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Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime review

5.2/10 AVG.
RATING
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Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
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5.2/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime currently has an Informr score of 5.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 21 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • All-day battery life
  • microSD support
  • NFC
  • Voice quality

What's bad

  • Camera lacks detail and light compensation
  • Limited internal storage
  • Plastic chassis offers questionable durability
  • Screen hard to see in direct sunlight

With a name like the Galaxy Grand Prime, you might expect a lot of crazy features. However, the phone is one of Samsung’s entry level phones. With all the competition in the low end market, does this handset have what it takes to keep up?

Let’s see what the reviews are saying!

The curved edges, metallic accents and physical home button give the phone that premium Samsung appearance, reviews indicate that the plastic shell feels decidedly budget. NotebookCheck said, “The Grand Prime feels comfortable thanks to its rounded edges and the size is convenient as well.” Just don’t expect the phone to take too many drops or dings.

Coming around front, there’s a spacious 5-inch display. Unfortunately, to cut costs, Samsung went with a TFT display running at 960-by-540 pixels. If you’re hoping for that punch AMOLED experience, you’ll be disappointed. CNet noted, “Its comparatively low pixel density won't ruin basic text reading and social networking on the Galaxy Grand Prime, but it does render the screen especially dim in bright sunlight and makes fingerprint smudges harder to ignore.”

Powered by a 1.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, reviews show that the phone handles basic web browsing, social media and daily task with minimal delays. While it might take time for the app to load, once it does you shouldn’t have too many issues. CNet put the phone through their benchmark testing and said, “Considering its hardware limitations, the Galaxy Grand Prime is a good little performer. It booted up in about 20 seconds and felt responsive throughout.” If you’re looking for a gaming phone, this one lacks the power to keep up with newer titles.

If you plan to use more than a few apps, you’ll likely need a microSD card. While the phone comes with 8GB of internal storage, reviews show that closer to 4GB is available to users. Fortunately, the ability to use cards up to 128GB in capacity makes fixing this easy. The phone runs Android 4.4.4, so moving some apps to your external card is possible.

One area where the phone did well was battery life. The 2600mAh battery made it through the day for most reviewers. PhoneScoop said, “I found the phone lasted from breakfast to bedtime consistently, though it was often at 15% around 11PM.” Should you need more battery life, the battery is removable for quick swapping.

As with most of the other sections, the camera performance was average. The 8MP rear camera offers auto-focus for faster, clearer shots but many reviews noted that performance in all but the best of lighting was so-so. NotebookCheck said, “All in all it takes decent pictures: The colors are good and even larger colored areas appear uniform, but a closer look reveals some slightly pixelated edges.”

One bonus to the phone is the inclusion of NFC--a feature hard to find in this price tier. Unfortunately, you won’t find a fingerprint scanner so most mobile payment options are still not an option.

Overall, reviews were positive with the assumption you’re looking for a budget device. The phoen appears to perform comparably to similar priced phones of the same age. PhoneScoop summed up the phone well, saying, “The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime is perhaps not so grand as its name, but is still a good deal for price-sensitive shoppers.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2600 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


PhoneArena
PhoneArena

The common stigma with entry-level phones is that they never seem to get any love. To a certain degree, that continues to be the case, but as we’ve seen this year, several low to mid-end smartphones have proven themselves to be attractive options thanks to their strong performances. Unfortunat...

- John V., PhoneArena
Digital Versus
Digital Versus

The Samsung Galaxy Prime isn't bad by any means, but its results are pretty average across the board. It'll be perfect for anyone looking for a decent smartphone with good battery life, provided you aren't too bothered about screen resolution. One of the best things about this phone is its value for...

- Rémi Jacquet, Digital Versus
Phone Scoop
Phone Scoop

Bargain seekers who prefer prepaid services to signing contracts would do well to pick up the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime.

- Eric M. Zeman, Phone Scoop
Cnet
Cnet

Feature-rich cameras and an attractive build help push Cricket's prepaid Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime past other budget rivals that also cost under $200.

- Jessica Dolcourt, Cnet
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime is a solid smartphone in all sections, and the small drawbacks are more noticeable in comparison with the rivals than in practice.

- Florian Wimmer, Notebookcheck


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy Grand Prime with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy Grand Prime has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime's screen size is 5 inches with 540 x 960 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.2 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex-A7 Quad core 1.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
8 GB

Internal memory is 8 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2600mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2600 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1020 minutes, 720 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy Grand Prime Specs

Overview
Release Date October 1, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System Android 4.4 KitKat

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex-A7 Quad core 1.2 GHz
Internal Storage 8 GB
RAM 1 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.461 W/kg
Body: 1.207 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 64 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance, HDR, Exposure value, Metering
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 540 x 960 pixels
Pixel Density 220 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2600 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 600 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 720 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1020 minutes
Standby Time Up to 18 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Gray
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.5 x 7.2 x 0.9 cm (5.7 x 2.8 x 0.4 in)
Weight 156 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-G530H
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime
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