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Samsung Galaxy S III mini review

6.1/10 AVG.
RATING
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Samsung Galaxy S III mini
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
Samsung Galaxy S III mini
...


6.1/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S III mini currently has an Informr score of 6.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 10 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Good camera
  • Solid, comfortable design

What's bad

  • Mediocre call quality
  • Some performance trade-offs

While keeping some of the feel and design elements of the full-size Samsung Galaxy S3, the Galaxy S3 Mini is offered as a less expensive alternative with a midrange feature set.

Powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and up to 64GB of memory via microSD, the S3 mini sports a 4-inch, Super AMOLED display (480 x 800), 5 megapixel camera, and a 1500mAh battery rated at up to 11 hours of talk time (battery ratings vary enormously due to personal use behavior).

Reviewers generally found the S3 Mini’s display acceptable, despite being less pixel-dense than some of its competitors, “the Mini's resolution is still within range for its size and delivered the rich colors that AMOLED displays are known for,” according to CNET. And PC Advisor said, “although it might be manageable, we're not bowled over by the screen quality.”

The 5 megapixel camera comes with LED flash, autofocus and a host of Samsung software for shooting and editing photos. “Pleasantly looking like the rest of the TouchWiz UI, the camera interface features all the settings that you'll find in the manufacturer's higher-tier devices, including various scene modes,” according to Phone Arena. The camera can also record video at up to 720p resolution.

Additional features of note include motion controls (Direct Call, Smart Alert), Smart Stay - which keeps the screen on as long as you’re looking at it, NFC, customized notification bar and a power saving mode.


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
4"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1500 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


PhoneArena
PhoneArena

Now that the Exhibit has been accepted into the Galaxy line, you’d think that we’d be given a versatile entry-level model that could easily stand head above water over other similar offerings. Sadly, the Galaxy Exhibit fails to impress us with its egregiously slow performance, which is i...

- John V., PhoneArena
Android Authority
Android Authority

The Galaxy Exhibit is a perfect match for someone who wants to take the Android experience for a spin, but doesn’t want to risk too much cash, or simply doesn’t want to pay too much for a smartphone. Of course, there are phones with similar performance to the Exhibit at similar price po...

- Kristofer Wouk, Android Authority
Laptop Mag
Laptop Mag

For its affordable price tag, the Galaxy Exhibit phone packs a capable camera and some helpful software extras in a compact design. However, the screen is small, the battery life is lacking and both the data and overall performance are sluggish.

- Cherlynn Low, Laptop Mag
Fone Arena
Fone Arena

The Galaxy S3 mini is a great little device. Is it just a smaller S3? No, it totally looks like a S3, but there are features and performance benefits you will miss if you are looking for a smaller S3. And yes, it is completely unique and stands on its own when it comes to device capabilities. This...

- Bharadwaj, Fone Arena
PC Pro
PC Pro

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini looks and feels like a shrunken S3, it runs largely the same software, and battery life is fine. It has a better camera, too, plus a huge library of Android apps to draw on. However, it’s undermined by sluggish performance and a below-average screen. 

- PC Pro team, PC Pro


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy S III mini with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S III mini has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
4"

The Samsung Galaxy S III mini's screen size is 4 inches with 480 x 800 pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex-A9 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system (OS).

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Storage
8/16 GB

Internal memory is 8/16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1500mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1500 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 850 minutes, 458 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy S III mini Specs

Overview
Release Date October 12, 2012
Regions Available USA, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex-A9 1 GHz
Internal Storage 8/16 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 1.01 W/kg
Body: 0.89 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA 14.4, HSUPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Panorama, Smile detection, Scene mode
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
VGA (640 x 480)+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density 233 pixels
Size 4 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1500 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 466 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 458 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 850 minutes
Standby Time Up to 19.2 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Marble White, Pebble Blue
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.2 x 6.3 x 1 cm (4.8 x 2.5 x 0.4 in)
Weight 120 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, eAAC+, MP3, OGG, WMA
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Samsung Galaxy Exhibit, GT-I8190, s3 mini
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S III mini Reviews
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