In the heated smartphone war, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) may take it up a notch and introduce its Galaxy S3 mini on October 11.
According to CNET’s Lance Whitney, the company is going out big with teasers for its small product. It recently sent out invites for an event launch with the headline, “The size may be small” along with a subheading “and so small can be big.” The invitation’s background also includes the Galaxy phone “S” logo, suggesting the new device is part of the Galaxy S family–perhaps the little brother to the Galaxy S3.
The Galaxy S3 mini’s features may include a smaller screen, a dual core processor and lower-cost features found on its Galaxy siblings such as a lower resolution camera, reported Know Your Mobile. The phone is also rumored to have the Android Jelly Bean software and it will fit a little more comfortably in your hands.
The evening event will take place at the Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) Mobile Store in Frankfurt.
As for the current Galaxy S3, it has a 4.8 inch screen size. Consumers have complained the size is too big and difficult to hold in one’s hand.
Competitors have been attuned to this criticism and Android phones have come in smaller sizes to meet this demand. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
also followed suit for finding an ideal scree size as it iPhone 5 has a 4-inch screen size, up from the 4s’ 3.5 inches.
By introducing a Galaxy S3 with a 4-inch screen, it could pose a challenge for consumers looking for a smaller screen.
Samsung has been all over the market with different phone sizes in hopes something will successfully stick with consumers. Just last week, the company announced plans to release its Samsung Galaxy Note II around the middle of November–right before holiday shopping kicks into full gear.
Appealing to the rising tablet market, the new smartphone-tablet hybrid will release on the top four U.S. phone carriers such as AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), Verizon Communications Inc.(NYSE:VZ), T-Mobile, and Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S).
Details about the hybrid have been sparse but it has been said to include the new Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software, a 5.5 inch high definition Super A moled touchscreen, and a 16.9 aspect ratio and 3,100 mAh battery; this is larger than the Galaxy Note II battery but it weighs less.
Perhaps its most interesting feature is the S Pen, a stylus that allows easy writing and drawing on the phablet. It has been ergonomically redesigned for precise use from the previous version.
The Galaxy Note II will be available in two colors: Marble White or Titanium Gray.
