We are often privy to the public launches of Samsung’s high-end devices, such as the Galaxy S, Galaxy Note smartphones and tablets, as well as the company’s Gear smartwatches and Fit fitness bands. While Samsung is known for these devices, the company has an onslaught of lower-end devices and a level of mid-end devices that appeal to those looking for the best experience at a more affordable price.
The Galaxy Grand Neo Plus has been available since the end of January 2015 in Spain, Italy, and a few other countries, but it has now arrived in India and is available for sale.
The Galaxy Grand Neo Plus doesn’t have the “plus”-sized specs you would expect for the handset, but it’s a “plus” in a different way: for those who want a more budget-friendly handset (in other words, the “plus” is found in the extra money you save as opposed to the price of the Galaxy Grand Neo). You’re looking at a slightly smaller display here (5 inches as opposed to 5.01, but not enough to notice), with the same 800 x 480p screen resolution and thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD screen. 1GB of random access memory (RAM) returns in the Grand Neo Plus, but you’ll only get 8GB of storage locally as opposed to the 16GB of storage on the Grand Neo (keep in mind the price is smaller, too). The 1.2Ghz processor returns, but it’s not uncommon for a budget-friendly device to see the same processor in two or more models.
The 5MP back camera returns to the Neo Plus, but you’re getting a better front camera (2MP vs. the 0.3MP of the Grand Neo) than the Neo offers. The 64GB microSD card slot will expand your storage capabilities, so you may not worry about storage at all. Keep in mind, too, that the OS will occupy some of the 8GB of local storage; this means that you won’t have all 8GB of storage available to you out of the box.
The battery will remain at 2,100mAh in the Neo Plus, but Samsung’s new Ultra Power Saving Mode (UPSM) is now part of the deal. While this budget handset doesn’t have the most impressive specs in the world, the UPSM feature is impressive and will serve you well. Users can utilize the UPSM feature at night around bedtime, while using their Neo Plus smartphone during the day. The feature has been designed to use it for cross-territory traveling, and long road trips, for example – but who says it can’t be used for disabling features at night to have battery for the next morning?
The Samsung India e-store has the device available for Rs. 9,990 (~$157USD) as opposed to the Rs. 10,389 (~$164USD) price tag for the Grand Neo, and comes in three colors: black, white, and gold. The savings aren’t much, perhaps, but the battery-saving mode is a huge “plus” in our opinion for a budget handset.
