Nokia Lumia 1320 vs Samsung Galaxy Grand 2: Specs showdown

Nokia has finally taken to some aggressive pricing with its latest launches – Lumia 1320 and Lumia 525. Priced at Rs 23,999, the Lumia 1320 will be competing in the mid-range segment, where the competition is getting fiercer by the month, especially with the Moto G expected to launch soon. The Lumia 1320 will a face tough contender in the form of the recently-launched Samsung Galaxy Grand 2, which is in the same price range and has a suitably large display as well. Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 already has quite a few rivals to beat, so it’s not just the Lumia 1320 it’s up against. Here’s a specs showdown to see who emerges as a winner, at least on paper.

Nokia Lumia 1320

Nokia Lumia 1320 with a large 6-inch display

The Lumia 1320 is the latest mid-range device to enter the Indian market. Priced at Rs 23,999, the Lumia 1320 is sure looking like a great proposition for those looking at a large screen Windows Phone device. It sports a 6-inch display with 720p resolution, with a pixel density of around 245ppi, which is great for a device in this price range. The device runs Windows Phone 8 with the Nokia Black update. along with the GDR3-enabled third Live Tile on the Start Screen.

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It is powered by the older 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM. It comes with a pretty basic 5-megapixel camera and VGA front-facing camera. The 3400mAh battery on the device promises to deliver up to 672 hours of standby time and up to 25 hours of talk time. The battery is looking like one of the strongest points in this phone. Connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS and GLONASS. The device is available with 8GB onboard storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD card slot. Microsoft also includes 7GB Skydrive space for a year.

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2

Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 showing off its 5.25-inch display

Coming from a Tier-I company, the Grand 2 is well priced for the specifications it offers. Moreover, it has just heated up the competition in the mid-range segment with much improved internals over the first-gen Grand. The company has tried to rectify some major flaws seen in the predecessor. The smartphone sports a 5.25-inch display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, and pixel density of up to 280 ppi. The internals have also been beefed up as the Galaxy Grand 2 is powered by a Qualcomm chipset (most likely the Snapdragon 400) with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz and there’s a healthy 1.5GB of RAM on board. It runs on Android 4.3, and there is no word on whether it will get Android KitKat. On the connectivity front, it gets 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS and GLONAAS. It comes equipped with an 8-megapixel shooter and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. The company has launched an 8GB model of the device which will be priced between Rs 22,990 and Rs 24,990, which can be further expanded upto 64GB via microSD card slot. Check out our first impressions and specifications review of the Galaxy Grand 2.

Take a look at the comparison table below:

| Qualcomm Snapdragon, quad-core at 1.2GHz | | RAM | 1GB | 1.5GB | | OS version out of the box | Windows Phone 8 Black | Android 4.3 | | On-Board Memory | 8GB | 8GB | | Memory card Support | Yes, up to 64GB | Yes, up to 64GB | | Battery | 3,400mAh | 2,600mAh | |   |   |   | | GPS | A-GPS and GLONASS | A-GPS and  GLONASS | | Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n | | Bluetooth | v4.0 | v4.0 | |   |   |   | | Primary Camera | 5MP sensor | 8MP sensor | | Secondary Camera | VGA | 1.9MP sensor | | Flash | LED | LED | |   |   |   | |   Pricing (In Rupees) | Rs 23,999 | Rs 22,990 to Rs 24,990 |

Verdict
Both Lumia 1320 and Grand 2 feature 720p screens, but the Grand 2 has a small display, leading to higher pixel density. On the other hand, Nokia employs a much better IPS panel compared to the TFT used in the Grand 2.

The Lumia 1320 is 70 g bulkier compared to the Grand 2 owing to its larger display and overall size, which could get in the way of usability. Both phones are more than well-equipped to handle their OS. The Grand 2 has a quad-core Snapdragon 400 clocked at 1.2GHz and coupled with 1.5GB RAM. It could have an upper hand on the dual-core Lumia 1320, when it comes to the processing speed, though comparing Android performance to Windows Phone is quite unfair. 

The Grand 2 also gets a higher 8MP camera, but the Nokia Lumia 1320 will benefit from the many camera apps developed by Nokia. Where the Lumia 1320 has a clear advantage is the battery department, where it has a bigger pack and runs Windows Phone, which is known to be easier on the battery. On the storage and connectivity front, both devices stay on level ground. On paper, the Grand 2 appears to be better positioned, but Nokia has managed to price the Lumia 1320 well and the larger display size could have a positive effect on sales.