Galaxy S3 Mini - a masterstroke by Samsung?

[bigboss]

Samsung has launched a smaller version of its flagship phone at a very attractive price (£300 if rumours are to be believed). Sure, it's not quad core, only 8GB (although microSD slot is present) & "only" 5 megapixel camera, but has enough features to stand out from the mid range market.

Quite a number of people loved the Galaxy S3, but were deterred by its massive size (my wife included). Samsung has opened itself to this market. It may well be a competitor to the iPhone for people who do not want to go beyond 4 inches.

This may turn out to be the Christmas bestseller. I'm sure that Galaxy S3 + S3 Mini sales will comfortably surpass iPhone sales this year.

Thoughts?

 

[Paul.]

Don't want to comment too much until I have seen benchmarks, clock speeds are worthless. My gut says that they should have released an S3 with a smaller screen, or called it something else. Trading off of the name of a good product to sell an inferior product will only damage the good one.

 

[bigboss]

Don't want to comment too much until I have seen benchmarks, clock speeds are worthless. My gut says that they should have released an S3 with a smaller screen, or called it something else. Trading off of the name of a good product to sell an inferior product will only damage the good one.

I don't think they could have offered exactly the same specs in a smaller phone with a smaller battery. That would severely compromise battery life. It is well known that quad core processors are still mostly underutilized.

I can't see how it will "damage the good one".

S3 Mini's processor is equivalent to that of the iPhone on paper.

 

[cheeseboy]

Don't want to comment too much until I have seen benchmarks, clock speeds are worthless. My gut says that they should have released an S3 with a smaller screen, or called it something else. Trading off of the name of a good product to sell an inferior product will only damage the good one.

what, say like an ipad mini?

 

[Anonymous]

Moaning about the size of the S3 is ridiculous - aint nothing wrong with it, its perfect in fact.

People are mental.

 

[bigboss]

Moaning about the size of the S3 is ridiculous - aint nothing wrong with it, its perfect in fact.

People are mental.

I don't think it's ridiculous. It may be perfect for people with large hands. My wife has small hands & it's just too large for her.

 

[micks_address]

i think the biggest dissapointment is the screen resolution... id buy an S3 mini if it was the same spec screen as the s3.. i've always thought the s3 just slightly tooo big.. and i think steve jobs had a point about the iphones screen size.. being able to hold the phone and reach all the screen with your thumb just feels right...

 

[cheeseboy]

being able to hold the phone and reach all the screen with your thumb just feels right...

depends how big your thumb is I guess...

 

[AnotherJoe]

Its got specs from phones 2+ years ago.

Seriously - an 800x480 screen? Thats the same as a 2.5 year old HTC Desire.

In the mid range market most phones have a qHD display.

Samsung are making the same mistake as they have with their Galaxy tabs - using poor specs and still trying to charge premium prices.

(unpublished by mods - duplicate)

 

[AnotherJoe]

Its got a display from 2+ years ago.

Seriously - an 800x480 screen? Thats the same res as a 2.5 year old HTC Desire (just 4'' rather than 3.7'')

In the mid range market most phones have a qHD display - or better.

Samsung are making the same mistake as they have with their Galaxy tabs - using poor displays and still trying to charge premium prices.

 

[Paul.]

Oh dear, looks like its A9 based not A15, so its probably going to be way off the pace of the S3/iPhone5/One X ect

 

[Anonymous]

Moaning about the size of the S3 is ridiculous - aint nothing wrong with it, its perfect in fact.

People are mental.

I don't think it's ridiculous. It may be perfect for people with large hands. My wife has small hands & it's just too large for her.

Only one solution then - upgrade to wife with bigger hands.

Phone's too big for her tiny digits? Never heard so much nonsense in my life.

My girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is well jel of my S3. But then again, she's used to having objects bigger than 4.8 inches in her hands.....

 

[bigboss]

Moaning about the size of the S3 is ridiculous - aint nothing wrong with it, its perfect in fact.

People are mental.

I don't think it's ridiculous. It may be perfect for people with large hands. My wife has small hands & it's just too large for her.

Only one solution then - upgrade to wife with bigger hands.

Phone's too big for her tiny digits? Never heard so much nonsense in my life.

My girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is well jel of my S3. But then again, she's used to having objects bigger than 4.8 inches in her hands.....

You're completely unaware of something known as "choice", aren't you? Your life might revolve around a phone & will want the biggest & meanest of them all. But for others, a phone isn't so much a priority. If the phone isn't used to watch videos etc., what's the point of a large screen?

Only 1 solution so that I listen to your non sense & insist on a wife who loves the Galaxy S3 daddy? :wall:

 

[Paul.]

My girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is well jel of my S3. But then again, she's used to having objects bigger than 4.8 inches in her hands.....

4.9"?

 

[BenLaw]

My girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is well jel of my S3. But then again, she's used to having objects bigger than 4.8 inches in her hands.....

4.9"?

I think he was referring to the blister pack for his extensive medication....

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, you did a joke! Well done!

Look, it's perfectly simple, but I'll spell it out for the thick kids at the back of class: THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 IS NOT "TOO BIG".

God, I despair sometimes. This world is screwed.

 

[micks_address]

You're right of course.. its not as big as the Galaxy Note 2... now that is a big phone..

 

[bigboss]

God, I despair sometimes. This world is screwed.

Wow! The world is screwed in considering that the Galaxy S3 is a big phone! :O

 

[Joe Cox]

Agree that it's a shame it isn't a little closer to an S3 with a 4in screen. HTC got closer with the One S and One X.

 

[bigboss]

Hmmm...so the general opinion is that this phone will be a flop. :?

 

[Paul.]

Hmmm...so the general opinion is that this phone will be a flop. :?

No, the phone will suck, but it will be free on contract so they will sell tons of the things.

 

[Joe Cox]

Hmmm...so the general opinion is that this phone will be a flop. :?

No I reckon lots of people will but it thinking they're getting a small S3...

 

[daveh75]

It will sell because it's relatively cheap...

 

[6th.replicant]

So, aside from being made by Samsung and having the terms 'Galaxy' and 'S3' in its moniker, the Galaxy S3 Mini is, umm, nothing like the Galaxy S3, and any apparent ploy to hoodwink naive punters is purely intentional.

Meanwhile, here's someone who does not think the Galaxy S3 is too large:

 

[BenLaw]

Hey, you did a joke! Well done!

Look, it's perfectly simple, but I'll spell it out for the thick kids at the back of class: THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 IS NOT "TOO BIG".

God, I despair sometimes. This world is screwed.

Ah, being patronising, well done to you also. You missed the point tho, I made no comment about the phone, just about your puerile self-aggrandisement.