Samsung Galaxy Mini 2, in-depth analysis

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A few days before the great festival begins at the Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona , there are many manufacturers who have wanted to advance their launches. One of the first firms that has surprised us is the Korean Samsung , with the official presentation of the new Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 , two complementary versions that advance a little in the technical sheet of the original devices. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 , for example, incorporates improvements typical of a tall smartphone . In the case of the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2The same happens, but with certain reservations, since some characteristics remain practically intact. We say it by its measurements, by the screen or even by the camera, which barely registers changes . However, we are facing a substantial improvement of a phone that could soon become, like its older brother, a best seller. But everything will be seen.

At the moment, it should be noted that the upper-middle-range devices continue to be liked - and a lot - by the vast majority of users, who still prefer to stay behind in matters of smart mobile telephony. In this way, the Samsung Galaxy Mini has become an ideal device for those who want to start discovering the world of smartphones without having to spend all their savings or without complicating life with high-flying mobile phones . We refer to great pieces like the Samsung Galaxy S2 , still reserved for the most expert users. This is the reality.

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Design and display

Like the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 , this device follows in the wake of its predecessor, at least in the design section. Although later it will be verified that it also does so in the vast majority of sections of its technical sheet, in which we do not find changes of great importance. It must be said that the first images present us with a most colorful mobile phone - bathed in bright yellow - waiting for Samsung to publish more official images that will probably show a more discreet phone in black colors and even in white. However, it is obvious that we are facing a device specially made for users looking for a practical, compact and equipped terminal for those who want to carry them everywhere comfortably in their pocket. We can say that the device has some measures 109 x 58.6 x 11.6 mm and weighing 105.3 grams . In this sense, the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 has seen its measurements reduced by a few millimeters, without this affecting the rest of the features or the design of the terminal.

It has a 3.27-inch capacitive multi-touch TFT screen , which is just slightly larger than its 3.14-inch predecessor . It maintains its resolution at 320 x 480 pixels and a depth of up to 16 million colors is targeted . At the bottom of the device, just below the screen, we will find a single button that will allow us to access the main menu functions . You won't find touch buttons next to it to go back or search. These options are present in the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 .

Connectivity

In connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 practically remains the same as the original device. The terminal, in this sense, operates on GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and HSDPA 900/2100 networks , which allows users to connect to 3G networks (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps) , or what is the same, to Broadband Internet, to enjoy a more agile connection when downloading email, accessing Facebook or even navigating between pages. Here there is no fanfare regarding the Samsung Galaxy Mini. The phone also features 802.11 b / g / n Wi-Fi , but adds DLNA and Wi-Fi Hotspot, a function that allows users to connect to the phone's 3G network as if it were a Wi-Fi network through the so-called “tethering” . But there is more: because the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 also has Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP (instead of 2.1) and GPS with A-GPS support , so that we can use it as if it were a dedicated GPS navigator. And this is interesting.

In the section on physical connections, we must mention the traditional 3.5 mm output for connecting headphones and listening to music quietly, plus a microUSB 2.0 input will allow us to connect the device to your computer. In this way, it will be easier for us to synchronize content, download applications and updates or even charge the battery of the terminal , even if it is through a much slower process than connecting the terminal to a power outlet with a compatible charger. On the other hand, we must also mention the microSD card slot that helps us extend the internal memory of the device with cards up to 32 GB.

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Photographic and multimedia camera

The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 is not one of those devices that stands out for its integrated camera . Nothing is further from reality. In this sense, in addition, you can see that there are no significant improvements , since the camera in question still incorporates a 3.15 megapixel sensor, quite adjusted for the final characteristics of the device. You can get instant at a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels and use the functions geotagging as more relevant bonus. In fact, as you can imagine, the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 does not have an LED flashnor of other features that can greatly improve the performance of the central chamber. You can barely record video in VGA resolution and at 25 frames per second . It is a pity that the device also does not incorporate a secondary camera that would be great for making video calls. Another time it will be. For now, if you aspire to higher performance you will have to look at the technical sheet of the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 .

And we go for the multimedia section. In this case, we have to say that the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 has the minimum requirements. You see you can play most formats of audio, image and video . For now, the following are listed in the technical sheet: MP3, WAV, eAAC +, AC3, FLAC, MP4, H.264 and H.263 . The phone also has FM radio with RDS, voice recording and JAVA support and Adobe Flash Player 10.1 . Thanks to having Android as the operating system, users will have direct access to all the services that Google offers , both those dedicated to the multimedia section and those that do not. They are as follows: Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk and Picasa .

Memory and operating system

The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 has an internal memory of 4 GB that clearly exceeds that of the Samsung Galaxy Mini , of just 160 MB . To this we have to add the extension capacity through the microSD card slot that the terminal has. In this way, the memory can be expanded with cards of up to 32 GB , which is the most common maximum in these cases and in most of the higher-end devices. You should also know that the phone has 512 MB of RAM . To contrast this data, we indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S2 , for example, has a RAM of 1025 MB .

Finally, you should know that the phone has a processor that has also been improved, since it works at 800 MHz, unlike the previous one, which ran at 600 MHz . This means that there is a specific advance in the performance of the terminal that you will notice when managing the applications and the functions of the device. As you already know, Samsung has chosen Android for this device and for the vast majority of those it has released in recent times . We are talking about the 2.3 or Gingerbread edition and we do not know if there will be the possibility of updating to other higher versions , without ruling out that Samsungsend data packets to improve the functions of the terminal. The user will have access to the Android Market to download applications and expand the features of the device.

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Autonomy and availability

The autonomy of the terminals is one of the issues that most concerns users. However, Samsung has only offered one relevant piece of information: the lithium-ion battery that is built into the device has a capacity of 1,300 milliamps , somewhat higher than the original Samsung Galaxy Mini , 1,200 milliamps . The data that has not transpired is the autonomy, so that at the moment we cannot offer you the official data that have been released from Samsung . In any case, you should know that the most advisable thing is to carry out the checks through actual use itself., since it is the only way to know more reliable data on the performance of the battery of this terminal. We will be attentive to obtain more information about it and transmit it to you from here .

Finally, you should know that Samsung has not offered data on the availability of the Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 in our country either. However, it is very likely that some data regarding availability and prices will be released at the Mobile World Congress 2012 , both in free format and through the main operators in our country.

Data sheet

StandardGSM 850/900/1800/1900

HSDPA 900/2100

Weight and measurements109 x 58.6 x 11.6 mm

105.3 grams

Memory4 GB internal memory

Expandable with microSD cards up to 32 GB

512MB RAM

screen

Multi-touch TFT

3.27 inch

320 X 480 pixels

16 million colors

Camera 3.15 Megapixel sensor

2,048 x 1,536 pixels

Geotagging

Records VGA video @ 25fps

MultimediaPlay music, video and photos

Supported formats: MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA, WAV, ACC, ACC +

Voice recording

JAVA support

Adobe Flash Player 10.1 support

Controls and connectionsAndroid 2.3 Gingerbread operating system

800 Mhz processor

Integrated GPS with A-GPS support

Accelerometer

3.5mm headphone output

MicroSD card slot

Document viewer

3G (HSDPA 7.2 Mbps)

Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n

DLNA

Wi-Fi Hotspot

Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP

MicroUSB 2.0

AutonomyConversation: Not available

On hold: Not available

1,300 milliamp battery

+ infoSamsung