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Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
...


7.6/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 12 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Clear, vibrant display
  • Respectable battery life
  • IP67 water resistance
  • MicroSD card support

What's bad

  • Frustrating fingerprint scanner
  • Plasticky design
  • Mid-tier performance
  • Weak low-light camera performance

With a smaller screen, slightly slower internals and a much lower price tag, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini hopes to dominate the mid-range market. But will it live up to the hype of its much-touted bigger sibling? Let’s take a look at the reviews and find out.

In many ways, the S5 Mini is simply a shrunken version of the S5. Trusted Reviews sums up the phone’s appearance well, stating, “The S5 Mini is every bit the spitting image of the S5.” The phone features a soft, dimpled back for excellent grip, tactile buttons, a chrome-like bezel and maintains the P67 water resistance of the full-size S5.

While not metal like some of the other choices in this price bracket, the phone’s grip and construction receives positive reviews. Most agree with Android Central, calling the phone’s design “Solid, but nothing special.”

With a 4.5-inch, 720 x 1280 Super AMOLED display, the screen features the same pixel density as Apple’s Retina displays. Reviews all mentioned great outdoor visibility, snappy colors and crisp text. Trusted Reviews called it “a great screen” while TechRadar called it “impressive.”

One area where the S5 Mini differs from its larger predecessor is performance and internal specs. The phone features a quad-core 1.4GHZ processor and 1.5GB of RAM. Reviews were consistent with Android Central saying, “It's fast enough as to not feel slow, but there's a tangible difference compared to the top-level Android phones of the moment.”

Unfortunately, when really pushed, the phone appears to expose a bit of its weakness. TechRadar says, “The lack of flagship power becomes more apparent when you fire up more intensive apps.” However, all reviews agree that the phone has plenty of power for most users and average day-to-day tasks.

Fortunately, there does appear to be a benefit in scaling back the performance. Battery life on the device rates as the best in its class. Most reviewers noted exceptional battery life with CNet predicting, “If you're fairly careful with your usage you should be able to get a day out of it.” Should you need to charge your phone during the day, TechRadar found that an hour of charge time offered nearly 50-percent of a charge.

The S5 Mini’s 8MP rear camera and 2.1MP front-facing cameras were received generally well. Reviews noted a muddled appearance to low-light shots but found outdoor and well-lit shots to be detailed and crisp. Android Central called the camera a “competent mid-range shooter.”

Other features of the phone include support for microSD cards and a built-in heart monitor that powers the extensive S Health fitness app suite.

There were a two concerns listed in most reviews. Both TechRadar and Android Central feel that the phone is price slightly higher than it should be compared to its competition. Also, the fingerprint scanner on the phone is just as finicky as the scanner on the S5 with Trusted Reviews calling it “a hit and miss affair.”

Overall, Android Central sums up reviews well when they say, “If you place value on features, you'll find plenty to like here.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.4 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.4 GHz
4.5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.5"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2100 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Digital Versus
Digital Versus

The Samsung S Mini improves year upon year. The Galaxy S5 Mini has improved on its predecessor's performance in almost every respect. It has excellent fluidity and responsiveness, a stand-out battery life and even takes good-quality photos and videos. While it also costs less than its predecessor, i...

- Sofian Nouira, Digital Versus
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini is a respectable handset that offers ample speed, a bright and colorful screen and good battery life. What lets it down is the build quality, which is chunky and plastic.A year ago this phone would have been a really impressive mid-range handset, but now with more competit...

- Luke Edwards, Pocket-lint
Android Authority
Android Authority

The Galaxy S5 Mini gives you LTE connectivity, decent performance, a great camera experience, and hardware features that include a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint scanner. Everything is packed into a body that is more compact, but otherwise very similar to the Galaxy S5.If you’re in the m...

- Kevin Nether, Android Authority
Cnet
Cnet

As it did with the S4 Mini and S3 Mini before it, Samsung has taken its flagship phone, watered down all of its specs, but kept the name of the top model. Those of you looking for elite specs in a more comfortable form will be disappointed. Instead, I suggest waiting a few weeks for more info on Son...

- Andrew Hoyle, Cnet
uSwitch
uSwitch

If you like the S5 but want something smaller, chances are you’ll love the S5 Mini. But it’s not without its faults.There are plenty of compromises, its build quality isn’t going to win any awards, and some features still feel a bit ‘me too’.But it’s a decent hand...

- Joe Svetlik, uSwitch


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy S5 mini with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S5 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
4.5"

The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini's screen size is 4.5 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.4 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.4 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2100mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2100 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1260 minutes, 660 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy S5 mini Specs

Overview
Release Date July 31, 2014
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Quad core 1.4 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1536 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.58 W/kg
Body: 0.57 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
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 Yes
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, 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, microSDXC (up to 64 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Panorama, HDR, Exposure Value
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, FLV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 326 pixels
Size 4.5 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 2100 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 660 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 660 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 480 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1260 minutes
Standby Time Up to 12.1 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue, Copper Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.1 x 6.5 x 0.9 cm (5.2 x 2.6 x 0.4 in)
Weight 120 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 67
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-G800F

Also available in a dual-SIM model.

Additional Sensors
- Finger Scanner
- Heart rate sensor

Additional Features
- Ultra Power Saving mode
- S Health
- Private Mode/Kids Mode

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy S5 mini
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