Buyers Must Think Twice About the HTC One Mini

The HTC One is soon going to be joined by a new HTC One model, dubbed the HTC One Mini, a smaller version of the flagship. And while the device certainly looks intriguing, there are several reasons why prospective buyers need to think twice about buying what HTC is selling.

For months now, HTC has been rumored to be developing a device called the HTC M4. The device first arrived on the scene after the arrival of the HTC One in April and on the heels of rumors about a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. The device, which existed as the HTC M4 for many weeks, is now thought to be called the HTC One Mini and it’s thought to be coming to shelves soon..

The HTC One Mini, left, next to the HTC One.

While HTC still hasn’t confirmed anything, it’s clear that the HTC One Mini is on the way. Sources agree that the HTC One Mini will be arriving on shelves in August after a debut within the next few weeks. Helping to confirm that was HTC itself which inadvertently published a blog post that confirmed a smaller version of the HTC One.

Consumers know that it’s coming soon and they also know what to expect from the HTC One Mini. It’s said to have a display that’s smaller than the larger HTC One though it’s also thought to be keeping a similar metal design. The device is also expected to possess both HTC Sense 5 and the current version of Android, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

The 4.7-inch HTC One is arguably one of the best smartphones ever made and a smaller, 4.3-inch HTC One Mini likely sounds appealing to consumers in the United States. However, before its arrival, we want to caution those thinking about buying it as well as those who are dead-set on buying the HTC One Mini when it arrives.

Why Buyers Must Think Twice About the HTC One Mini

Longevity

The HTC One S won’t get Sense 5, despite promises that it would.

HTC unfortunately has dug itself into a hole when it comes to software support and unfortunately for HTC, software support is one of the most important pieces to any smartphone’s puzzle.

When it comes to buying a new smartphone, users must think about the longevity of a device, in other words, if they’ll get their money’s worth out of the smartphone. In many cases, the answer is yes, particularly with the iPhone thanks to the years of support that Apple bestows upon its users. Samsung has been doing a fantastic job of keeping its devices updated as well though it still can’t touch the type of support that Apple offers.

HTC on the other hand falls on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to software support. The company promised and failed to deliver three recent updates including the HTC Desire HD’s Android 4.1 update, the Droid Incredible 2 Android 4.1 update and the HTC One Sense 5 update which was cancelled just a few weeks ago.

Those aren’t the only devices that have been left behind either. In its wake, HTC has left behind the HTC Rezound and EVO 3D to name a few. There weren’t promises but these devices saw their lives end well before they should have.

So what does this mean for the HTC One Mini? Well, the aforementioned devices are all non-flagship devices. The HTC One Mini won’t be a flagship device so there is a good chance that at some point down the road, whether it’s the last-gen dual-core processor, a small adoption rate, or something else, the HTC One Mini will get left behind.

Again, there is no guarantee that this will happen but given HTC’s track record with mid-range devices, it’s something that potential buyers need to keep in mind before buying.

Carriers

Those buying the HTC One Mini won’t get their pick when it comes to carriers, especially in the United States, because those in the United States will be lucky if more than one major carrier opts to offer the HTC One Mini.

At this point, T-Mobile is rumored to be the only HTC One Mini carrier in the United States and while T-Mobile is worth a look, it could be that buyers are limited to one of the smallest 4G LTE carriers in the nation, a carrier that doesn’t come with unlimited data.

It’d be tough to leave Verizon’s massive 4G LTE network or fantastic customer service for T-Mobile and the HTC One Mini. It’d be tough to leave a grandfathered unlimited plan on AT&T or a massive 4G LTE network for the HTC One Mini on T-Mobile. And it’d be tough to pass up true unlimited data on Sprint for a throttled data plan on T-Mobile with the HTC One Mini.

Thanks to its policy changes, T-Mobile has become a better destination, no doubt. But is it enticing enough to move from the comforts of the big three? That’s something users will need to think twice about.

Likely Won’t Be Free

The HTC One itself is only $50 on-contract some places.

Buyers need to consider what they’re getting for their money. The HTC One Mini will have some things to like. A 4.3-inch display with 720p resolution. A dual-core processor. A metal design. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Sense 5. And likely, an Ultrapixel camera. Problem is, the HTC One Mini isn’t going to be free.

We don’t know how much the HTC One Mini will cost but it could be that it falls in line with pricing just under the HTC One and Galaxy S4, say $50 to $100 cheaper.

If that’s true, its going to be a hard bargain. Devices with better specifications, like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4, are extremely cheap at the moment with the HTC One as low as $50 at Amazon. What’s more is that the iPhone 5, which is also made of metal and has comparable specifications, has seen its price dip ahead of the iPhone 5S release. We expect to see Apple lower it to $99 when the iPhone 5S arrives.

So HTC One Mini buyers will be paying just a little bit less for a device that one, has lesser specifications and two, won’t outlast the flagships. Again, something to think about before plopping down cash on the counter.