Huawei

Huawei GR3: Pros and Cons

Android OS v5.1 (Lollipop)
Mediatek MT6753T
Mali-T720 MP3
2 GB / 16 GB
5 inch (720 x 1280 px)
13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus

Huawei announced the launch of the GR3 smartphone in 2016. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 5 inch IPS display, Mediatek MT6753T SoC, and 2 GB of RAM. It comes with Android OS v5.1 (Lollipop) out of the box, and a Li-Po 2200 mAh, non-removable battery. The IPS display panel has good color accuracy. It can display a wide range of colors, this makes visuals look more lifelike and vivid This smartphone has a single camera on the back (13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus). Is this phone worth its price? Hopefully, it will become clear by the end of my review.

Table of Contents

This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the Huawei GR3 smartphone. We hope to offer helpful insights to others interested in this device. The specifications below are from the official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you've seen any mistakes or things missing in these specifications, please let us know.

Huawei GR3 / 1

Huawei GR3 specifications

BrandHuawei
NameGR3
ModelL21
Release date2016

Weight, dimensions, colors

Weight4.76 oz
Dimensions5.65 x 2.8 x 0.3 inch
Colorsgold, gray, silver
SIM typeNano SIM, Micro SIM

The weight of Huawei GR3 is about 4.76 oz with battery. This is average for smartphones of the same size. Smartphones use a Nano SIM as a small chipcard for a subscriber identity module (SIM). A micro SIM is a smaller version of the standard SIM card used in mobile devices.

Huawei GR3 / 1

System, chipset, performance

OS versionAndroid OS v5.1 (Lollipop)
SoCMediatek MT6753T
CPUOcta-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53
GPUMali-T720 MP3

The Huawei GR3 comes with Android OS v5.1 (Lollipop) out of the box. Google has integrated many services with Android. These include Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Drive. It's a powerful Mediatek MT6753T octa-core processor. It can handle complex tasks and run many applications. Many mobile devices use ARM Mali GPUs. They are well known for their good performance and power efficiency.

Huawei GR3 / 2

Display type, size, resolution

Display typeIPS
Screen size5 inch
Resolution720 x 1280 px
Multitouch supportyes

The 5 inch IPS display has better features. These include optimal viewing angles, color accuracy, and unchanging color reproduction. The 5 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner.

Huawei GR3 / 3

Memory, storage

RAM2 GB
Internal storage16 GB
Memory card slotmicroSD

The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM. It can run many apps at once without much lag or slowness. Having more RAM alone does not guarantee better performance. Most people think a smartphone needs at least 32 GB of storage. The GR3 has only 16 GB. You can expand the internal storage (16 GB) with a compatible microSD card.

Cameras, flash

Main camera13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus
FlashLED
Selfie camera5 MP

The single camera can be enough for many smartphone users. It depends on their photography needs and preferences. The GR3 does not have optical image stabilization (OIS).

Connectivity, network, wireless

GSM 2G bands850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Network coverage2G / 3G / 4G
Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetoothv4.0, A2DP
GPSA-GPS, GLONASS
NFCno
FM radioyes
USBmicroUSB 2.0
Headphone3.5 mm jack

The Huawei GR3 supports 4G/LTE networks. This phone like all modern smartphones, is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi networks. The GR3 smartphone is capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices. This phone has a built-in GPS. The phone isn't NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. NFC is not essential for basic phone functionality, but it can be useful. The 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.

Battery type, capacity, charger

TypeLi-Po 2200 mAh, non-removable

The Li-Po 2200 mAh, non-removable battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The lithium polymer (Li-Po) battery is a light-weight, rechargeable battery. The battery of GR3 isn't removable without voiding the warranty.

Features, sensors, specials

Sensorsaccelerometer, light, proximity
SpecialsDual SIM

Today, smartphones come with many sensors. They help make the user experience better. The accelerometer provides information about the smartphone's movement in three axes. These are X (horizontal), Y (vertical), and Z (depth). The light sensor detects the level of light in the environment. Dual SIM is great for businesses. They want to give staff a device with separate numbers and bills for personal and business use.

Verdict, pros and cons

Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and this Huawei phone is no exception. As with any device, there are aspects that shine and others that fall short. By examining both sides, we can paint a complete picture of what this phone has to offer. Let's explore its standout features and areas for improvement. Remember, this is just my opinion, and yours might be different.

Pros

  • microSD slot
  • Dual SIM support

Cons

  • limited-size screen
  • insufficient internal storage
  • single camera setup
  • no OIS function
  • no 5G support
  • no NFC feature
  • no Type-C USB port
  • low-capacity battery
  • no digital compass
  • no fingerprint reader
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Lucas Bradley I'm Lucas Bradley, the founder of the Phone42.com site. I love technology, especially smartphones, and I've been working with tech stuff for more than 20 years. This means I've seen a lot of changes and have learned a bunch about what makes a good phone. On Phone42.com, I look at all kinds of phones. They can be from big, well-known companies or new ones trying to make their mark. I want to help people understand what's new and cool in the world of smartphones, in a way that's easy to get.
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