How Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 could beat domestic smartphones?

Samsung unveiled its second iteration of one of its most popular Android powered smartphone Galaxy Grand Duos. This time Samsung has hit almost all the right chords to take Indian smartphone makers by storm. Galaxy Grand 2 gets an update over its predecessor in terms of screen size and resolution, processor, battery, Android version, RAM and aesthetics. While there are very few things that it retains, few of them are camera sensors at front and back and obviously the name Grand. This time around the name Grand, matches the specifications. Tech experts all along the world have been appreciating the move from Korean smartphone giant. Let’s have a look at Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 specifications:

• Display
• 13.3cms (5.25) HD (1280x720) TFT

• Chipset
• A7 1.2GHz Quad Core

• Bearer
• 3G Quad (HSPA 21/5.76), EDGE/GPRS

• Memory
• 1.5GB (RAM) + 8GB (Internal Memory*)
• microSD (upto 64GB)

• Camera / Flash
• 8MP AF + LED Flash / 1.9MP (HD)

• Connectors
• MicroUSB, USB 2.0, 3.5mm earjack

• Wireless Connect
• BT 4.0, WiFi a/b/g/n, FM

• GPS
• AGPS + GLONASS

• Dimension
• 146.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm

• Battery capacity
• 2600 mAh

• OS / Upgrade
• Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)

• Messaging & SNS
• ChatON, Google+, Hangouts

• LBS
• Google Maps (Turn-by-turn Navi.

• Other Services & Applications
• Club Samsung , My Magazine, Story Album Samsung Hub

• PC Applications
• Kies

• UI / Web Browser
• TouchWiz / Android Browser

• FM Radio

• Audio
• MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, Vorbis, AMR

• Video
• H.263, H.264, VC-1, MPEG4, VP8, WMV7/8, MP43, Sorenson Spark

How it could down existing smartphones from Indian vendors?

If we cloely look at the specifications that are packed in Galaxy Grand 2, one might say that these could be found in a 14K smartphone too. But wait there are few arguments to this. Lets take this one-on-one.

Processor

Most of the mid-budget segment smartphones from Indian vendors mostly possess MediaTek processor, which is not bad at all but definitely a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor is better in terms of performing the tasks at an ease. This doesn’t talk in terms of benchmarks but the difference in performance could be easily seen in one-to-one comparison.

Camera

This is one component of Indian smartphones that has been run-of-the-mill since their introduction. A 13 MP sensor would produce a large resolution image but in terms of quality it seriously lack details, colors and exposure along with the depth. Here’s what Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 gains an advantage. Before using a device it might be unjustified to declare Grand 2 winner but Samsung has been known for its camera quality and functions. Also, Galaxy Grand too possessed a gorgeous camera. Samsung this time has also incorporated Story Album too which organizes clicked photographs according to the dates those were taken on. This would ultimately convert your one day picnic into a beautiful set of memory by making it an album.

Customised User Interface

This might be controversial topic but I personally prefer a custom UI over Vanilla Android. Features such as swipe left to message and right to call directly from your contacts or call logs is one of the examples on how custom UI could save on time. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI is one of the finest and user friendly interfaces I have ever used and Galaxy Grand 2’s interface is no exception. Smart pause, a better Samsung keyboard with swipe typing, direct call, flip to mute are some of the touted features of TouchWiz and they seem really useful in day-to-day life. Though sometimes TouchWiz seems lagging one can be survived with such negligible lags.

RAM and ROM

Samsung learned from their past and have timed a blast in Grand 2 with 1.5 GB of RAM. This would definitely favour gamers and heavy multi-taskers. One might have appreciated a 2 GB or RAM but 1.5 GB is enough when compared with domestic smartphones. Inbuilt memory is unchanged and is 8 GB but expandable via a Micro SD card slot that too upto 64 GB.

Battery

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 packs a mighty 2600 mAh battery. If we are to compare the battery with existing mid-range smartphones, there are hardly a couple of devices which have a more powerful battery. Samsung also claims that the software and hardware has been tuned is such a way that it will yield best results. We are yet to test the same but we hope that it will sustain for a day or more.

Android OS Version
Galaxy Grand 2 comes preloaded with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. At the present day, there are very few smartphones in the market which are equipped with this version of Android and this gives a definite edge to Grand 2.

Display

Thanks Samsung! Ticking it right Samsung has fitted a 720p HD TFT display in Samsung Galaxy Grand 2, which was much of a need. Absence of AMOLED display is a bit disappointing but it will no more have those oversaturated colors. We may find a High Definition display in a smartphone of price around 15 thousand but since its Samsung, it has to be little overpriced.

Brand Value

If Samsung is charging you something more than for what smartphones are available in the market, then it also make sure that when you take the device out of your pocket, people would consider your presence. 

We expected a price little higher than that of original Grand and remarkably lower than Galaxy S3 which was once Samsung’s flagship device. But even at price of Rs. 22500 (Flipkart), Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 is definitely a killer for smartphones from Indian players. The phone might feature a competition from maker like Micromax if it hits the market with its Octa Core phone at around a similar price.