Mini is the New Black
Just a month after the launch of the HTC One M8, the Taiwanese mobile maker has added the One Mini 2 to the ranks, much like it did with the HTC One Mini last year. Like the LG G2 Mini and the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, the One Mini 2 scales back some of the specs of the M8 and packs them into a smaller body that costs less to own.
How different is it from the original? Will much will you be missing out on if you go for the One Mini 2 over the One M8? we compare the specs and features of HTC’s two mini smartphones to see what there is to get excited about.
M8 beauty with a bigger body
Just as the One Mini looked a lot like the One M7, the One Mini 2 has the same sleek, curved metal design as the One M8. It’s even available in the same Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver, and Amber Gold colours.
There are however some changes in the dimensions department. It weighs 137g and measures in at 10.6mm thick, up from a 9.25mm frame and 122g-heavy body. It’s probably not a dramatic enough of a jump for most to notice, though.
HTC has also moved from a microSIM to a Nano SIM to bring the One Mini 2 in line with the M8 and has moved from a 1,800 mAh battery to a larger 2,100mAh one, no doubt to factor in the presence of a bigger display, which is next on our list.
Bigger screen, same resolution
In a move to keep
the One Mini 2 cheaper to make than the One M8, HTC is sticking with the same 720p HD
resolution displayseen in the One Mini. That’s the same screen resolution as budget Android phone great the Moto G.
It does move from a 4.3-inch display to a slightly larger 4.5-inch one giving it similar screen estate to the Nokia Lumia 1020. The 720p HD display of the One Mini is pretty exceptional so it will be interesting to see if there’s a massive leap in quality.
More processing power and new Android
The Snapdragon 400 dual-core CPU and 1GB RAM in the One Mini struggled over time to keep things running buttery smoot, and now HTC is moving to a Snapdragon 400 quad-core CPU to hopefully improve performance. It’s not the Snapdragon 801 processor found in the One M8 or the Sony Xperia Z2 but what’s more disappointing is that there’s just 1GB RAM, which could lead to some of the same performance issues.
There’s no surprise that it ships Android 4.4 KitKat, and Sense 6.0 lets One Mini 2 owners benefit from new features like a more simplified user interface, Fitbit integration and the ability to pause video during capture. On the connectivity front, HTC has included NFC this time so you can connect compatible speakers and headphones.
MORE: HTC Sense 6 features
UltraPixels make way for megapixels
HTC has made the decision to drop the UltraPixel camera included in the M8 for a new 13-megapixel shooter instead in what appears to be another cost-cutting measure. It’s surprising when you consider that the One Mini matched the larger One M7 in the camera department. The dual LED flash has been ditched along with the Zoe camera mode. It does still feature a BSI sensor, and moves from a f/2.0 aperture lens to a f/2.2 lens with Full HD 1080p HD video recording support still in tow.
There are changes up front as well, where HTC has moved from a 1.6-megapixel 720p HD camera to a 5-megapixel shooter to cater to selfie lovers. HTC has included specific features to enhance front-facing shots with a countdown timer and touch up software to make your solo or group pictures look more beautiful.
What’s the same?
The HTC One Mini 2 will be available with 4G like the One Mini, and you get all the usual connectivity suspects like DLNA and Bluetooth 4.0. The improved BoomSound dual front stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers included in the M8 are also in place, which means it will still be a great place to listen to music or watch films minus the headphones.
Are the changes enough? It’s more of a looker than the One Mini but we have our doubts about the incremental changes in the processing department. It will all come down to price especially when the specs are so close to the Moto G. The likelihood of the One Mini 2 costing anywhere near £100 is highly unlikely. On paper though, it has the makings of another great 4-inch HTC Android phone.
Like the sound of the HTC One Mini 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Next, read our Moto G vs Moto E comparison
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
