HTC prepping HTC One Mini smartphone for summer launch: report

HTC seems to be following Samsung's lead by offering a smaller, easier-to-handle version of its latest flagship phone offering.

HTC seems to be following Samsung's lead by offering a smaller, easier-to-handle version of its latest flagship phone offering.

Leaked images of the HTC One 'Mini' have turned up online, as have its reported specs. The diminutive version of the smartphone forgoes the original's 4.7-inch full HD screen in favor of a 4.3-inch 720dpi display.

Sources claim that inside it's powered by a dual-core processor, paired with 2GB of RAM, and that it will come with a 16GB hard disk. But, like the full-size version, the Mini will also feature HTC's UltraPixel camera technology which pushes images through three separate image sensors and filters to build the best composite photo, devoid of pixelization, under-or-over-exposure and 'noise' created from shooting in poorly-lit conditions. It is also expected to come with version 4.2 of Android installed when it officially launches in August.

Once upon a time, HTC was the world's biggest Android smartphone maker, but over recent years the company has fallen behind while Samsung has surged ahead. The HTC One was seen by many as the last roll of the die; when it launched in March it was quickly clear that the Taiwanese company had rolled a double six. The HTC One is considered by many as the best Android smartphone currently available. In fact, the only criticism levelled at it has been that, at 4.7-inches, the display might be a little too large for easy single-handed use by some consumers.

The Mini would prove the company is listening.