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.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- John V., PhoneArenaNow 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...
- Kristofer Wouk, Android AuthorityThe 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...
- Cherlynn Low, Laptop MagFor 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.
- Bharadwaj, Fone ArenaThe 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...
- PC Pro team, PC ProThe 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.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S III mini user manual here.
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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