Samsung galaxy grand technical specifications. Review of the Samsung I9082 Galaxy Grand Duos smartphone: a top-class dual-SIM device

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on a single chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Front camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Scope of delivery:

• Samsung i9082
• Battery
• Wired stereo headset
• Network adapter and USB cable
• User Guide
• Warranty card

Positioning

Last year, Samsung began selling a dual-SIM smartphone on the Android operating system under the simple name Galaxy S Duos. It is interesting that the device turned out to be successful, since users left extremely positive reviews, and there were many flattering words in my review, despite the fact that there were plenty of competitors among third-tier brands. But, frankly speaking, we were not expecting the launch of Galaxy Grand Duos at all, since rumors were only about Samsung Galaxy S III with two SIM cards for the Chinese market.

In general, everything is not bad with the hardware and software in the Grand Duos smartphone: a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with the addition of NEON, a relatively powerful VideoCore IV HW graphics accelerator, one gigabyte of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera, the ability to shoot FullHD videos. However, the screen resolution raises questions: provided that the diagonal of the i9082 is 5 inches, it is only 480x800 pixels. In addition, Samsung's pricing policy in Russia leaves much to be desired, since the cost of the Galaxy Grand Duos is no less than 18,000 rubles. For example, in Ukraine, a device can be found for 3,800 hryvnia, which is about 14,000 in rubles.

It seems to me that the smartphone will be of interest to those who do not consider “Chinese” devices as a purchase, but the gadget must have two slots for SIM cards and a large display diagonal. Otherwise, there are simply a huge number of competitors for 18 thousand rubles.

Design, dimensions, control elements

Samsung, in fact, like some other companies, over the last couple of years has begun to produce smartphones based on the design flagship devices. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for some, Grand Duos is no exception. It is almost completely copied from the popular and widely advertised Galaxy S III smartphone: a characteristic oval body, similar shapes of controls and individual details of the appearance of the SGS III, the location of sensors, keys, cameras and flashes. There aren't many differences. Naturally, these are larger dimensions - 143x76x9.6 mm (for the Galaxy S III - 136x70x8.6 mm), weight - 162 grams versus 133 grams for the Galaxy S III. Instead of a metal mesh of a polyphonic speaker, the Grand Duos has two slots and a slightly larger physical button under the screen. It is also worth noting that the back panel of the Galaxy S III is made of glossy plastic, and the cover of the Galaxy Grand Duos is made of two layers: the first is matte with a thin mesh visible at certain angles in the light, the second (applied on top) is glossy.

A chrome-plated plastic insert runs along the edge. More pleasant, in my subjective opinion, are the “Grand” materials.

Samsung Grand Duos and Samsung Galaxy S III

Since I’m used to huge smartphones (I use the Galaxy Note II, before it there was the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note), then Grand sizes They seemed quite comfortable to me. The device can theoretically easily fit into the pockets of jeans, trousers or a jacket.

The device is well assembled, there are no complaints: the case does not creak, the panel does not play, and there is no crunching noise when squeezing or twisting. I was not able to accurately understand whether Gorilla Glass is used as screen protection, because... There is very little information on this gadget. In any case, even if it is not glass from Corning, it uses a fairly durable material (obviously not simple plastic), and not a single scratch appeared on the screen during use. The surface of the display is non-staining, marks are almost invisible. They are also not visible on the back cover - the plastic is semi-glossy and painted white.

On the top of the front panel there are light and proximity sensors, front camera and a speaker covered with a metal chrome mesh. The sensors work correctly, no questions arise. The speaker has a high volume, and during a conversation you can adjust the level not only by standard means, but also activate the special “Additional Volume” function. It seems to me that it does not increase the volume, but rather makes the interlocutor’s voice seem closer to the ear, the sound becomes a little more natural and richer. Overall, the speaker is of high quality, I liked it.

Below the display is a traditional mechanical button in the shape of a rectangular trapezoid with smooth edges. It is practically recessed into the body, it is pressed gently, but the stroke is small, the “click” is quiet and dull. To her right and left touch buttons. Without backlight (white) they are not visible.

At the bottom end there is a microUSB without a plug and a microphone, at the top there is a standard 3.5 mm audio output for headphones or a headset.

On the left side there is a volume rocker key almost recessed into the body, on the left, of the same type, there is an on/off button. Its location is quite good, since for right-handers it is under the thumb, and for left-handers it is under the index or middle finger.

A flash, a large camera eye framed by a chrome-plated plastic rim, and a speaker on the back of the smartphone.

To open the cover, you need to pry it by the notch on the upper left side. The slot for SIM1 is on top of the battery, SIM2 is on the bottom right. Both are mounted in metal slides. The slot for installing a memory card is located under the battery at the bottom.

Samsung Grand Duos and iPhone 4S

Display

Diagonal Samsung display Galaxy Grand Duos – 5 inches (physical size - 109x65 mm). This screen size is common for most people today. flagship smartphones. Even though I'm on at the moment I use Note/Note II with ease, but I still had to get used to the large diagonal. But that's a separate conversation. But the Grand Duos screen resolution is questionable: at five inches – 480x800 pixels! For some Chinese smartphones This would be considered the norm, and now almost all more or less adequate devices have qHD or HD resolution.

Naturally, Samsung can be partly understood: release a device with a 5" HD screen, and the question will arise, what to do with previous smartphones (Galaxy Note, Galaxy S III)? If you reduce the price, then you need to reduce it for younger models - Galaxy S II , Galaxy Advance, Galaxy S Duos, etc. Of course, all this is unprofitable, apparently, so marketers decided that the best step would be to make a device with a low screen resolution, but a cool filling, including a camera.

The Grand Duos matrix is ​​made using IPS technology. If it were not for its excellent quality, one could give up on the smartphone. And so, even despite the low resolution for a 5-inch diagonal, the picture does not look too pixelated. Those. individual pixels are visible, but they are not striking. I don’t want to defend Samsung in any way, I’m just stating a fact: the screen is cool, but I would like the resolution to be a little higher.

The sensor layer is capacitive, the sensitivity is very high. Works up to 10 (!) simultaneous touches.

The viewing angles of the screen are large. When tilted, the brightness decreases slightly; when viewed from the side on the right, the colors acquire a slight violet tint; when viewed from the side on the left, they acquire a yellowish tint. In short, a regular IPS matrix.

Brightness is slightly above average. On the street the image is practically invisible; in the sun it becomes completely blind.

Display settings:

• Multiple windows
• Contextual pages (headphones, stands, roaming). For example, when you connect headphones, a virtual screen opens with a choice of music, video, etc.
• Brightness
• Intellectual anticipation. The screen stays on while you're looking at it
• Font style
• Font size
• Backlit keys
• Show charge percentage
• Auto-adjust screen brightness. The image is analyzed, and in connection with certain data the brightness of the picture is set.

Battery

A removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2100 mAh is installed. Type – EB535163LU. On the one hand, the capacity is small, but on the other hand, the screen resolution is low, the backlight is not bright, and the chipset is not the most productive. The developers claim that the device will operate for 440 hours in standby mode, and up to 10 hours in talk mode. I can partially confirm these figures; the device really worked for a long time.

With 20-25 minutes of calls a day, 4-5 hours of 3G, a couple of hours of Wi-Fi, an hour of watching videos and the same amount of listening to music, the Galaxy Grand Duos managed to squeeze out up to 12-13 hours of work from a single charge.

More numbers:

• Only in talk mode the device works up to 7 hours
• Only when playing video (720p) at maximum volume in headphones and maximum screen brightness - just over 4.5 hours
• Only playing music in headphones at maximum volume – about 30 hours
• Games only (using NOVA3 as an example) – just over 3 hours

Communication capabilities

The smartphone operates in 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (900/2100 MHz) cellular networks. Speed ​​HSDPA – up to 21 Mbit/s, HSUPA – up to 5.76 Mbit/s. In stock Bluetooth version 4.0 HS (A2DP, LE, EDR).

Present wireless communication Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz). The device can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot) and file transfer (Wi-Fi Direct). In the settings there is an item “Modem and access point”. Samsung connects to a computer over the air using Kies via Wi-Fi. During the entire operation, the network did not fall.

High-speed USB 2.0 is also used for file transfer and data synchronization. When connected to a PC, the “duos” is defined as a USB-Flash device (MTP) or a camera (PTP).

SAR value

Your phone is manufactured to comply with EU Council guidelines for exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy. These standards prohibit the sale mobile phones, whose radiation level (called specific absorption rate, SAR) exceeds 2.0 watts per kilogram of body weight. During testing (information provided by Samsung), the maximum SAR for this model was: 0.24 W/kg near the head, 0.288 W/kg near the body.

When in use, the actual SAR values ​​of the device are significantly lower than the values ​​stated above. This is because, in order to operate the system efficiently and reduce network impact, the operating power of the mobile device is automatically reduced if the call does not require full power. The lower the device's power output, the lower the SAR value.

Memory and memory card

The Samsung i9082 smartphone has 1 GB (available - 796 MB and free on average about 400 MB) of RAM, its volume is quite enough for most tasks.

4 GB of Flash memory is allocated for installing applications, photos, music and videos, of which 1.3 GB is free, the rest is filled with applications that are installed by Samsung by default. Naturally, there is a slot for a microSDHC memory card, its maximum capacity can be 64 GB.

Camera

The Galaxy Grand Duos has two camera modules: 8 MP (with autofocus) and 2 MP (front, without autofocus, for video calls). There is a single-section LED flash.

The quality of the photos is very good and practically does not differ from frames taken on the Galaxy S III or Note II: high detail, natural colors, wide dynamic range, absence of any distortion, excellent exposure meter and autofocus.

In general, I was somewhat surprised that this model uses such a high-quality module. By the way, the front camera takes photos not much worse than the main one :).

Grand Duos shoots video in resolutions up to 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second, regardless of lighting level. During recording, two types of focusing operation are available: automatic and semi-automatic (“touch focus”) - you need to click on the display. There are no questions about the videos either - everything is clean, smooth, without noise or lag, with good focus performance.

Co Skype phone works great.

The interface is exactly the same as in any modern Samsung smartphone. The only thing missing is an HDR mode.

Video file characteristics:

• File Format: MP4
• Video codec: AVC, 17 Mbit/s
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080, 30 fps
• Audio codec: AAC, 128 Kbps
• Channels: 1 channel, 48 KHz

Examples of photos taken with the main camera:

Examples of photos taken with the front camera:

Performance

We are already accustomed to the fact that most Samsung smartphones use two types of chipsets: Qualcomm and its own Exynos. Broadcom is installed very rarely, mainly in budget phones. The specifications for the Galaxy Grand Duos on the official website, and not only on it, only indicate that the Grand has two Cortex-A9 processors, and that’s all. No more information. It turned out that the Grand Duos has a Broadcom 28155 chipset; frankly speaking, this is the first time I’ve heard about it. There are not very many details on the chip manufacturer's website: it is said that two Cortex-A9 cores with a SIMD command processing unit (NEON), 40 nm process technology, single-core VideoCore IV graphics accelerator, support for 20 MP cameras, 720p/1080p video playback, integrated sound system.

After using it for some time, I can say unequivocally - the Galaxy Grand Duos is very fast! If I didn’t know what kind of chipset is used here, I would assume that TI OMAP 4460 or Exynos 4212. The interface works smoothly (this is worth noting separately!), I didn’t notice any slowdowns, “glitches” or “bugs” either.

The most interesting thing is that powerful toys like NOVA3, Asphalt 7, GTA Vice City, Dead Space and the like do not slow down.

Below is a short technical information and performance tests:

Quadrant Standard

Navigation

The smartphone has a GPS navigator. A “cold” start for determining the coordinates of a “duos” is about a minute (quite quickly), a “hot” start is up to 5-10 seconds. Unfortunately, indoor satellites are reluctant to be detected, so the navigator had difficulty finding only one. However, in open space in clear weather, Galaxy Grand Duos identified more than 8 satellites.

Software platform and shell

The smartphone operates in the operating room Google system Android version 4.1.2, firmware version i9082XXALK6. Updates will most likely come, and the device will receive Android 4.2. For me personally, it’s important that it’s already 4.1. This version allows you to comfortably use the interface thanks to Project Butter's super smooth operation.

The shell used is TouchWIZ, called Nature UX. We are familiar with the shell from reviews of the company’s top devices. If you have questions, I advise you to read the Samsung Galaxy S III or Galaxy Note II tests. I will only provide screenshots of the system.

Challenges

IN this device One radio module is installed, but two SIM cards. Naturally, when talking on one SIM, the other will be unavailable. In general, as usual: if you want to always stay in touch, buy a second phone!

However, the smartphone has an “Active Mode” feature. It allows you to forward calls from one SIM card to another. To do this, you go to the “SIM Card Manager” and select “Active mode”, check the “dual SIM mode” checkbox, enter (if necessary) the card numbers and set the mode: both SIM cards, from SIM1 to SIM2, from SIM2 to SIM1.

“SIM cards” can be removed “hot”, but for proper operation of the device it is recommended to reboot the device. At every new installation SIM card system prompts you to enter card information.

In “SIM Settings” the name of the SIM card is changed, the icon is set (blue or green “SIM”, home, “work” and heart).

Standard dialer for Samsung phones. To call a specific number from a particular SIM card, simply click on the desired icon at the bottom left.

From the dialer it is easy to get to your contacts and call log. While dialing a number, a list of contacts starting with these numbers appears in the input field window. To create a contact, you need to click on the “plus” in “contacts”. The following information is available for each subscriber: avatar, first and last name, phone number, email address, Google account Talk, Group, Ringtone, Mailing Address, Organization, Note, Nickname, Website, Birthday and Anniversary.

Messages

For typing, Samsung traditionally uses a proprietary keyboard, as well as T9 and “Continuous input” (analogous to Swype). The phone has an accelerometer, so when you turn the smartphone on its side, the keyboard takes on a landscape view, making it more convenient to enter text. The screen diagonal is small, but due to the sensitive and precisely calibrated sensor it is convenient to press small buttons.

To send a text using a particular SIM card, you need to click on the desired icon in the center right.

Web browser

A standard Android browser is used. Due to the fact that the device has an ARMv7 processor, Flash animation is supported. The speed is high, I didn’t notice any jerks.

Multimedia

Music player. The usual Samsung player. Allows you to sort songs by albums, playlists and artists. The screen displays the song name, volume control, and timeline. In the settings, the user has access to a quick list, sending music (via MMS message, Bluetooth, email and Wi-Fi), set as a ringtone or SMS.

Additional options include equalizer presets: auto, normal... classic, bass boost, treble boost, virtual 7.1 channel system, cafe. There is also a customizable equalizer from 60 to 14,000 Hz with seven bands. The extended equalizer added 3D, Bass, Reverb level, Room size, Clarity.

The sound quality of Samsung i9082 headphones is great: pleasant, not buzzing low frequencies, smooth average and not filled up high frequencies. The volume is high.

The main speaker has high volume, light bass sound, and sounds clear. If you cover the speaker, the volume will drop by 40-50%.

FM radio. Operates in the range 88.5 – 108 MHz. RDS supported. The sensitivity is not very high, the volume is average.

Video player. There is a separate shortcut in the phone menu that links to launching the video file manager. The player “understands” H264, Xvid, DivX codecs and AVI, MP4, MKV, WMV file formats. The video player plays videos in resolutions up to 1080p. To support other video and audio formats, you should install a third-party player.

By the way, using a special function, the video player window can be displayed on home screen or in the background of any application!

Conclusion

The first impression of the device: “Well, Samsung again, same design, high price...”. This is partly true. But the more time you spend with some devices, the more you begin to appreciate them. Recently, I have tested a huge number of “Chinese” smartphones and realized that no matter how you look at it, devices from large vendors still work more stable and smoother, and certain functions are performed more correctly and with better quality.

Undeniable pros of Galaxy Grand are: a powerful graphics accelerator, a gigabyte of RAM, a very high-quality photo and video camera, a loud speaker, smooth operation of the interface. Naturally, there are disadvantages, and they are so obvious that it is not worth writing about them in detail: low screen resolution and high price. But despite the negative aspects, I liked the smartphone. For those who don’t really care about screen resolution, I recommend buying: a high-quality phone with two SIM card slots, a large screen and a cool camera.

General characteristics

Screen

Multimedia capabilities

Connection

Memory and processor

Nutrition

Other functions

Galaxy Grand, which supports dual SIM cards. The device is a good device with a 5-inch screen and a relatively low price. Of course, don't expect performance like the Galaxy S III, but it's probably one of the best dual-SIM smartphones out there.

As expected, the Samsung Galaxy Grand is not the most compact device that can be found on store shelves. Its dimensions are 143.5x76.9x9.6 mm, that is, it is not the most thin smartphone with a 5-inch screen, but it's comfortable to hold as Samsung has managed to keep the thickness under 10mm. The weight of the device is 162 grams, which is relatively good for its size.

The smartphone has a color similar to the models that appeared after the Galaxy S III. The main design features are borrowed from it, but a slightly different plastic is used, which is more slippery to the touch. It doesn't look as good as the Galaxy Note II's plastic, so we can assume that the cost was reduced this way. Note that the slippery plastic can cause some problems, but if you have large enough hands (or if you work with both hands at the same time), then it will be comfortable to operate the device.

On the front surface of the device there is a screen, under which there is a home control key, and above it there is a speaker, sensors, a front camera and the company logo with the inscription “DUOS”. On the right side you can see the power/lock button, and on the left - the volume control key. At the top end there is a 3.5 mm headphone output, and at the bottom there is a microUSB output and a microphone. On the back side there is the main camera with LED flash, slots for an external speaker and the company logo.

That's actually all about appearance apparatus.

Now let's see what's under the battery cover. There you will find two slots for SIM cards and one for a card. To access one SIM slot, you need to remove the battery; to access the second, you just need to remove the back cover.

Performance and Software

Samsung Galaxy Grand is powered by a dual-core Broadcom Cortex-A9 processor with clock frequency 1.2 GHz, Broadcom VideoCore IV graphics accelerator and 1 GB of RAM. The operating room controls the smartphone Android system 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

Although the specifications are similar to the Galaxy S II Plus, the architecture is slightly different, so different test results are possible.

The Benchmark Pi single-threaded process test showed rather poor results. But this was predictable, since it lost mainly to smartphones with higher processor clock speeds.

In the Quadrant test, the gadget again beat the Galaxy S II Plus and lost only to 4-core devices. It also beats the original Galaxy S II quite a bit.

In the GLBenchmark test, our test subject couldn't beat the Mali-400MP GPU found in the original Galaxy S II, but it was still pretty close.

Finally, the SunSpider and Browsermark tests showed very good results. Our smartphone comes right after the Galaxy S III.

The pictures come out quite good. But if we compare, for example, with the Galaxy S III, the shadows are better developed, and in terms of color rendition and detail, the gadgets are almost identical.

Examples of photos:

The Grand also has a 2-megapixel front camera for video calling.

Battery

The device has at its disposal lithium ion battery capacity 2100 mAh. One battery charge, according to the manufacturer, should last for 10 hours 10 minutes battery life talk time and 440 hours of standby time.

Price

The price of Samsung Galaxy Grand on the Russian market is 17,990 rubles. Note that this smartphone is suitable for those who need a second SIM card slot, a fairly large display and a solid package software. If Dual-SIM does not play a special role, then it is better to take a closer look at the Galaxy S II, which will be an excellent alternative to a new smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Grand video review:

Samsung Grand Duos represents the Korean company among the top-class expensive DualSIM devices. The model is equipped with a dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera and a large 5-inch screen. However, its resolution is only 480x800 pixels, which is not much. Similar devices are offered in a large assortment by second-tier brands, usually for 10-12 thousand rubles. A Korean smartphone will cost more, now it costs about 15 thousand rubles. At the same time Samsung time has long been rated highly among its competitors, and additional options are offered by the proprietary TouchWiz shell.

Thus, it turns out to be a relatively expensive, but eminent solution for those who need a smartphone with two SIM cards. So far, Samsung has not tried to bring us top-level models like or with two cards, but it’s a pity, there is a demand for them. It is possible that the sales experience of this smartphone will show how great the interest in such models is and what the market capacity is.

Equipment:

• Telephone


• Battery


• Cable


• Stereo headset


• Charger

Design

Before us is another clone of the Samsung Galaxy S III, which seems to have been stretched in width. They didn’t put much effort into the appearance, the signature features are there, and that’s where all the ideas ended. The abundance of plastic did not affect the assembly, everything fits neatly, no extraneous sounds the body does not make noise if you squeeze it harder.

The case dimensions are 143 x 76 x 9.6 mm, weight 162 g. It turns out to be a fairly large smartphone; it weighs more than average, but given the diagonal of its screen this is forgivable. There is no particular point in comparing it with the Galaxy S III, it will be smaller, but next to the Note II the smartphone looks quite organic.

On the front panel there is a set of proximity sensors and a camera for video calls. The earpiece is hidden under a decorative silver mesh. Light and proximity sensors are located nearby.

There is a mechanical home button at the bottom; the presses are clear and the travel is short. By holding it down for a few seconds, you can display a list of running applications. On the side of it are additional control sensor elements that are backlit.

At the bottom there is a small microphone hole and a microUSB port.

There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack at the top end.

On the left side there is a paired volume key. It is embossed, easy to feel and pleasant to press.

On the right is a small button to turn off the device, which also functions as a screen lock.

At the back there is a camera lens protruding slightly above the surface, next to it is a flash and a speaker.

The surface of the body is flat, smooth, slippery. The sides are decorated with a silver rim. If you look closely, you will notice that the lid is double-layered; there are many small dots under the transparent plastic. This makes the lid look more interesting and not so boring.

Inside there are two slots for SIM cards, a compartment for microSD and a battery.

Screen

The 5-inch display has a resolution of 480x800 pixels. This is not much, considering that the time has now come for FullHD. The middle class is dominated by devices with HD picture quality, but here there is more than ordinary WVGA with a large diagonal. Accordingly, the image turns out grainy, which is clearly noticeable if you look closely.

The TFT matrix itself good quality, there is a capacitive sensor that detects up to 5 simultaneous touches, the sensitivity is excellent.

The screen, despite the low resolution, pleased me. There are large viewing angles, the matrix is ​​of high quality, and its behavior is very similar to IPS. There is automatic brightness adjustment, outdoor readability is unimportant, under the bright sun only the backlight at the maximum level can save you.

Platform

The smartphone has a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz, a VideoCore IV HW graphics accelerator, and 1 GB of RAM. This is the first time I have come across such a filling; I have never come across such a combination of components in Samsung smartphones before. 4 GB of internal memory is offered for storing applications, of which about 1.5 GB is used for installing software. The card slot allows you to expand the usable space up to 64 GB inclusive. The smartphone worked well with the maximum size card. As operating system Android 4.1.2 and proprietary TouchWiz shell are used.

Initially there were questions about the filling; it was not clear how it would perform. But it turned out that everything was very good. The phone works quickly, the menu does not slow down, games like Dead Trigger or GTA Vice City run fine. Apparently, the performance of the components used is quite enough for a smartphone with a WVGA screen to please the user with smooth operation.

Interface

Inside, familiar from smartphones Samsung TouchWIz. At the top there is a convenient line with shortcuts for switching between wireless connections. A total of seven desktops are offered, where widgets and application shortcuts can be added and folders created.

When the phone screen is locked, it displays the date and time, as well as service information. To unlock, you need to pull the top layer covering the desktop. If there were missed calls or SMS, they will be displayed on the screen with a separate icon on the left or right. If you pull it to the side, the corresponding item will open. The picture is set on the lock screen, the location for the clock is changed. There are several font styles to choose from, as well as three labels. quick access for the required functions. Here you can display your most needed applications.

The menu is presented in the form of 4x4 icons, and an option in the form of a vertical list is also available. If desired, you can move icons to other tables, add them to folders, thus organizing applications to your taste.

There is a function where the screen is divided into two halves, and different applications are shown there. This way you can work with two at once different programs. This option was previously shown in other Samsung devices.

Phone book

The general list shows stored contacts both in the phone memory and the SIM card, as well as data from account Google. You can choose among them by setting the ability to display subscribers only from the selected memory type. In the settings, you select your preferred method for sorting names.

By clicking the field reserved for the subscriber's picture, you can make a call, send him a message or email, and also view information about him. There are many fields provided for additional data. It includes various types telephone numbers, addresses email, means of quick communication, residential addresses and other information. From phone book you can quickly call or write an SMS to a person - you just need to swipe your finger left (call) or right (message) on the line with the subscriber’s name. By clicking on the space reserved for the subscriber's picture, you will call up a quick menu with which you can send a message, mail, or make a phone call to the selected person.

Call log

From the phone book you can access the call log, it is highlighted separate tab. There, dialed numbers from both SIM cards are sorted by date. If necessary, you can hide information from one of them.

Having selected a subscriber, look at what calls were made and how many times - such a collapsed list is much more convenient than a long string of dialed numbers of the same type. However, in the general list of calls there is a duplication of identical numbers, which overloads the log with identical data.

Dialing a number is carried out using a virtual keyboard, while entering numbers, the smartphone automatically displays on the screen contacts saved in the device’s memory with similar initial numbers in the number. Missed calls are displayed with a visual circle. When there is an incoming call, two different colored elements are shown. By pulling red, you can hang up, and by clicking on green, you can start a conversation.

In order to get around the limitation of one radio module, the smartphone offers the following scheme. Here you can enter the numbers of both cards. In this case, if there is an active conversation on one of them, it will be possible to answer the incoming call and forwarding will work. So the owner of the phone can always stay in touch. It’s convenient that each SIM card is assigned its own ringtone, so it’s easier to distinguish which one is receiving a signal. Different signals for SMS are also set.

Messages

For SMS and MMS there is shared folder, where received messages go. When sending, by adding various objects to the text, you can automatically transform it into a multimedia message. When sending a message, the phone can display the last used numbers, thereby greatly simplifying the search for the recipient. A message can be sent simultaneously to several subscribers or to a group created in the smartphone’s memory. When sending a message, just click on a separate button; each SIM card receives a special designation, so you don’t have to look for a separate item in the menu to select the desired card.

The design of the dialing menu changes and color schemes are set. When sending a message, you can choose which card you want to send it from. The SIM card used for correspondence is also marked with a special icon. This is convenient, you can immediately see from which number the message was sent or where it arrived. The keyboard is comfortable, although the buttons initially seem small and a bit apprehensive.

E-mail

To work with email, automatic setup starts mailbox. It includes entering basic information; you only need to specify a login and password. The phone perfectly understands various encodings and supports loading attachments in familiar formats. Various files from the device memory are attached to the new letter. The function of copying text and automatically checking the mailbox works (the interval is set manually). Sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Gallery

Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are displayed here. Working with files is fast, image previews are generated without significant delays. The size of the thumbnails changes; this feature came from the Galaxy Note 2, which uses exactly the same gallery.

The image opens in full screen, scaling works using multi-touch. Files can be transferred in various ways or upload to social media. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign them to a contact.

Due to the built-in support for XviD and DivX, the smartphone plays almost any video; the screen resolution is low, so there is little point in copying even 720p videos. But even Grand Duos reproduces them well, no problems arise. The video library is displayed in the form of a list with a small preview image of the film, its name and duration are also indicated. During viewing, controls may be displayed on the screen, including rewind and pause keys. A scroll bar appears, allowing you to quickly navigate through the movie being played. Using the lock key on the side of the phone, you can protect yourself from accidental presses while watching a movie.

Player

While playing music, the cover specified in the file tags is displayed on the screen; if there is none, there will be a multi-colored picture instead. Tracks can be played on repeat (song, album, all tracks) or listened to in mixed mode.

Used for navigation virtual keys(forward, backward and pause), you can also switch between songs by flipping through the file cover image. While listening, you can set your favorite song as a ringtone, contact or alarm.

The user has access to numerous equalizer settings, including manual settings, as well as a set of audio effects and a selection of music to suit your mood. The last option comes here from this year's flagship.

When the screen is locked, there is no widget to control the player. But if you pull the notification curtain down, the player control line will be displayed at the top, which contains navigation keys, information about the song being played, and cover art.

The sound quality is good, here the device can compete with a separate player, especially if you choose a higher quality alternative to the included headphones.

Radio

The receiver supports RDS and can work in background and turn off after a set time period (30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours). The function works automatic search radio stations, a menu is created where your favorite stations are added. As with the player, there is a pop-up window at the top of the screen for quick navigation between stations. While listening to the radio, you can record programs and store them in memory.

Camera

8-megapixel camera, with autofocus and flash. Shooting starts exclusively from the smartphone menu. The interface is well designed. The shutter button is located on the right, the rest of the space is reserved for the viewfinder and two small zones for service options. The shortcut menu located on the left is customizable. The most are taken there required functions for quick access. Focusing on any point on the screen is implemented; you just need to touch the desired place.

Settings:

Self-portrait.

White Balance: Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Incandescent lamps, Fluorescent lighting.

Flash.

Shooting mode: single shot, continuous, face detection, panorama, cartoon.

Shooting conditions: Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sports, Party, Beach\Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Autumn colors, Fireworks, Text, Twilight, Backlight.

Focus: auto, macro.

Timer: 2, 5, 10 seconds.

Effects: Normal, Negative, Black and White, Sepia.

Photo size: 8M (3264x2448 pixels), 5M (2560x1920 pixels), 3.2M (2048x1536 pixels), 2M (1600x1200 pixels), 0.3M (640x480 pixels).

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800.

Metering: Center-weighted, Spot metering, Matrix.

The reticle, stabilizer, hemotags, auto-contrast are turned on, and visibility on the street improves.

The video is recorded in a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 pixels; there are also more modest shooting modes.

The photo quality is very good, the smartphone will not disappoint with the results, especially in clear weather. Shooting texts is also not a problem; there is autofocus and a macro mode, so the device can also take a photo of a document or a note on a sheet of paper without difficulty.

Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style; the display of information for a whole month, a week or a specific day can be configured. You can set the alert type and tone for recorded events and meetings. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. The new record is given a name, period and location. You can specify which calendar it will be synchronized with, and you can send invitations to contacts from your address book. Watch The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repeat can be set either once or every day, only on weekdays or weekly. Specific days are also specified. The signal melody is set, you can add a vibration alert to it and text file. The period for the signal to be triggered again is set. The smartphone displays time in different time zones. There is a stopwatch. There is a timer. The voice recorder is simple and convenient; it saves recordings both in the phone memory and on a card. The recording time is set by the user, so you can take small notes that fit in an MMS. Designed as a wooden board with a sheet of paper attached, notes allow you to create notes. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation. In the latter case, more functions are available. The File Manager allows you to work with folders and the data stored in them. You can arrange them by different types, delete content. YouTube allows you to view videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. Google Talk chat installed. Browser Used for internet surfing convenient application. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, and to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages and has a log of pages viewed. You can keep several windows open at the same time. The speed of operation is high, given the large screen size, it is pleasant to use such an application to search or view information. There is a search for words on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function for changing the screen brightness directly from the browser. The font size changes, saving passwords works. In this application you can adjust the brightness level. The browser is convenient, but not the fastest, given the average hardware of the smartphone. GPS navigation Used for navigation Google Maps. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, previously added places are displayed, and transport directions are created. Connections The phone operates in the frequencies 850/900/1800/1900/2100 MHz. 3G will work with any of the cards, this is an important point, usually this option is only available for one card. A 2MP front camera is used for video calls. The device has Bluetooth 4.0, which is characterized by high data transfer speeds (of course, with A2DP support). The Wi-Fi module with b/g/n support works great. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices in wireless mode. Wi-FI Direct supported. The microUSB connector, which has become a standard, allows data transfer via USB 2.0. Opening hours The 2100 mAh lithium-ion battery is replaceable and is under back cover. In video playback mode at maximum screen brightness and Wi-Fi turned on, the smartphone lasted 6 hours. On average, it turns out to be about one day of work with the Internet, photos, music and calls, the charge lasts from morning to evening. With low-intensity use, it can take two days; if there is a lot of Internet, the charge will last for half a day. MicroUSB charging is supported when connected to a PC. Conclusion The speaker for conversations is loud and of high quality, with a good sound reserve. The vibration alert is average in strength. The melody plays loudly, the call can be heard very well. Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos went on sale at a price of about 18,000 rubles, then it was adjusted to 15,000 rubles. It is currently one of the most expensive dual-SIM smartphones on the market. It has a large screen, but modest resolution. The phone has good hardware, which will appeal to both those who like to play and those who simply don’t like sluggishness. Shell with a large set additional options, this is more interesting than “bare” Android, which most cheaper solutions offer. You can also note a good music player, a convenient multi-format video player, and a very decent camera. It should be noted that there is a well-thought-out menu for working with both SIM cards; it is convenient, simple and understandable. What I didn’t really like was the boring design and low screen resolution. Although if there were HD quality here, most likely the model would not work so quickly and smoothly. Thus, Samsung offers its solution for those who want a pair of SIM cards, as well as high-quality multimedia content. Models of a simpler level are offered by Lenovo, Fly, Alcatel, Philips and many others. But you won’t be able to get such a well-developed menu and media options in these smartphones. I think that if the screen resolution is not very critical, then taking into account all the above qualities, the model will turn out to be a very interesting offer on the market. If Samsung decides to lower the price further, competitors will have a hard time. The name of the brand means a lot, and the model itself turned out to be a good option in terms of its set of capabilities, which buyers will certainly appreciate. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory Article publication date: April 19, 2013