HTC has just announced the HTC One Mini 2 over in London and if you were after a high-end, but miniaturiesed version of the HTC One M8, you’re about to be disappointed.
HTC has relased the scaled down version of the M8, and when scaling down size, they also down-scaled the specs. The One Mini 2 comes with a 4.5″ qHD (That’s right 960×540 resoltion) 720P display powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM. There’s better news for those of you who weren’t sold on the HTC Duo Camera, with HTC including a single 13MP rear camera instead of the 4MP UltraPixel camera with secondary depth of field lens, but they have retained the 5MP front-facing camera.
Design wise, the phone looks much the same as the HTC One M8 and the famous Boomsound speakers are also included for you audiophiles.
There’s a lot more to be said about the software, with HTC again going with Anrdroid 4.4.2, with Sense 6 installed, a much more refined version of Sense than anything we’ve yet seen so far. BlinkFeed and Zoes will be included as part of Sense 6, so fans of those software enhancements will be pleased.
There’s no local information for this yet, but according to the Press Release from Android Central, ‘The HTC One Mini 2 (That name!!!) will be available in Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver and Amber Gold in EMEA from the end of May 2014 and in North Asia from June 2014.’ We have asked HTC Australia about the One Mini 2 here and will let you know as soon as possible.
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HTC launches the beautifully compact HTC One mini 2
5MP front-facing camera, HTC BoomSound™ and HTC Sense™ 6 offer a best-in-class experience, wrapped in an iconic design
London, 15th May 2014 – HTC, a global leader in innovation and design, today unveiled the HTC One mini 2, the latest addition to its renowned HTC One family. Featuring a compact, yet generous 4.5″ HD display, HTC Sense™ 6 with HTC BlinkFeed™ and an impressive 5MP front-facing camera, the HTC One mini 2 brings the iconic metal craftsmanship and best-in-class experience of the HTC One (M8) to those in search of a more compact model. “The latest member of the award-winning HTC One family distills the advanced features that have earned it global acclaim, into an elegant, compact handset”, said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “Its size and tapered edges fit perfectly in a hand, pocket or purse, making it look great and feel even better to use. It’s the perfect choice for those who love the iconic design of the HTC One (M8) yet want something more compact.”
Beauty runs in the family
Sporting the same breakthrough design that led HTC to receive an iF gold product design award in 2014 for the HTC One (M7), the sleek HTC One mini 2 features the smoothly curved back and brushed Gunmetal Gray finish of the HTC One (M8). Also available in Glacial Silver and Amber Gold, its compact size and stylish design make it an obvious choice for those who want a phone that both looks and feels incredible.
High quality camera for naturally stunning selfies
With a 5MP front-facing camera, high-quality selfies are guaranteed. Re-takes won’t be required, as the front camera’s self-timer gives you ample time to prepare your pose before the image is captured.
To give those self-portraits an element of professionalism, the HTC One mini 2 also features Touch Up for subtle beauty enhancements to smoothen the skin, eliminate red eye and adjust the contours of the face, while still looking natural. If you’re feeling playful, you can also give your selfies a manga-like effect using Touch Up’s eye-enhancement feature.
HTC BoomSound™ – A small device that makes a big sound
It may be compact, but the HTC One mini 2 packs HTC BoomSound technology to deliver powerful, crisp and clear audio that has never been more brilliant. Equipped with the same amplifier as the HTC One (M8), the One mini 2 delivers rich tones from bass through to treble, producing high-quality, immersive sound through the dual-frontal speakers that have become synonymous with the award-winning HTC One family.
HTC BlinkFeed™ – The news that matters, live on your home screen
Turning your home screen into a live stream of the latest news and social updates, HTC BlinkFeed™ makes the content that matters to you more accessible and easier to read than ever before. Aggregating feeds from a growing list of over 1,000 partners, adaptable tiles display your social media updates and favorite news topics, giving you the latest information direct to your home screen. Continuous scrolling also makes it quick and simple to view different stories, keeping you up to date with the latest developments at all times.
Share and collaborate with Zoe™
Create Zoe Highlight videos of your most memorable experiences with the 13MP camera and share them with friends and family via the HTC Zoe app* and other social media channels. For those unforgettable moments, the Remix function allows your followers to add their own photos, videos and soundtracks to create new Zoe Highlight videos that help you re-live the experience from every perspective.
Regional Availability
The HTC One mini 2 will be available in Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver and Amber Gold in EMEA from the end of May 2014 and in North Asia from June 2014.
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Android Central made a good point: why would you choose this over the old HTC One (M7)?
I’m not convinced the 13MP camera on this is really meant to be a selling point, even though a lot of people would prefer it.
Given the removal of a lot of software features that were dependent on the duo camera hardware, I doubt they have put a significant effort into the camera…
Woooohoooo the duo camera is GONE! It really is a very very very very poor camera, enough for me to return my m8. The rest of the phone is a home run… the camera was not just ordinary it was mostly pointless. Having depth of field affects on a poor camera does not make it a good camera. May have to consider the mini. Or the new LG3, or if I could score an invite the 1+one
I am more than happy with my M8 camera, even without the depth Effects, which are also excellent if done properly.
YMMV I guess
qHD? Most websites are confirming display at 4.5″ at 720p though (326ppi)…isn’t it?Even the previous Mini has a 720p screen. Processor hasn’t changed from the SD400 but the camera is funnily higher res than its M8 kin.