Only the differences are shown. 8 specs stay the same.
Galaxy S III mini is shown as its 2013 version; Samsung also lists the 2012 version.
Galaxy S4 mini is shown as its US version; Samsung also lists the International version.
+1you gain
−1you give up
Galaxy S III mini came out in October 2013 (Canada version). Galaxy S4 mini came out in November 2013.
Updates & AI
Android 4.2 → Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
The only change here
Battery
2000 mAh → 1900 mAh battery
Up to 10 hours of video playback
Camera
5 MP → 8 MP
Screen
4 in → 4.27 in screen
960 x 540
Price check
Galaxy S4 mini no US price from Samsung · Korea launch price KRW 550,000
Not currently sold refurbished by Back Market.
All 13 differences
Updates & AI1 change
Android at launch
Android 4.2›Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
Samsung gives a different figure for another version: Galaxy S III mini, 2012 version: Android 4.1.
What does this mean?
The version of Android, Google's phone software, that was installed when the phone first came out. Samsung adds its own design and features on top, called One UI (TouchWiz on older phones).
A Galaxy moves to newer Android versions through updates, so this shows where it started, not what it runs today.
Security updates until
No longer updated (same on both)
What does this mean?
The month Samsung's promise of security updates for this phone runs until: the date Samsung's own page gives, or worked out from the number of years Samsung announced, counted from when the phone came out.
A phone bought later or used has fewer years left. "No longer updated" means the phone is no longer on Samsung's list of phones that get security updates.
Matters most if: You plan to keep the phone for years, or you're buying one used.
Android upgrades promised
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
How many new versions of Android (with the matching One UI) Samsung promised this phone would get after the one it came with.
Samsung promises a number of versions rather than a date. Each upgrade brings new features; security updates are a separate promise, in the row above.
Matters most if: You want the newest Android features for years to come.
Galaxy AI
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Galaxy AI is Samsung's name for its set of AI features, such as live translation of phone calls, writing help and photo editing that fills in parts of a picture.
Samsung lists which phones get Galaxy AI, at launch or through a One UI update. Some features work on the phone itself and others use the internet; Samsung lists which is which, and availability varies by language and country.
Matters most if: You want AI features such as call translation or photo editing built into the phone.
Price1 unconfirmed
Price check
Galaxy S4 mini — no US price from Samsung · Korea launch price KRW 550,000
- Used on eBay
- Back Market does not currently list this model
What your Galaxy S III mini sells for
- Samsung Trade-In
- Sold listings on eBay
eBay may ask you to sign in to see sold prices.
Links open in a new tab. Prices are set by each seller and change daily.
Starting price
Price not confirmed by Samsung›No US price from Samsung · Korea launch price KRW 550,000
What does this mean?
What Samsung charged in the US when the phone launched, for the version with the least storage, before sales tax. Phones from before about 2014 were often priced with a two-year carrier contract.
This is not what it costs today: check the used and refurbished links for current prices. If Samsung has not confirmed a price, the site shows "Price not confirmed by Samsung".
Battery1 loss · 1 change
Battery capacity
2000 mAh›1900 mAh
Samsung gives a different figure for another version: Galaxy S III mini, 2012 version: 1500 mAh.
What does this mean?
How much charge the battery holds, measured in mAh (milliamp-hours). Samsung lists a typical figure; we show the one Samsung gives.
A bigger number stores more energy, but how long a charge lasts also depends on the screen, the chip and which features you use.
Battery life (Samsung's figure)
Up to 12 hours of video playback›Up to 10 hours of video playback
What does this mean?
Samsung's own figure for how long a full charge lasts in one of its tests, usually hours of video playback (talk time on older phones).
It is a lab test of one activity, so real use with a mix of apps is usually shorter. Compare it only with another Samsung figure for the same test.
Matters most if: You are often away from a charger all day.
Camera1 gain · 2 unconfirmed
Main camera
5 MP›8 MP
What does this mean?
The resolution of the main camera's sensor in megapixels (MP), meaning millions of light-catching dots.
High-megapixel cameras usually combine neighboring dots into a smaller photo by default; you can switch to full resolution for large prints or cropping.
Matters most if: You want full-size photos for large prints or for cropping later.
Front camera
Not stated by Samsung›1.9 MP
What does this mean?
The resolution in megapixels (MP) of the selfie camera on the front.
A higher number keeps more detail in selfies and video calls, but light and processing matter as much.
Video (best)
720p 30 fps›Not stated by Samsung
Galaxy S III mini: from Samsung's page for the 2012 version, as its page for the 2013 version does not give it.
What does this mean?
The highest video quality the rear camera records. 4K and 8K describe the picture size (8K is larger), and fps (frames per second) is how many still images make up each second.
Higher settings make bigger files, so long 8K or 4K 60 fps clips fill storage quickly.
Matters most if: You film a lot.
Rear cameras
1 (same on both)
What does this mean?
How many cameras are on the back. Each one is a separate lens for a different view: wide (the main camera), ultra wide and telephoto (zoom), depending on the model.
More cameras let you switch between a wide scene and a zoomed-in view using real lenses instead of cutting out part of the picture.
Ultra wide camera
None (for both)
What does this mean?
The resolution in megapixels (MP) of the ultra wide camera: the lens that fits the most into the frame.
Use it for group photos, rooms and landscapes when you can't step back.
Matters most if: You shoot group photos, small rooms or landscapes.
Telephoto camera
None (for both)
What does this mean?
The resolution in megapixels (MP) of the telephoto camera: a separate zoom lens that sees far-away things as if you were closer. "None" means the phone has no telephoto camera. Some Ultra models have two.
At the telephoto's own zoom level, the photo comes from a real lens instead of a cropped, enlarged image.
Matters most if: You photograph kids' sports, concerts, pets or wildlife from a distance.
Optical zoom
None (for both)
What does this mean?
How far the telephoto lens zooms on its own compared with the main camera (1x), for example '3x optical zoom'. Where Samsung lists two telephoto lenses, the comparison uses the longer one.
At this level the lens does the zooming, so no part of the image is cut away. 'Optical quality zoom' figures some models list come from cropping a high-resolution camera, not from a lens.
Matters most if: You compare zoom between phones: compare this row, not the 'up to' figures.
Digital zoom (most)
Up to 4x (same on both)
What does this mean?
The farthest the camera can zoom, with software doing the work beyond what the lenses reach. Samsung calls it Space Zoom on many models.
Past the lens's own zoom, the camera enlarges part of the picture and relies on processing to keep it sharp, so the highest levels lose detail.
Matters most if: You zoom far and need the photo to show fine details.
Screen2 changes
Screen size
4 in›4.27 in
Samsung gives a different figure for another version: Galaxy S4 mini, International version: 4.3-inch.
What does this mean?
The screen size, measured corner to corner (diagonally) in inches. 1 inch is 25.4 mm.
Samsung measures the screen as a full rectangle, so with rounded corners the visible area is a little smaller.
Resolution
800 x 480›960 x 540
What does this mean?
How many dots (pixels) make up the screen, written as height x width, with a name such as Full HD+ or Quad HD+.
On screens of the same size, more pixels show text and photos in finer detail.
Screen type
Super AMOLED›qHD Super AMOLED
What does this mean?
The type of screen, in Samsung's own words, such as Super AMOLED or Dynamic AMOLED 2X. AMOLED screens light each dot on its own, so black areas are truly black.
The name alone does not tell you how bright or sharp a screen is, so compare the brightness, resolution and refresh rate rows.
Refresh rate (most)
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
How many times per second the screen redraws the picture, in hertz (Hz). 120 Hz means up to 120 times a second.
A higher rate makes scrolling and switching apps look smoother, and uses more battery.
Matters most if: You scroll social feeds, read long pages or play fast games.
Adaptive refresh rate
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
The range of refresh rates the screen moves between on its own, in Samsung's words, such as '1~120Hz'. A screen that can slow to 1 Hz saves battery on still images.
The screen speeds up for scrolling and games and slows down for reading, to balance smoothness and battery life.
Matters most if: You care about battery life as well as smooth scrolling.
Peak brightness
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
The brightest the screen can get, in nits (a unit of screen brightness; higher is brighter), as Samsung measures it.
A high peak brightness makes the screen easier to see in direct sunlight. Makers measure peak brightness in different ways, so compare it only between phones from the same maker.
Matters most if: You use your phone outdoors a lot, such as for maps or photos in sunlight.
Design & buttons1 change
Size (mm)
121.55 x 63 x 9.9›124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94
Galaxy S III mini: from Samsung's page for the 2012 version, as its page for the 2013 version does not give it. Galaxy S4 mini: from Samsung's page for the International version, as its page for the US version does not give it.
What does this mean?
The phone's size in millimeters (mm): height x width x depth (thickness). 25.4 mm is 1 inch.
Height and width tell you whether it fits your pocket and hand; depth is how thick it is.
Unlock
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
Ways to unlock the phone with your body instead of typing a PIN: a fingerprint sensor (in the screen, the side key, the home key or on the back), face recognition, or on some older models an iris scanner.
An ultrasonic sensor in the screen reads your finger with sound waves; others use light. Where the sensor sits changes how you unlock the phone with one hand.
Weight
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
How much the phone weighs in grams (g); about 28 g is 1 ounce.
You feel the weight most when you hold the phone up for a long time, such as reading or filming.
Materials
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
What the outside of the phone is made of: the cover glass over the screen and back, and the frame around the edge, as Samsung lists them.
Glass names such as Corning Gorilla Glass Victus or Gorilla Armor are tougher generations of glass; a titanium or aluminum frame changes the weight and feel more than the strength in daily use.
Water and dust resistance
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
A standard code for how well the phone keeps out dust and water. The first digit is dust (6 means dust-tight) and the second is water (8 is the highest of the usual ratings).
Samsung tests in fresh water; salt water, pools and soapy water are not covered, and the protection can wear off over time.
Headphone jack
Yes (same on both)
Galaxy S III mini: from Samsung's page for the 2012 version, as its page for the 2013 version does not give it. Galaxy S4 mini: from Samsung's page for the International version, as its page for the US version does not give it.
What does this mean?
Whether the phone has a 3.5 mm socket for wired headphones (the standard round headphone plug).
Without the jack, wired headphones need a USB-C plug or an adapter, or you use Bluetooth earbuds.
Chip & storage3 changes
Chip
1.2 GHz Dual-Core›1.7 GHz Dual-Core
What does this mean?
The main processor: the part that runs apps, camera processing and on-device AI. Samsung uses its own Exynos chips in some countries and Qualcomm Snapdragon chips in others, sometimes for the same model.
Where the chip depends on the country, the page shows a switch for the versions Samsung lists. A newer phone can have an older chip, so compare the chip names rather than the year.
Matters most if: You are buying a model that was sold with two different chips.
RAM
1 GB›1.5 GB
What does this mean?
RAM is the phone's short-term working memory for the apps running right now, measured in GB (gigabytes).
More RAM lets more apps stay open in the background. RAM is separate from storage, which holds your apps, photos and files. On some Galaxy phones it depends on the storage size or the country.
Storage options
8 GB›16 GB
What does this mean?
How much space the phone has for apps, photos, videos and files, in GB (gigabytes) or TB (terabytes; 1 TB is 1,000 GB).
Each storage size is sold at its own price, and not every size is sold in every country. You get less usable space than the number shown, because some of it holds the phone's own software.
Security chip
Not stated by Samsung (for both)
What does this mean?
A separate secure processor that keeps passwords, PINs and other sensitive data apart from the rest of the phone. Samsung calls it Knox Vault.
Phones where Samsung names no security processor still have Samsung Knox security in their software; this row only shows a separate chip Samsung names.
What's new
RSS feedAdded Samsung Galaxy S, iPhone vs Galaxy and Pixel vs Galaxy
Galaxy S phones from the first Galaxy S (2010) to the Galaxy S26 series, checked against Samsung's own pages only, with a page for each model and a switch for models Samsung sold in separate versions, such as with an Exynos or a Snapdragon chip. iPhone vs Galaxy and Pixel vs Galaxy pages compare only what both makers publish, in each maker's own words, and you can pick a Galaxy on the iPhone and Pixel tabs.
Added prices by storage and configuration
Spec pages now list the launch price of each storage option, Mac configuration or Apple Watch case, and today's price on the maker's own store for models still sold, from Apple's and Google's own pages only. Comparisons call the old price row the starting price and add the price of the same configuration on both models: the same storage on iPhone, iPad and Pixel, the same memory and storage on Mac, and the same case on Apple Watch. iPhone pages also show Apple's wired fast-charging figure.
Added Google Pixel and iPhone vs Pixel comparisons
Pixel phones checked against Google's Pixel phone hardware tech specs page, with a page for each model and a switch for models Google sells in separate versions for the US, Japan and the rest of the world. iPhone vs Pixel pages compare only what both makers publish, in each maker's own words, and you can pick a phone from the other maker on the iPhone and Pixel tabs.