With all the talk surrounding some of the most popular smart phones in the world today like the Apple iPhone 5S & 5C, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the Sony Xperia Z1, etc. little or no attention is being given to some of the cheaper smart phones in the market today. But, in this comparison, I am going to compare two smart phones which are pretty decent mid level phones, the HTC 8XT and the Samsung Galaxy Grand. Will the HTC 8XT be able to compete with the far more popular Samsung Galaxy Grand? Read on to find out...

Phone HTC 8XT Samsung Galaxy Grand
Image The HTC 8XT vs the Samsung Galaxy Grand-htc-8xt.png The HTC 8XT vs the Samsung Galaxy Grand-samsung_galaxy_grand.jpg
Operating System Windows Phone 8 Android 4.2.2 (JellyBean)
Processor Dual Core, 1400 MHz, Krait 200 Dual Core, 1200 MHz
System Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930 Broadcom VideoCore IV
System Memory 1 GB 1 GB
Graphics Processor Adreno 305 Yes
Display 4.3” WVGA Screen 5.0” TFT Screen
Screen Resolution 800 x 480 pixels 800 x 480 pixels
Pixel Density 217 ppi 187 ppi
Storage 8 GB User Memory + expandable memory microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC (up to 64 GB) 8 GB User Memory + expandable memory microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC (up to 64 GB)
Primary Camera 8 MP 8 MP
Flash LED LED
Secondary Camera 1.6 MP 2.0 MP
WiFi WiFi 802.11 a / b / g / n WiFi 802.11 b / g / n
Bluetooth 3.0 4.0
Battery 1,800 mAh 2,100 mAh
Weight 140 g 162 g
Dimensions 132 x 66 x 10 mm 143.5 x 76.9 x 9.6 mm
Announced 26th June 2013 18th December 2012


Size and weight

The Galaxy Grand has a 0.7” larger display and that is why it measures 143.5 x 76.9 x 9.6 mm while the HTC 8XT measures 132 x 66 x 10 mm. Now, I can forgive the Galaxy Grand for being longer and wider, but why does the HTC 8XT have to be thicker? I have no idea. But, what it lacks in thickness, it makes up for in weight. The HTC 8XT weighs 140 g while the Galaxy Grand weighs a whopping 162 g. If I didn’t know any better, I would say, Samsung, known for their light phones, was trying to emulate the Nokia Lumia series by making such a heavy smart phone.

I don’t think this is the perfect point to split between both smart phones. Let’s call it a draw.

(HTC 8XT - Zero / Samsung Galaxy Grand - Zero)


Display

As I mentioned above, the Galaxy Grand has a much larger 5.0” TFT touch screen. But what is even more disappointing than Samsung using TFT technology instead of AMOLED is HTC using a WVGA display on one of its smart phones. I mean, aren’t we supposed to be progressing? But, the HTC 8XT, even with its WVGA display, manages to have a higher pixel density than the Galaxy Grand at 217 ppi to the Galaxy Grand’s 187 ppi.

Again, it would be downright impossible to choose a winner from between both these smart phones and this point too is going to be a draw.

(HTC 8XT - Zero / Samsung Galaxy Grand - Zero)


Memory & Storage

When it comes to memory and storage, it’s like you are looking at exactly the same smart phone. Both come with 1 GB of RAM which is quite decent for a mid level smart phone. Both also come with 8 GB of internal storage which is more than enough considering both have, wait for it, 64 GB of expandable storage capabilities as well. Can you pick a winner between two smart phones that are exactly the same? I think not.

This one’s a draw as well.

(HTC 8XT - Zero / Samsung Galaxy Grand - Zero)


Camera

You would think there would be some difference between both smart phones as far as the camera was concerned but you would be wrong again. Both smart phones come with 8 MP cameras on the back and a LED flash as well. Both accommodate full HD video recording and while the HTC 8XT has a 1.6 MP front camera the Galaxy Grand has a 2 MP front camera. Going through this comparison, apart from the minor modification here and there, it looks like the developers at HTC and Samsung exchanged notes while developing both these smart phones.

This is the fourth draw in a row.

(HTC 8XT - Zero / Samsung Galaxy Grand - Zero)


OS & Performance

Finally, some respite, although I don’t know how much. While the HTC 8XT runs on Windows Phone 8, the Galaxy Grand runs on Android 4.1.2. Maybe I could start writing about the difference between both OS’s. There are certainly more than the difference between both smart phones. The Galaxy Grand comes with a Broadcom VideoCore IV chip and dual core, 1200 MHz processor while the HTC 8XT comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930 chip and dual core, 1400 MHz, Krait 200 processor. I don’t really know which graphics processor is on the Galaxy Grand (something from Broadcom I presume) while the HTC 8XT has an Adreno 305 processor. The only way to determine which of the two is the better smart phone is to use both simultaneously. Guess what? Apart from the minor lag here and there, both smart phones operate pretty much the same.

I can’t believe this, five points down and still no score. Another draw.

(HTC 8XT - Zero / Samsung Galaxy Grand - Zero)


Battery

Finally, something to compare. The Galaxy Grand comes with a 2,100 mAh battery that promises a standby time of 18.3 days. The HTC 8XT comes with a 1,800 mAh battery and there isn’t any information available regarding its standby time. How do you compare two smart phones that are almost the same?

I feel really bad for doing this, but this point will go to the Galaxy Grand because it has a larger battery.

(HTC 8XT - Zero / Samsung Galaxy Grand - One)


Price

You can pick up the Galaxy Grand (Free of contract) for around $ 320 nowadays and if I had compared both these smart phones in July, this point would probably be a draw as well. But right now, HSN is offering the HTC 8XT for an unbelievably low price of $ 220. That just makes the HTC 8XT a lot more appealing.

This point goes to the HTC 8XT for being $ 100 cheaper.

(HTC 8XT - One / Samsung Galaxy Grand - One)


Conclusion

The final score reads 1 all although I was really worried that this comparison was going to end at zero points each. Still, it did end in a draw with both smart phones being quite similar as far as size, weight, display, memory, storage, camera and performance is concerned. I gave the battery point to the Samsung Galaxy Grand just because it has a larger battery. It might not necessarily be better. And the HTC 8XT is priced so low that you would be a fool to go for any mid level smart phone right now. I mean, you’re getting a smart phone with Beats Audio, why would you go for the boring Samsung Galaxy Grand instead?


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