
RAM | 1.5GB | 1GB | 1GB | 2GB |
Internal storage | 16GB | 16GB | 8GB | 16GB |
MicroSD storage | 64GB | 128GB | 32GB | 64GB |
Battery | 2,100mAh | 2,100mAh | 2,070mAh | 2,300mAh |
IR blaster | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Extras | IP67 dust and water resistance, fingerprint scanner, heart-rate monitor | BoomSound dual speakers | N/A | IP58 dust and water resistance |
We don't have a price yet, but the specs we do have, in spades. The GS5 Mini shares the same size and screen resolution of its counterparts, and mostly lines up on other features. It doesn't have the fastest processor or highest camera capacity of the bunch (those honors go to Sony's Z1 Compact), but with the same resistance to water and dust, the heart-rate monitor, and the fingerprint scanner as the original Galaxy S5, Samsung is hoping that the S5 Mini will stand out from rivals and attract people who functionally want an S5 without its higher cost.
The phone's final sticker price and global availability will determine its success. As the top dog smartphone manufacturer in the industry, Samsung is already at an advantage, especially if distributors in only some key markets (such as the UK) carry competitor phones like the One Mini 2 and Sony Xperia Z1 Compact.