A lot of people didn't like many things associated with the Galaxy S4 and it seems like the Galaxy S4 Mini is a perfect answer to the problems a lot of us had with the main flagship. The main problems of course focus on the size and cost of the original device. However, will this Mini device really stand up to its name? The S3 Mini model was quite a failure when compared to its bigger brother, so let us see if this new device will be any better.
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The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini looks rather good and it is obviously a lot more compact and portable than the bigger flagship. The display is 4.3 inches and in spite of the bad resolution settings the display quality is quite sharp and impressive. So, without further to do, let us just dive right in to the Galaxy S4 Mini's specs!
General Specs and Design of the S4 Mini
- Smartphone dimensions: 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.9 mm (4.91 x 2.41 x 0.35 in).
- The original model had the following body dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in).
- Weight: 107 g (3.77 oz); this 23g lighter than the larger device.
- Display: 540 x 960 pixels, 4.3 inches (~256 ppi pixel density); Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen.
- 16 million colors and multitouch support.
- Internal memory: 8 GB, but 5 GB is actually user-available.
- RAM: 1.5 GB for the standard 3G model and 2GB for the advanced LTE device.
- Extra storage: Both models have microSD card support with up to 64 GB expansion.
- Operating system: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
- Colors: White Frost and Black Mist (same as the original).
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| The White Frost model. |
Advanced Specs and Hardware details
- Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8930 Snapdragon 400
- CPU: Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait
- GPU: Adreno 305
- Primary camera: 8 MP
- Max format: 3264 x 2448 pixels; autofocus and LED flash.
- Secondary camera: 1.9 MP
- Video quality: 1080p at 30 frames per second.
- Data connectivity: USB v2.0, WLAN, Bluetooth, Infrared, NFC, EDGE and GPRS.
- Networking: 2G and 3G is available, however for 4G you need the advanced LTE model (LTE - GT-I9195).
- Battery: Li-Ion 1900 mAh battery, but stand-by time has not yet been tested by any reviewer.
Price and Release Date
The details regarding the price and the release date of the Galaxy S4 Mini have not yet been revealed to the general public although we do have some general idea when it comes to the numbers. The Galaxy S4 Mini release date is expected to come somewhere in the first half of July, while the price is expected to be around $400, although most experts and tech savvy users can't really agree with each other when it comes to this.
Galaxy S4 Active Review - Water-resistant and Amazing!
It has been a bit more than 2 months since we had a chance to experience what the original Samsung Galaxy S4 has to offer, but not it is time for the main flagship to get a few interesting updated and the Galaxy S4 Active is brilliant example of that. Just like the Galaxy S4 Red Aurora for AT&T the Active is a device exclusive to AT&T that is available for $199.99 on two-year contract. Other payment options include you paying $449.99 (saves you $145) for a one-year contract and paying straight up-front $594.99 for a month-to-month deal. You can see the full prices and order online here.
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| Dip it in water - nothing bad is gonna happen! |
So, how exactly is the Galaxy S4 Active different from the regular model? Well, while this isn't the unique Advanced LTE model that people might have been expecting, the S4 is still quite unique on its own. However, the only real changes are on the outside since the internal hardware is pretty much the same.
The Exterior Changes to the Galaxy S4
Thus, let me point out right now that the most important difference is that the Galaxy S4 Active is water and dust resistant.
But just how water-resistant is it? Some are even saying it is waterproof, but as you know that cannot really be true. Still, for the purpose of this Galaxy S4 Active review we can say that this device does show that we are slowly getting close to a an actual "waterproof" smartphone. According to Mashable, the device can be submerged as up to three feet in water and can stay there for roughly 30 minuets. Apparently, you can even listen to music while swimming, although I am not sure who swims with their smartphone and how they find this practical.
Another major change is that the camera on the Galaxy S4 Active has 8 MP instead of 13. However, to compensate for this, the camera actually has an Aqua mode for underwater photography which looks rather impressive.
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| The body is actually thicker! |
The final important change to the exterior of the phone is that the body is a bit thicker. It is hard to notice it until you actually compare the two. This is actually a welcoming change in my opinion as I always prefer smartphones which are a bit heavier in one's hand. Of course, this is a very niche opinion and depends on your style and needs.
So, do I think that the Galaxy S4 Active is worth it? If I wanted to buy the S4 right now and had access to AT&T then I would certainly opt for the Active. While it has one of the worst names ever, I quite like the water and dust resistant body and the thicker back. I don't plan on putting the phone into the water, but having a device that can work like a charm during the rain is a brilliant feature that is slowly becoming an industry standard on many devices.
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