Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos Review
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Samsung Galaxy Grand enters a pretty interesting marketing niche – people eventually eager for a big-screen smartphone that might not break the bank. The 5” Galaxy Grand skimps on features like HD screen resolution and internal memory to reach that goal.
The phone is apparently aimed at emerging markets, judging not only from the specs, but from the availability of a dual SIM version with the Grand Duos we have in our hands. Has Samsung compromised too much or will it reach a newly created target market, just like it did with the Note family? Read our review to find out...
Design
The Galaxy Grand DUOS looks like a larger S III, or a smaller Note II, whichever you prefer. Samsung is making everything nowadays, big and small, with the distinctive rounded corner design that is immediately recognizable because of its blockbuster S III handset.
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Front | Front camera | Android keys |
The Grand DUOS is more reminiscent to the Note II, actually, with the faux metal rim on the sides, and the tapered back with subtle pattern makes is fairly comfortable to hold with one hand, considering the screen size, but hard to operate with just your thumb, of course. The phone is somewhat hefty for today's standards at 5.71 oz (162 g), yet having in mind the screen size again, it does not feel thick and bulky.
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Volume rocker (left) | Power key (right) | 3.5mm jack (top) | microUSB port (bottom) |
The sides of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos | |||
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Back | Camera and speaker grill | Battery compartment |
Display
We know what you are thinking – WVGA on a 5-incher? C'mon! Well, 480x800 it is, which returns 187ppi pixel density, and doesn't look good if you are used to the HD and Full HD screens of late. For comparison, the 4.8” HD screen on the Galaxy S III, which is not small by any measure either, rings in at 306ppi. The resolution is not unusable, as the Grand DUOS is a big-screen phone and you hold it further from your eyes than usual, thus diminishing the low resolution effect somewhat.
Samsung uses LCD here, instead of the AMOLED technology that goes for its flagships - the 5” panel on the Grand DUOS is with decent viewing angles and bright enough, so you can tell what's on it outside under direct sunlight, thus the only big drawback remains its low pixel density.
Fullscreen
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Samsung Galaxy Grand
- Specifications
- News (4)
- Review 8/10
- User Reviews (6) 8.7/10
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26 Comments
10. XperiaUser posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:17 3 0
lolz !
4. GJanee posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:00 4 2
it is kind of ridiculous how all samsung phones look the same nowadays. they're just makign them larger or smaller and re-arrange the letters in the name or add in some nonsense. this is getting ridiculously close to what apple does.
6. maccess posted on 26 Feb 2013, 08:57 7 0
but apple target the same market/segment every year.. samsung targets all segment from low to mid to high end.. so the consumer has choices..
9. donfem posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:16 4 0
I guess you have a problem with that uh? Samsung is just being smart. Unlike iphone which is exactly same and their fans are made to pay the same amount irrespective of status, just to be seen carrying it Icommend Samsung for the fact they give customers "the same feel and power" under the same body, at a lesser pricing.
5. Rexperia posted on 26 Feb 2013, 08:57 5 2
Like usual... This is samsung device, that's why PA didn't notice the cons... No wonder...
12. GTR722 posted on 26 Feb 2013, 10:28 2 2
100% True, is this phone was made by Sony...no more than 7.0
13. dil2abu posted on 26 Feb 2013, 11:30 3 3
Agree with you..
If this was made by Sony, PA would say like - WTF?? What Sony is thinking?? Very low res Display for 5 inch?? :O
Cons :
* Low res display
* Plastic body
* No S - Pen
* No Cons from PA :P
7. sonofzeus posted on 26 Feb 2013, 08:58 1 1
it has 2 cons
1) The screen resolution
2) The price.its already being sold in india for a price of 21500 rupees,which comes around $398
8. arfinkhan posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:10 5 5
cheap plastic cheap design.......nothing anything new.......just size is bigger......and phonearena saying it blockbuster........and remarking nokia 720 as typicall unibody..........it doesnot matter what u bring......this year is not for samsung
11. donfem posted on 26 Feb 2013, 09:17 2 4
I guess your opinion is all that counts? Good luck
14. Eonnaydra posted on 26 Feb 2013, 12:36 2 4
Its the same Samsung s**t,plastic plastic and again plastic.All the Samsung phones are in fact the same,the same ugly design/UI/building quality(I dont see any difference between S3 and this,with the exception of resolution and some GHz in addition).The Samsung fans call it innovative )
Why PA doesnt mention Sony or Nokia more? Lumia 720 is a great handset over this samsungs**t.
15. shashi.map posted on 27 Feb 2013, 12:01 1 1
LOL C'mon PA , you say the lumia 720 felt plasticky eventhough its got a good feel to it and now come you didn't point out the plasticky con of the grand duos.......the screen might hold good for the resolution but still it's low by today's standard and it should have made the con list,,the design is the same as that of SGS3.......I'm pretty sure if a similar phone from Sony or LG were to be reviewed, they wouldn't have got anything more than 7/10 from PA
19. alexzibrit posted on 03 Mar 2013, 11:56 2 0
The Cons weren't pointed out because it is basically the same con for every Samsung Phone The Plastic, but unlike other companies the pebble design of the phone is more ergonomic thus making it not a deal breaker unless you want to get picky, and for the screen, he said how bad it was about 10 tens in the review (exaggeration) so I think he just overlooked putting it in the cons, and plus that con is a bit too obvious
29. shashi.map posted on 07 Mar 2013, 12:33 0 0
i kinda want to agree with you but samsung are overkilling the design a bit too much.
25. ddxmms posted on 06 Mar 2013, 12:30 0 0
its really not bad phone, bcoz you can use two sim card and bcoz the processor can handle the latest video games in the google play.
sure you can buy other devices with the same price such as the new nokia lumia 720, but in my opinion android is better than WP in bout the customization experience and the amount of app availability in bout the WP store and google play !
26. ddxmms posted on 06 Mar 2013, 12:32 0 0
its really not bad phone, bcoz you can use two sim card and bcoz the processor can handle the latest video games in the google play.
sure you can buy other devices with the same price such as the new nokia lumia 720, but in my opinion android is better than WP in Both the customization experience and the amount of app availability in Both the WP store and google play !
35. sarge77 posted on 14 Mar 2013, 21:40 0 0
lol this phone is just replacing the gs2 for thr dual core pretty much same specs as it besides the lte capability. samsungs can make a single core phone and make it water proof and people would praise it. You know its a gs4 downgraded to specs of gs2. good thing is this would be a budget phone
36. sen2013 posted on 16 Mar 2013, 11:58 0 0
Draw backs:
No call recorder.
I am unable to sync this to Samsung kies ( the s/w for which you need turn-off ur antivirus for installation,as per comments from Samsung technical support), even Samsung technical support people also can't help me on this.
So if you want to sync it to your system, its hard.
37. sen2013 posted on 17 Mar 2013, 05:40 0 0
Guys one more problem. I bought this mobile very recently only, the ear phone & FM is not working , when i contacted customer care they asking me to go service centre, in this busy world after paying such an huge amount to purchase this device, i have to pay an extra amount to go for service centre also.
No Product model display in the samsung website for this technical support also. Don't go to this mobile blindly by just looking into the stylish of model it seems to be lots of other hidden problems, we need a proper service & customer care also in this busy world.
42. Golden_User posted on 23 Mar 2013, 03:33 0 0
I have this phone for a week now BUT i cannot find the smiley icons when i am texting.
Please help me.
Thank you.
43. amir1975 posted on 13 Apr 2013, 03:07 0 0
i have bought a Grand Duos, in addition to a Samsung Galaxy SIII which already i have had.
galaxy grand is a superb Dual Sim cell phone.
u can contact me if u have any question :
amir.t@dr.com
