If the latest rumor from @evleaks is to be believed, HTC has plans to release a smaller version of the HTC M8 – the HTC M8 mini. Currently, all we have to go off of is a cryptic 0P8B reference which is apparently associated with the device. The HTC One mini from 2013 was a fairly adequate device with 4.3-inch 720p display, 1.4 GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and an 1800 mAh battery wrapped in an aluminum body that was shorter, thinner and lighter than the original HTC One. But the device didn’t really live up to the HTC One name due to its inferior specs and subtle design tweaks.
Hopefully, HTC has been keeping an eye on Sony and the new Xperia Z1 Compact – the world’s first no-compromise miniature rendition of a flagship Android phone. The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact features the same Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and 20.7 megapixel camera as the Xperia Z1 in a much smaller body with a 4.3-inch 720p display and very respectable 2,300 mAh battery. If HTC M8 mini is simply a smaller version of the HTC M8, we expect consumers who love the smaller sized iPhone won’t have as hard a time making the switch.
Surprisingly, the HTC M8 mini rumors have surface 363 days after the initial HTC One mini rumors did. Since HTC has a fairly predictable development cycle (and the fact that the HTC One mini was unveiled on July 17 with an August retails launch), the HTC M8 mini unveil and retail launch appears to be on track for early Q3.
0P6B:HTC M8::0P8B:M8 mini
— @evleaks (@evleaks) January 31, 2014
