HTC created what was undoubtedly one of the best smartphones of last year with the original One. That was later followed up by the One mini, which was surprising in the sense that the handset maker hadn't before attempted a slimmed-down, scaled-back version of any of its flagship devices. HTC's nemesis Samsung established this trend when it launched the Galaxy S III mini, and it inspired many discussions about the ethics of slapping the name of top-tier handsets onto lesser devices. (Sony obviously made an executive decision to avoid the "mini" epithet for its Xperia Z1 Compact, which is actually just a smaller, but equally specced version of the flagship Z1.)
The ethical issue is more or less moot now we know what to expect from a smartphone donning the mini title. HTC did a good job of translating many of the premium elements that made the One such a stand-out device in the smaller, cheaper package of the 2013 One mini, making it an attractive option in its own right (cheeky branding or not). Now, HTC has its new darling, the One (M8), and a shot at making another respectable variant with the One mini 2 due to launch next month. Clunky name aside, the mini 2 gives a striking first impression thanks to its M8-like, mainly aluminum casing. Beyond that, has HTC done enough to make the mini 2 a worthy companion to the M8, or are we dealing with a poor, albeit glamorous imitation?
Smart Voip: James Potter
