![]() The former is still a decent score for a mid-range handset, but compared to the S5's lightning fast score of 391ms, it's a little disappointing for those hoping for S5 speeds in a smaller, cheaper handset. ![]() It scored just 1,108ms in our SunSpider JavaScript benchmarks using its default browser, and Chrome was even slower, finishing in a sluggish 1,510ms. While the Exynos 3470 is perfectly fast enough to run Android 4.4.2 and Samsung's customised TouchWiz interface, the phone's web browsing performance was much slower than we were expecting. That handset used a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chipset, while the Mini uses one of Samsung's own quad-core 1.4GHz Exynos 3470 processors instead. Inside, the S5 Mini takes a more radical departure from the Qualcomm-powered Galaxy S5 we got in the UK. Brightness wasn't quite as high as other Samsung phones, but our measurement of 313.02cd/m2 meant we could still use the phone outside without any problems whatsoever. Black levels were also superb, measuring a perfect 0.00cd/m2. Needless to say, there was a huge amount of detail on show in our high contrast test images and its viewing angles were absolutely flawless. Likewise, its contrast ratio was off the charts, so much so that our calibrator couldn't even give us a score. Our colour calibrator showed it was displaying an outstanding 100 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut, so you can expect colours to look their very best when watching films and videos. The S5 Mini only has a 4.5in screen and a 1,280x720 resolution, but its Super AMOLED display is just as lovely to look at as the S5's. Best of all, Samsung's managed to do this without covering the microUSB port with a cheap plastic flap, which is something that made charging the original S5 a bit of a pain. However, unlike the Alpha, the S5 Mini is IP67 certified, which means it's protected against dust and can survive being dunked in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes. However, now that the metal-rimmed Galaxy Alpha has come down in price to just £280 SIM-free, the S5 Mini looks incredibly cheap and tacky by comparison. At 9.1mm thick, it's a fraction fatter than its larger sibling, but the S5 Mini's slimmer dimensions make it easier to fit in a pocket and use one-handed. It's a great looking handset for something so small, and it feels tough and well-made despite its plastic chassis. Even the heart rate sensor is in the same place, sitting just below the rear 8-megapixel camera. Besides the obvious decrease in size, you'd be hard pushed to tell them apart as they both have the same pimpled rear panel to help provide more grip (although the S5 Mini had a decidedly more oily texture than our well-worn S5), and the metallic plastic rim has an identical ribbed design. In terms of looks, the S5 Mini shares many of the same design cues as its big brother. ![]() Katherine's original review continues below. Though at the time of writing, you can still get one via Amazon Marketplace for just over £200. You'll probably want to act fast though, as it's also getting harder to track down. Not only was it pretty much identical to that year's flagship in a smaller package, it was also released more recently, meaning it feels more up to date. If you really do want a smaller phone, Sony's Xperia Z5 Compact has aged far more gracefully. Nearly three generations of phone later, that gap is more insurmountable now than it ever was. ![]() As you'll see from Katherine's original review below, the S5 Mini was significantly less powerful than the phone it was based on. Assuming you can find one in 2017 (most places have retired it), is it worth owning? Handsets start at 5in, and the S6 and S7 didn't get their own "mini" versions, leaving the Galaxy S5 Mini the last small (sort of) flagship Samsung produced. Update: Phones have gotten bigger, it's fair to say – especially if you're a fan of Samsung.
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