Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini smartphone

Photo: Pinguinguy via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Price in the UK

November 2012 6/10 Rating Updated
In brief: The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, released in November 2012, is a compact smartphone featuring a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and a dual-core 1 GHz processor. Running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it aimed to offer a smaller alternative to the flagship Galaxy S3, complete with a 5-megapixel main camera and 1GB of RAM.
Display4.0" WVGA Super AMOLED
ChipsetNovaThor U8500 Dual-core 1.0 GHz
Main Camera5 MP, autofocus
Battery1500 mAh removable Li-Ion
Starting from £39 in the UK

💰 Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Price in the UK

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini price in the UK starts at £39, the lowest of 4 shops in the UK we compared. Prices last checked on ; confirm the price, stock and warranty with the shop before buying.

🛒 Buying the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini in the UK

The lowest Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini price in the UK is £39 at Back Market, out of 4 shops we compared (checked 20 September 2026).

  • Warranty: check whether the phone comes with the official warranty in the UK or is an imported (international) unit. Imports can be cheaper but may not be covered by local service centres.
  • Network bands: make sure the model sold in the UK supports your carrier's 4G/5G bands — see the Network section of the specs below.
  • Before you pay: confirm the price, stock, storage/RAM version and colour with the shop, as prices change often.

What is the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini price in the UK?

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini price in the UK starts at £39, the lowest shop price we found.

Where can I buy the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini in the UK?

Shops in the UK listing the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini include Back Market, Saynama ltd, musicMagpie Store, OnBuy (GadgetReclaim Shop). See the price list above for each shop's price and link.

📌 Full Specifications

Display

TypeSuper AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size4.0 inches
Resolution480 x 800 pixels
Pixel Density~233 ppi

Platform

OSAndroid 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)
ChipsetNovaThor U8500
CPUDual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9
GPUMali-400MP

Memory

Card slotmicroSDHC, up to 32 GB
Internal8GB or 16GB, 1GB RAM

Main Camera

Single5 MP, autofocus, LED flash
FeaturesFace and smile detection
Video720p@30fps

Selfie Camera

SingleVGA
VideoNot specified

Battery

TypeRemovable Li-Ion 1500 mAh
Endurance rating42h

Body

Dimensions121.55 x 63 x 9.9 mm
Weight111.5 g
SIMMicro-SIM
ColorsWhite, Blue, Titan Gray, Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Onyx Black

Comms

WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP, LE
PositioningGPS, GLONASS
NFCOptional (market dependent)
RadioStereo FM radio with RDS
USBmicroUSB 2.0

Launch

AnnouncedOctober 2012
StatusReleased November 2012

⚖ Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Vibrant Super AMOLED display for its class
  • Android Jelly Bean provided a smooth user experience at launch
  • Expandable storage is a plus
  • Removable battery

Cons

  • Significantly lower specifications compared to the flagship Galaxy S3
  • VGA front-facing camera is very basic
  • Older Android version, no longer receiving updates
  • Pentile display could make text appear less sharp
  • No 4G LTE support in most variants
★ Our Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini offered a decent compact Android experience for its era, but its 'mini' designation came with notable compromises in performance and display quality compared to its flagship namesake.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is an extremely outdated smartphone and is not recommended for daily use in today's environment. Its operating system is no longer supported, leading to security vulnerabilities and incompatibility with most modern apps. Performance will be very slow, and the camera quality is poor by current standards. It might appeal to collectors or those seeking a nostalgic device for very basic, offline functions, but it lacks the capabilities for modern communication, browsing, or app usage. If you need a functional smartphone, even on a budget, consider much newer entry-level Android devices for a significantly better experience.

Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.

📦 In The Box & Warranty

  • Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini Handset
  • Battery
  • MicroUSB to USB cable
  • Power adapter
  • In-ear headphones with remote and spare ear tips
  • Quick Start Guide, accessories leaflet, warranty card

Typically, new Samsung phones come with a standard one-year manufacturer's warranty, though this device is no longer sold new.

❓ Questions & Answers

What is the release date of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini?

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini was announced in October 2012 and released in November 2012.

What operating system does the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini run?

It originally launched with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, with some variants receiving updates up to Android 4.1.2, 4.2.2, or 4.4.2.

Does the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini support 4G?

Most variants of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini did not support 4G LTE; it primarily operated on 2G and 3G (HSPA) networks.

What are the camera specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini?

It features a 5-megapixel main camera with autofocus and LED flash, capable of 720p video recording, and a VGA front-facing camera.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini still a good phone to buy today?

No, the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is an outdated smartphone with an unsupported operating system, limited performance, and poor compatibility with modern applications, making it unsuitable for current daily use.

What is the screen size and type of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini?

The phone has a 4.0-inch WVGA (480 x 800 pixels) Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display.