HTC has trimmed down its line of devices this year to just 3 major phones, the HTC One, the One Mini and the upcoming One Max. Sure, there were a few other phones like the First, the Butterfly S or the Desire 500 but those are small launches, unlike last year when it was impossible to know how many devices HTC had on the street and which ones were important. The original HTC One X, One S and One V saw an invasion of letters like the SV, the VX, the X+ and the XL which just diluted the One Series brand and HTC’s original idea of “just three phones”.
So far, the U.S. only has the HTC One available but now the Mini has been announced for those who want a smaller, yet still capable device. It’s coming exclusively to AT&T starting August 23rd for $99.99 with a two-year contract, which is half the price of the regular-sized HTC One.
The HTC One Mini is running Android 4.2.2 with Sense 5 and packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor which might not be the best, but still holds its own. Completing the specs you’ll find 1GB of RAM, a 4.3 inch 720p Super LCD2 display and an Ultrapixel camera but without optical images stabilization (OIS), so it loses the advantage its older brother has for low-light performance.
The design is exactly the same just smaller with the well-known unibody aluminum chassis with front facing BoomSound speakers. You’re losing the IR blaster and the body has a new plastic rim around it, but it still feels like a premium design.
You can also get it on AT&T Next for $21 a month, so you might want to start doing some math if you’re planning on getting the Mini. At just $99.99 it’s not too bad a deal but, you might want to consider the full-size sibling if you’re looking for a more powerful device. Luckily, AT&T has better taste than Verizon and there’s only one logo on the back which you can barely see.
Check out AT&T’s video of the Mini if you want a quick look: