TIQ MINI TIQ MINI M5 4G phone 3GB Ram + 32GB Rom smartphone Review
The TIQ MINI M5 is a bizarrely small Android phone that defies modern smartphone logic. We dug into the data to see if this niche device is a hidden gem or just a novelty.
The 30-Second Version
This is a novelty, not a smartphone. Buy it only if your dream phone fits in an Altoids tin. For everyone else, a used iPhone SE is a vastly better tiny phone.
Overview
Let's be real: the TIQ MINI M5 is a weird little phone. It's a tiny, 2.8-inch Android device that looks like it escaped from 2010, and the one thing you need to know is that it's not for you. It's not for most people. This is a hyper-niche product for someone who desperately wants a small, simple, and cheap 4G phone that runs the Google Play Store. If you're looking for a normal smartphone experience, turn around now.
Performance
The performance score is one of the worst we've seen, and that's exactly what you'd expect from a phone with 3GB of RAM and an unknown processor. It lags behind most modern apps. The surprise, honestly, is that it scores as high as it does in 'social proof' and 'feature' percentiles. That tells us the people who buy this thing know exactly what they're getting—a basic tool—and they're happy with it. It's not trying to be fast.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- **It's incredibly small and pocketable.** This is its entire identity. 93th
- **Runs a full, modern Android 12/13 with Google Play.** That's a legit feature for a device this size and price. 89th
- **Works on major US carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T).** Getting 4G on a mini phone isn't a given. 72th
- **The price starts at a very low $140.** For its specific use case, that's a strong argument. 71th
Cons
- **The performance is a real letdown.** Gaming is basically off the table, and general use will feel sluggish. 16th
- **The 2.8-inch display is tiny and underwhelming.** Reading text or browsing the web is a chore. 29th
- **The 2MP camera is practically useless** for anything beyond scanning a QR code.
- **3GB RAM and 32GB storage are bare minimums** even for a budget phone in 2025.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Performance
| RAM | 3 MB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Expandable | Yes |
Camera
| Main Camera | 2 |
Battery & Charging
| Connector | USB Type-C |
Connectivity
| 5G | No |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C |
| SIM | Nano SIM |
Design & Build
| OS | Android 12 |
Value & Pricing
At $140, it's cheap. At $250, it's a rip-off. The price swings wildly by $110 depending on the vendor, so shop carefully. If you need this exact form factor with modern Android, the $140 price tag makes it a justifiable, specialized tool. For anyone else, it's terrible value because you can get a much more capable used or budget phone for the same money.
Price History
vs Competition
Don't even compare this to a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel. That's like comparing a moped to a sedan. The real question is: why buy this instead of a refurbished iPhone SE (1st or 2nd gen) or a Motorola Moto G? An old iPhone SE gives you a better small-form-factor experience with vastly superior performance and app support. A modern Moto G gives you a decent big screen and solid performance for similar money. The TIQ MINI M5 only wins if your top priority is 'smaller than an iPhone SE' and 'has Google Play.'
| Spec | TIQ MINI TIQ MINI M5 4G phone 3GB Ram + 32GB Rom smartphone | Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKEXAA | Motorola Motorola G Stylus PB6V0014US | Google Google Pixel 10 GA10091-US | OnePlus OnePlus 15 5011116281 | Apple CPO Apple iPhone 16 A3083 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | - | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Display Type | - | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | - | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Processor | - | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | Tensor | 8 Elite Gen 5 | Apple A18 Pro |
| RAM (GB) | 3 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 8 |
| Storage (GB) | 32 | 512 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 128 |
| Rear Camera Mp | 2 | 200 | 50 | 48 | 50 | 48 |
| Front Camera Mp | - | 12 | 32 | 10 | 32 | 12 |
| Battery Capacity Mah | - | 5000 | 5000 | 5015 | 7300 | 3582 |
| Charging Wattage | - | 60 | 68 | - | - | - |
| Wireless Charging | - | true | true | - | - | true |
| Five (g) | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | - | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | IP68 |
| Operating System | Android 12 | Android 16 | Android 15 | Android 16 | Android 16 | iPadOS 18 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Common Questions
Q: Can I actually use apps like Instagram or TikTok on this?
Technically, yes. Practically, no. The experience on a 2.8-inch screen with 3GB of RAM will be miserable. This isn't a social media phone.
Q: Is the battery life good?
Our data shows it's well above average for its category, which makes sense—a tiny screen and basic chip don't use much power. It'll likely last a day or more with light use.
Q: Should I buy the 32GB model or is there more storage?
Stick with 32GB and use the microSD card slot. The base storage is tiny, but for the simple tasks this phone is built for, expandable storage is the way to go.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a primary smartphone, this isn't it. Go get a refurbished Pixel or a Motorola Moto G instead. Also skip it if you have aging eyesight—reading on that screen is tough. This is a secondary or specialty device, period.
Verdict
We can only recommend the TIQ MINI M5 to a very specific person: someone who needs the absolute smallest possible Android phone that still gets 4G and can run basic apps like Maps or WhatsApp. Think of it as a modern 'dumb phone' that isn't actually dumb. For 99% of people looking for a phone under $250, there are dramatically better options that don't require squinting.