IT Pro Verdict
The HTC One Mini is a beautifully designed, highly functional handset that is only beset by sub-par battery performance. If you’re looking for a smaller version of the HTC One or a replacement to your iPhone, then the HTC One Mini could be just what you’re looking for.
Pros
- +
Stunning design; Excellent Display; Decent Camera; Great Performance
Cons
- -
Limited storage; no SD-support; BlinkFeed is annoying; Sub-par battery
The pitch of the HTC One Mini is simple. It's takes most of the core features from the acclaimed HTC One handset and squeezes them into a smaller 4.3in form factor with a lower price tag.
This concept of repacking a flagship device isn't new. Samsung has been offering a cut-down version of its Galaxy S4 handset in the form of the Galaxy Mini to users who want a smaller device. But can the HTC outdo the company which is leading the smartphone market?
Design
Finished in aluminium with plastic accents, the HTC One Mini carries a similar overall design to the HTC One. The only difference, aside from the display size, is the Mini's thicker plastic edging.
In the hand the handset feels slimmer and a lot lighter. Exact measurements of 132 x 63 x 9mm and it weighs 20g less than its bigger brother (122g). It's also one of the best looking handsets we've seen launched this year. Not bad for a mid-tier device.
Display
HTC has used the same Super LCD screen technology in the flagship HTC One, although here the size of the panel is reduced to 4.3ins. The overall display resolution is not full HD (1280 x 720), but video and text are still pin sharp both in email, on webpages, and via digital downloads from Google Play.
Pixel density is up there too at 341ppi. That's higher than the iPhone 5 (326ppi) and more generous than the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini (236ppi). It's not full HD by any stretch of the imagination but even in a side-by-side comparison to the HTC One you'll struggle to tell the difference.
Specs & Hardware
On the performance front, the HTC One Mini can handle most tasks without breaking into a sweat. Navigation around Sense 5 is slick and web scrolling is seamless.
Multitasking is no problem either and, thanks to its 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400 chipset and 1GB of RAM. If you want to indulge in graphically intensive games like Real Racing 3 and Dead Trigger on the commute, you'll be pleased to know they run without a hitch.
In our benchmark tests, the One Mini scored 6005 in Quadrant and 11116 in AnTuTu, placing it above 2012's HTC One X (4.500) by quite a distance. Like the One Mini's display, it's internal spec isn't the best but, importantly, it delivers solid results that far surpass what was the standard on most high-end flagships from 12 months ago.
