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

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

There's certainly something of a trend in terms of producing small versions of top of the range handsets. HTC has recently done this with its One mini, and Samsung has shrunk its flagship handset to produce this Galaxy S4 Mini, having started the trend off with its Galaxy S3 Mini.

Impressive display; Decent processing power; A good size for average hands

Some Galaxy S4 features missing; Low screen resolution; Not enough internal storage

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is not merely a smaller version of the Android powerhouse, lacking as it does the same impressive lineup of specs as its big brother. Nevertheless, it still packs plenty of power and a decent screen into a very comfortable little body.

Small; comfortable size; Vivid screen; Plenty of power for most tasks; Decent camera

Mid-range specs don't justify high price; Multitude of settings won't appeal to newbies

A great all rounder and an excellent choice for those wanting a slice of the Samsung pie at a lower cost. Has some imperfections and there are cheaper Android alternatives around, but apart from that it's a fantastic little device.

Sleek and compact design; Nice display; Fast performance; Good camera; Great battery life

Small screen size makes it a bit pokey; Poor keyboard; Tacky feel

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

I wanted a small cellphone and I really wanted a Samsung. The only other small phone was an IPhone and that would have a learning curve for me. This was a refurbished cellphone and it was in excellent condition.

John, since it runs Android 4.22, I dind´t find anyway to move apps to ExtSD except if you root your phone (doing so there are some apps to move or swap the internal and external memory) and, by the way, losing the waranty.

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