- Analysis by KJ David
Although it features a few upgrades over the original Grand 5.5 HD , the 2017 BLU Grand 5.5 HD II is still nailed to the budget-class Android market, at least that's what we learned after reviewing its not-so-grand assortment of pros and cons.
What disturbed us the most is its despicable lack of a 4G LTE network adapter , which was already a commonplace pro around the time of its release, even in the entry-level space. Additionally, it does not offer much in terms of hardware, running on a starter-class 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek 6580 processor alongside a mediocre 1GB-only RAM . Its 5.5-inch display suffers from a couple of cons as well, in particular, its HD 1280 x 720 resolution (We've come to expect no less than Full HD 1080p on 5.5-inch screens) and consequent 267ppi pixel density score .
Leaving its negative specs, the Grand 5.5 HD II lines up with a lot of other budget-tier 2017 Androids with its 13-megapixel FHD-video-recording (1080p) primary camera and 8-megapixel LED-flash-equipped selfie cam . It also has what BLU calls a Snapshot Touch Button sitting right under its rear camera, which users can use to quick-launch the camera through a quick double-tap -- although some tech-savvier buyers may get disappointed that it looks like a fingerprint scanner, but is really not. Moreover, it rocks dual front-facing speakers , a facet that we would not normally expect out of smartphones with paltry 1GB RAMs.
Versus its predecessor, which has a 2500mAh battery, the Grand 5.5 HD II comes off ahead (if only slightly), with a 2800mAh cell in tow , although it could have been bumped up to a full 3000mAh in our opinion. It also has twice the previous model's memory, this time standing at 16GB , but it sadly still only supports only up to 64GB of external storage -- a rather familiar drawback among unlocked low-budget BLU Androids . Rounding out its pros and cons is an aluminum housing , the Android 7.0 Nougat ecosystem, and a dual micro SIM card slots.
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In essence, the BLU Grand 5.5 HD II is a budget-tier smartphone that caters to users who are wiling to trade off processing power and 4G connectivity for decent imaging and audio capabilities.
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