Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini vs iPhone 5

Samsung has launched the scaled-back version of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone this month, ahead of continuing speculation over Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5s, as well as the budget iPhone. While Apple fans wait to find out what the newest iterations will offer, Samsung’s Galaxy S4 Mini has proven to be a worthy competitor to the existing iPhone 5, combining a sleek, petite size and interface with many of the useful features launched on the larger version. For users looking for a small but powerful smartphone, the S4 Mini certainly provides a realistic alternative to Apple.

Design and size

The S4 Mini is still larger than the iPhone, with a 4.3 inch screen, compared to the super-slim dimensions of the iPhone 5. At only 8mm thick, the iPhone also comes out on top as the slimmest smartphone around, thought the S4 Mini is only 0.9 millimetres thicker.  That said, the iPhone does have a heavier build – with its characteristic anodised aluminium back, it weighs 112 grams. The S4 Mini by contrast, is a lightweight 107 grams.

Both phones show off each company’s outstanding screen technologies, with the vivid Super AMOLED screen on the S4 mini, and the ultra-high resolution of the iPhone 5 – the choice for users is instead one of preference – between the saturated, colour rich look of AMOLED, or the crisp, sharp features of Apple’s screens.

Camera

Camera-wise, the Mini is a step back from the ultra-high megapixel punch of its larger counterpart. Both phones feature an 8 megapixel rear facing camera, while the Mini gets a little further ahead with its 1.9 megapixel front facing camera, as opposed to the iPhone 5’s 1.2 megapixels. This makes for a slightly better experience for quick and easy self-portraits. Both the rear facing cameras perform well in tests – Samsung has retained several of the additional modes in the Mini, including HDR, panoramic and night mode, while the iPhone 5 still has exceptional results, especially outdoors and in poor lighting.

User experience

While it is smaller, the Mini has kept many of the features that made the S4 so popular, and users won’t feel short changed by the cutback version. With a fast processor, excellent data speeds and a large battery capacity from the 1,900 mAh battery, you can expect a full day’s usage with ease. And although the iPhone 5 offers greater internal storage of 32 GB, you can’t beat the Mini’s additional capability to add storage with a microSD card of up to 64 GB.

Apple’s iOS is often seen as the winner when it comes to ease of use and the enormous number of apps available, particularly for smartphone novices, but the Android platform is fast catching up. With a customisable interface, Mini users can define their own smartphone experience, just how they want to see it.

All in all, despite the sexy looks of the iPhone 5, the S4 Mini provides an excellent option for those who want all the benefits of the ever-developing Android platform, in a small but comfortable package.

This blog post was written by Sarah Green of GSM Arena. Sarah is the head of market research for Arena GSM specialising in the iPhone 5.