The construction of Xperia Z1 Compact looks similar to last year's Xperia Z1, with a one-piece aluminium shell around the edges and large glass panels on the front and back. The device is a compact slab of material with very little curvature. At 137 grams it's not the lightest phone going around, but the aluminium frame makes it feel strong and durable. There are no capacitive hardware buttons on the Compact, with Sony opting for on-screen keys instead. Above, you'll find the front facing camera to the far right, sensors to the far left, and a speaker grill along the top. On the back you'll find a NFC logo, camera sensor, and LED flash. The handset comes with IP55 and IP58 ratings, meaning the device is dust protected, resistant to fresh water up to 1.5m deep for 30 minutes, and protected against water jets.
With One Mini, HTC has too tried to stick as close as possible to those of the original, critically acclaimed handset. The aluminium back is still present, but is joined by a plastic rim. The phone has a lighter body which makes this phone easy to operate through one hand. Your thumb can comfortably reach every corner of the display. The One Mini is compact, although the speakers top and bottom mean this device is perhaps a little longer than some rivals.
The Galaxy S4 Mini is essentially a shrunken version of the Galaxy S4. The good thing about the smartphone is how well it sits in your hand. The slightly curved rear nestles nicely into your palm, and a 4.3 inch display means you can easily use it all with one hand. The same slimy, slippery plastic casing that was used on the full-sized Galaxy S4 is still sticking around, however, the plastic rim around the device just adds to the budget feel of the phone. Overall, the S4 Mini feels like a sturdy device.
Winner: Xperia Z1 Compact
