Android has gotten really big, and so have the phones that run it, and Samsung has added another big-screen phone to the Galaxy lineup: the Galaxy Grand Duos with dual-SIM functionality. This phone was announced just a day after the Micromax Canvas HD was announced and both phones will be available in early February. The Galaxy Grand comes with Samsung’s innovative features like S Voice, Smart Stay, Popup Video and Multi-Window.

To show:

The Galaxy Grand comes with a 5.1-inch WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels) capacitive touch screen that is protected by a scratch-resistant surface. The screen is low resolution for the size, but Samsung has made up for it with other extra features on the phone.

Processor:

Powered by a 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor and a dedicated graphics processor, the Galaxy Grand will make sure you never run out of performance. This processor, coupled with 1GB RAM, will ensure lag-free gaming and multitasking.

Operating system and software features:

The Galaxy Grand comes preloaded with Android Jellybean 4.1 out of the box with Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz user interface. Innovative features introduced in the coveted Galaxy SIII and Galaxy Note II have made their way into the Galaxy Grand:

• The highly accurate and successful voice assistant S Voice

• Direct call: Call the contact from whom you received a text message when the phone is held to your ear.

• Smart Alert – Notifies you of missed events

• Pop-up video: displays the video in a floating window and allows the user to perform other tasks at the same time

• AllShare Play: share and play content across multiple smart devices

• Multi window: use two apps at the same time arranged on top of each other

An Android phone is only as good as the software it runs on, and Samsung has maintained a brilliant track record of releasing updates. Also, with the huge lineup of custom ROMs for Samsung phones, power users can also look forward to some very exciting things for this phone.

Camera:

Equipped with an 8 MP autofocus main camera and a 2 MP HD front camera, the Galaxy Grand will please any avid photographer. Samsung claims that the camera will have zero shutter lag and ultra-fast startup and includes an illumination sensor on the rear that ensures sharp shots and HD videos even in dark conditions. Considering the quality of the camera offered by Samsung in its previous phones, the quality can be expected to live up to expectations in the Galaxy Grand as well.

Connectivity and battery:

The Galaxy Grand features dual SIM functionality with a clever auto-forwarding feature that forwards the incoming call on the waiting SIM to the primary SIM, giving the user the option to take the call or not. It also includes the Bluetooth 4.0 module that will allow users to share a 1 GB file with compatible devices in less than three minutes. The phone is 3G and Wi-Fi enabled with the ability to create Wi-Fi hotspots. Samsung has powered the Galaxy Grand with a 2100 mAh lithium-ion battery, quite similar to the one that powers the Galaxy SIII, ensuring very good battery backup.

The Galaxy Grand is certainly priced higher than the rival Micromax Canvas HD, but it offers a lot more usability features and regular software updates/support from Samsung and independent developers. The TouchWiz UI has received mixed reviews, but that’s what makes Samsung Galaxy phones stand out from the crowd.