Samsung Galaxy S III Mini vs. Galaxy S III: A Detailed Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy S III was a landmark phone, and the S III Mini offered a more compact and affordable option. But how do they stack up against each other today? We'll dive deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide which one is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S III clearly wins thanks to its superior processor, better display contrast, and slightly longer battery life. While the Mini offers a smaller form factor, the S III provides a significantly better overall user experience, justifying its slightly higher price (when new).

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini	Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA

Launch
Announced	2012, October. Released 2012, November	2012, May. Released 2012, May
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 2), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	121.6 x 63 x 9.9 mm (4.79 x 2.48 x 0.39 in)	136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm (5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Micro-SIM
Weight	111.5 g (3.92 oz)	133 g (4.69 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density)	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~306 ppi density)
Size	4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.4% screen-to-body ratio)	4.8 inches, 63.5 cm2 (~65.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	1.0 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9	Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9
Chipset	NovaThor U8420	Exynos 4412 Quad (32 nm)
GPU	Mali-400	Mali-400MP4
OS	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), 4.3 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 1GB RAM, 16GB 1GB RAM	16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama	LED flash
Single	5 MP, f/2.6, AF	8 MP, f/2.6, 1/3.0", AF
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	VGA	1.9 MP, f/2.6
Video	-	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX	4.0, A2DP, EDR, aptX
NFC	Yes (Market dependent)	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	-	S-Voice natural language commands and dictation

Battery
Stand-by	Up to 450 h (2G) / Up to 430 h (3G)	Up to 590 h (2G) / Up to 790 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 14 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 10 min (3G)	Up to 21 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 11 h 40 min (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 1500 mAh, removable	Removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	White, Blue, Titan Gray, Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Onyx Black	Pebble blue, Marble white, Amber brown, Garnet red, Sapphire black, Titanium grey, La Fleur
Models	GT-I8190, GT-I8190N, GT-I8190L, SM-G730A, SM-G730W8	GT-I9300, GT-I9300I, SHV-E210S, SHW-M440S
Price	About 130 EUR	About 190 EUR
SAR	1.03 W/kg (head) 1.28 W/kg (body)	0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.52 W/kg (head)	0.21 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -82.1dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB	Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 42h	Endurance rating 50h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.422:1 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.419:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 63dB / Ring 76dB	Voice 75dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB

Samsung I8190 Galaxy S III mini

More compact and pocketable
More affordable (historically)
Decent battery life

Slower performance
Less vibrant display
Older chipset

Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III

Faster performance
Better display contrast
Slightly longer battery life
Larger screen

Larger size
Older device (potential software support issues)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays, but the Galaxy S III boasts a noticeably better contrast ratio in sunlight (3.419:1 vs 2.422:1). While both have 'infinite' nominal contrast, the S III's performance under direct sunlight is superior. The S III also has a slightly larger screen size (4.8 inches vs 4.3 inches on the Mini).

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Galaxy S III generally produces better image quality due to its more advanced processing capabilities. The S III's camera is known for its vibrant colors and decent low-light performance for its time. Specific megapixel counts are not provided in the data, but the S III's hardware is generally considered superior.

Performance

The Galaxy S III's Exynos 4412 Quad-core processor is a significant upgrade over the Mini's NovaThor U8420 dual-core. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience. The S III's 1.4 GHz clock speed also outpaces the Mini's 1.0 GHz.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 42h/50h respectively. The Galaxy S III edges out the Mini with a slightly longer endurance rating of 50 hours, suggesting a marginal advantage in battery performance.

Buying Guide

The Galaxy S III Mini is ideal for users prioritizing a smaller, more pocketable phone and are on a tighter budget. The Galaxy S III is a better choice for those seeking a smoother performance, a more vibrant display, and a more capable camera, even if it's a slightly older device.