Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime Full Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, launched in September 2014, is a budget-friendly smartphone that aimed to offer a balance between performance and affordability. It quickly gained popularity due to its solid build quality, decent camera capabilities, and reliable performance. In this article, we'll explore the various aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime, analyzing its hardware, software, features, and performance.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime boasts a classic design typical of Samsung's mid-range phones during its release period. With dimensions of 144.8 x 72.1 x 8.6 mm and a weight of 156 grams, the phone felt comfortable to hold. It features a glass front, a plastic back, and a plastic frame, providing durability. The device was available in various colors including White, Grey, and Gold, catering to different aesthetic preferences.

Display

The Galaxy Grand Prime comes with a 5.0-inch TFT display, offering a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels at a 16:9 aspect ratio. Although the display is not full HD, it provides decent color reproduction and viewing angles for an entry-level smartphone. With a pixel density of approximately 220 ppi, it delivers adequate clarity for everyday tasks such as browsing, texting, and media consumption.

Performance

Hardware

Under the hood, the Galaxy Grand Prime is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, a quad-core CPU clocked at 1.2 GHz. Additionally, there is a Spreadtrum SC7730 version known as the Value Edition with a quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU clocked at 1.3 GHz. The processor is paired with an Adreno 306 GPU for the standard version and a Mali-400 GPU for the Value Edition. With 1GB of RAM, the phone is capable of handling basic multitasking and day-to-day applications reasonably well, although it's not designed for intensive gaming.

Software

The device originally shipped with Android 4.4.4 KitKat, with official updates available up to Android 5.1 (Lollipop) for some models. Samsung's TouchWiz UI provides a user-friendly interface with various customization options and pre-installed Samsung applications that enhance the smartphone experience.

Camera Capabilities

Main Camera

The Galaxy Grand Prime features an 8 MP rear camera with an aperture of f/2.4, equipped with autofocus and an LED flash. The camera app provides features such as panorama and capable video recording at 1080p@30fps, allowing users to capture decent photos and videos in good lighting conditions.

Selfie Camera

The front camera is a 5 MP shooter with an aperture of f/2.2, designed to deliver satisfactory selfies and video calls. It also supports video capture at 1080p@30fps, ensuring good quality video chats.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Grand Prime is equipped with a removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery. Samsung claimed a talk time of up to 17 hours on 3G networks and music playback time of up to 75 hours. The battery performance caters well to typical daily use, though power users might find themselves needing a recharge by the end of the day.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Network and Connectivity

The device supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring wide connectivity options. Depending on the model, LTE bands vary, but it generally provides reliable network performance for standard usage. The phone also supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and FM radio, alongside microUSB 2.0 for data transfer and charging.

Additional Features

Other notable features include an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. For certain models like the G530F and G530FZ, NFC is available, which was a notable feature for a phone at this price range at the time.

Price and Availability

When released, the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime was priced at around 140 EUR, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers looking for a reliable smartphone. However, as of now, the device has been discontinued but can still occasionally be found in used electronics markets or through online retailers.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime delivered a solid performance for its price segment at the time of release. With a decent camera set up, efficient if modest performance, and reliable battery life, it catered to basic smartphone needs without breaking the bank. Although it has since been surpassed by more advanced models, it remains a significant part of Samsung's legacy in providing budget-friendly smartphones.