2024-11-06

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini is a compact touchscreen smartphone designed and manufactured by South Korean company Samsung Electronics. The device, designated by the model number GT-I8190, was officially unveiled in October 2012, with its commercial launch a month later.

Technical specifications of the display and components

This representative of the Galaxy S III family is equipped with a 4-inch display made with Super AMOLED technology, which provides vivid colors and good image contrast. At the heart of the device is a dual-core processor clocked at 1 GHz, working together with 1 GB of RAM to ensure smooth operation of the system and applications.

Photo opportunities

In terms of photographic capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini offers a 5-megapixel main camera, located on the phone's rear casing. On the front of the device was an additional VGA camera, designed for making video calls and taking the popular selfie.

Comparison with the flagship model

The smartphone is a compact version of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S III, sharing many design and functional features with it. It should be noted, however, that it has some limitations compared to its bigger brother - you won't find an 8-megapixel main camera, a larger 4.8-inch display, or scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. It is worth noting that, according to energy efficiency tests, the device can operate up to 42 hours in standard use mode.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini

By GadgetsGuy - Samsung Galaxy S3 mini by gadgetsguy on DeviantArt, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32821640

Operating system and functionality

Android version and manufacturer's overlay

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini was launched with the Android 4.1 operating system (known as Jelly Bean), which was later updated to version 4.1.2. The manufacturer enhanced the system with a proprietary TouchWiz overlay, which not only changed the appearance of the interface, but also expanded the functionality of the device with a number of innovative solutions.

Communication and utility functions

The smartphone is equipped with an extensive set of corporate features and applications. Users have been given access to ChatON instant messenger, which allows instant messaging with other Samsung device owners. The system also includes Smart Alert, which notifies you of missed calls and messages when you pick up the phone, and Buddy Photo Share, a tool for easily sharing photos with friends.

Advanced system features

Other notable features include: Pop-Up Play allowing you to watch videos in a floating window while using other apps, S Suggest offering personalized app recommendations, and S Voice, a voice assistant that responds to user commands. There was also the Smart Stay feature, which uses the front camera to track the user's eyes and prevent the screen from going blank while reading.

Entertainment features and battery specifications

Samsung also took care of entertainment, implementing Video Hub with access to video content and Game Hub 2.0 focusing on mobile games. A special edition of the device (model GT-I8190N) also features S Beam technology, which uses NFC to quickly transfer data between compatible devices. It is worth noting that, depending on the operator, the smartphone can be equipped with a battery with a 3-pin or 4-pin connector, with the former version being more common and more readily available on the market.

Market Variants

American version

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini has lived to see several significant market variants, of which the improved version available in the US market is particularly noteworthy. The SM-G730A and SM-G730V, offered by carriers AT&T and Verizon Wireless, respectively, introduce significant technical improvements while retaining the distinctive 4-inch Super AMOLED display with 800x480 pixel resolution familiar from the international version of the device.

Technical specifications of the US variant

The U.S. variants are equipped with a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, running at 1.2 GHz in a dual-core arrangement. In addition, the phones received an NFC module for short-range wireless communication, a more capacious 2,000 mAh battery and, especially importantly, support for high-speed data transmission via 4G LTE technology. It is worth noting that as of June 6, 2014, the version offered by AT&T came with Android 4.4 KitKat pre-installed.

Variant GT-I8200

In March 2014, another variant of the device debuted in select markets, labeled GT-I8200. This model came in two varieties: GT-I8200N equipped with an NFC module and GT-I8200L for the Latin American market. This version of the Galaxy S III Mini is equipped with a different SoC - a Marvell PXA986 with a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz and a Vivante GC1000 graphics chip. Interestingly, the identical hardware configuration was also used in the Galaxy Tab 3 tablet 7.0.

Software differences

A major difference between the variants was the software - the GT-I8200/N/L models came preloaded with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, while the older GT-I8190 variant originally ran version 4.1.1. This discrepancy in operating system versions reflected the evolution of the Android platform as the different variants of the device hit the market.

Successor and end of production

Premiere of the successor

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini was eventually replaced by its successor, the Galaxy S4 Mini model. The premiere of the new device was officially announced by the manufacturer on May 30, 2013, and its retail launch took place in July of the same year. The release schedule shows Samsung's typical strategy of a yearly release cycle, with the next generation of the Mini line of smartphones appearing several months after the release of their flagship counterparts.

Market strategy

The timing of the Galaxy S4 Mini's launch was carefully planned to capitalize on the success of the entry-level Galaxy S4 model, while offering consumers a more affordable alternative in a compact format. The decision to launch a successor to the Galaxy S III Mini in mid-2013 testified to the success of the concept of miniaturizing flagship models and responded to the growing demand for smartphones that are smaller in size but retain the key features of their larger counterparts.

Evolution of the Mini line

The strategy of introducing a successor pointed to the evolutionary development of the Mini line in Samsung's portfolio, where each successive generation was designed to introduce technical improvements while maintaining the basic design principles that defined the success of the Galaxy S III Mini. The release of the S4 Mini marked the natural closure of the Galaxy S III Mini's life cycle on the market, although the device itself remained available for sale for some time after the successor's debut.

Summary of the product life cycle

The news of the successor to the Galaxy S III Mini closes a chapter in the history of this particular Samsung product line, while showing how the company has consistently developed its strategy of creating compact versions of flagship smartphones, responding to the diverse needs of users.

Technical specifications

Feature	S III Mini
Manufacturer	Samsung Electronics
Type	Touchscreen Smartphone
Completion of production	No data available
Operating system	Original : Android 4.1.1 "Jelly Bean" Current : Android 4.1.2 "Jelly Bean" Android 4.4.2 `KitKat' ( AT&T and Verizon Wireless Galaxy S3 Mini only) Unofficial : Android 7.1.2 "Nougat" via LineageOS 14.1"
Connectivity	3.5 mm TRRS , HSPA , Bluetooth 4.0+LE , Wi-Fi & Hotspot , DLNA , Kies Air, micro USB 2.0 , NFC (GT-I8190N/GT-I8200N/SM-G730A/SM-G730V only)
Processor	1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 (GT-I8190) 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 (GT-I8200) 1.2 GHz dual-core Krait (North American variant)
RAM	1 GB RAM
Internal memory	8 / 16 flash (3.5 GB not available due to Android software and preinstalled apps)
Display	4 in (100 mm) Super AMOLED PenTile 480×800 resolution (~233 PPI) [ 1 ]
Sound	No data available
Dimensions	121.55 mm × 63 mm × 9.9 mm