Samsung unveils Galaxy S3 Mini smartphone

The handset will run on Jelly Bean, the latest version of Google’s Android operating system.

The Galaxy S3 Mini retains key features of the larger model, such as an Near Field Communication (NFC) chip, which enables contactless payments.

Sacrificed to give the S3 its Mini badge was processing power - the model drops from the big S3's quad-core chip to a dual-core - and some screen clarity.

The S3 Mini's display packs fewer pixels than the original and, while obviously smaller in size, the S3 Mini is a millimetre thicker.

Stuart Miles, editor of UK gadget website Pocket-lint, told the BBC he thinks Samsung are playing a shrewd move to react to the demands of the market.

"I think from Samsung's point of view its about offering breadth and depth of choice.

"There's lots of people out there who think the Galaxy S3 is an amazing phone, but there's a lot who think it's just too big."

"If you see that there's a massive demand for a 4-inch screen device, and you have the capability to make it, then you're going to make it, aren't you? I think it will do really well."

Simon Stanford, vice president of Samsung UK's telecommunications and networks division, said in a statement: "We will continue to develop smartphones to cater for a variety of customer needs and this latest release demonstrates our ongoing commitment to offering our customers more choice at every price point."