The rumored HTC One Mini makes a great companion to a small tablet

I've been to a couple HTC Frequencies events where a few of us get together with HTC to hold open discussions about their products and services while learning more about what's behind their designs. One of the most popular suggestions from attendees at an event I went to earlier this year was a request for a smaller Android device and Engadget posted some pretty convincing evidence that there is an HTC One Mini coming this year.

Sometimes we see things and have discussions that are under NDA, but I have no information on this rumored HTC One Mini. That said, I am pleased to see such a product since I think there is a market for these smaller, more pocketable devices.

The iPhone 5 is very successful and it is one of the smallest smartphones available. It wasn't that long ago when we thought 4.3 inch devices were massive and now we see 4.8 to 5.5 inch smartphones launching as flagship devices.

I carry an HTC One daily and it fits my hand and pocket perfectly so I won't be buying an HTC One Mini. However, my wife finds the HTC One a bit too large and I think the Mini, along with the Galaxy S4 Mini, may appeal to women and those with smaller hands.

The HTC One Mini looks a lot like the HTC One with dual front-facing stereo speakers and metal body. The display may be 720p rather than 1080p, likely matching the resolution of the HTC First. There may not be an IR port, which is something I use daily on my HTC One, and the processor may be a dual-core model.

As the popularity in smaller seven and eight inch tablets increases, we may be seeing a trend to smaller phones with the tablet being used for data and the phones for communication needs. I just sold my Note II as I found it was just too big to be carried in my pocket daily and I think sub-5 inches is my preference.