The LG G2 Mini Android KitKat smartphone is ready to hit retail next month, aiming to compete in developing markets.

As the name itself suggests, the handset is a smaller version of the LG G2. As usual with Mini versions of flagship smartphones, the LG G2 Mini keeps the popular UX features found in premium G Series devices, but comes with watered-down specs to accommodate a lower price tag.

The LG G2 Mini will launch globally in April, hitting the Russian Commonwealth first, then heading to various countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

"The compact G2 mini offers a combination of design, hardware and UX features previously unavailable in its class, making it a very attractive option for mid-tier markets," Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Company, touted in the press release on Thursday, March 27. "With the G2 mini, our objective is to allow a much larger consumer base to be able to experience the key benefits of the G2 UX in a smaller form factor. And to that end, we're confident we've succeeded with the G2 mini."

LG unveiled its G2 Mini smartphone back at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014 and has drawn plenty of interest. The handset ships with LG's much-touted Knock Code security feature, but sports a 4.7-inch display with a meager resolution of just 960 x 540 pixels. Various regions, however, will get different components for the LG G2 Mini.

In Latin America and the Middle East, for instance, the LG G2 Mini will pack an NVIDIA Tegra 4i processor and have LTE support. This variant will also feature a 13-megapixel rear camera and NFC. In other markets, meanwhile, the handset will be available in either a LTE version with a 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8926 chipset or a 3G model with a Qualcomm MSM 8226 processor. Both of these Qualcomm-powered versions come with an 8-megapixel rear camera, not the 13-megapixel unit found on the variants for Latin America and the Middle East. The smartphone also comes with a 2,440 mAh removable battery. Other specs include 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage capacity, and a microSD card slot for additional memory. On the software side, the handset runs Android 4.4 KitKat.

"In order to meet the diverse needs of customers worldwide, the G2 mini will be available in several variations t 3G/4G LTE, Single/Dual SIM and four vibrant color options including Titan Black, Lunar White, Red and Gold depending on the region," LG further notes in its press release. "Roll-out will begin in April in CIS countries followed closely by markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Details of availability in these and other countries will be announced locally in the weeks ahead."

The company made no mention of pricing, however, so it remains unclear at this point just how much the LG G2 Mini will cost. Judging by its specs, the smartphone should be a budget-friendly offering. We'll keep you up to date as soon as LG announces more details, so stay tuned.