More recently, in public and on forums, one could see caricatures of one of the models of the Samsung concern - the Samsung Galaxy S4. And the point here is not in the technical characteristics, but in the unimaginably large size of the device. Indeed, after all, a “smart” phone should be convenient for work. And how to use a device that does not even fit in your hand … The problem comes out. Many users were delighted with this model. The only thing that bothered me was the size. And in order to completely please their customers, the Samsung engineering team designed a similar, but smaller model, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. Feedback from customers immediately made the company's management understand that this was a great move. To launch on the market a model that fully satisfies many of the requirements of customers - yes, this is a manufacturer's dream! What shortcomings were identified after using the device? What is improved in the new "Samsung Galaxy S4 mini"? Instructions, price and much more - all these and various other points are coveredthis article.
General information
On May 31, 2013, a presentation of a new cell phone model produced by a well-known Korean concern took place. A reduced copy of its progenitor, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, equipped with one SIM card, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini duos, but with two active SIM card slots, have quite competitive characteristics compared to their counterparts. At the same time, the rational price also inspires positive. Every feature of this mobile phone, including the size, is a quality downsized copy of the current Korean flagship. A dual-core processor instead of four, a lower screen resolution, the amount of operational memory is reduced by 500 MB - these features distinguish the small "Samsung Galaxy S4 mini" from the "great" Samsung Galaxy S4. Let's start the review of the model with a complete set.
What's included
The new smartphone is delivered to the consumer in a small box. It is engraved with the inscription "Samsung Galaxy S4 mini". Instructions, a battery, headphones with various overlays, a charger with an adapter, a cable for connecting to a laptop and a computer - all this is also in the box. It is noteworthy that the Korean concern has been practicing the use of accessories that are different from the color of the phone for quite a long time. So, in the package with a black smartphone, you can find white headphones. And vice versa. All components are ideally suited to the device and are easy to use. Besides,the price is also attractive: "Samsung Galaxy S4 mini" can be purchased from 13 thousand rubles. The two-slot option will cost a few hundred more.
Appearance and characteristics of the case
In the considered model, there are no special differences from any other smartphones of this company at first glance. The exterior design is not unique. There are no bright colors, contrasting details. The polycarbonate back panel flows smoothly into the edging of the same material, but painted in the color of the metal. The front side of the model with the display is smooth and glossy. It is because of the latter characteristic that any touch on the device leaves a trace. To protect the screen, you can use ScreenGuard - a thin film that prevents unwanted scratches. Also, the advanced Gorilla Glass V2 helps to save the display. In general, the body of the phone is the same: no chips, no dents, no gaps. As already mentioned, the dimensions of this model are much smaller than its progenitor. But they are not so “mini” either: 12.46 cm long, 6.13 cm wide, 0.89 cm thick. At the same time, the weight of the device is 107 g. In terms of size, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini phone will compete with the notorious iPhone 5 device.
Location of keys and buttons
Various controls are placed on the body of the model. These include a speaker, front and rear cameras, an on / off button, it is also a lock, a flash / flashlight bulb, a connector for rechargingdevices, a headphone jack, a volume control sensor that also adjusts contrast and lighting, and some other functions. Like all Samsung smartphones, this “smart” device has a traditional “Home” key under the screen, which is adjacent to the “Back” and “Menu” touch buttons. In principle, the appearance of the device is quite nice. The manufacturer offers several color options for the case: black, purple, white, brown, blue, orange, red, pink and yellow.
Display and communication with the progenitor
The screen with a diagonal of 10.9 cm (which equals 4.3 inches) and a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels - approximately 256 ppi - is equipped with "Samsung Galaxy S4 mini". Owner reviews about this feature of the model are twofold: some are satisfied with the size. Others are not satisfied with the low resolution. Unlike the flagship Samsung Galaxy S4, the screen of this variant is slightly elongated. The number of colors in both models is the same and amounts to 16 million shades. Another notable common characteristic of the two Korean-made variants is the SuperAMOLED display. Brightness, saturation, contrast of colors can be adjusted in the menu.
Battery and its characteristics
The back panel "grows" with the phone due to sixteen mounts. Under it is the battery. A small Li-ion with a capacity of 1900 mAh - these are the characteristics of the battery of the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini smartphone. Consumer feedback on capacity and durationbattery performance is generally positive. Of course, Android users have long been accustomed to the fact that during the day the phone with the Internet turned on and continuous calls needs to be recharged. Those who encounter a device on such a platform for the first time, blame the weak battery a little. In talk mode, the phone is active for 12 hours (according to the manufacturer). If you switch to the Standby/Airplane function, the device stays on for twelve more days.
System platform, memory and other internals
Under the battery are slots for a SIM card (depending on the model, there may be two) and a memory card. Inside a smaller copy of the S4 is a dual-core processor called the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, clocked at 1700 MHz. 1.5 GB of RAM may not seem like enough for the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. User reviews about this feature also emphasize the latter fact. However, it is convenient to be able to transfer data and programs from system memory to additional gigabytes of storage. The graphics accelerator called Adreno 305 is responsible for image quality. Inside the device is an 8 GB drive. You can expand the storage capacity by installing an optional Micro SD card. The device is running the current version of Android 4.2.2, equipped with a shell proprietary development TouchWiz.
We make videos and take photos
Of course, many users are interested in the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini camera. Photos and videos can be taken using either the front-facing or rear-facing device. In this case, in the latter, the number of matrix points is 8 Mp, and in the first - 1.9 Mp. When shooting video, the frame rate is 30 shots per second. The maximum resolution for the received movie is 1920 x 1080 pixels, and for the photo - 3264 x 2448 pixels. At the same time, in night shooting conditions, you can use a flash that works on LEDs.
Ringtone settings and other features
Some users report that the ringer sound is too quiet. In addition, according to a small part of users, vibration can be attributed to negative points: being in a noisy place, it is difficult to feel a working phone. It is noteworthy that in the model with two SIM cards, it became possible to set up ringtones for each operator separately. Data transmission can be carried out using digital technology such as EDGE, high-speed packet data HSPA and its advanced version HSPA+. An integral attribute of a modern smartphone is the presence of such wireless means of transmitting and receiving information as Bluetooth, infrared interface (IR port) and Wi-Fi. All this is also in the considered model. It is noteworthy that through the infrared port you can control the TV. "Samsung Galaxy S4 mini" is equipped with the latest versions of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. There is also a 3.5 mm Jack audio output.
New additional features
It is noteworthy that in this smartphone, the settings are divided into categories. Now, instead of a list, you can select the desired parameters from the tabs in the submenu. It should be noted that the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini also has some functions inherited from the Samsung Galaxy S4. For example, "tracking mode": the display of the device will not go out while your eyes are directed to it. In addition, after reading the received message, there is no need to press the call key to connect with the sender: now it is enough to bring the device to your ear and the device will perform the necessary operation itself.
Some users note that the new smaller model is not very convenient to type messages using the keyboard. There is a great solution for this problem: an application from GooglePlay called TouchPal X. This program implements the Swipe-a technology. What does "sliding through the alphabet" mean. Now there is no need to enter the terms through T9 or by letter - just swipe across the keyboard from the first to the last element of the word and the program itself will prompt the desired concept.
Finally
As a conclusion, I would like to say that the smartphone in question is quite convenient. It has well developed functionality. The phone is easy to set up. One of the main disadvantages of users is a low-power battery. However, I would like to note that almost all Android mobile phones suffer from thisproblem. The second disadvantage for many potential consumers is the price. The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini is a bit pricey compared to similar models. Although, in accordance with the declared functions, the cost is very justified. Everything is a matter of taste and, of course, the wallet. A variety of colors, good technical support from service centers, the availability of all possible functions, ease of use, support for applications and the ability to install two SIM cards at the same time make the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 mini duos a desirable acquisition for many.
