ZTE Grand S InDepth Review of Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of ZTE Grand S

The ZTE Grand S, released in March 2013, marks an ambitious step for ZTE in the competitive smartphone market. With a focus on sleek design and robust features, the device targets tech-savvy users looking for performance and style. Released with the Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system, it brings a package of hardware and software that stood out in its release year.

Design and Build

Weighing just 110 g and measuring 142 x 70 x 6.9 mm, the ZTE Grand S impresses with its slim and lightweight profile, making it one of the thinnest smartphones of its time. The device's aesthetics are appealing with its minimalist design available in four color combinations: Black/Silver, Black/Red, Black/Blue, and Black/White. Using the Mini-SIM technology, the phone further complements the design with durability provided by Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

Display

The Grand S boasts a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display supporting a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a remarkable pixel density of approximately 441 ppi. This results in sharp and vivid visuals, whether watching videos, browsing the web, or playing games, creating a pleasurable viewing experience with high clarity and vibrant colors.

Performance

Under the hood, the ZTE Grand S is powered by a Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset paired with a quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 200 CPU. This combination ensures smooth multitasking and respectable performance for applications and games of that era. Complementing the CPU is an Adreno 320 GPU, which handles graphics processing efficiently.

Memory and Storage

The device is equipped with 2GB of RAM, ensuring decent multitasking capabilities for the time. With 16GB of internal storage, users have the basic storage capacity to store applications, photos, and media files. The presence of a dedicated microSDHC slot allows for expandable storage, enabling users to add more space as needed.

Camera Capabilities

The ZTE Grand S features a 13 MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, offering satisfactory image and video quality for casual photography enthusiasts. The camera also supports 1080p video recording at 30fps. For video calls and selfies, the front-facing camera comes with a 2 MP sensor, capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps, making it quite advanced for its launch period.

Battery Life

The device houses a non-removable Li-Ion 1780 mAh battery, which provides moderate battery life. While it may not offer extensive usage on a single charge, it was adequate for users with moderate demanding tasks in the smartphone’s prime years, considering its slim design also contributed to the smaller battery size.

Connectivity and Network

The ZTE Grand S supports a variety of network technologies including GSM, HSPA, EVDO, and LTE. This makes it compatible with a range of carriers and bandwidths. It offers support for 2G, 3G, and 4G bands, ensuring good connectivity and mobile data speeds with options such as HSPA and LTE for faster internet access. It also includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and hotspot functionalities, enhancing wireless internet capabilities.

Additional Features

The device includes modern connectivity options such as Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and LE, GPS, NFC, FM radio, and microUSB 2.0 with MHL TV-out functionality. Sensor-wise, it incorporates an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass, adding to its feature-rich profile.

Conclusion

Though the ZTE Grand S has been discontinued, it made a notable impact during its time. It offered a blend of style, performance, and essential smartphone capabilities. While hardware limitations are apparent by today’s standards, especially in battery capacity and storage, it was a competitive offering in early 2013, showcasing ZTE’s ability to produce attractive and contemporary mobile devices.