Samsung's made a 4-inch version of its super-popular Galaxy S3 smart phone, called the Galaxy S3 Mini. Beyond the name though, this mid-range mobile doesn't have much in common with its big brother.
There's some family resemblance, sure -- the S3 Mini has the same glossy oval shape as its 4.8-inch counterpart. Under the bonnet, however, it's powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, rather than the whopping 1.4GHz quad-core chip that lurks within the S3.
The camera has a 5-megapixel resolution compared to the 8-megapixels on the S3's snapper. Screen resolution has taken a hit too -- your eyes will be gazing at a standard 480x800-pixel display, rather than the eye-scorching 720p panel on the Galaxy S3.
A spot of excellent news is that the S3 Mini will arrive running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is the bleeding-edge-oh-my-paws-and-whiskers-very-latest version of Google's mobile operating system. The Galaxy S3 itself is only just starting to be updated to this version.
Downgraded hardware across the board isn't necessarily a disaster -- after all, the specs here are highly reminiscent of this year's Galaxy S Advance, which earned itself a healthy four stars in our in-depth review. Indeed, Samsung makes some cracking mid-range mobiles, so there's good reason to look forward to this diminutive device.
If you were hoping for a slightly smaller but just as powerful version of the Galaxy S3 however, you'll be disappointed with this middle-of-the-road mobile. Samsung will be hoping to lure shoppers with the famous name, but if you decide to buy, make sure you're doing so with your eyes open -- while potentially a great smart phone, you won't get the retina-searing screen or benchmark-destroying performance the S3 is known for.
Are you interested in the S3 Mini? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
24 month contract
Comments 11
Add your comment
anonymous 11 October, 2012 17:11
Why does this have jelly bean but yet there is no software update for the original s3?
anonymous 11 October, 2012 17:29
When will Samsung and HTC release their premium range of phones in a smaller form factor? Really disappointed with this release, iPhone 4S or the 5 look much more appealing.
Arby Bryce 11 October, 2012 17:43
Seems more like my Samsung Galaxy S Advance ?...Why cant my phone be updated to Jelly bean Samsung ????
anonymous 11 October, 2012 19:37
... the galaxy nexus 2 is actually the galaxy premier....another disappointment...
what are they going to use their 1.7 ghz dual core processor for?
anonymous 11 October, 2012 20:31
You'd be better off getting an S2...
Stuart Perchard 11 October, 2012 22:57
what a wasted opportunity, I don't want an S3, to big, def not an i5 but would like an upgrade for my S2. Sounds like I might have to wait for the rumoured Sharp if it ever materializes.
Stuart Perchard 12 October, 2012 06:23
this is what it could have been 4.9-inch 1280x720 display, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro, Adreno 320 graphics, LTE, NFC and a 16MP camera. The phone will launch with Android 4.0 with an update to 4.1 in near future the Sharp Aquos Phone
A real pitty
Stuart Perchard 12 October, 2012 06:25
only a bit smaller
anonymous 12 October, 2012 09:30
That's a bit of a shocker. I was kicking myself when I heard they were bringing out an S3 mini, having recently bought a Sony Xperia P. But reading the specs, it sounds like if I were to buy another phone tomorrow it would still be the Xperia P (4 inches is the maximum phone size I can comfortably handle).
I suspect Samsung have missed a big opportunity. If they had have used the same high quality components as the S3 then they could have had a direct rival for the iPhone, instead of which they have aimed at the middle market and hope that the S3 brand will sell the phone.
anonymous 12 October, 2012 10:39
Absolute bonkers move! You have the best phone out in the world, and now you want to spoil its name and brand as 'elite' 'premium' by confusing people with something leeching off the strength of the s3 brand?
I wont use HTC again because their flagship phones last with that name for all of...3 months. and now Samsung are making a similar mistake!
anonymous 13 October, 2012 09:28
I have no idea what world some posters on here live in. How is the S3 not a direct iPhone rival? I know a LOT of people that moved from iPhone to S3, short people with small hands, and have never looked back. The average consumer isn't bothered about having a compact phone, hence the Note selling so well, and I guarantee that it's not only tech addicts and power users buying those. People want to consume media and type comfortably on their smartphones and a 4in or smaller screen does not really allow that.
All of these business experts here, again, we're not talking about super savvy consumers, we're talking the average guy or girl, they couldn't care less if the brand is 'polluted', they want an attractive, powerful phone that fits their needs. This phone is hardly going to be the death of the Galaxy line, if anything it will get more people on board, future customers who will be ready for an upgrade when the Galaxy S5 is released.
Amazing that some people won't buy a phone because the name gets associated with lesser phones. Absolutely stunning. I don't think Samsung will be too upset though with the Galaxy line being the most prolific in the world right now.