LG G2 Mini: Big Mini (Reviews)

With the new season well under way, the LG G2 mini is trying to have the last word in the compact class just like the original did last year at the high end. With the same design as the flagship (slim bezel, rear buttons and such) and the biggest screen among the minis, LG's compact smartphone is putting its best foot forward.

But then, just like the flagship, the LG G2 mini is going after a certain competitor and not exactly keeping it a secret. The screen resolution, the chipset, the imaging skill are the same as the Galaxy S4 mini's. In other words, if anyone was hoping for something along the lines of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, they'll be disappointed.

LG G2 mini official photos

No, the G2 mini isn't a compact powerhouse. It's a well-rounded package still, and one that even does a couple of things better than the flagship, in hope to find a place in the crowded place where minis have to deal with ex-flagships and aggressively priced mid-rangers.

Key features

Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
Quad-band 3G with HSPA; Optional Penta-band LTE cat4
4.7" 16M-color qHD (960 x 540) IPS LCD, Gorilla Glass 2 display protection
Android OS v4.4.2 KitKat; LG Optimus UI
Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU, 1 GB RAM, Adreno 305 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset
8 MP autofocus camera with LED flash, geotagging, smart shutter and VR panoramas
1080p video recording @ 30fps with stereo sound; HDR mode
1.3 MP front-facing camera, 720p video recording
8GB of built-in storage
microUSB port, USB host support, USB on-the-go, SlimPort TV-out
Bluetooth v4.0
NFC (in the LTE version only)
Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA
GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Stereo FM radio with RDS
Voice commands
Multi-tasking with mini-apps and optional transparency (QSlide)
Knock Code unlocks the phone with a screen tap combination
Accelerometer and proximity sensor
Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
User-replaceable 2440mAh Li-Ion battery
IR emitter for remote control of home appliances

Main disadvantages

Screen could've used some extra resolution at that size
Snapdragon 400 is blatantly midrange stuff
Below average loudspeaker performance
No ambient light sensor
Confusingly comes in different versions with different internal hardware

The qHD resolution is only just enough for the 4.7" diagonal, especially considering the competition will offer 720p screens in the same price range. The Snapdragon 400 chipset places the G2 mini squarely in the Android midrange - in fact, the quad-core variety (four Cortex-A7's at 1.2GHz) is not necessarily better than the dual Krait setup in the Galaxy S4 mini.

What's definitely a step in the right direction is the removable battery and the added microSD card slot - the phone could've been slimmer perhaps without them but we'd have the added flexibility any day over a couple of millimeters less around the waistline. The latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat and the matching edition of the Optimus skin are another point in favor, offering some features that are only available on the premium G2 and G Pro 2.

The LG G2 mini is quite compact for the screen size as well - and handling quite comfortably - the rear-mounted keys contributing handsomely.

The LG G2 mini hanging around in our office

Follow us for a tour of the exterior to find out more about how the LG G2 mini feels and handles. The usual stops include the display and battery performance.

Design and build quality and handling

The G2 mini is a shrunk down version of the larger G2, but you already knew that, didn't you? It goes without saying that the G2 mini carries over pretty much the same design language as its flagship brethren. We are pretty fond of this design, which brings along a very thin side screen bezel and lack of hardware buttons on the front and sides of the phone.
It's a nice change of pace for the mid-range smartphone spectrum and allows LG to boast some of the highest screen-to-body ratios around. To show you just how eager LG is to cram the largest possible display on the smallest possible body, here's a comparison with another mini - the HTC One mini - and its 4.3" display.

LG G2 mini next to the HTC One mini
The G2 mini is made out of plastic, just like its larger brethren - the G Pro 2 and G2. It is offered in a variety of colors, but our test unit is the classic dark grey one and it's really good-looking. There's a silver rim going around the sides, which widens around the bottom, which creates a cool kind of a teardrop effect. Another cool design treat is the dual speaker grills on the bottom of the phone. Sadly, there's only one speaker there, as the second grille hides the main microphone.
The edges of the phone are very round and smooth allowing for easy handling. LG has chosen a similar plastic to that of the G Pro 2, but it's still as slippery despite LG claiming otherwise. The good part is that it doesn't allow for fingerprints to show and that keeps it looking cool after prolonged use.
It's also very solidly built. We didn't encounter any creaks or misalignments in the plastic whatsoever. The back is made out of polycarbonate making it extremely lightweight and resistant to breaking. We should add it's also very easy to remove when you need to swap out a microSD card or pop a new battery in.
Then, there're the rear controls. You know the configuration by now from the G Pro 2 and G2, and it works here just as expected. The smaller footprint of the G2 mini means there's less distance your index finger has to travel and it's even more comfortable. Buttons are firm and provide a solid feedback when pressed.
Back in February at the Mobile World Congress where the device was unveiled we snapped it alongside its bigger brothers for a full family portrait. Like father, like son (and like grandpa, we guess).

An LG G family portrait: G2 mini, G2 and G Pro
Overall, LG hasn't tried to reinvent second-generation G-family design language with the G2 mini. Not that it had to, really. Why fix something that's not broken? We would've liked to see a bit more effort on the back cover plastic to make it less slippery as well as make the phone just a tad thinner. Those are just small caveats that can't take away from the fact the G2 mini is a well-built mini.

Handling the LG G2 mini

Controls

Besides the 4.7" IPS display, the G2 mini front panel accommodates the earpiece, the 1.3 MP secondary camera, capable of 1080p video capture and the proximity sensor. Sadly, the status LED light of the G2 is missing here, so is the ambient light sensor.

LG G2 mini front

The left and right side of the LG G2 is completely bare.

LG G2 mini left and right sides

The top of the LG G2 houses the secondary mic and the IR emitter for the remote control functionality.

LG G2's top with the IR blaster

The bottom has the primary microphone, the loudspeaker and the MHL-enabled microUSB port. The G2 mini's connectivity port supports TV-out, USB on-the-go and USB host.

LG G2 mini's bottom looks the part

LG G2 mini's back is where things get interesting. As we already mentioned, there's the trademark LG configuration that includes the volume-rocker with the Power/Lock key located in the middle. On top of that button trio is the 8MP camera and the LED flash are here. The G2 also has a 13MP version.

When the screen is locked a long press on the Volume Up key launches the Quick Memo tool, while a long press on the Volume Down control fires up the camera. You can use this key as a shutter button, too.

LG G2 innovative take on the back

The Power/Lock button lacks a LED-lit rim that doubles as a notification LED on the LG G2. That's a pity, really, as this leaves the phone without any notification light to speak of.

The key placement spares you lots of unnecessary finger stretching, the location of all three keys is really convenient but it takes a bit of time getting used to it.

The battery, microSD and SIM card slots.

You can pop the battery cover and get access to the 2440 mAh battery, which, fortunately, is user replaceable. We're happy to report that the microSD card slot and SIM card slot are on the top left and are hot swappable.

Display

The LG G2 mini is built around a 4.7" display. It's an IPS LCD unit with a nice quality. Unfortunately, we are a bit let down by the resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. As a result of the relatively subpar resolution, the pixel density is just 234 ppi.

The 4.7" display is of qHD resolution

It's not the sharpest around, which is understandable. Nevertheless, it's a fairly bright screen with good viewing angles, although there's contrast compression and color shift at extreme angles.

Battery

The LG G2 mini houses a 2440mAh battery, which LG says is the largest in its class and we are inclined to agree (the Moto X packs a 2200mAh battery in a similarly sized package). LG has been doing very well in the battery department ever since the LG G2 and it has done the very best it can in the G2 mini as well.
As a result, the phone's endurance rating is 76 hours, which is one of the best scores any mid-ranger has ever posted. This means you can easily get two days of 1 hour web browsing, video playback and 3G talk each in a single charge.
LG G2 mini battery endurance test

Android 4.4.2 KitKat is brimmed with features

The LG G2 mini runs on LG's own, deeply-customized launcher dubbed Optimus UI on top of Android 4.4.2 KitKat. The company has enabled more than skin-deep customization, including themes, icon sets, and various effects. Here's a quick hands-on video to showcase what the G2 mini can do.

The G2 mini may only be a mid-range phone, but it comes with all the features that its bigger flagship brothers are so proud of.

Let's start with the lockscreen. The lock key at the rear is still a novelty and one that works well on the bigger body of the G2 mini. You can wake the screen with a double tap on it. To lock the phone you don't need to use the hardware key either. You just double tap on an empty area of your homescreen or on the status bar no matter where you are - it will lock your G2 mini.

The lockscreen can span across multiple panes, each containing one full-screen widget. The page to the right is special and fires up the camera, but you can easily disable it in the widget menu.

The pages to the left contain different widgets - four different clocks, Gmail, Google Now, Calendar, Google+ posts, Quick Remote and Weather. More apps can be downloaded off the Play Store to add new widgets.