kathyburkeyx: HTC One Mini UK availability and pricing

HTC One Mini

Coming to Phones4u, O2, Vodafone and EE; first SIM-free prices? starting to appear

Yesterday saw the official unveiling of the HTC One Mini — the manufacturer's miniaturized, lower-priced version of its current flagship. And we've published a full hands-on preview, walking through the device's features and comparing it to the full-sized One, as well as Samsung's rival Galaxy S4 Mini.

Over the past day we've started to see the first signs of when and where UK buyers will be able to pick up the device. Network operators O2 and Vodafone have confirmed on Twitter that they'll be offering the One Mini for sale — O2 says it's "coming soon," while Voda promises an August launch. Meanwhile an EE spokesperson confirmed to Android Central that it'll be offering the HTC One Mini on its 4G network, but didn't offer any pricing or release date.

On the SIM-free side, Handtec is the first British retailer to post a pre-order price for the device — £379.99 inc. VAT, or £316.66 exc. VAT. Pre-order prices can be subject to change, but Handtec's price falls roughly in line with with the official line from HTC, that the Mini will sell at "two price points below" the full-sized One.

HTC's press release says the Mini will hit "selected markets" from August, and we're hearing on the grapevine that for the UK, early August is more likely than late. Elsewhere, a global roll-out is scheduled for September. Finally, there's been no official announcement on U.S. availability for the One Mini just yet, despite rumors that it's bound for AT&T.

Will you be picking up an HTC One Mini in the next month or so? Hit the comments and share your thoughts.