Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo InDepth Review and Pricing Insights

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo, announced in January 2014 and released in February of the same year, comes equipped with GSM/HSPA technology. It supports a variety of 2G bands, including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, available in both GT-I9060 and GT-I9060I models. For 3G connectivity, it supports HSDPA 900 and 2100 bands, offering internet speeds of up to 21.1 Mbps for downloads and 5.76 Mbps for uploads. Despite its discontinuation, it made a significant impact in its time as a dual SIM device, enhancing user convenience.

Design and Build

Designed with dimensions of 143.7 x 77.1 x 9.6 mm and weighing 163 grams, the Galaxy Grand Neo is quite ergonomic. It features a glass front, a plastic back, and a plastic frame—typical of many smartphones from that era aimed at balancing affordability and functionality. The device offers you a choice between single SIM or dual SIM slots, both using the Mini-SIM standard, making it versatile for different user needs.

Display Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo's display stands at 5.01 inches with a TFT screen. Although the TFT technology might not offer the vibrant colors of AMOLED screens, it remains effective for everyday use. The screen's resolution is 480 x 800 pixels with a 5:3 aspect ratio, having a density of approximately 186 pixels per inch. The device occupies about 64.5% of the screen body ratio, offering a decent viewing experience for video playback, browsing, and light gaming.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Galaxy Grand Neo is powered by a Broadcom BCM23550 chipset with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU. This setup ensures adequate processing power for basic tasks and multi-tasking activities. The graphics are handled by the Broadcom VideoCore IV GPU, which, while not advanced by today's standards, still holds its own in providing graphics support for most usual applications and games.

Memory and Storage

The device comes with 1 GB of RAM and internal storage options of 8 GB or 16 GB. These configurations are modest, especially when considering modern standards, but are sufficient for casual smartphone users. A dedicated slot is available for microSDXC cards, allowing storage expansion and providing flexibility for users needing additional space for media and apps.

Camera Features

The camera setup on the Galaxy Grand Neo is basic but fulfills essential photographic needs. The main camera features a 5 MP sensor with an f/2.6 aperture, capable of autofocus and equipped with LED flash. It supports video recording at 720p at 30 frames per second. This makes it suitable for capturing everyday moments. For selfies, the device offers a VGA or upgraded 2 MP camera for the GT-I9060I model, adequate for video calls and basic selfies.

Audio and Communication

The audio features include a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, enabling straightforward use of existing earphones and headphones. The device's communication features encompass Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct and hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and LE, GPS with GLONASS for location services, and FM radio for live broadcasting access. It lacks NFC, which was more of a specialty feature back in 2014.

Additional Features

Sensors on the Galaxy Grand Neo include an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, facilitating enhanced user interaction and functionality for apps relying on these sensors. The device also runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), with an upgrade path to Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) for the GT-I9060I model, offering a decent range of features and compatibility for applications of the time.

Battery Life

Powering the device is a removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery. It offers a stand-by time of up to 430 hours, 11 hours of talk time, and up to 38 hours of music play, ensuring users can rely on it throughout a typical day. The removability of the battery provides an advantage in managing replacement or maintenance, increasing the device's longevity and practicality.

Color Options and Variants

The Galaxy Grand Neo appeals to style-conscious users with its color options: White, Midnight Black, Orange, and Lime Green. These colors allow personalization in alignment with individual preferences, an attractive feature for many users when choosing a phone. Several model variants exist, including GT-I9060I, GT-I9062, GT-I9060, GT-I9060C, GT-I9060M, GT-I9060L, and GT-I9168I, which might offer slight differences tailored to particular market demands.

Pricing and Market Impact

When launched, the Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo was priced around 130 Euros, aiming at the mid-range market. Despite being discontinued, it was quite popular among users seeking value-centric devices offering robust performance for everyday tasks. Its combination of a sizeable display, multi-SIM support, and solid battery life made it an appealing choice.

Performance in Real-World Use

Tests indicated a display contrast ratio of 786:1 under nominal conditions and 1.393 in sunlight, providing decent visibility under various lighting conditions. Audio performance was recorded at 72dB for voice, 65dB for noise, and 73dB for ringing tones—adequate for standard use. The battery has an endurance rating of 59 hours, which would typically cover several days of average use.