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)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Niall Magennis, TrustedReviewsFar 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...
- Mobile88 team, Mobile88For 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.
- GSMArena team, GSMArenaThe 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.
- T3 Online, T3It’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...
- Damien McFerran, Know Your MobileThe 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...
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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