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A Smaller Android Phone??

T

tori729

Newbie
Ok I'm really really torn right now as to whether to stay with Android or change over to iOS. I currently have a Galaxy S2 with a broken power button and I need to upgrade. I have a carrier that supports AT&T or unlocked GSM phones and I'm looking at something in the S3/iPhone 5 range.
However, I am NOT liking the huge size of the S3 but I'm not sure that I want to change over to iOS because of the familiarity I have with Android and the customizable aspects of it.
I've been looking at the specs of the S3 and S4 minis. Not impressed with the S3 - seems like not much better than what I have with a worse camera/video and screen.
And it seems as if they are only available on Verizon so that won't work for me... any other suggestions? I'm familiar with Samsungs and know more about them than say a Sony or HTC but I'm willing to try something if it's reliable.
My issues come with freeze ups and slowness because I tend to be sort of app-happy. :P)
 
I dont know if it matches your price range or carrier but theres a great full spec'd but small sized little Sony Xperia... ill try find out the name unless anyone else knows it...
I wouldnt touch the s3 mini but maybe the s4 mini
 
The S4 mini based on specs is basically a repackaged S3, just like how the S3 mini is a repackaged S2. So you may want to check that out.
 
Personally I like the Z1 Compact. The other "mini" phones are midrange handsets trading off the flagship's name, whereas the Z1 Compact is a flagship in a smaller form factor.

It's even waterproof ;)
 
funkylogik said:
Yeah if i didnt like bigger screens id love one of them. Also has expandable storage, huge camera :)
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I am a BIG screen fan myself, GREAT for video conferences and gaming, but NOT very practical when you have on a pair of jeans or dress pants!:(
 
Lol yeah. I think 5" would be my max for a phone.
I remember when i got my 4.7" gs3 in second quarter of 2012 it seemed HUGE. now i think its about perfect size :)
 
funkylogik said:
Lol yeah. I think 5" would be my max for a phone.
I remember when i got my 4.7" gs3 in second quarter of 2012 it seemed HUGE. now i think its about perfect size :)
Click to expand...

Great for sweat pants, but I think 4.3" is the cut off for anything else, lol.:D
 
Ok, so the G4 Mini is not compatible with my carrier and the Xperia Z1 is not in my price range but the HTC One Mini looks promising! Thanks, going to look at reviews now.
 
hiredgun said:
You'd need a pair of Samsung XXXXL jeans to go with that Samsung Galaxy MEGA for sure!!!!:)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately Samsung doesn't do apparel, and current fashion seems to be all about skinny and tight. :D ...try a manbag, fanny pack or cargo pants.

The Galaxy Mega is primarily sold in China, including the 8in. Most gents here carry shoulder bags, or murses or whatever you want to call them.
 
Samsung Galaxy Jeans : only compatible with a single phone model, and with a low quality camera built into the belt.

Announced as a breakthrough in wearable computing, they sell so badly that the Chinese cloners don't even bother copying them ;)
 
I'm in the same boat, I kind of hate the big screen fad. I've stuck with an older LG 4" device because I liked the pocket ability of it, but it is slowly breaking so I'm looking for something new.

I was looking at some of the flagship devices in a Sprint store yesterday and I held one to my head to see how comfortable I am holding it. My wife almost doubled over laughing, it looked and felt ridiculous. Then I showed her the Note to make her stop laughing at this one.

I could probably get used to it over time, but do I *want* to be used to that??

Meanwhile, I found the S4 mini to be rather cute and the specs were great for something that size. Too bad its out of my price range (no contract). So I'm slowly accepting the notion that I'm done with the days of top tier phones, I just want something that works and is pocketable. So something like the 4" Optimus F3 or Sprint Galaxy Victory. They are a step down from what you're used to as far as available memory, but that's the direction I'm leaning towards for the future.
 
Xperia Z1 Compact is the one to go for if you want smaller phone.

Sony didn't skimp on the specs like many others do with smaller/mini versions of phones.
 
Another thing to take into consideration is that the smaller screen takes less power to draw- which means speedier GPU response and less battery drain.

Back in the day, I picked up an Optimus S (Optimus one variant). It was considered pretty mid-to-low end in specs, but it packed the same GPU as the OG EVO. Despite everything else being "low end", the graphics response on that thing was amazing. Open GL benchmarks outperformed the HTC, which was Sprint's flagship at the time!

I'm looking into the Galaxy Victory because I'm being budget conscious (buying a phone off contract), and was politely surprised to see how well it placed on graphics benchmarks. Its the same chipset as the S3, only software-limited to 1.2Ghz. But even software limited to be the same speed as the S2 and sporting the same resolution, it outperforms the S2 in benchmarks. And when the governer is lifted with a kernel that enabled the normal 1.5ghz speed, the thing apparently really acts like a mini S3.

I don't own one yet so I'm only speaking from what I've read online. In a similar vein, I'm just pointing out that lower-end doesn't necessarily mean lower performance. It just means the device is likely build to a lower spec (more plasticy perhaps, LCD instead of AMOLED, etc). But as far as I'm concerned, if the experience is responsive enough and has the added benefit of being inexpensive enough to easily replace (I've got kids), this seems like a win-win! Being more pocketable and more budget conscious without necessarily taking a performance hit.

Something to think about, in this world of super-mega-look-at-how-awesome-I-am phones.
 
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