LG G2 mini review: Big mini

LG G2 mini 360-degree view

The LG G2 mini measures 129.6 x 66 x 9.8 mm, which is amazingly compact for a phone with a 4.7" display. It's as compact as the Moto X. The G2 mini however is even thinner as well as lighter. At 121 grams, the G2 mini sits among the lightest Android phones of this size.

Design and build quality and handling

The G2 mini is a shrunk down version of the larger G2, but you already knew that, didn't you? It goes without saying that the G2 mini carries over pretty much the same design language as its flagship brethren. We are pretty fond of this design, which brings along a very thin side screen bezel and lack of hardware buttons on the front and sides of the phone.

It's a nice change of pace for the mid-range smartphone spectrum and allows LG to boast some of the highest screen-to-body ratios around. To show you just how eager LG is to cram the largest possible display on the smallest possible body, here's a comparison with another mini - the HTC One mini - and its 4.3" display.

LG G2 mini next to the HTC One mini

The G2 mini is made out of plastic, just like its larger brethren - the G Pro 2 and G2. It is offered in a variety of colors, but our test unit is the classic dark grey one and it's really good-looking. There's a silver rim going around the sides, which widens around the bottom, which creates a cool kind of a teardrop effect. Another cool design treat is the dual speaker grills on the bottom of the phone. Sadly, there's only one speaker there, as the second grille hides the main microphone.

The edges of the phone are very round and smooth allowing for easy handling. LG has chosen a similar plastic to that of the G Pro 2, but it's still as slippery despite LG claiming otherwise. The good part is that it doesn't allow for fingerprints to show and that keeps it looking cool after prolonged use.

It's also very solidly built. We didn't encounter any creaks or misalignments in the plastic whatsoever. The back is made out of polycarbonate making it extremely lightweight and resistant to breaking. We should add it's also very easy to remove when you need to swap out a microSD card or pop a new battery in.

Then, there're the rear controls. You know the configuration by now from the G Pro 2 and G2, and it works here just as expected. The smaller footprint of the G2 mini means there's less distance your index finger has to travel and it's even more comfortable. Buttons are firm and provide a solid feedback when pressed.

Back in February at the Mobile World Congress where the device was unveiled we snapped it alongside its bigger brothers for a full family portrait. Like father, like son (and like grandpa, we guess).

An LG G family portrait: G2 mini, G2 and G Pro

Overall, LG hasn't tried to reinvent second-generation G-family design language with the G2 mini. Not that it had to, really. Why fix something that's not broken? We would've liked to see a bit more effort on the back cover plastic to make it less slippery as well as make the phone just a tad thinner. Those are just small caveats that can't take away from the fact the G2 mini is a well-built mini.

Handling the LG G2 mini