HTC One Mini 2 Review

HTC One Mini 2 is a mini version of the best model Taiwanese company has to offer. So, One Mini 2 is the younger brother of a powerful and aluminum build One M8. This mean you shouldn’t confuse it with the last year’s Mini One, which is the first mini in family and it gives the more convenient dimensions than original HTC One. Also, you will find that this one phone is called and One M8 Mini, but the official name is still different. However, it’s sufficient to look at the One Mini 2 and you know it’s One M8’s sibling.

HTC One Mini 2 Design

This year was marked by 5-inch models. The tendency to increase the phone continues. Even Apple is preparing to release big screen iPhone 6. However, not everyone wants to use both hands while holding the phone. That’s why there are these "mini" versions. However, those who still think they are the same guns in smaller packages, we will have to break the illusion down. It's hard to put the same specs in two different packages. Some common sense says that if something is powerful and packaged in a small box, then it has to cost more. Since One Mini 2 costs less than the original, it’s clear that manufacturer had to cut the cost down somewhere. In visual terms, One Mini 2 is almost identical to the One M8. However, when you look it closely, you see that the bezels are bigger, but that’s the pretty much all of differences. If you put the two phones side by side, you will hardly notice a radical difference. Mini has some advantages. It’s smaller and more convenient, and since it has a few mm over at the waist, it’s easier to hold. There's not so much aluminum as at the larger model, but still enough to push the plastics aside. The hands still have that great feeling that this lightweight metal offers. Official figures say that 70% of the surface is covered by aluminum, which is 20% less than the one M8, but still impressive. And the little plastic surfaces are of pretty good quality, and they perfectly fit in the metal design. The biggest change is at back, where UltraPixel dual camera is missing. Instead of it, there’s a tyical 13MP camera with LED flash. When the design layout is concerned, there are metal button for volume control on the side, as well as a microSD slot, while on the opposite side is the nanoSIM port. There are microUSB port and a standard audio input on the top, as also as the power button. In the hands One Mini 2 seems somehow softer, probably because of more practical size and involvement of plastics in design. However, the attractive appearance has never come into question. With a weight of 137 g the One Mini 2 is certainly not heavy. All in all, One Mini 2 is a nicely packaged "little guy" of 4.5 inches with a big similarity with the original One M8.

HTC One Mini 2 Display

HTC has decided to give to its new Mini the 4.5-inch LCD screen with 720p resolution. In terms of the number of pixels, One Mini 2 is equal to the iPhone, so there are 326 ppi. This "little guy" has a nice amount of screen brightness and very good viewing angles. When you expose your phone to sunlight, you will not ever have even a smaller problem with it. His big brother has expectedly something more vibrant colors, but nothing terrible here.

HTC Specs and Performance

As you can notice at first glance, One Mini 2 kept BoomSound speakers, which is great news, because it seems that no other speaker can provide such audio quality as these. Compared with those from larger model they aren’t loud so much, but far exceed any other speakers from smartphones. Under the lovely aluminum surface lies 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and Adreno 305 graphics, which correspondents Desire 816. In addition, there is also 1GB of RAM, which is strange and insufficient for an Android phone that appeared in May 2014. At the same time, the phone offers 16GB of internal memory, and 11GB is available to the user, which is not bad, but for those who thinks it is, there is a microSD slot for up to 128GB. I mentioned that the phone has only 1GB of RAM. However, HTC has managed to optimize its working, so there’s not much difference comparing M8 One. One Mini 2 works pretty well. For the time we tested this model, we observed no some downtimes or delays in opening apps. So, everything runs smoothly. Nothing to complain about. When it comes to software, One Mini 2 delivers almost the same as experience as the larger cousin. With HTC Sense 6 UI everything is somehow ok and greatly resembles One M8, and it’s identical to the Desire 816. Visually the software is more alive and it brings a lot of possibilities of individualization. The main place is reserved for BlinkFeed with all important notifications from social networks, news, as well as with standard widgets for weather, calendar, music, etc. The only thing missing is Zoe, an option which gives plentiful scope to the camera and gallery on One M8. When it comes to battery life, One Mini 2 relies on the non removable 2,100mAh battery. At first glance, this capacity doesn’t seem enough for this amount of power, but One Mini 2 is capable being the same as big One M8 when the battery life is about. On average use the One Mini 2 can push through all day. If during the day not to overuse pumping battery, you can use it during tomorrow morning.

HTC One Mini 2 Camera

HTC has decided to save UltraPixel technologies for the flagship One M8. Instead One Mini 2 uses the classic 13MP sensor, the same as on Desire 816. The front-facing 5MP camera is quite generous for selfies and video calls, and it has a large angle and even a few people can smoothly get into the frame for a shoot. Also it has filters for beauty that we see more and more these days. When the main camera is concerned, it’s kind of the exact opposite of what we saw from UltraPixel cam from One M8, which was fast, excellent in low light conditions and a bit uncomfortable enough brilliant in nice light. One Mini 2 makes very good pictures at the daylight, and as expected, is a bit more troubling in poor light. It would be incorrect to say that this is an average camera, as it’s able to "catch" and show the really bright colors and plenty of details. It happens often that the photos are a bit washed out, and sometimes even HDR fails to resolve this issue. When it comes to video, the camera can record full HD recording, but it doesn’t use all the potentials it has. Video is lacking details, quite opposite of some comptitors. The Zoe is missing here and it’s quite obviously. When it’s present, the Zoe combined shooting photos and videos at the same time. Also, the camera is missing a few standard shooting modes, which is a shame.

HTC One Mini 2 Verdict

If you’re a fan of One M8, and you don’t have enough money for it, then the One Mini 2 is a right thing for you. This phone brings virtually the same pleasure as its big brother, for less money of course. However, One Mini 2 at this moment (late July of 2014) costs pretty much. The reason for this is that the model is released recently, but it’s reasonable to expect that after some time, price goes down. As with similar minis, its main advantage is size. HTC One Mini 2 is a phone that fits nicely, and unlike larger cousin, less slipping out of your hands. The great thing is the latest HTC’s mini kept the shiny aluminum look. In terms of design One Mini 2 is equal with M8, while the performance is simply he great, and almost identical to One M8. To top it off, the battery is very good. The biggest gripe (with slightly worse camera) is disproportionately high price. For example, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, which has a faster processor and slightly better performances. The same thing is with LG G2. Your choice can be a typical Android smartphone – Nexus 5. Photos: htc.com