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Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 review

5.3/10 AVG.
RATING
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Samsung Galaxy Mini 2
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2
...


5.3/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 currently has an Informr score of 5.3 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 7 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 is a simple Android smartphone that’s as entry-level as it gets. Or is it? Samsung is in the business of pumping out noteworthy Android smartphones for those on a budget. How does the Galaxy Mini 2 stand out?

The Mini 2 was designed to be a very affordable yet quite capable mobile phone with the Android operating system. It doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles that might be present in other more expensive handsets. But it does feature a couple of interesting things on its spec sheet.

Firstly, it has a 3.27-inch HVGA screen, which is definitely better than the QVGA-variants that are available in competing products. Also, it has an NFC chip inside it, making it compatible with services like Google Wallet. Its other features include a 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS, and FM radio.

With an 800MHz single-core CPU and 512MB of RAM, the Galaxy Mini 2 is certainly not the most powerful handset out there. However, having such innards allows it to last over 8 hours of moderate to heavy use per charge. That’s about average battery performance for a device in its price range, given that it has a 1,300mAh battery.

It may not be the best-looking or the best-performing handset out of the low-cost bunch worth considering, but there’s no denying it provides plenty of bang for the buck.

Need To Know: Samsung Galaxy Mini 2

1. Android 2.3 Gingerbread is the default operating system, which is good because there’s plenty of official and third-party software support. (The Good)

2. HVGA native resolution looks much better than QVGA on the 3.27-inch screen. (The Good)

3. An upgrade to later versions of the Android software is not in the cards. (The Bad)

4. The built-in camera performs poorly even in well-lit environments. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
800 MHz
Processor
Processor
800 MHz
3.27"
Screen Size
Screen Size
3.27"
3+ MP
Camera
Camera
3+ MP
1300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

Far from a bad little smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 looks quite funky with its yellow battery cover and isn't as sluggish as you'd expect for a phone with an 800MHz processor. With a decent battery life, the problem with the Mini 2 is that it's slightly over priced even at £100 on a Pay-As-Y...

- Niall Magennis, TrustedReviews
Mobile88
Mobile88

For its asking price, the Samsung Galaxy mini 2 does come feature-packed with just about everything an entry level user could want and then some. It suits most budgets real nicely and teenagers will find much to love about it given its overall design. A worthwhile purchase for sure.

- Mobile88 team, Mobile88
GSMArena
GSMArena

The mini 2 finds its market niche in the same vicinity as its predecessor, although this time around Samsung have boosted the specs to something more respectable, adding a higher-resolution screen, more storage and RAM, and a faster processor.

- GSMArena team, GSMArena
T3
T3

It’s a struggle to see why the fun sized smartphone market exists when larger smartphones with better cameras, processors and add-on freebies like HTC’s 25GB DropBox subscription sit in the same (or much lower) price bracket. It’s the price tag that hits the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 hard. It’s simply n...

- T3 Online, T3
Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

The Galaxy Mini 2 is being thrust into a market that is slightly different from the one its direct predecessor occupied some time ago. It's not uncommon to see 1GHz phones for under £100, and while we fully expect network operators to pick up the Mini 2 on PAYG deals, at the moment it's only availab...

- Damien McFerran, Know Your Mobile


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy Mini 2 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy Mini 2 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
3.27"

The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2's screen size is 3.27 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
800 MHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM7227 800 MHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
3+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 3+ MP camera.

There's no secondary front camera.

Storage
No

Internal memory is No. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1300 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 22.5 days standby time, 680 minutes.

Galaxy Mini 2 Specs

Overview
Release Date June 6, 2012
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM7227 800 MHz
Internal Storage No
RAM 512 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.917 W/kg
Body: 0.624 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA 7.2
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
3+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
No
Additional Rear Camera Info
Brightness control, Effects, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
VGA (640 x 480 pixels), 25 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 262k
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 3.27 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors 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 1300 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 680 minutes
Standby Time Up to 22.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Yellow
Dimensions [H x W x D] 10.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 cm (4.3 x 2.3 x 0.5 in)
Weight 106 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
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
ROM: 4GB
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Swype
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: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, eAAC+, AAC+, AAC, AMR-WB, WMA, WAV, OGG, AMR-NB
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM)
Viewable document types: DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TXT, XLS
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Weather, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Samsung GT-S6500
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 Reviews
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