While more people than ever are flocking to big-screen phablets, some consumers still prefer a device that's easy to use with one hand. Enter Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini, which is $49.99 on Verizon Wireless and competes directly with the Droid Mini.

Lots of features; Easy to use with one hand; Removable battery and microSD

Below-average battery life; Lower resolution and dimmer screen than competitors; Lackluster audio

Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini is a decent mid-range Android phone for those who like iPhone-like screen sizes. But unless you're wedded to the idea of a subsidized phone, there are cheaper options that deliver better performance.

Free on contract with Sprint; Nice-looking AMOLED screen; Compact size is one-hand-friendly; Expandable storage

Lower-res screen than competition; Some performance stuttering; Battery life could be better

Flagship smartphones are getting bigger with every release cycle, but not everyone wants a big screen and associated pocket bulk. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is a suitable compromise, but a compromise nonetheless.

Comfortable size; Excellent call quality; Long battery life; Good value

Carrier branding and bloatware; Lower-res display

If good things do indeed come in small packages, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini has all the ingredients needed to be a big treat. Not only does it bear the same name and design as one of the best smartphones around, it also offers a Super AMOLED display and LTE for great looking, very fast mobile...

Compact form factor; Great battery life; Expandable memory

As much as we'd like to see a device that fits the literal description of the Galaxy S4 Mini -- you know, a phone that's all but identical to the original GS4, just smaller -- Samsung clearly had something else in mind.

Solid camera with great video recording; Overall performance is decent for a mid-range phone; Easy and comfortable to hold

Display could be better; Priced too high for intended audience; Limited internal storage

We were happy to spend time with the Galaxy S4 mini. When we got the chance to first meet it, on June 20, in London , we didn't know, form our brief hands-on, that there's so much more to this miniature Galaxy S 4 than meets the eye.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini we reviewed is the GT-I9195, meaning it has LTE capabilities; It was supplied to us by our friends over at, Clove.co.uk, from where you can buy it/import it from.

-like performance, but it was definitely there with its bigger brother, the S4, The Samsung Galaxy S4 mini we reviewed is the GT-I9195, meaning it has LTE capabilities; It was supplied to us by our friends over at, Clove.co.uk, from where you can buy it/import it from.

In Samsung's playbook, a mini version of the top smartphone is typically the first new addition to a flagship's fleet. Sticking close to a proven formula, the Galaxy S4 mini is a downsized and down-priced edition, but one that certainly wants to live its own life instead of just being the poor man's...

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE; quad-band 3G with HSPA; LTE, 4.3" 16M-color qHD Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen; 256ppi, Android OS v4.2.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz UI, Dual-core 1.7GHz Krait CPU, Adreno 305 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, 1.5GB of RAM, 8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash, 1080p...

720p screens available in the price range; No Air View; Air gestures or Multi-view; Underpowered; compared to the Galaxy S4; Played out design

I've had this phone for almost 2 years on AT&T. The cons are far outweighing the pros. This phone simply has a horrible camera in all but the brightest sunlight. The specs say it's an 8MP camera, but the pictures look like they were taken on a 2MP camera if you are in anything but the brightest...

Small/slim chassis; light weight; nice screen; call quality

Slow CPU; horrible camera; bloatware; battery; gets HOT when taxed

Dimensions are important to me; I don't like 'phones' that don't fit in pockets. I was going to buy the Sony Xperia Z3 compact, but found it bulkier, heavier, and it wastes some of its screen to the three function keys, whereas with this phone you get all screen and no waste of space (buttons at the...

Lightweight; Fits in your pockets; Great performance; Great value; Will survive multiple drops on hard floors

Telstra edition sucks; Sound quality a bit average when conferencing; No LED indicator; TouchWIZ

The world of Samsung smartphones runs the gamut from one size to another. Want a phone that doubles as a small tablet? There's a Galaxy for that . Not everyone finds phablet-sized smartphones of adequate size for a tablet, however, and so they opt for a larger dedicated tablet and, conversely, a...