What it also does is give GALAXY S4 admirers a choice, striking the perfect balance for anyone who doesn't need flagship specs or size, without compromising too heavily on performance.
The dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz, coupled with 1.5GB RAM makes sure the GALAXY S4 mini glides through TouchWiz. There's a high-resolution 8-megapixel camera around the back for your photos, as well as a 1.9-megapixel HD front facing camera for video calling or some very competent selfies.
Samsung GALAXY S4 mini: Available in a range of …
Taking its queue from the Samsung GALAXY S4 in terms of colour options as well as design, the GALAXY S4 mini also comes in either Black Mist or White Frost.
Why these dramatic names? Because, upon close inspection, there's more to the GALAXY S4 mini's black and white, than just black and white.
A fine lattice pattern lies beneath the surface of the plastic body on both versions. This adds a depth to the material while still ensuring a smooth, easy to handle finish; endowing the S4 mini with the same design finesse as its bigger brother, it looks stunning.
Samsung GALAXY S4 mini: Side by side with the GALAXY S4
If you're thinking about buying a Samsung GALAXY S4 mini, it's likely because you've seen or heard of the GALAXY S4 and are smitten.
If you aren't sure how the two differ though, here's a quick run through to help you decide which is right for you.
Starting with screen and the GALAXY S4 measures in at 5-inches while the S4 mini is 4.3-inches.
Sporting a smaller fascia means the GALAXY S4 mini sits more comfortably in smaller hands accustomed to smaller phones, though gamers and HD videophiles will likely appreciate the additional screen size of the GALAXY S4.
This is also reflected in the two phones' other main difference, their processors. The 1.9GHz quad-core processor powers along smart features exclusive to the to the GALAXY S4, such as Air View, also making it relatively future-proofed to handle even the most intensive upcoming 3D games. For advanced day-to-day tasks though, the hardware on the entire GALAXY S4 range, including the GALAXY S4 mini is more than capable.
Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom: It's a phone. No, it's a camera. No, it's a …
From the front, the Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom is 100% phone. Sporting a familiar, Samsung GALAXY design, it looks like a welcome addition to the GALAXY line-up rather than a piece of mind-blowing convergence and innovation.
Start to tilt the phone ever so slightly though and a Zoom Ring, not to mention its incredible optics start to creep into view. The Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom is loaded up with high quality glass giving it a 10x optical zoom lens coupled with optical image stabilisation.
It also boasts a 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a Xenon flash – on a phone! It's safe to say the GALAXY S4 zoom doesn't stop at blurring lines, oh no – it shatters them.
So is it a phone or a camera? Simple, it's both.
Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom: Why optical zoom?
We've already got zoom on cameras, what's so good about optical zoom and optical image stabilisation?
Thanks to moving lens elements, the glass inside the Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom physically magnifies a given scenario, delivering a lossless zoom.
Optical image stabilisation, also on board, takes moving lens elements a step further, by counterbalancing handshake and steadying your shot.
This means high quality zoom with minimal handshake for the clearest shot possible.
Almost all phones, in contrast zoom digitally, lovingly referred to as destructive zooming by many photographers.
This works by cropping into the sensor, in the same way one would crop into an image. Producing more pixelated, lower-resolution output, it's been a major area camera phones have fallen short of dedicated cameras in the past – until now.
Optical zoom therefore makes the Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom an instant game-changer.
Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom: Smart Mode Suggest, and the rest
Smartphone plus camera equals very smart camera, and that's exactly what the Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom is.
It's loaded with all the traditional shooting modes found on the Samsung GALAXY Camera, not to mention those introduced with the Samsung GALAXY S4 such as Sound & Shot and Drama, as well as new shooting modes of its own.
Our favourite mode exclusive to the Samsung GALAXY S4 zoom is without a doubt, Smart Mode Suggest. Lock focus onto a scene, and Smart Mode Suggest will suggest three shooting modes it thinks is right for the scene.
This couples the brains of a computer with human judgement for the best shot possible, helping the GALAXY S4 zoom edge ahead of the competition when it comes to imaging software as well as hardware.
