Motorola DROID Mini
Key specs
Critic consensus
“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 though the display is 4.3”, which is small by today’s standards, there is no way a larger display would fit, without making the device larger as well. Overall, we believe that Motorola did a nice job balancing form and function with the DROID Mini.”
“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's slippery, fingerprint-prone chassis. That's why I can't in good faith recommend the Droid Mini over the Moto X if you have a bit more room in your budget. For $100 extra it has the same impressive features packed into a device of comparable size and far higher build quality. The final cherry on top is the Moto X's larger AMOLED screen with superior imagery.”
“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 closer than most, offering nearly identical specs to its larger counterparts for less money, but from the poor design to the weak battery life, it just feels carelessly thrown together. The entire time I used the Mini, I wanted to swap it out for the Moto X.”
“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 Android phones to stop growing, since its 4.3-inch display can safely be operated by any adult hand. And it's for people who don't care about looks, since this phone has been visibly beaten with the ugly stick.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
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.
What people actually want to know
When was the Motorola DROID Mini released?
The Motorola DROID Mini was released on August 29, 2013.
How long does the battery last on the Motorola DROID Mini?
The Motorola DROID Mini has a 2,000 mAh battery.
Does the Motorola DROID Mini support wireless charging?
Yes, the Motorola DROID Mini supports wireless charging.
Does the Motorola DROID Mini have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Motorola DROID Mini has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Motorola DROID Mini have NFC?
Yes, the Motorola DROID Mini has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Motorola DROID Mini?
Visit Motorola's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Motorola DROID Mini manual?
You can view and download the Motorola DROID Mini manual on our dedicated manual page.
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