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HTC One Mini: 5 Things to Know

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In the past few weeks, we have learned that HTC is planning to release another version of its popular HTC One smartphone in the form of the HTC M4, a device that is currently known as the HTC One Mini. The device is thought to be a serious competitor to the official Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and is likely an appealing device to those that don’t necessarily need the horsepower or the size of the flagship HTC One.

Earlier this year, HTC released its first big name smartphone of the year in the form of the HTC One, the company’s Samsung Galaxy S4 challenger that has touched down on carriers in the United States including AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The device will soon arrive on the nation’s largest 4G LTE service provider, Verizon Wireless.

This is thought to be the HTC One Mini.

This is thought to be the HTC One Mini.

HTC’s One is an attractive smartphone, boasting a large 4.7-inch 1080p display, quad-core processor, Ultrapixel camera that performs well in low-light environments, a full metal design that is on par with the iPhone 5, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean which will soon turn to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and of course, the new HTC Sense 5 that comes with HTC BlinkFeed and HTC Zoe.

The HTC One however isn’t the only HTC One that the company has planned for 2013. No, rumors and leaks point to two new HTC One models that will be hitting shelves later this year. One, an HTC One Max or HTC T6, a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 competitor complete with large screen and stylus. The other, the HTC M4, a device that will likely be coming out in the weeks ahead and one that will be challenging the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini for miniature flagship supremacy.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve learned quite a bit about the HTC M4, also known as the HTC One Mini, and for those that are interested in a smaller version of the HTC One, these are the five most important things to know.

HTC One Mini August Release Likely

HTC One Mini next to the HTC One.

HTC One Mini next to the HTC One.

Originally, we heard that we’d see the HTC M4 and HTC One Mini launch sometime in June. Then, we heard it might make its debut in July. That still might be the case as HTC is heavily rumored to be releasing the HTC One Mini at some point during the month of August.

Companies typically announce a smartphone several weeks before putting it on shelves and in the case of the HTC One Mini, it could be that it makes its debut in July with a release in August. Backing that up is a recent report that suggested that HTC would be starting up volume production of the HTC One Mini in July.

If true, and it appears to be, it will mean that the HTC One Mini will be out about a month after the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini which is going to be hitting shelves in just a few days.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini will be coming to the United States though as of right now, release dates for the device remain unclear.

Features All But Certain

One thing that does appear to be completely set in stone is the HTC One Mini itself. Rumors have all aligned, suggesting the HTC One Mini will be coming with a 4.7-inch 720p display, a metal design that is similar to the larger HTC One, an Ultrapixel camera, and a dual-core processor.

Thus far, we haven’t seen any rumors suggest anything different so owners can be almost certain that those will be the features on board the HTC One Mini when it arrives.

The HTC One Mini on the right, next to the HTC One.

The HTC One Mini on the right, next to the HTC One.

From the photos, the HTC One Mini looks even more like the iPhone 5 than the HTC One, though it is distinguishable due to the front-facing BoomSound speakers that reside on the top and bottom of its front side.

The device is also expected to sport Android 4.2 Jelly Bean along with the new Sense 5 along with HTC Zoe which is a useful function for the device’s Ultrapixel camera.

HTC One Mini Name is Real Deal

While the HTC One Mini name was a nickname in the beginning, it has now been revealed to be its real retail name. The device, like the HTC One, has a codename. The HTC One was the HTC M7, the HTC One Mini is the HTC M4.

HTC is thought to be utilizing the One series in the same way that Samsung uses its Galaxy series of smartphones and thus, introducing a smaller and a larger One model makes sense.

So at this point, the HTC One looks like it will be joined not only by the HTC One Mini but the HTC One Max as well.

Pricing Will Be Competitive

The Galaxy S4 Mini will likely be very affordable in the U.S.

The Galaxy S4 Mini will likely be very affordable in the U.S.

We haven’t seen pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S4 revealed in the United States just yet but given its low-end specs and the pricing we’ve seen through carriers in the United Kingdom, we don’t expect it to arrive for much. $99 on-contract seems like its ceiling which should mean that the HTC One Mini will fall around there as well.

HTC needs to remain competitive with Samsung and it won’t want to infringe upon the HTC One’s current $199.99 price tag. Instead, it will look to offer the smaller version as a cheaper option. So its price will likely fall somewhere around the Galaxy S4 Mini’s price which again, should be less than the $199 HTC One and Galaxy S4 variants.

U.S. Carriers Expected, Just Not Verizon

The HTC One Mini is rumored to be coming to the United States though as of right now, it appears that it will only be hitting AT&T and T-Mobile. Sprint and U.S. Cellular haven’t been mentioned but Verizon is rumored to not have it at launch.

This differs a bit from the Galaxy S4 Mini. In the U.S., the Galaxy S4 Mini has been rumored for both AT&T and Verizon, though neither carrier has made it official.

At the very least though, it’s looking like those interested in a smaller HTC One in the U.S. will have their opportunity to pick one up in the future.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. rcvaughan4RVIV

    06/26/2013 at 1:40 am

    Pretty sure you mean a 4.3 inch screen on the One Mini.

  2. dave

    06/26/2013 at 7:02 am

    i hope it comes out with a normal sim

    • Vivimagic

      06/26/2013 at 11:33 am

      Doubt that really. Micro sim is the standard these days. What I want is the Mini to have an ir blaster.

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