Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini

The Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini, released in November 2012, was a compact version of the highly successful Galaxy S III. Aimed at consumers who desired a more hand-friendly option, this device offered a combination of economic affordability and reliable performance in a smaller package. Although discontinued, it is remembered for its practicality and decent features during its time.

Design and Build

The Galaxy S III mini showcased a design similar to its larger counterpart, the Galaxy S III, featuring a sleek and ergonomic body. The dimensions of the device were 121.6 x 63 x 9.9 mm, and it weighed 111.5 grams, making it notably light and comfortable to hold. It was crafted with a glass front and a plastic back with a plastic frame, which, while not premium, ensured the device was light and affordable. The device accommodated a Mini-SIM, a standard at the time, adding to its straightforward usability.

Display

The phone boasted a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, delivering a pixel density of approximately 233 pixels per inch. While not as sharp as flagship devices of that era, the display was vibrant and offered excellent color reproduction and contrast ratios, typical strengths of AMOLED technology. It had around a 59.4% screen-to-body ratio, providing a decent viewing experience for everyday tasks.

Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy S III mini was powered by the NovaThor U8420 chipset, which included a 1.0 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU and a Mali-400 GPU. This setup provided sufficient performance for handling most applications available at the time, including multimedia operations and basic gaming. The device came with 1GB of RAM, which was adequate for multitasking but with obvious limitations compared to more premium devices released in the subsequent years.

Operating System

The device ran on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), which was the latest version of Android at the time of release. This operating system offered a more intuitive user interface and improved performance over previous Android versions. It supported features like Google Now, a redesigned search interface, and enhanced notifications, providing a significant boost in the overall user experience.

Storage Options

Samsung offered the Galaxy S III mini in two internal storage variants: 8GB and 16GB. Moreover, it featured a dedicated microSDHC card slot, allowing users to expand storage and thereby overcome the limitations of the built-in storage capacities.

Camera Capabilities

In terms of photography, the Galaxy S III mini was equipped with a 5 MP rear camera with an f/2.6 aperture and autofocus. It included features such as an LED flash and panorama shooting mode. The camera supported 720p video recording at 30fps, which was sufficient for capturing clear videos for personal use. For selfies and video calls, it featured a VGA front camera, which was a modest addition primarily due to technological constraints and market expectations at the time.

Battery Life

The device featured a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, a standard for many smartphones in that era. The battery was rated for up to 14 hours of talk time on a 2G network and up to 7 hours and 10 minutes on a 3G network. This was complemented by an endurance rating of 42 hours, ensuring the phone could last a day under moderate usage.

Network and Connectivity

For connectivity, the phone supported GSM and HSPA technologies, with 2G and 3G bands accommodating global communication standards. The HSPA allowed for network speeds of up to 14.4/5.76 Mbps. In terms of wireless connectivity, it supported Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and hotspot capabilities. Bluetooth 4.0, combined with A2DP, EDR, LE, and aptX technologies, ensured seamless connectivity across diverse devices.

Additional Features

The device came packaged with several other useful features, such as a stereo FM radio with RDS, positioning capabilities using GPS and GLONASS, and NFC (although market-dependent). It also housed a set of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and a compass, enhancing its functional capabilities. The standard microUSB 2.0 port facilitated easy charging and data transfer.

Audio and Sound Quality

The Galaxy S III mini included a 3.5mm audio jack, aligning with user preferences during its release period. The loudspeaker provided reasonable performance with sound outputs rated at voice 66dB, noise 63dB, and ring 76dB. The audio quality, in terms of noise and crosstalk, stood at -82.1dB and -80.7dB respectively, ensuring adequate sound clarity for calls and media playback.

Color Options and Models

The variety in color options for the Galaxy S III mini was notable, with choices including White, Blue, Titan Gray, Amber Brown, Garnet Red, and Onyx Black. Additionally, the phone was available in multiple models: GT-I8190, GT-I8190N, GT-I8190L, SM-G730A, and SM-G730W8, to cater to different markets and network compatibilities.

Conclusion

Despite being discontinued, the Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini remains a part of the mobile device history as an affordable, reliable, and compact smartphone from 2012. It featured a well-balanced combination of performance, design, and utility. Its place as a mid-range device provided many users with a satisfactory smartphone experience, suitable for daily communication and multimedia usage.