We've seen the trend of mini versions of flagship phones growing over the past year or two, starting with the Galaxy S III Mini. We've seen an HTC One Mini and a few other manufacturers produce lesser versions of their flagship models with a squished screen and, problematically, a similar price tag. DigiTimes is reporting that many of these manufacturers are going to be rethinking that strategy in the coming months after poor sales of these “miniature” phones; both Samsung and HTC have had to cut the price of their Mini phones soon after launching, partly because of their inflated pricing, and partly because of stiff competition from other smaller, cheaper mid-range phones.
I've always thought these manufacturers missed a great opportunity with mini phones. Most of them release smaller versions of their flagship phones with slower processors, less memory, lower resolution screens, but with a price that matched their superior, bigger models. If the phones had identical specs as the bigger flagship phones with a slightly smaller screen, they would be much more competitive. Excluding the Motorola X (sorta) there just aren't any cutting edge, high-end phones with smaller screens and sizes. There's clearly a market for premium devices with smaller sizes, and you don't have to look much farther than Apple to see that.
If Sony's rumored Xperia Z1 f phone turns out to match the rumors, it will essentially be an Xperia Z1 with a slightly smaller screen. It would be one of the first devices to match it's high-end brother like that, and I think it would stand a great shot at being a successful device. Regardless, the current Mini models don't work well, so there's no doubt we're going to see something different from manufacturers in the near future.
source: DigiTimes
It started with the galaxy s3 mini? My wife had an xperia x10 mini years ago.
There is a market for a 4.3 inch display. I would buy one. I don’t need to big phone and bulge in my pocket to read email. There are very few decent smaller phones in the US. Release a S4 mini in all carriers and see what happens. They just offered the SIII mini on ATT only and it is already 2 years old. The HTC One mini is not mini, it is actually a large phone and again not offered on all carriers. It is a shame the manufacturers and carriers don’t thing this market is important, which in turn makes it unimportant.
My sincere thanks for this article. I was thinking these past days on this big market issue. I have medium sized hands and sometimes i just wish I go back to a 4′ display. So much ergonomic and easy to hold and love. Oh man, I’m nostalgic for my nexus s. So perfect…
Nowadays you only see flagships at least 5′ , and still growing. WTF? Wake up , manufacturers!
So thank you for expressing the obvious truth and hopfully we ll see more reactin from the customers.
We had mini phones – mini Android phones and the Apple iPhone is still mini. Just read the boards and see how many people want the iPhone to offer a bigger screen…but Apple thinks they know what’s best for you and that you shouldn’t think for yourself – you should let Apple think for you. What ever possessed the manufactures to think about making smaller phones when it seems the bigger the phone is, the more interest there is in them…Just look at the Galaxy Note series, the HTC One, the Galaxy S4, etc….going mini? How stupid! I’ve always been able to go out and get a smartphone with a smaller screen…but I, like most others, haven’t wanted a smaller screen. I use a Galaxy Note 2 and love it. Would I want to go backwards from a 5.5 inch screen to a 4.3 or even a 4.7? Heck no!
Suggesting everyone wants bigger phones is just as bad as Apple refusing to make bigger phones.
If not for the fact that my wife’s eyesight sucks (probably the reason she married me), and that I want us to have the same phone model, I would have gone for a smaller Galaxy S4 if it had all the features and powers of the bigger model. I’m sure I’m not alone. Smaller is easier to carry, but in any case there should be a choice for everyone. As it is now if you want a smaller powerful phone you need to buy an iPhone, and if you want a larger phone you need to buy an Android or Windows phone. Screen size should not dictate your other major choices.
” Most of them release smaller versions of their flagship phones with slower processors, less memory, lower resolution screens, but with a price that matched their superior, bigger models. If the phones had identical specs as the bigger flagship phones with a slightly smaller screen, they would be much more competitive.”
I was going to post almost exactly this.
The “Mini” models almost always have pretty drastically different specs, I don’t know how they are even considered to be related tot he flagship models they are trying to capitalize on.
This all seems sort of obvious. Android manufacturers are being almost as bone-headed about smaller screens as Apple is with larger screens.