Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 Review: Right on the mini

Final Words

So, did the Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 give its best? It most certainly did but it would be no surprise if you failed to notice. You see, we can go on and on about value for money and delivering results within budget. But that won’t be telling the whole story about a phone like the Galaxy Mini.

It all depends on where you’re coming from. You think the Galaxy Mini is too cheap to notice? Fair enough. But consider the difference it can make for first-time smartphone users.

If you’re upgrading with affordable versatility in mind, this one is a close enough match. The Android Froyo, the snappy interface, complete connectivity and cool looks are great features to have – even more so if you’re having them for the first time. And in the smartphone low-end the Galaxy Mini can truly thrive.

It’s obvious the typical target of the Galaxy Mini is not after the full Android experience but a warning is due nonetheless. QVGA just doesn’t cut it on an Android phone. It never did. The low screen resolution limits the phone’s choice of apps. Another adversely affected part of the experience is web browsing. To make matters worse, the Mini doesn’t have one of Froyo’s key selling points: a Flash-enabled browser.

Ultimately though, we think the intended users will find more virtues than flaws in the package. So let’s see what the Mini is up against.

The LG Optimus One, for one, could easily be your next choice. It has the same 600MHz-clocked processor, Android Froyo, but comes with an autofocus 3.15 megapixel camera, a slightly bigger display of higher resolution- 320x480 (HVGA) and more RAM.

LG P500 Optimus One

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8 is practically an exact match specs-wise. Sure it only has Android 2.1 Éclair, less RAM and no multi-touch, but the price is right. And the screen resolution is better here too: HVGA.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X8

If you’re willing to let a resistive touch screen slide, you could go for the Nokia C5-03. It has a nHD (360x640) display, faster data speeds and a superior 5 megapixel camera (though fixed focus as well). The price is quite competitive too. Still, it is Symbian versus Android with these two and Nokia’s OS falls short of Froyo on many accounts.

Nokia C5-03

Now with so many Galaxy smartphones out there, a little in-house competition is inevitable. The Galaxy Ace features a bigger display of better HVGA resolution and a solid 5 megapixel camera. With the better processor, the feel of the device is just more high-end. And the price tag is set accordingly. This is a more expensive phone for a different set of users.

Finally, the HTC Wildfire is about to be replaced pretty soon. The QVGA screen is a thing to consider here too, but HTC Sense-d Android 2.1, a better 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, and higher quality finish are points in favor. And Froyo is coming to the Wildfire too. The price is bound to fall further when the Wildfire S hits the shelves, so be sure to keep an eye on it.

HTC Wildfire

Back to the question we started with, the Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 is sure to give you its best. The thing is, if you get the Android bug you’ll soon want better. That’s the point of phones like this one. The Galaxy Mini is an invitation. We’d take it.