The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is a solid midrange Android smartphone, with a good set of features at an affordable price.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a smaller, more affordable version of the Galaxy S4, but does it deliver what it promises?

Fits great in the hand; Nice screen; Micro SD

TouchWiz is a drag; Plastic design feels cheap; Less features than the S4

If you want the Galaxy S4 but this is too pricy or too big for you the Galaxy S4 Mini is a very good alternative. It is not just a smaller size, it has reduced specifications that come with the size reduction in order to get to a reasonable price point.

Having used an iPhone, Galaxy S4 I found wanting in sharpness of fonts and images, or shall I say, less saturation of pictures. Transfer of music and files from a PC through Samsung Kies SW proved a frustrating and time consuming and annoying experience.

Bright display; Inexpensive; Lightweight; ergonomic design; flip cover option

Poor quality; Not high def; Did not meet expectations; flimsy back cover; too high saturation of colors; hassle some transfer of syncing; poor quality of kies sw

I previously owned a Samsung Galaxy 4G - the first one out and used it until I recently bought my current phone which is a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. I am a lifetime fan of the Galaxy. I love the size of the mini (which is actually about the same size as the original Galaxy 4G).

While the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini doesn't have the same impressive lineup of specs as its illustrious relative, it still packs plenty of power and a decent screen into a very comfortable little body. It's just a shame it's so expensive.

Small; comfortable size; Vivid screen; Plenty of power for most tasks; Decent camera

Mid-range specs don't justify high price; Multitude of settings won't appeal to newbies

There's certainly something of a trend in terms of producing small versions of top of the range handsets. HTC has recently done this with its One mini, and Samsung has shrunk its flagship handset to produce this Galaxy S4 Mini, having started the trend off with its Galaxy S3 Mini.

Impressive display; Decent processing power; A good size for average hands

Some Galaxy S4 features missing; Low screen resolution; Not enough internal storage

If good things do indeed come in small packages, the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini has all the ingredients needed to be a big treat. Not only does it bear the same name and design as one of the best smartphones around, it also offers a Super AMOLED display and LTE for great looking, very fast mobile...

Compact form factor; Great battery life; Expandable memory

Samsung has no qualms with bandying about the Galaxy S4 name. The S4 Mini ($49.99 with two-year contract) is the latest permutation in a line that includes the ruggedized S4 Active and the odd S4 Zoom .

Comfortable size; Excellent call quality; Long battery life.

Carrier branding and bloatware.

Its reliable specs and availability on four carriers make the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini an easy-to-find midtier buy, but you should also compare the S4 Mini with its substantial competition.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini brings a strong feature set for a midrange phone; including Android 4.2; a dual-core processor; and an 8-megapixel camera.

The Galaxy S4 Mini has only 8GB of internal storage; and mediocre front-facing camera quality.