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Motorola DROID Mini review

7.9/10 AVG.
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Motorola DROID Mini
Motorola DROID Mini
Motorola DROID Mini
Motorola DROID Mini
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7.9/10
Informr score
The Motorola DROID Mini currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 4 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

As the smallest phone of the new DROID lineup, the DROID Mini packs plenty of features into a small device. With its lower price point and smaller size, it is an attractive choice for those looking for a capable Android smartphone that won’t break the bank and fits well in your pocket.

While the smaller form factor required a few changes to the hardware in the DROID Mini, it is powered by the same chipset as the DROID Ultra and DROID Maxx. K. T. Bradford of Digital Trends said “On the outside, the Mini looks just like a smaller Droid Ultra and Motorola reps repeatedly told us to think of them as the same phone just in different sizes.”

While the other two phones in the DROID series offer AMOLED displays, the DROID Mini uses a standard 4.3-inch LED display. Apart from a slightly reduced viewing angle, the screens look nearly identical. However, this change does pose some issues with Motorola’s new Active Display technology. Instead of isolating an area of the screen, the entire display must be powered for the feature to work. The smaller screen helps to balance the issue and offer an estimated 28 hours of mixed usage on a single charge.

With the debut of the DROID series and the Moto X, Motorola is showing a shift from bigger is better to designing phones with the user in mind. Active Display and Touchless Controls make it simple to interact with and control the phone, the X8 chipset provides snappy performance and the long battery life makes it possible to spend more time using your phone and less time searching for a power outlet.

If you are looking for the best stats or cutting-edge hardware, the DROID Mini missed the mark. However, if you are looking for a solid phone to check email, play a few games, stream video and post social media updates, the DROID Mini has you covered.

The Good: Great battery life, compact form factor, Active Display, Touchless Controls, simple UI.

The Bad: No MicroSD support, LED display prone to smudges and fingerprints, limited camera options.


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.7 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.7 GHz
4.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.3"
10+ MP
Camera
Camera
10+ MP
2000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Brighthand
Brighthand

It's for people who want to save a buck, for one, since the Mini is no less powerful or featured than any of its bigger brothers. It's for Google-philes, since Motorola's leveraged its status as "Google's phone company" to make Google Now the centerpiece of the device. It's for people who want Andro...

- Jeff Dunn, Brighthand
Cnet
Cnet

By all means, it will serve you well if price is your primary concern, but remember that you'll be making some serious design compromises to get that bargain price. The screen that produces low-contrast images in kooky colors is hard to swallow by itself, but the real deal breaker for me is the Mini...

- Brian Bennett, Cnet
The Verge
The Verge

I'd recommend the Droid Mini over the Ultra, certainly, but you shouldn't buy either one. Small phones are still targeted at placating a segment of the market that doesn’t want a large phone and doesn't demand a first-class experience, but what about the people that do? The Droid Mini comes cl...

- Dann Berg, The Verge
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

With a 2-year contract price of $99.99, the Motorola DROID Mini is the most affordable of the new DROIDs, and still has the same X8 processor, software, and features that its larger siblings have. The DROID Mini is truly designed for someone that wants a smaller and more-compact smartphone. Even tho...

- FAUguy, PhoneArena


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Motorola DROID Mini user manual here.


Motorola backs up the DROID Mini with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your DROID Mini has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Motorola support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Motorola'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
4.3"

The Motorola DROID Mini's screen size is 4.3 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.7 GHz

There is a Motorola X8 Dual core 1.7 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system (OS).

Camera
10+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 10+ MP camera.

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

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
2000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2000 mAh battery.

DROID Mini Specs

Overview
Release Date August 29, 2013
Regions Available USA
Operating System Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Motorola X8 Dual core 1.7 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.02 W/kg
Body: 0.53 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, 1xRTT, EV-DO Rev. A, 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
Nano-SIM
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, BPP, DUN, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
10+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Panorama, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, RealVideo
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Self-portrait
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 342 pixels
Size 4.3 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 2000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Unknown
Standby Time Up to 15 days
Mixed Usage No
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 cm (4.8 x 2.4 x 0.4 in)
Weight 119 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
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 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
Voicemail Key: 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: OTA
ECML / Digital Wallet: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, Real Audio, WMA, WAV, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, RealVideo
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Wi-fi Encryption: WPA2
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, PPTX, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder



Other Names (AKA): Motorola XT1030

- Has built-in Barometer
- Last for 28 hours of mixed usage

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Motorola DROID Mini Reviews
Where to buy Motorola DROID Mini
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