The Samsung Galaxy S5 is here but where is that now classic mini version of the flagship smartphone which is smaller and cheaper? We investigate the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini release date, price and specs now Samsung has confirmed and announced the device. It’s now up for pre-order in the UK. See also: The 33 best smartphones: The best phone you can buy in 2014.
If you like the look of the Samsung Galaxy S5 but want something a bit smaller and more budget friendly, then the Galaxy S5 mini could be just the smartphone for you. If you’re looking for a higher-spec version of the S5 there’s also the Galaxy S5 Prime, and for a rugged version check out the S5 Active.
Traditionally, Samsung launches a mini version of its flagship device a little while after its launched and true to form it has done exactly that. Here’s everything you need to know about the Galaxy S5 mini.
Read: Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Galaxy S5 mini comparison review.
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini: Release date
After various possible release dates – namely the Samsung Galaxy Premiere event in New York last month – Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy S5 mini.
Like the Samsung Z, the firm has decided to release it in Russia first in ‘early-July’ with a global launch to follow. The UK release date has now been confirmed as 7 August.
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini: Price
Samsung is selling the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini at £389.95, just slightly higher than the Galaxy S4 mini, which came in at around £380 on a SIM-free basis.
Mobile Fun was previously listing the Galaxy S5 mini for pre-order at £369, while Clove had it for £379.
Samsung Galaxy S5 mini: Specs
After months of leaked information, the Galaxy S5 mini is pretty much exactly what we expected in terms of hardware and specification.
The Galaxy S5 mini will feature a 4.5in Super AMOLED screen with a 720p resolution. That’s a reasonable amount smaller than the 5.1in screen found on the full-size Galaxy S5 and an improvement on the qHD resolution found on the Galaxy S4 mini.
The Galaxy S5 mini will come with Android 4.4 KitKat and be powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor. This, as per leaked information, is paired with 1.5GB of RAM. Internal storage is set at 16GB and there’s a microSD card slot for adding up to 64GB more.
Samsung has gone for an 8Mp rear camera, 2Mp front camera, an IR blaster and a 2100mAh battery. It’s a similar spec to the Galaxy S4 mini but the phone comes with a dust- and waterproof design (IP67).
Although it was unlikely, the Galaxy S5 mini comes with the same fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor which are both big features of the Galaxy S5. The 4G LTE model of the Galaxy S5 mini will also come with NFC.
Read: Best mobile phone deals: Samsung Galaxy S5 best deals UK.
The device is 9.1 mm thick and weighs 120 g. Like it’s bigger brother, is will be available in black, white, gold and blue. See below for the full Galaxy S5 mini specs.
Network: LTE Category4 : 150 Mbps DL, 50 Mbps UL, HSDPA 42.2Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps Display: 4.5” HD (720 x 1280) Super AMOLED AP: Quad Core 1.4 GHz OS: Android 4.4 (KitKat) Camera: Main (Rear): 8.0 MP AF with LED Flash Sub (Front): 2.1MP (FHD) Camera Features: Shot & More, Virtual Tour Shot, S Studio Video: FHD@30fps Video Codec: H.263, H264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8 Video Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC Audio Format: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA Value-Added Features: IP67 Dust and Water Resistant, Ultra Power Saving mode, S Health, Private Mode, Kids Mode Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC (LTE ver. only), Bluetooth® v4.0 LE, USB 2.0, A-GPS + GLONASS, IR Remote Sensors: Accelerometer, Digital compass, Gyro, Proximity, Hall, Ambient light, Fingerprint, Heart rate sensor Memory: 1.5 GB RAM + 16GB Internal memory microSD Slot (up to 64 GB) Dimension: 131.1 x 64.8 x 9.1mm, 120g Battery: 2,100mAh
Author: Chris Martin, Reviews Editor, Tech Advisor
Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been at Tech Advisor for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.