Root ZTE Grand S2 (S251)

Root ZTE Grand S2 (S251)
This is easiest way to root ZTE grand S2 (S251) Indian version.

1) Get Towelroot apk from towelroot by geohot (Click on lambada sign to download)

2) Install towelroot apk,
-you may have to rename if downloaded file is tr.txt to tr.apk for some reason when downloading on this phone tr.apk got downloaded as tr.txt.
-you will have to disable security to allow install for unknown sources.
-you will have to override Google warning about malicious software.

3) install supersu or superuser from google play store and you are done.

Note:: restart your phone even though it is not required somewhere along when you are installing supersu your phone screen hangs and goes blank. you have to hold power button to force shutdown and wait some time before turning it back on. this happened to me twice. So don't panic if this happens. It will happen only once.

Some recommended root apps, that make rooting worth while..

1) AdAway v2.9.2 - XDA-Developers this modifies your etc/host file to add local loopback to advertisement urls. this diables ads in some apps and save bandwidth (since in india 3G data is expensive and very limited in packs) this helps though bad for devlopers this may save some bucks in data usage.

2) helium from play store - though this works without root but is so much simpler with root.

3) System app remover (ROOT) this is useful for getting rid of some bloatware and taking backup of apps before uninstalling.

4) ES file explorer can be used as root file explorer with rooted phone

5) Clean master also enables some advanced features like phone boost when rooted.

6) Device control / No frills CPU control for some advanced tweakings

7) Terminal for running commands with su access.

ZTE Grand S2 (S251) Screenguard hack.

Screen-guard for ZTE Grand S2 (S251) Indian version.

Presently on 5 Feb 2015 no pre-cut screen guard was available for this phone.
here are 3 simple hacks you can use for the time being until screen-guard is available.

1) use the one which comes pre-installed. 
Instead of being quick to peel of the lamination on the screen use it until you can get a decent replacement. The lamination is covered with some printed stuff from ZTE.

To erase the printed stuff best is nail polish remover.
process: take a little nail polish remover on cotton. (little means just a little bit) use light handed strokes to clean the printing and clean the remaining with dry tissue paper.

2) buy a cheap good quality screen-guard for bigger phones
6 inch ones like Xperia Z ultra , Note 3, I bought AMZER screen guard for LG-Gflex. for 49 bucks from flipkart, other sites like snapdeal, shopclues etc always have some sale going on. take out lamination and stick it on bigger screen-guard. draw outline with a CD-marker of size and cut away excess using sharp-scissors.

Note: You will be tempted to use blade for cutting the screen-guard. but telling you from experience use Scissors , Very sharp one, preferably new ones. trick here is not to destroy the edge else screen-guard will never stick properly. 

Note: if you cannot stick screen-guard in one go. use tape to lift from edge. if some dust particles are stuck between screen-guard and screen use tape again to pick it up. this takes patience and you will be able to install a perfect screen guard with no dust or bubbles.

3) Redmi Note screen guard is closest to ZTE grand S2 which need a very small trimming at edges and over sensor. use redmi note screen guard generally sold for 99 at Flipkart, MRP 179 and I picked 2 in deal of the day for 49 each.

Tip:: use another cheap screen guard for back too. else aluminium finish picks up scratches pretty easily especially if you kept key in the same pocket by mistake. 

Buying Budget Mobile ZTE Grand S2 (S251) Indian Version

I was looking to buy a sub Rs 10,000 mobile, there were many choices presently in Indian market, with strings attached of course.

Requirements:
1) 5" screen or higher
2) main use media consumption and some small games nothing fancy.
3) should be able to root.
4) SD card support of 64gb card

Sub 10 K choices:
=============
1) Redmi Note 3G/4G
2) Yu Yureka
3) ZTE Grand S2 (Sub 10K for 3 days only 24-26th Jan 2015)

1) Redmi Note 

- Cumbersome purchase process
- Snapdragon 400 for 4G is not exactly high performance,
- MTK Chipset was banned for sale in India

+ Excellent Screen Quality
+ High Capacity Battery
+ Availability of accesories
+ Excellent built quality
+ good enough camera

2) Yu Yureka

- After 2 frustrating week of trying to purchase from amazon, I gave up. process is absolutely frustrating and not smooth like flipkart flash sale.

- 64 bit chipset. Android at 64 bit is relatively new and full of bugs, it will iron out in time, but waiting for cyanogen mod to release fixes, makes the experience of this phone pretty bad. (src Amazon customer reviews of Yu Yureka handset)

- I am not sure if 2GB ram is enough of 64 bit , for windows thumb rule is 2gb windows 32, 4gb windows 64 bit considering that its phone OS but still if memory allocations are 64 bit instead of 32 bit won't it use up most of 2GB RAM ? I am yet to use a 64 bit phone so I wish to see its idle memory usage first before plunging into 64 bit/2GB platform.

-none of my friends got this after trying it for 4 weeks now(05, feb2015). This shows how screwed up wastage of time trying to purchase this phone is.

+ high specs on paper
+ CyanogenMod

3) ZTE Grand S2

-not exactly under 10K ( was for 3 days only for republic day sale 3,000 lightening deal discount and 10% discount from HDFC Card) I got this on 24th Jan 2015 for Rs-9,900

-Jellybean 4.2 (no chance of upgrade ever-since this phone is different from that of Chinese market S291 Indian version is S251) so I am not hopeful about development of OS from modaco.com or xdadevlopers.com

- no accessory available (no cases and no screen-guards) whatever is available is for S291 and not for S251

+ GSM, CDMA, UMTS, 3G (dual band - 2.4/5 GHz wifi)
+ Excellent built quality (premium aluminum finish)
+ snapdragon 800 / 2GB /16MB/expandable SD-Card
+ very light phone
+ ZTE UI (some cool shortcuts)
+ NO Fussy sale process, just login to amazon and buy, No invites and no flash sales = frustration free buying experience

will be updating on my experience with ZTE Grand S2 (S251) later on. but this phone at Rs 9900/- is really a very good deal. perhaps this deal will come later on at valentine's day or holi , If anybody is intrested in buying can check amazon for this phone..

Link Amazon.in(ZTE Grand S2 (S251)

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