AndyAfter reviewing the HTC One and Max, I had a problem adjusting to the reduced size of the HTC One Mini. The smallest of the series, the mini is supposed to offer the similar performance to the standard model but in a smaller package for ease of use and functionality at a more affordable price range. But does the HTC One Mini deliver, or does it fall a little short?
Style
As mentioned in my other HTC reviews, the One series is by far one of the nicest looking phones out on the market today. When compared to the other competitors, it’s no wonder HTC has won so many awards for their design. The Mini returns in the classic lightweight aluminium casing with plastic trim, and still feels sturdy. The screen is still a sizable 4.3 inches, only 0.4 inches smaller than the regular One. The screen is still very bright and responsive, and the phone fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
Power/Hardware
As with all “mini” versions of phones, the main intention is to fit similar specs into a smaller device. While the Mini definitely tries its hardest to be as powerful as its big brother, there is does seem to be a lack of oomph when multitasking. The Mini comes packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 with a Dual-core 1.4 GHz Krait 200 processor, which is the main reason there is a bit of lag when performing tough tasks. That being said, for everyday tasks the mini performs wonderfully. The memory is locked at 16GB with no access for external memory, which may be a problem for some as one of the main reasons to buy a HTC One Mini is for its music capabilities. Returning in the mini is Beats audio with Boomsound, the studio quality speakers and amplifier that really help bring music to life. while not as loud as the One, the speakers are still much louder than those in the competitors.
OS/Software.
The HTC one Mini comes pre-installed with android Jelly bean 4.2 with HTC sense and Blink Feed. This runs very nicely on the HTC mini, with responsive apps and easy layout which makes it easy to navigate around. Blinkfeed is also great on the Mini, grouping all relevant social media and news stories together, meaning you’re not having to go through each individual app to find what you are looking for. Compared to other android devices, there is very little bloatware and everything which is pre-installed seems to be either useful or there for a reason, not because HTC sold out to App makers.
Camera and battery.
As well as beats audio being ported to the smaller device, HTC has also included their patented Ultrapixel camera lens. Ultrapixel refers to two megapixel lens stacked on top on each other to allow more light in which captures more colours. While I am yet to see a great improvement over megapixels, the Mini’s camera is very good, with features such as HTC Zoe and filters in the camera app already. When looking at the battery, it is easily the Mini’s greatest flaw. When using it for everyday use, the battery life only seemed to last me a day at best, and I found myself constantly charging it at the end of each day. While battery life isn’t everything, you may want to consider switching on the battery saver option to prolong the battery life a little more.
Final Thoughts
While I have sung all my praises for the HTC One and Max, the Mini in my eyes has unfortunately fell slightly short. When compared to its rivals, the Samsung galaxy s4 mini, z1 compact etc, the HTC Mini far outshines them in terms of looks, screen quality and additional features, but when you look at other phones in the same sort of price range, including the Google Nexus 5 and the Huawei P6, it is difficult to see why you would pick any “mini” device over the other options.