Samsung unveils Galaxy S3 mini. Next an iPad mini from Apple?

Samsung Galaxy S3 and its mini version

Samsung has unveiled the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, a compact version of its flagship device Samsung Galaxy S3. Though Samsung has not revealed the price, the S3 mini is likely to be cheaper than its predecessor.

The S3 mini has a 4-inch super AMOLED display, which is smaller than the 4.8-inch Samsung S3 display, but same as the Apple's iPhone 5.

Except for the screen size and few other things, the mini has almost all the features of Galaxy S3. The mini model is powered by 4.1 Jelly Bean, the latest version of Android operating system.

The mini version has a dual-core processor clocked at 1GHz, unlike the Galaxy S3 which has a quad-core processor. It also features a 1 GB RAM.

The camera has also been scaled down from 8 megapixels in the original version to 5 megapixel. It has an autofocus feature with LED Flash, while the front camera is VGA. It carries a 1,500 mAh battery.

Samsung’s version of Siri, the S Voice is also available in the Galaxy S3 mini. Users can unlock their smartphone turn the volume up or down and do a whole lot more with this feature.

With Smart Stay feature, the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini's camera tracks users eyes and keeps the screen lit as long as the users are looking at it.

"The Galaxy S3 introduced a new concept of smartphone that has proven hugely popular around the world. We're now delighted to bring its revolutionary design, intuitive usability and intelligence to the Galaxy S3 mini in a more compact form," said Shin Jong-kyun, head of Samsung's IT & mobile communications division.

At Clove, UK e-store, the cost of Samsung S3 Mini has been priced at £249.00 (approx. Rs. 21181)  for the SIM-free 8 GB memory model. The price seems a little ok, although the site safely states "Official price and availability to be confirmed".

Apple may unveil an iPad mini on October 23.

                                          

We at TechStrip had reported earlier, that Apple is planning a smaller and less costly version of its iPad to take on the rivals such as Amazon Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus. Now this launch of the iPad mini is likely to happen on October 23, as Apple is to host a special invitation-only event.

This iPad mini is believed to be Wi-Fi only, and will not come with cellular capabilities like the iPad models.

A recent report by The Guardian stated that industry sources have indicated that they do not expect to see 3G-capable versions of the iPad mini. That would allow Apple to produce it for cheap, and limit the top price of the product, retaining mobile broadband connectivity for its pricier iPad line.

Stay tuned for more updates on the iPad mini.