HTC One Mini 2 and HTC One (M8)
While my favorite smartphone last year was the HTC One M7, my wife was smitten by the HTC One Mini primarily due to the smaller form factor. HTC again released a smaller version of its flagship device, this time as the HTC One Mini 2. It should have been called the M8 Mini as it really is more of a little brother to the M8 than a successor to the One Mini.
While the hardware is very similar to the HTC One M8
on the outside, it has lower level specs just like the One Mini and
Galaxy S4 Mini with a price that is not as low as expected for a
non-flagship device.
Despite the lower level specs, the HTC One Mini 2
is a device to consider if you want an Android that remains quite
pocketable and allows many actions with a single hand. It is just
slightly narrower than my HTC One M7, but quite a bit more narrower than
the M8.
Hardware
Camera: The first thing I wanted to know when the
HTC One Mini 2 arrived was how it is different from the new HTC One
(M8). I was particularly interested in seeing if a standard 13 megapixel
single camera was better than a dual UltraPixel strategy.
After testing the cameras in various situations, it looks like the
HTC One M8 UltraPixel strategy is the best of these two cameras. I do
still think an 8 megapixel UltraPixel camera or better 13 megapixel
camera with OIS and solid optics would be better than the current 4
megapixel UltraPixel camera, but we may just have to wait until the HTC
One (M9) is released to see if HTC agrees.
I personally like the photos from the M8 better and find the Mini 2
camera to just be an average smartphone camera, but better than other
mid-range devices like the Moto X and Nexus 5.
You lose the fun special effects from the Duo Camera on the M8 and
also the ability to capture 3-second Zoes. The Zoes, combined with
Highlight Videos, actually tell the full story of events and are a fun
way to share with your family and friends. You do still get Highlight
Video support, just without the short video clips.
What else is different?:
Besides the camera, you
will find there is no IR port, the headphone jack is on the top, the
processor is slower, the battery is smaller, the One Mini 2 has a lower
screen resolution on a smaller display, a single LED flash is on the
back, Motion Launch gestures are not present, and RAM is half of what
you find on the M8.
What is the same?:
The software, including HTC Sense
6, is the same, both have BoomSound front facing stereo speakers, both
have 5 megapixel front facing cameras for great selfies, and both have
microSD cards supporting capacities up to 128 GB.
The HTC One Mini 2 definitely fits easier in your hand and rivals the
feel of my Moto X, with a bit more height and less width. HTC did a
fabulous job with build quality and while the metal doesn't wrap all the
way around the edges, the black matte plastic looks and feels great. I
still want to see HTC reduce the side, top, and bottom bezel distance
though.
Software
The HTC One Mini 2 launches with the same software as the HTC One #M8,
Android 4.4.2 and Sense 6. I still think Sense is one of the best
Android custom interfaces and it flies on the One Mini 2.
The unit I tested is an international model from HTC so there was no
preloaded carrier junk on it at all. If AT&T and Sprint load it up
then you will likely see something less than the 10 GB of available on
device storage that I see on this unit.
Usage and experiences
HTC knows how to make great hardware and most reviewers agree that
hardware is generally not their problem. I like the feel of the Mini 2,
but prefer all of the information I am seeing on the larger, higher
resolution displays today.
I experienced HSPA+ speeds on T-Mobile and the battery lasted me for a
day and a half. It was tough for me to personally use the device as my
primary for too many days since I have other devices that are more
compelling to me personally. If the Mini 2 was priced very low, then I
might consider it, but at the near premium smartphone pricing overseas I
would rather have a One M8, Galaxy S5, or Z2.
Pros and Cons
To summarize my experiences with the HTC One Mini 2, here are my pros and cons.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Excellent 4.5 inch 720p LCD2 display |
Expensive compared to other mid-range devices |
| Solid design and construction |
|
| Decent camera for a mid-range phone |
|
| Great sounding front-facing BoomSound speakers |
|
| Functional HTC Sense 6 UI |
|
Pricing and availability
We do not yet have official pricing, but indications are that it will
cost $400 to $450. It will be launching soon in the UK and other
countries, with no current announcement regarding a US release.
The competition
The main competitor is the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact and that is a
device that Sony released with specs that more closely match the full
size relative.
Samsung currently has the Galaxy S4 Mini and may launch a S5 Mini to
compete with the HTC One Mini 2 as well. All of these devices focus on
taking a flagship down in size.
When looking at other mid-range devices, we have the Moto X priced
reasonably with specs similar to the One Mini 2. The Moto G is also
priced at about half the One Mini 2 and is a very popular device.
| Specifications |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core 1.2 GHz processor |
| 1GB RAM |
| 16GB internal storage with microSD card slot |
| 4.5-inch 1280x7200 pixels resolution Super LCD display |
| 13 megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front facing camera |
| HTC BoomSound front-facing stereo speakers |
| 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX |
| 2,100 mAh battery |
| Dimensions of 137.43 x 65.04 x 10.6 mm and 137 grams |
Conclusion
The new HTC #OneMini2 is a solid compact #Android smartphone. While
it doesn't have the high end specifications of the M8, it is not
designed to be the flagship device. It holds its own and I honestly had
lots of trouble developing a cons list for a device of this class and
target audience.
While the price may be a bit on the higher end for a compact version
of the M8, it is still quite a bit less expensive than the One M8 and
other flagship products. The One Mini 2 is for the buyer who wants a
smaller phone and in that regard I think it meets its goal. --ZD
