Samsung announced a new, smaller version of its Galaxy S5 flagship on Tuesday morning. The Galaxy S5 Mini is similar to Samsung's previous mini phones: As part of the trade off for a slightly smaller phone, users have to settle for a device that's a little slower, too.
The Samsung Galaxy Mini has a unspecified quad-core 1.4GHz processor, a 4.5-inch AMOLED screen running at 720p, and 1.5GB of RAM and runs Android(s goog) 4.4 with Samsung's Touchwiz skin. Those specifications aren't as advanced as the bigger version's Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 1080p screen.
One of the nicest things about the Galaxy S5 Mini, though, is that it has the full complement of unique hardware elements from the GS5 -- its waterproof certification, a heart rate monitor, a fingerprint scanner, the ability to connect to Galaxy Gear smartwatches and a microSD card slot. So most of the Samsung-specific reasons to pick the GS5 are also present in the Galaxy S5 Mini.
The device will come in four colors when it goes on sale "in Russia in starting in early July." No word yet on a stateside visit, but judging from Samsung's previous patterns, it'll be soon, and the Mini will be a little less expensive than its big brother.
