Samsung Exec Confirms Galaxy S3 ‘Mini’ is On The Way

Samsung has confirmed that it will unveil a smaller version of the popular Galaxy S III smartphone tomorrow.

Speaking to Korean media this morning, Samsung mobile chief JK Shin said that Samsung will lift the lid on a 4-inch version of the Android-powered smartphone on Thursday, a week after the smartphone maker sent out invitations to a launch event.

Hinting at the device’s name, Shin said: “There’s a lot of demand for a 4-inch screen device in Europe. Some may call it an entry-level device, but we call it ‘mini’.”

Shin did not reveal any additional details of the device — such as pricing and availability — ahead of tomorrow’s launch, however.According to The Verge, the downsized Galaxy S3 will not be an entry-level device, suggesting that it will pack the very same features as its larger, 4.8-inch sibling.

According to German technology site MobileGeeks, meanwhile, the mini smartphone will have a screen resolution of 800×480 pixels, along with a rear 5-megapixel camera. It is believed that a 1GHz dual-core STE U8420 chip will power the Galaxy S3 mini and feature 16GB of flash memory with an expandable MicroSD card.

The battery is understood to be, at 1,500 mAh, a lower specification than that of the larger model, but is offset by the smaller processor and less battery-intensive display. The German technology site also claimed that the smaller Samsung smartphone will include the latest version (4.1) of Android, nicknamed Jelly Bean.

AppleInsider argues that the new Galaxy S3 mini “falls well short” of the iPhone 5, based on the specifications. The iPhone 5 boasts a resolution of 1,136×640 pixels and an 8-megapixel rear camera.

However, the Galaxy S3 mini may outshine the iPhone 5 in some areas, with rumored near-field communications (NFC) capability for contactless payments.

Samsung sold 20 million Galaxy S3 smartphone in the first 100 days after its launch, and had notched up double the sales of its Galaxy S2 predecessor after five months.

Via: CNet

Prateek Panda

Prateek is the Founder of TheTechPanda. He's passionate about technology startups and entrepreneurship and enjoys speaking to new founders every day. Prateek has also been consistently regarded as one of the top marketing experts in the region.

Recent Posts

Disrupting Fintech: How product studios are transforming financial services

In the rapidly evolving financial technology landscape, innovative product studios are emerging as powerful catalysts…

20 hours ago

Harnessing the power of AI: Preparing today’s workforce for tomorrow’s challenges

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a transformative…

21 hours ago

Indian esports makes history at BRICS Esports Championship in Moscow

In a historic moment for Indian esports, Wasfi “YoshiKiller” Bilal secured a silver medal at…

2 days ago

Geek Appeal: New gadgets & apps on the block

The Tech Panda takes a look at recently launched gadgets & apps in the market.…

2 days ago

Ecosystem harkat: India’s Biotech & space tech, early stage tech startups & women entrepreneurs in blockchain

The Tech Panda takes a look at what’s buzzing in the startup ecosystem. The startup…

2 days ago

Harris vs. Trump: Forecasting Bitcoin’s Future in a Post-Election Economy

With just days until the outcome of the U.S. presidential race, Bitcoin enthusiasts across the…

3 days ago