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Samsung announces Galaxy S3 Mini smartphone | Samsung announces Galaxy S3 Mini smartphone |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Samsung has unveiled a smaller version of its Galaxy S3 smartphone, reducing the screen size by 0.8 of an inch to 4 inches, bringing it in line with Apple's iPhone 5. | Samsung has unveiled a smaller version of its Galaxy S3 smartphone, reducing the screen size by 0.8 of an inch to 4 inches, bringing it in line with Apple's iPhone 5. |
The handset runs on Jelly Bean, the latest version of Google's Android operating system. | The handset runs on Jelly Bean, the latest version of Google's Android operating system. |
Samsung has not yet shared details of when the device will go on sale. | Samsung has not yet shared details of when the device will go on sale. |
The announcement comes at a time Apple are expected to launch a 7-inch iPad, although that has yet to be confirmed. | The announcement comes at a time Apple are expected to launch a 7-inch iPad, although that has yet to be confirmed. |
The Galaxy S3 Mini, details of which had been widely leaked prior to Thursday's announcement, comes just six months after the launch of the well-received larger model. | The Galaxy S3 Mini, details of which had been widely leaked prior to Thursday's announcement, comes just six months after the launch of the well-received larger model. |
The Mini has a five megapixel camera on its rear, with a lower quality VGA camera on its front. | The Mini has a five megapixel camera on its rear, with a lower quality VGA camera on its front. |
It retains some key features of the larger model, such as an Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, which enables contactless payments. | It retains some key features of the larger model, such as an Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, which enables contactless payments. |
Sacrificed in the downsize is some processing power - the model drops from the big S3's quad-core chip to a dual-care - and some screen clarity. | Sacrificed in the downsize is some processing power - the model drops from the big S3's quad-core chip to a dual-care - and some screen clarity. |
The S3 Mini's display offers fewer pixels - 800x480 - compared to the higher definition 720p display of the original. | The S3 Mini's display offers fewer pixels - 800x480 - compared to the higher definition 720p display of the original. |
While obviously smaller in size, the S3 Mini is a millimetre thicker. | While obviously smaller in size, the S3 Mini is a millimetre thicker. |
'Just too big' | 'Just too big' |
Stuart Miles, editor of UK gadget website Pocket-lint, told the BBC he thinks Samsung are playing a shrewd move to react to the demands of the market. | Stuart Miles, editor of UK gadget website Pocket-lint, told the BBC he thinks Samsung are playing a shrewd move to react to the demands of the market. |
"I think from Samsung's point of view its about offering breadth and depth of choice. | "I think from Samsung's point of view its about offering breadth and depth of choice. |
"There's lots of people out there who think the Galaxy S3 is an amazing phone, but there's a lot who think it's just too big." | |
He said the impressive early sales of the iPhone 5 will have spurred the need for a smaller competing device. | He said the impressive early sales of the iPhone 5 will have spurred the need for a smaller competing device. |
"If you see that there's a massive demand for a 4-inch screen device, and you have the capability to make it, then you're going to make it, aren't you? I think it will do really well." | "If you see that there's a massive demand for a 4-inch screen device, and you have the capability to make it, then you're going to make it, aren't you? I think it will do really well." |
Simon Stanford, vice president of Samsung UK's telecommunications and networks division, said in a statement: "We will continue to develop smartphones to cater for a variety of customer needs and this latest release demonstrates our ongoing commitment to offering our customers more choice at every price point." | Simon Stanford, vice president of Samsung UK's telecommunications and networks division, said in a statement: "We will continue to develop smartphones to cater for a variety of customer needs and this latest release demonstrates our ongoing commitment to offering our customers more choice at every price point." |