ZTE Grand S vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 2

We compare ZTE’s newly announced Grand S with the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy Note 2

ZTE today unveiled its Grand S, a device which will (when it’s released) hold the title of the world’s thinnest smartphone. It’s a device which looks to be brimming with promise, and to get an idea of quite what we’re dealing with we’ve decided to pit it against Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2, another top-tier, large screened device.

 

Internals & Features

Both of these devices come running Google’s Android OS, with the Galaxy Note 2 running Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, with a Jelly Bean update available, and the Grand S rocking Jelly Bean from the get-go.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 is a highly powered device which runs on an Exynos 4412 Quad chipset consisting of a quad-core 1.6GHz processor and Mali-400MP GPU.
The device also features 2GB RAM, comes in 16, 32 and 64GB flavours and supports micro SD cards, and, tellingly, the beast also has a 3100mAh cell too!
Camera-wise the Note 2’s pretty well covered, with an 8-megapixel primary shooter capable of some impressive stills (and 1080P video capture) and the 1.9-megpixel secondary performs soundly too.
The ZTE Grand S is a monster of a device, and one of the few which can boast that it has more muscle than Samsung’s phablet. The device is powered by a Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset made up of a ‘Krait’ processor clocked to 1.7GHz, and an Adreno 320 GPU, both of which have proved their worth consistently.
The device also boasts 2GB RAM and 16GB of on-board storage, support for micro SD cards, LTE antennae and a 2500mAh cell.
In addition users will find the device equipped with a13-megapixel primary camera capable of 1080P video capture, and a 2-megapixel secondary camera.
Winner – ZTE Grand S

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a fantastic 5.5-inch Super AMOLED screen which operates at a resolution of 720 x 1280 and features a pixel density of 267PPI.
Visually the Galaxy Note 2 excels. Images are sharp, colours are rich and blacks are deep.
The display is also fronted with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2, for protection from knocks.
The ZTE Grand S boasts a 5-inch FHD display which operates at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and belts out an incredible 440PPI – so users can expect some seriously sharp visuals from this device.
Winner – ZTE Grand S

At just 6.9mm the ZTE Grand S is, as we previously mentioned, a shoo in for the world’s slimmest smartphone. On top of those credentials the device has a pleasant, minimal design but nothing really special leaps to the fore.
Build-wise we expect the device to meet up with ZTE’s previous standards and be well assembled but, again, unremarkable.
The Galaxy Note 2 is, well, something of a monster, owing to its large battery and big screen, so don’t expect it to sit well in the average jacket pocket.
Previously a device carrying all that the Note 2 does and measuring only 9.3mm thick would have been impressive, but today, in the presence of the Grand S, it appears bulky.
The device looks pleasant enough though, in spite of its size, and the all plastic construction gives it a far less oppressive weight than one might have expected.
Winner – ZTE Grand S

And the winner is…

ZTE Grand S
With tons of power, a gorgeous screen and a supermodel like body, the new kid on the block takes this one hands-down.
The Galaxy Note 2 is still one of Samsung’s finest devices, but when compared to newbies like the Grand S, it pales in comparison.