Apple just recently announced the new lineup of iPhones, which now includes the lower-cost entry-level iPhone 5c. As far as mid-tier smartphones, one of the top offerings by competitors is the HTC One mini, the smaller, lower-cost version of the critically acclaimed HTC One. Lets see how the iPhone 5c stacks up.
Display and Size
The HTC One mini has a smaller screen and reduced resolution, compared to its flagship cousin, but that also reduces the cost. The HTC One mini comes with a 4.3-inch screen with 720 x 1280p resolution, meaning it has a pixel density of 342 pixels per inch.
The iPhone 5c has the same sized screen as Apple's flagship iPhone 5s, but that's because neither of the iPhones have changed their display from last year. The iPhone 5c comes with a 4.0-inch LCD touchscreen with 1136 x 640p resolution. Since both screens are comparable in size, the HTC One mini's 342ppi beats the iPhone 5c's 326ppi.
Camera
Speaking of hardware features that are not updated from last year's model, the iPhone 5c comes with the 8-megapixel main camera that the iPhone 5 had (while the iPhone 5s gets an upgrade on aperture and sensor size).
The HTC One mini, meanwhile, has the same 4-megapixel "Ultrapixel" camera that the HTC One sports, meaning that it takes the same high-quality, low-light pictures, and also has a front facing camera can shoot 1080p video at the same frame rate as the iPhone 5c (which also has a front facing camera). The HTC One mini wins in this category, since it sports a premium smartphone camera for a mid-tier price (it also has the HTC One's BoomSound speakers, another premium smartphone feature at a mid-tier price).
Storage
Both the HTC One mini and the iPhone 5c come without a microSD card slot, meaning that the internal storage the smartphone comes with is all you're going to get. The HTC One mini comes with 16GB only, while the iPhone 5c has an edge, because you have the option between 16GB and 32GB.
Processor
The iPhone 5c has the same processor as the iPhone 5, which, while not being a leap forward, is definitely good enough, given the iPhone 5's fast and fluid control. The HTC One mini takes a step back on processing power as well, with a dual core 1.4GHz Snapdragon 400. Both processors are good for mid-tier phones, but if you're going to feel any slowdown at all, it may be with the HTC One mini.
OS
From a "state of the art" perspective, the iPhone 5c has an edge over the HTC One mini, as it is shipping with the newest, deeply redesigned, version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 7, pre-installed.
The HTC One mini comes with Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2, which is almost the most recent version of the operating system, but not quite. However, the HTC One mini has a lot of the same UI features as the HTC One, so if you like Blinkfeed, it's a solid lower-cost option. Of course, if you're on one side or the other of the Android/iOS divide, no add-on or redesign of either OS will be enough to change your mind. So be it.
Release Date, Price, and Availability
Right now, the iPhone 5c has still not been released, but that's about to change Sept. 20, when the iPhone 5c will be available on all major carriers and through many retail stores. Meanwhile, if you want an HTC One mini in the U.S., AT&T is the only place to get it on the two-year contract discount. That may change, but as far as availability goes the iPhone 5c is your best bet.
However, when it comes to price, both are equally (in)expensive, depending on what you're working with. With a two-year agreement, both phones cost about $100 - which is maybe on the dearer side of the mid-range.
However, both are unique, interesting-looking smartphones. The HTC One mini takes its aluminum look from the HTC One, and the iPhone 5c is a colorful throwback to the candy-colored origins of the iMac. Whatever style you prefer, you can't say that both of these mid-tier smartphones lack it.