Samsung has been trying for years to compete with Chinese brands in the smartphone segment under 15,000 rubles, but fails every time. In the summer of 2017, the Koreans released the Galaxy J3 (2017) smartphone with another calculation to “kill the competition”. The novelty received a 5-inch screen, a modest processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, LTE support, 2 SIM cards, a metal case. All this was estimated at almost 13,000 rubles. Should you look towards Samsung if you need an inexpensive smartphone? You will find the answer to this question in our test review.
Galaxy J3 (2017) is a representative of the budget J-series. The device was introduced in the summer of 2017. I have already managed to test the older models of the J-series, and they caused mostly positive emotions. Read and - here. What can boast of Galaxy J3 (2017)?
Unlike its counterparts, the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) received a slightly different appearance. Aluminum is still used in the decoration, but the inserts for the radio modules on top and bottom are finished with plastic that is cheap in perception. The model received a 5-inch TFT display. What is most interesting, cheaper devices (for example, Galaxy J2) have a higher quality SuperAMOLED. All other characteristics are at the level of competitors, or a little more modest. But the cost of a smartphone can not be called low.
For the hardware of the Galaxy J3 2017 (model index SM-J330F), a chip with a quad-core 1.4 GHz Exynos 7570 processor, a Mali-720 graphics chip, and 2 GB of RAM is responsible. Built-in memory 16 GB, it can be supplemented with microSD cards. The smartphone has support for LTE Cat.4, single-band Wi-Fi. NFC is missing and, accordingly, Samsung Pay does not work. There is no fingerprint scanner. The main camera received a 13 megapixel sensor. Front - 5 megapixels. Currently, the device comes pre-installed with Android 7.1 Nougat operating system with Clean UI shell.
Specifications Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) SM-J330F
id="sub0">| Characteristic | Description |
| Body materials: | Aluminium, plastic, protective glass with 2.5D effect |
| Hull protection: | No |
| Screen: | TFT, diagonal 5 inches, resolution 720x1280 pixels (294 ppi), outdoor mode, no automatic brightness control |
| CPU: | Quad-core Exynos 7570 (4 cores up to 1.4 GHz) |
| GPU: | Mali-T720 |
| RAM: | 2 GB |
| Flash memory: | 16 GB (user available 10.5 GB) + microSD card slot (up to 256 GB) |
| Mobile connection: | 2G (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), 4G (including LTE 800, 1800, 2600) |
| SIM card type: | Two nano SIM cards |
| Communications and ports: | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), microUSB, Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5 mm headset |
| Navigation: | GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU |
| Sensors: | proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope |
| Main camera: | 13MP, f/1.9, autofocus, LED flash, FullHD 30fps video recording |
| Front-camera: | 5 megapixels, no autofocus, f/2.2 |
| Battery: | non-removable, 2400 mAh |
| Dimensions, weight: | 143.2x70.3x8.2 mm, 142 grams |
| Body colors: | black, gold, blue |
| Operating system: | Android 7.0.1 Nougat with Clean UI |
Samsung Galaxy J4 (2018) prices
id="sub1">Package contents and first impressions
id="sub2">The Samsung Galaxy J3 (SM-J330F) of the 2017 model range comes in a blue cardboard box. The name of the model is applied on the front part, the main technical parameters are on the back. The image of the gadget is missing.
In the box you can see the device itself, as well as:
USB Charger Adapter
. Cable for synchronization with a computer USB - microUSB
. Stereo headset with 3.5 mm miniJack connector
. Clip for SIM card tray
. Instructions, warranty card
On sale you can find three color options: black, gold and blue. All colors are perceived well, different options look very interesting and organic.
Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 is quite a compact device. Its dimensions are 143.2x70.3x8.2 mm, weight 142 grams. The phone fits perfectly in the hand, it is convenient to use it. You can carry the device in the pockets of tight clothing without any problems. There won't be any inconvenience.
You can't reach the edges of the display with one hand. But the problem can be solved. In the settings there is a special mode that reduces the image by 30%, allowing you to reach the corners of the display with your thumb.
Design and appearance
id="sub3">The appearance of the Galaxy J3 2017 is solid. The front part is glossy, covered with a protective glass with a 2.5D effect, which is expressed in a slight rounding of the surface on the sides. It uses Corning Gorilla Glass. However, there is no fall protection. The glossy surfaces of the smartphone have an oleophobic coating, but it is not as effective as on higher-priced models. Fingerprints, dust and dirt on the black body appear relatively quickly. But they are removed quickly and easily. On models in blue and gold, prints are harder to see. In this regard, they are more practical.
The back of the Samsung Galaxy J3 2017 is made of aluminum. It occupies up to 80% of the total area. There are plastic inserts on top and bottom, painted in a color different from metal. Moreover, the material is different in texture. It can be seen that we have a budget-level model. The case itself is monolithic, looks quite strong and reliable. Build quality.
On the front is a 5-inch screen. Above it is a speaker, front 5 megapixel camera, LED flash, and the manufacturer's logo. Under the display is a mechanical key. There is no fingerprint scanner here.
On the sides of the central key there are two touch buttons. One is responsible for returning to one level, and the other for launching the program manager running in the background. The buttons are not backlit.
On the right side of the Galaxy J3 2017, there is a power button and a screen lock. In addition, here you can see the speaker slot for playing external sounds. This arrangement stands out against the background of existing phone models. The speaker itself is average in volume, but the sound in it is quite pleasant and voluminous. In the course of testing, an interesting pattern emerged. If you put the smartphone with the speaker down in a lady's bag, the ringtone will not be heard. Although it all depends on the contents of the bag! In winter clothes, the call is heard, there are no problems.
The volume keys are located on the top left side. At the bottom you can see two trays at once, which can be opened with a standard paper clip or paper clip. One slot is used for a nanoSIM, and the second is for another nano-sized SIM and a microSD memory card. Thus, when using the services of two operators at once, you do not have to give up additional memory. Cards, by the way, are supported up to 256 GB. This is a big plus!
On the bottom edge there is a 3.5 mm jack for a headset and headphones, as well as a microUSB port for a charger and connection to a computer. You can also see the microphone hole here.
On the back you can see the lens of a 13 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash. The lens does not protrude relative to the plane of the smartphone itself.
The battery is located inside the case. She is unremovable.
During the test, I never encountered any problems in assembling the smartphone. Impressions are good. The smartphone is assembled at the Samsung plant in Vietnam.
Screen. Graphic features
id="sub4">The Galaxy J3 2017 has ditched the SuperAMOLED screen. Instead, a budget TFT matrix with a diagonal of 5 inches, which is typical for devices costing up to 10,000 rubles. Resolution 720x1280 pixels (294 ppi). The quality of the picture on the display is typical for state employees. It is moderately bright, contrasting. Viewing angles are not the greatest, with slight fading observed when tilted.
The display is covered with a protective glass with a 2.5D effect and an oleophobic coating. Side frames of medium width.
It is worth noting that there is no automatic brightness control here, but there is an “Outdoor” mode that maximizes brightness, and the screen becomes readable in the sun.
The sensitivity of the display is 8 points out of 10. Presses are processed with a delay of 1 second.
There are no special settings for the screen, everything is ascetic. Galaxy J3 2017 turned out to be the weakest in terms of picture quality of the three J-series devices in 2017.
Hardware platform: processor, memory, performance
id="sub5">The smartphone runs on an Exynos 7570 system-on-chip, which includes 4 Cortex-A53 cores operating at up to 1.4 GHz and Mali-720 graphics. RAM 2 GB. Built-in memory in the device is 16 GB (10.5 GB available to the user), removable media microSD up to 256 GB are supported.
By and large, the performance of the smartphone, although not high, is still quite sufficient for the device of its segment. In tests, the device shows modest results. In life, this manifests itself in opening the application after 1 second. With unhurried use, the speed is enough, but there is no reserve. In games, the device shows itself rather modestly - solutions with complex graphics do not work correctly, although some run, but at the minimum quality settings.
Nevertheless, using the basic functions of a smartphone (calls, instant messengers, browser, social networks, video and music services) is comfortable.
Communication options
id="sub6">The smartphone supports all modern communication networks: 2G/3G and LTE cat. 4 on Russian frequencies, confidently receives a signal and does not lose it for no apparent reason. The quality of signal reception does not cause any complaints, the device confidently maintains communication indoors and does not lose signal in areas of uncertain reception (tested on MegaFon, MTS networks). Talking on the phone is comfortable. The speaker has a good volume margin, and the interlocutors did not complain about poor audibility during testing.
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, and FM radio are supported. Connecting to a computer is via a microUSB connector. Of the obvious disadvantages - the lack of NFC. For this reason, contactless payments do not work, including Samsung Pay.
Of the additional communication tools, it is worth noting GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS (the standard cartography Google Maps is built into the smartphone). The navigation error radius during testing is about 3 meters, which is very small. The gadget perfectly copes with the role of a navigator.
Battery. Working time
id="sub7">The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) has a 2400 mAh lithium-ion battery. Under test conditions, with the number of calls 35-40 minutes a day, browsing the Internet for about 2 hours via 4G, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 2 hours a day, the device worked for 2 days. When watching a video, the smartphone worked for 15.5 hours, in navigator mode - about 3.5 hours.
If we take the average data with a mixed mode of use, we get two days of battery life. Those who use only calls can easily count on 4 days of work. In terms of autonomy, the device is comparable to most Android smartphones in its class.
The battery is charged in 2.5 hours.
User interface and operating system
id="sub8">The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) currently comes with Android 7.0.1 Nougat firmware with Clean UI. The software can be "updated over the air". Externally, the shell resembles the one used in the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 +, but the number of built-in functions is less. For example, there are no optimizers for using the curved screen, there is no Bixby assistant.
Smartphone owners have access to some of the Samsung applications, Microsoft programs. Missing apps can be downloaded from the Samsung App Store and Google Play.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
id="sub9">Galaxy J3 2017 has a 13 megapixel f / 2.2 camera, autofocus and LED flash. The camera takes good quality pictures in daylight outdoors and indoors. It doesn't work very well in the dark, but that's a problem with all mid-range cameras. The main camera does not focus quickly. In many ways, the module is comparable to those used in Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu devices. In general, you can rate 3.5 points out of 5.
The camera interface is made in the traditional Samsung style. You can start shooting by double-clicking the center button below the screen. There are many settings and preset modes, including self-portrait, panorama, night, continuous shooting, HDR and GIF animation. Video capabilities are limited to shooting at 1080p 30 frames per second. The available shooting modes are: Single Shot, Smile Detection, Continuous, Panorama, Vintage, Portrait, Landscape, Night Mode, Sports, Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Autumn Colors, Fireworks, Text, Dusk, Backlight.
The front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels. It is quite light sensitive (f / 1.9), but does not have autofocus. However, there is a flash. When shooting a selfie, it is possible to correct skin tone, face oval and eye size.
Results
id="sub10">Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is quite a nice phone. But there is a problem! Most of the competitors can do more, but are cheaper. For example, for the same money that is asked for Samsung, you can buy Huawei P9 Lite, Meizu M5s, Xiaomi Redmi 4X. The above models have the best set of characteristics. Well, models similar in characteristics to the Galaxy J3 2017 (Xiaomi Redmi 4A, Huawei Honor 6A) are 30% cheaper. As a result, buying a Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is devoid of practicality. Samsung once again lost the battle to the Chinese.
Advantages
Quality build
Dual SIM support
Long battery life
You can use two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time
Flaws
High price
Poor screen quality
Slow-speed interface
You cannot install some programs available in more expensive Samsung smartphones
20.05.2016
And it all started quite harmlessly ... The birthday of my wife's niece (I'm not good at family ties) ... A month before the event, suddenly, an old phone is lost / forgotten / stolen (I don’t know what time Samsung), parents have one less concern - for a gift, of course, - a new phone ... Price limit - 15,000 rubles ... And then the classic "nutyzhprogrammer" (I have never been a programmer - I am, in general, a pure humanist, foolishly phone people once I asked and that's it ...).
After a couple of hours of intense thinking, I gave up this disastrous occupation due to its complete futility - for 15 thousand you can buy completely different models, both pure China and brands. And he just asked the future birthday girl (well, there will be no surprise, but I won’t miss the choice). The answer sincerely pleased me: anything but white - emo, or whoever they are there now (they still call themselves Goths, but they haven’t watched The Raven), they don’t wear white, you see; and not Samsung - it's painfully from the old phone that the impressions are "unforgettable".
The selection process was also not particularly difficult, but then the adventure began.
My morning began with a call from this same gift-maker: "Which phone should I take?! Urgent! There is no time! I'm in Russia in a store! Call me back!" (I myself am a bit in a neighboring country, and I was not going to call back someone somewhere in principle). I managed to say only: "Not white, and not Samsung - see Lenovs and Azusas." In general, I also looked at other Chinese, but I don’t know how to call Xiaomi on the phone.
With a clear conscience, I forgot all about it. But after a couple of weeks, I was a little surprised when I saw exactly the white Samsung in the hands of the birthday girl (as it turned out, after the call, during which he heard neither Nokia, nor LJ, nor Samsung, but only some "little-known Chinese", the question was asked to the MVideo consultant. The rest, I think, is understandable), which came to me for an indefinite period in order to pick up a black case (not available in stores - order on Ali), install programs and do something with it at all - "you know how to ".
The phone was fairly new. Samsung J3 (2016). The model is unknown to me and incomprehensible. I love Samsung since the R210 - the blue backlight was very different from the others, and after that there was the "I" series - also a good popularization of smartphones, but there was never even a microwave or refrigerator from Koreans in the whole house. Insofar as I came across Wave and Nexus, and I was like a couple of days and that's it (well, okay, I confess, I spent almost a year with the X100). And here is a whole new smartphone from the industry leader. And on my street a holiday. Hurrah, comrades.
So phone. White, neat. The case is made of dense high-quality plastic, there is even a certain mother-of-pearl effect. Samsung still has Samsung - even the back cover (battery compartment) fits very tightly - not the slightest gap. I liked the assembly of the case, definitely.
Traditionally, nothing creaks, no backlash. The mechanical button, which is "Home", does not hang out and does not cause any negative feelings (there are devices where these same buttons are a couple of millimeters smaller than the grooves or "play" as they want - everything is clear and neat here).
For a couple of minutes, as usual, I was looking for an LED - in vain. I have already come to terms with its absence in a phone for 5-7 thousand (a kind of lower reasonable limit for a normally working phone), but it would be possible to solder it into a device for 12 thousand.
At that moment, I wasn’t particularly worried - I already had experience of forcing smartphones to notify with buttons, but at some point I suddenly realized that the buttons didn’t have backlighting!
At first glance, this is not so noticeable - the contours of the characters are clear and perfectly distinguishable during the day, but in the dark you will have to reap from memory. Again, there will be no notifications ... Although it would be possible to fasten the flash, but somehow I didn’t think about it.
In general, it turned out to be a good case with brand recognition and excellent assembly. And somehow the dimensions are chosen, which I originally thought was even 4.7 inches. This is despite the fact that the main phone - Sony ZL - is probably the smallest five-inch device in size. And then some ... No, it's not smaller (7.9 * 71.0 * 142.3 mm), but the weight / proportion ratio makes the phone feel smaller than it actually is.
There is a silver edging around the perimeter of the phone. It's not metal, it's all plastic.
Appearance is great, there is nothing to complain about here, but how to work - this remains to be seen.
My vision is normal, without a built-in microscope, spectrum analyzer and litmus. This is me to the fact that I can not find fault with the screen.
Bright, colorful, saturated - yes, that's right (Super AMOLED is the same). Pixels, of course, are not noticeable (the usual HD resolution in this case is only a plus: the battery is saved, the hardware does not strain, and the picture does not suffer much).
Viewing angles, as they say, are maximum. In practice, distortion and inversion are absent as a class. The screen sensitivity is excellent, the surface is moderately slippery.
I did not notice any oleophobic coating, although prints are collected with some reluctance. There is no protective glass either. Along the perimeter of the active part, a small black border is what I always don't like.
Absolutely by accident, I learned from the reviews that only two touches are supported. Checked it is true. Why from reviews? In real life, in traditional conditions, more than two fingers on the screen never came in handy for me. Therefore, I do not fully understand the users and their comments asking why not five.
Of the much more significant - there is no automatic backlight control function. I know that a lot of people turn it off (and I use it), but turning it off is one thing, and its complete absence is quite another - at least this is disrespect for the user, but for me it is critical in principle.
What I don't like about Samsung is the blue curtain. I understand it's convenient. That "quick" shortcuts is correct. That, unlike so many models, shortcuts can be easily configured without root and third-party programs. But don't like it. Subjectively.
Otherwise - Android 5.1 in all its glory.
For some reason, the developer menu was opened out of the box - I don’t know, maybe they have it so, maybe in the store, maybe something else. The developer settings, by the way, are full - nothing has been cut. What can not be said about the settings in general.
No, for a regular phone - everything is fine, but not for Samsung. I judge by the same. I understand that it’s not a flagship model and there may not be smart call functions here, but it’s possible, and necessary, to turn on the answer to a call with a mechanical button. Similarly, there is no gesture control and everything else. Those. if, under the influence of advertising, you suddenly want some branded interesting things for relatively little money, nothing will work ... at least with this model.
I was hoping to at least see the amplification of the sound in your pocket - a necessary and simple thing, but there is no such thing. And if in older models the menu is organized structurally, then here is the most common Android (a few items located at the beginning of the list do not count - this is just a slight modification).
Although no, there is a "Simple Desktop" from the branded one.
Either for the elderly, or for very beginners, or for poor eyesight - everything is greatly increased and "simplified".
Something similar is in Miui called "Mode for the elderly." In this model, I don’t see any sense in this at all - the model is clearly aimed at young people, but to distinguish it from the flagships, it would be better if the “simple mode” was removed than the “volume in your pocket”.
"Pleases" users and a set of preinstalled non-removable applications: and CleanMaster, and branded SmartManager, and a few lesser known things.
Moreover, even a set of office applications from Microsoft is present, again, non-removable. And everything would be fine, but it has a very small amount of internal system memory available for installing an application from the Market, which clogs up after a couple of small games, and the presence of Excel is great, but voluminous.
Of the declared 8 GB, just over four gigabytes are available.
Well, as available - you need to take away the pre-installed software from this ... but I will not do this - people tried, pre-installed. But seriously, it doesn't matter whose "office" is - there will still be a place to work. By the way, with the available 471 MB from the Market, nothing will be delivered to this phone, which is a problem for many devices, as it were.
Thoughts on Google Play and Memory
The reason is that before installing the application, the Market checks for free space on the device. But! It checks not just the fact of its presence and sufficiency for software, but, first of all, for compliance with certain established limits. So, depending on the device, the required minimum free memory, depending on the version of the market (yes, each version has its own Wishlist), phone model and moon phases, should be from 280 to 500 MB.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that not the whole place is checked at all, but the free memory of the system partition itself (it is very clearly visible in Titanium Backup).
There is no adequate universal cure for the problem - only crutches in the form of transferring applications to a memory card, deleting old programs and cache, and it all depends on the manufacturer - how much space he left free just for installing applications.
By the way, installing softkeys from a memory card or third-party markets is done without checking some volume, and in this way you can score memory almost to zero.
You can expand the space for video and music using a memory card, the slot of which is located in a rather original way - on the first try, you will not immediately understand what to insert where and for what.
And it should be like this:
As you can see, two SIM cards are supported, the slots are separate, in the sense they are not combined with a memory card.
The battery is removable, which is good. As much as 2600 mAh. Everything is fine with the charge, we don’t aim for the leaders, we don’t compete with Philips, but we won’t leave without communication - daylight hours are provided in almost any usage scenario (I mean not constant games and videos, of course). And when using SmartManager and built-in software saving systems (as for me - it's stupid to turn off Wi-Fi, and GPS too), you can achieve more.
Yes, for a second, we have an AMOLED screen, which means that you can save quite a lot when using black. In this case, a monochrome screen saver, or even better, an operating mode, can significantly extend the working time.
There is no light sensor, as I already said, it’s good that they didn’t deprive the accelerometer and the proximity sensor ...
Everything works smoothly and smoothly. Given that everything is built on the basis of the Spreadtrum SC8830 (today, the basics of the budget, perhaps, can no longer be found). All the same four cores at 1200 MHz, all the same Mali 400 graphics. Everything is familiar, well, quite, completely (only the name changes). RAM, however, as much as one and a half gigabytes. A kind of compromise: on the one hand, it is not much more expensive at cost, on the other hand, it sets off from older models, and on the third hand, it should stand out against the background of budget competitors.
In general, such a bundle completely copes with any daily work, almost any games that can be crammed into such a amount of memory (of course, at a minimum quality and with periodic "brakes", sometimes significant, sometimes not. The phone clearly does not pretend to be a gaming phone, but running in "Subway something-there" will give no problems), video, Internet and music. In synthetics, there are not enough stars from the sky and it is at the level of other budget phones.
As expected - a little faster than the annoying Qualcomm 200, MT6582 and the first "normal" chip from Spreadtrum - 7731 (let me refer to the Fly Cirrus review, which compares these systems).
But what I liked closer to completely was GPS: the first cold start in the life of the phone took about five seconds - fourteen satellites were easily identified, and the error was four meters, which by any modern standards is closer to very excellent (and yes, I know that there are no such words).
A completely different feeling left from the camera. The advertising brochure features some uncle with a bunch of aunts - it seems like an amazing 120-degree selfie turns out. Judging by the photos I have already received, there is no science fiction - it just costs optics with a focal length of 2.8 mm (most likely). In this situation, at short distances (up to a couple of meters, according to theory), a clear, as if expanded picture is obtained. But everything on it, except for the object in the center at a small distance from the lens, will be with somewhat distorted proportions - it looks, maybe, spectacularly, but not realistic at all (although, maybe, it seems to me). Disabling this, as I understand it, is impossible - the effect is achieved by really physical means.
But already in the evening, long before sunset, the situation is not changing for the better (here, sorry for the connoisseurs for the background - where I caught it, and so it took about ten minutes to stop this miracle even for a second).
The rear camera is measured by 8 megapixels of dubious quality. So, in ideal conditions, the pictures are very good.
But already in the room there is an instant loss of colors - the photos are faded, sluggish. Even under normal lighting.
True, the flash corrects the situation, but the colors become somehow unrealistic (to put it mildly if).
By the way, about vagueness - the camera is very fast, the time between pressing and photographing is much less than a second, but the price for this is the poor quality of focusing, when shooting objects that are not moving on a bright sunny day, and not very, in most cases, a blurry background is obtained.
In the case of the front camera, this is generally a disease - to get a more or less normal cat selfie, I took at least a dozen pictures.
The sunset situation is not given to both cameras in principle.
With "macro", or rather the so-called. "blurring" the background when shooting dewdrops and beetles, everything is a little worse than with self-photos - the depth of field is clearly not going to change depending on advertising ...
In a word, I did not appreciate the camera - fast, but frankly weak in terms of focusing and, as a result, a clear image.
But the phone must be called first. Here everything is fine - the sound is clear, loud enough. The call of the speaker gives off some unnecessarily sonorous notes. Of course, there is no noise reduction, and there are no branded features already mentioned - just a dialer.
Unless - like this, for a gift to my daughter, granddaughter on the recommendation of an MVideo consultant ...
About competitors
Interestingly, the status of an A-brand imposes the need for compliance in everything - including price. So, if for the same Fly the budget model is 5-6 thousand rubles, then for Samsung it is 10-12,000 rubles. This is fair, we buy not only goods, but also status, and the price includes not only the cost of iron, but staff salaries, advertising costs, service and, again, status. I understand this and welcome it, but this is with the mind ... but my soul is loud - a little expensive, there are cheaper ones ...
So, oh, it's cheaper. If you ask Yandex.Market about analogues for the same amount (let it be a little more expensive - up to 14,000 rubles) and remove the entire Chinese terrarium (no offense to the owners of Chinese phones - I love, appreciate and respect myself, but there are still a lot of opponents) , it turns out that we do not have many competitors: LG K10 LTE K430DS
So, the same 1.5 gigabytes of memory - from the time of Vitya Perestukin, I simply do not perceive such figures. This amount of memory offers almost no gain in terms of games and plays almost no role in everyday tasks. Of course, something somehow somewhere yes, but not globally. And here - more for the public calculation ...
Again, the camera ... a youth phone with a weak camera and a low-focus front lens is positioned as a "selfie phone".
And the appearance from the flagship evokes associations with the same functionality, but in the end we get nothing at all.
Perhaps the reason for this is an advertising campaign with an emphasis on non-existent things, as a result of which the facts do not match expectations, but I did not understand the phone. In fact, we have an ordinary budget phone in front of us, which does not differ in anything (here we recall the Super AMOLED screen - it is very good) from a host of cheaper, but less famous competitors, and the most annoying thing is that new S4 samples are still on sale, which you can buy for same money but much more...
In my opinion, before buying a Samsung J3, you need to think very carefully ... its purchase, in my opinion, is possible only if you are an ardent fan of the brand and an opponent of Chinese brands (although, as the hero of the disaster movie about an asteroid and Bruce Willis said: "Russian technology, American technology - everything is made in China anyway"). In other cases, the market offers much more interesting models for the same price. (Again, SoC from a more than Chinese and cheap Spreadtrum - sort of like Samsung, but it seems like not very much. Yes - frisky and not energy-intensive, but Spreadtrum! Clearly, "status" is not enough.)
Rating - 6 points (2 points each for excellent assembly, screen and navigation; well, not received points for the camera and Samsung functionality).
olegdn (Gordinsky Oleg)
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Another representative of the budget J-series of mobile phones from Samsung is the Galaxy J3 (2016).
The smartphone has an attractive design, a high-quality screen, good cameras for shooting and definitely attracts the attention of buyers.
The price at the time of writing the review is about 10,000 rubles. There are plenty of competitors in this segment, so let's take a closer look at what the South Korean electronics giant has prepared for us.
Packing, delivery set
The smartphone is packaged in a white box, traditional for this series, with the model designation on the front side of the box and a description of the characteristics on the back.Inside, all the elements are compactly arranged in compartments. In addition to the device itself, you can find an instruction manual, a warranty card, an advertising brochure from Samsung with branded accessories, stickers with device IMEI codes, a 5V 1A power adapter and a detachable microUSB cable about 1 meter long.
Samsung does not indulge us with a headset, and even more so with a film, so everything is traditionally modest.
Design, materials
The design of the Galaxy J3 (2016), as well as the entire line of J-smartphones released in 2016, is very presentable, bright, and sophisticated.
The device is sold in black, white and gold colors. The black edging adds a special zest, highlighting it from the rest of the case.
Such an effect is especially clearly visible on a golden and white background; on a sample made in a dark case, it manifests itself weaker. The novelty is also recognizable to users, it will not be difficult to determine at a glance what it is exactly.
The case is made of dense high-quality plastic with a soft-touch coating on the back cover. The edges are rounded, streamlined, with chrome edging, all in the best traditions of the brand.
The assembly is very high quality, there are no hints of squeaks, all parts and elements fit with minimal gaps, or without them at all, the buttons do not stagger, the back cover sits tightly in the grooves.
On the front panel on top of the display is a speaker, light and proximity sensors. There is no LED event indicator, which is a little disappointing, the company decided to abandon it in all budget J-models and even in the fashion A-series.
Below, under the screen, there is a central mechanical control button and 2 touch keys on the sides of it. All elements are not equipped with a backlight, so in the dark you will have to press from memory, by touch.
On the back there is a slightly protruding main camera with a flash and a laser, the main speaker.
The back cover is removable and allows you to easily access the compartments with cards, or remove the battery.
On the left side there is a power / lock button, on the opposite side - "rocker" volume control. This arrangement is typical for Samsung models, it is quite convenient, because it eliminates pressing adjacent keys.
At the top, at the end, it has a 3.5 mm jack headset input, and at the bottom end there is a microphone and a microUSB port.
Despite the budget, the device has a compact size (142.3x71x7.9 mm) and low weight (138 grams) compared to other representatives of the 5-inch models.
It fits comfortably in the hand, does not press, does not slip due to the high-quality coating and is easy to use.
Screen
Samsung made a small breakthrough by installing for the first time in its budget models a SuperAMOLED display, which previously could only be seen in the company's lines.The J3 (2016) has just such a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels (HD format) with a density of 294 ppi and wide viewing angles in all planes.
The image seems ultra-clear, saturated, bright, contrasty and will only give pleasure from viewing. There is no automatic brightness control in this model, the maximum performance is about 438 cd / m², which is a pretty decent result for an inexpensive series.
The color temperatures are slightly colder than the standard, but it's not very noticeable if you don't know what the image looks like with the right white balance.
A novelty throughout the updated J-series is the ability to adjust image parameters using the built-in screen profiles (main, AMOLED photo, AMOLED movie, adaptive display). The "Adaptive" mode optimizes the color range, saturation and sharpness of the display.
However, it may not be compatible with some third party applications.
A useful feature when used outdoors is the "Outdoor" mode, which increases the brightness of the screen for 15 minutes to the maximum level. If more time is required, the mode will be active until the display turns off.
Also in the settings, you can select the screen timeout time (15 sec., 30 sec., 1 min., 2 min., 5 min., 10 min.), select the font size and style, manually adjust the brightness, and also select the screen screensaver.
The Galaxy J3 (2016) has support for multi-touch, though only 2 touches. on the glass is either absent or quite modest. The prints remain and are very noticeable, but the truth is easily erased.
cameras
Samsung smartphones have always had good cameras. This model has 8 MP and 5 MP sensors. The rear camera has an LED flash, autofocus, and is capable of taking photos at a resolution of 3264x2448 (with an aspect ratio of 4:3) and recording HD video.
The front camera takes pictures at 2576x1932 and records video at 640x480 pixels. High image quality is achieved through the use of a proprietary matrix, aperture and lenses.
Colors come out natural, shooting is done without delay, due to the fast response of autofocus.
In terms of the quality of the resulting photos, this device surpasses some 13 MP models. The HDR mode helps a lot when shooting in low light, which by the way is absent in the cheaper model Galaxy J1 (2016).
As for the selfie camera, everything here is also on the level, the skin tone is not distorted, the colors are natural. As a very nice bonus, there is a beauty mode for smoothing the skin during shooting, and it is also possible to remotely take a photo just by showing your palm to the camera.
In order not to miss precious moments, the camera can be activated instantly by pressing the "Home" button 2 times.
Here's what we got from the pictures :
1. Main camera:
2. Frontal:
Battery
One of the advantages of this device is a removable Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh.By the way, until recently, such a battery was installed on the flagship Galaxy S6 Edge. The charge reserve is enough for two days of use at medium loads.
When using the proprietary application "Extreme Energy Saving", you can extend the activity of the smartphone, but with some functions disabled and with a monochrome display. And in this mode, the battery can last up to 3-4 days.
In the video viewing mode, the battery capacity reserve will last for 10-11 hours, while listening to music - up to 50 hours, toys - up to 3-4 hours.
The time required to recharge when using a proprietary adapter is about 2.5 hours. It's also worth noting that a lot of the credit for low power consumption goes to the energy-efficient SuperAMOLED display.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) is powered by a 32-bit Spreadtrum SC9830 platform with a 4-core Cortex A7 processor with a frequency of up to 1.5 GHz and a Mali-400 MP4 graphics accelerator.The volume is 1.5 Gb, and the built-in one is only 8 Gb, but it is possible to install a memory card up to 128 Gb.
There is support for GPS / GLONASS with fairly clear positioning and fast launch, as well as a Bluetooth 4.1 data transfer module with A2DP support. I was pleased with the device's support for OTG mode for connecting USB devices to a smartphone.
Works J3 (2016) running Android 5.1.1 along with the TouchWiz shell. The system is perfectly adapted, the menu is clearly and clearly structured.
The set immediately has a lot of pre-installed programs for accessing the Internet, communicating, watching videos and photos, an office suite from Microsoft, a set of branded Google applications, and more.
The "Smart Manager" application will become very useful and necessary, which allows you to increase the performance of the device, clean up memory from garbage, control battery consumption, protect your smartphone from viruses, spyware, and more.
For beginners and older people, a simplified mode of use is provided with a minimum set of programs for communication and communication, an enlarged font and a clear interface.
The "stuffing" as a whole is quite modest and already obsolete compared to most competitors, but it is enough for smooth operation of the smartphone without noticeable slowdowns, freezes and errors. With everyday tasks, the gadget copes with a bang.
Surfing the Internet, watching movies, social networking, simple toys - everything works quickly, without delay, and so on.
With "heavier" games, everything is a little more complicated, for example, DeadTrigger 2, Asphalt 7, Dead Effect 1-2, Need For Speed: No Limits, Modern Combat 5 will run without visible delays, but in N.O.V.A. 3, Riptide GP2, Asphalt 8, the lack of graphics performance is much more pronounced.
We also tested the device in benchmarks, the results are as follows :
1. Antutu:
The built-in player uses the "Google PlayMusic" application. In addition to the player, it has a built-in equalizer, a music service and an electronic song store.
The Galaxy J3 (2016) also has a built-in radio that works from the connected headphones as an antenna. The sound of the built-in speaker is very decent, sonorous, without distortion and hoarseness. When listening with headphones, everything is also at a high level.
When communicating with the interlocutor, everything is clearly audible, the voice is recognizable, not distorted.
Internet
The smartphone has 2 slots for installing Micro Sim cards with support for 4G mobile networks. There is also a Wi-Fi b / g / n standard module with the function of creating an access point.
The browser is Google Chrome and the standard Internet application.
It's a pity, but in this model there is no short-range radio communication, so you won't be able to use Samsung Pay.
Conclusion
Smartphone Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) turned out to be quite an interesting model.It distinguishes:
- Attractive appearance.
- Signature Super AMOLED display with rich colors and wide viewing angles.
- High-quality photocell base, allowing you to enjoy the pictures.
- Support for 4G mobile networks.
- Connecting USB peripherals using OTG.
- Separate slots for SIM cards and MicroSD card.
A little upset in it is the currently outdated hardware platform and a small amount of internal memory.
Otherwise, this is a normal, solid budget smartphone of a well-known brand at an affordable price. It is definitely worth recommending and considering this device for purchase as an "every day" gadget with low hardware requirements.
For gamers, audiophiles and people who choose equipment solely on "tests in parrots" it is worth paying attention to other smartphone models.
Let's support him with two awards:
- "Easy start"- for a smartphone with a convenient and as simple as possible interface that is suitable for the most novice user.
- "clear vision"- for outstanding display data in the gadget.
The design of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is made in a style that has become common to the entire line since 2017. The smartphone received soft, pastel colors and bright silver accents on the front and back panels.
The Galaxy J3 (2017) also has metal body elements, but there are fewer of them than other models in the line. The smartphone, in addition, turned out to be a little thicker than it should be - as a result, it lacks the nobility that the same Galaxy J5 (2017) acquired.
The front panel of the Galaxy J3 (2017) is covered with protective glass. Here, the accents are the Samsung logo, as well as the edging of the touch and virtual buttons at the bottom of the device.
There is a large metal tab on the back panel. You might think that this is a cover that can be removed. In fact, SIM and microSD are installed in the side compartments. Like the older models, the bright silver logo of the smartphone and the same edging of the photomodule stand out against a soft background.
The device is assembled with high quality, the materials are also at the level, but it still leaves the impression of a budget device, even if in its price range it will look better than many competitors. Perhaps a “silver” or black smartphone will look better than the “gold” one that came to us.
Connectors and controls
5-inch devices are quite ergonomic: they are easy to handle with one hand. All connectors and controls are well placed, but there are still exceptions.
On the front panel, under the screen, there is a hardware Home button. The other two Android buttons are touch sensitive. Although the Home button is the same size as the Galaxy J5 (2017) and J7 (2017), it is not combined with the fingerprint scanner. So the protection of the device is weaker.
Above the display is a speaker, a front camera lens and a backlight LED, which is analogous to a flash. You can also see a window with sensors.
On the back of the smartphone, we see a camera and a flash.
On the right sidewall there is a button to turn on the screen, as well as a slot with a speaker grill.
On the left side of the smartphone are two volume buttons. There are also two compartments for SIM-cards and memory cards.
The SIM and microSD slots are separated, so you can use all three cards at the same time. The compartments are opened with a rather long key. Our short video will tell you how to insert cards into Galaxy J3 (2017):
At the bottom we find a microphone, audio jack and microUSB. This arrangement may not be convenient for everyone and not always, especially when you want to listen to music through headphones and simultaneously charge your phone. However, this has already become a commonplace for modern smartphones, which are becoming thinner and thinner.
There is nothing on the top end.
We also note that the device will be easily controlled by both right-handed and left-handed people. The buttons are conveniently located.
Case for Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017)
It is not yet possible to buy a case or cover for the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017), at least at the time of writing this review. However, the company offers three cases at once for the older models of the line. They cost from 890 to 1390 rubles.
We can expect that over time, Samsung will offer accessories for the cheapest Galaxy J. Let's hope that they will cost less than for the "five" and "seven". The picture shows the Slim Cover bumper for the Galaxy J3 (2016). His company offers for 290 rubles.
Samsung Galaxy J3 Firmware Update (2017)
It is clear that the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) will receive an update to Android 8.0. I would even bet that Android 9.0 for the Galaxy J3 (2017) will be released. So a guide to flashing a smartphone will not be superfluous.
So, to flash the Galaxy J3 (2017), you need to do the following:
- and make sure that the smartphone has enough charge;
- enter the smartphone into Download Mode (simultaneously pressing the "off" + "volume down" + "home button" keys), then press "Volume up";
- connect the USB cable to the device;
- in the Odin application on your computer, select files from the archive with the firmware:
- for the PIT column - a file with *.pit extension;
- for PDA - a file whose name contains the word CODE, if there is none, then you should know that this is the heaviest file in the archive;
- for CSC - a file with the word CSC in its name;
- for Phone - a file containing MODEM in the name;
- Note. If the files for the CSC, Phone and PIT graphs are not in the archive with the firmware, then we sew using the single file method only, i.e. indicate the location of the firmware in the PDA column, and leave the rest of the lines empty.
make sure that the checkboxes in Odin are checked in the items "Auto Reboot" and "F. reset time". If the location of the *.pit file was specified, then the “Re-Partition” checkbox will be set automatically;
press the "Start" button and watch how the firmware process takes place. The phone may reboot several times during installation and in no case should you unplug the cable from it until the Odin log shows “All threads completed” or the green information window with the words “PASS!” lights up.
The firmware update process traditionally takes several minutes (from 5 to 15) and if successful, you will be prompted to configure the smartphone according to your preferences. After that, you can get to work.
If suddenly something did not work out, you can ask about it in the comments under the article.
Screen Galaxy J3 (2017)
Samsun Galaxy J3 (2017) received a 5-inch PLS display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The pixel density is 294 ppi. Given that other smartphones in the line have the same resolution, but large screen sizes, the display of the cheapest device is ahead in terms of clarity! Naturally, if you close your eyes to the fact that the older Js have a SuperAMOLED screen. However, the difference is small, so you can't call it a miscalculation of the marketing service. Yes, and the version J3 (2017) is delivered to us with a Super AMOLED matrix, and not like the test sample.
However, even the PLS-screen has good, juicy colors, natural blacks and good contrast.
Samsung has limited display settings in the Galaxy J3 (2017). The older models of the line have various screen profiles, including those adapted for watching movies and photos. They are distinguished by a color temperature close to natural - 6500K. Also older Galaxy J have a blue filter, which supposedly reduces fatigue. The Troika does not have all this.
But the Galaxy J3 (2017) received the "Outdoor" mode. It turns on the brightness of the display to the maximum for 15 minutes. After that, the brightness is reduced. This is the only screen setting. In general, it is convenient, since Samsung does not have an automatic brightness adjustment mode.
The display leaves a good impression, however, there are not enough settings. However, this is understandable. The screen of the cheapest device of the line cannot be better than that of the more expensive ones.
Let's turn to objective tests. The white brightness of the smartphone is 548.41 cd / m 2, black - close to zero, or 0.32 cd / m 2. The contrast is 1713:1. You can count on comfortable work on the street, you just need to turn on the backlight to the maximum.
The color temperature of the Galaxy J3 (2017) is too high, like all smartphones. Only rare exceptions approach 6500K. The J5 (2017) has a dedicated display profile for this. The Galaxy J3 (2017) does not have this setting, so the screen shows "normal" 8500-9000K.
The color gamut of the Galaxy J3 (2017) is slightly more modest than that of the older models of the line, but, as it should be for a normal PLS, it is noticeably larger than the sRGB range.
But the gamma curves flew away. The colors will be lighter. Here, the screen is noticeably worse than other smartphones in the line.
The smartphone recognizes five touches.
From a larger display, the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) looks good. Especially when you consider that a version with a Super AMOLED screen will be sold in our area.
Camera Galax J3 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) received two cameras. The main one has a resolution of 13 megapixels, the front one - 5 megapixels. Both are capable of recording Full HD video.
The Galaxy J3 (2017) retained the branded feature of the line and received a front-facing flash, or rather an LED backlight that works with both video and photos.
It should be noted that the front camera of the smartphone differs from the Galaxy J3 (2017) not only in lower resolution than in older models. She also received a darker lens with an aperture of 2.2, although other representatives of the J line have this indicator at 1.8 and 1.9. The main camera is the same as the Galaxy J5 (2017).
The camera interface of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is standard. In one part of the display are quick buttons, including changing the camera, flash and call settings. You can also add any of the shooting modes there.
On the other side are the shutter buttons for shooting videos and photos. They are on the same screen, you do not need to switch between them. On the one hand, it is convenient, on the other hand, you can accidentally click on the video instead of the photo. Right next to it is a window for previewing images, leading to the Gallery.
The area next to the main shutter buttons is given over to adjusting the skin tone of the face, or other quick settings, depending on the mode.
Swiping right or left opens screens with shooting modes, as well as preset filters. There are fewer modes and filters than in the Galaxy A series devices. You can’t add new modes, but you can arrange them in order, as well as put them on the main camera screen.
The settings apply directly to the individual cameras. They are limited mainly by the resolution of the content being filmed, as well as by general functions: trigger, geotagging, etc. Shooting options are available on the main screen depending on the selected shooting mode.
The interface of the front camera is the same as that of the main one. The button for the flash is also in place, since it is also on the front side of the smartphone. But here, in the default mode, more settings are available to improve the selfie: skin tone, etc.
There are only two modes for the front camera, except for the main one: a widescreen selfie will help to fit a landmark in the background, and the second one will record additional sound. The set of filters is about the same.
The maximum resolution of the main camera is 13 megapixels, while the aspect ratio is only 4:3.
In general, the camera copes well with different scenes. If desired, you can almost always get a good photo.
The main camera can shoot Full HD video. There is a square video preset for Instagram.
The video is also pretty good.
The front camera can also take a 13-megapixel photo and it will also be 4:3.
The front camera lags behind the main one in terms of image quality, but not fundamentally. With backlight and front flash, you can take good selfies.
The front camera allows you to shoot Full HD videos, as well as square videos.
C video is a little worse. The camera reacts more slowly to changes in light, but in general it is also suitable for shooting yourself. Don't forget the front flash. Everything is much better with her.
Specifications Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017)
The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017), like the entire line, have improved significantly compared to the previous generation.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) was a very modest smartphone. Recall that it was released not even in 2016, but at the end of 2015, so its platform was not the newest even at that time, even in its class.
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) received an Exynos 7570 processor with four Cortex-A53 cores at a frequency of 1.4 GHz. In comparison with last year's model, it was not so much the frequency that was pumped over, but the architecture. In the 2016 version, Cortex-A7 was used. Cortex-A53 is both faster and more economical, so you can expect a noticeable performance boost.
There were no fundamental changes in the graphics compared to the American version, but the main one used the Mali-400 at all. So installing Mail-T720 can give a noticeable boost in games.
The RAM capacity has also increased slightly. Now this is the standard 2 GB. Yes, and 16 GB of memory in the minimum version also looks, although not “ah”, but this is not a miserable 8 GB.
In general, the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) platform is more modest than the J5 (2017). Considering that the younger Galaxy J has the same software, it may work more slowly.
The Galaxy J3 (2017) is more modest from a communication point of view. He only has LTE category 4, other smartphones have a higher one. They have higher bandwidth of fourth generation networks. Also, the Galaxy J3 (2017) does not support Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC.
Cameras have improved compared to the previous model. They now record Full HD video. The battery capacity has decreased to 2400 mAh. It remains to be hoped that the new processor is more economical and the autonomy of the device will not worsen.
Performance Testing
Before the start of the test "races" a brief summary: the new Galaxy J3 (2017) has a higher frequency, more RAM and a more advanced architecture. The performance gain over the 2016 model should be very noticeable.
In the first Basemark test, the new J3 brought the old one over 70%.
JetStream shows performance in web applications. Mobile devices have long passed the critical mark when it comes to displaying web pages, even the most complex ones. In this case, this is reflected in the smaller difference between the two smartphones.
In 3DMark, the new Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) turns out to be noticeably faster than its predecessor, but it's worth paying attention to the generally rather small number of points.
A small number of "parrots" in 3DMark is confirmed by another test. The new J3 is again faster, but the FPS is very low.
Let's take a look at how the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) performs in the popular Antutu test.
Comprehensive AnTuTu test equalizes the CPU and GPU of the chipset. Recall that if the architectures of the computing processor of the models are different, then the graphics are almost the same.
Autonomy Galaxy J3 (2017)
Autonomy is the highest achievement of the new model. After our standard set of actions, the new Galaxy J3 (2017) retained 83% of the charge, while its predecessor only 73%. Moreover, the J3 (2016) has a battery capacity of 200 mAh more. As a result, we can safely say that the Galaxy J3 (2017) will last more than a day. True, given the low performance in graphics tests, for greater autonomy it is better not to load it with games. Noticeable battery savings are achieved by ditching the AMOLED screen.
3D graphics consume the most, followed by data transfer. It is better to read the Internet through Wi-Fi if you want to increase battery life.
Phone Manager can be found in the settings section Optimize the smartphone settings menu. You can also go there through the Energy Saver icon in the notification bar. There are two power saving modes: medium and maximum. Both can be customized. Allows you to adjust the brightness of the display, the frequency of the processor and the operation of wireless networks in the background.
Games for Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017)
In principle, the new processor Galaxy J3 (2017) should be enough to provide acceptable performance in games, but there are some doubts due to the low number of points in 3DMark.
- Riptide GP2: excellent, everything flies;
- Asphalt 7: excellent, everything flies;
- Asphalt 8: good, extremely rare, but slows down;
- Modern Combat 5: excellent, everything flies;
- Dead Trigger: excellent, everything flies;
- Dead Trigger 2: excellent, everything flies;
- Real Racing 3: excellent, everything flies;
- Need for Speed: No Limits: excellent, everything flies;
- Shadowgun: Dead Zone: excellent, everything flies;
- Frontline Commando: Normandy: did not start;
- Frontline Commando 2: excellent, everything flies;
- Eternity Warriors 2: did not start;
- Eternity Warriors 4: excellent, everything flies;
- Trial Xtreme 3: excellent, everything flies;
- Trial Xtreme 4: excellent, everything flies;
- dead effect: excellent, everything flies;
- Dead Effect 2: excellent, everything flies;
- Plants vs Zombies 2: excellent, everything flies;
- dead target: excellent, everything flies;
- Injustice: excellent, everything flies.
- Injustice 2: excellent, everything flies.
And indeed, two games did not launch, one received not the highest rating. All in all, the Galaxy J3 (2017) remains a decent gaming console, but be warned: there may be some nasty surprises.
BY
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) received Android 7.0, as well as the Samsung Essentials 8.1 interface. We wrote about it in detail in, so here we only list the main points.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) has two home screens and a News Briefing screen. They have search and folders with Google and Microsoft applications. The new interface does not have a menu button. It is called by a gesture if you swipe up from the bottom a little higher than the bottom row of icons. On the second screen, you can see Yandex search.
Home screens now have settings. Here you can choose the grid, set the size and color of the fonts.
In addition to the main mode, a simple mode appeared. It is clearly addressed to the elderly or visually impaired. Larger icons are used here, there is a screen with contacts for quick dialing. There is also a menu button.
The appearance of the application menu is standard. Search is at the top. Applications can be sorted alphabetically. In the menu settings, you can change the color scheme. The selection of Samsung Essentials apps has also gone to the settings.
The set of Google applications is normal. No news. The most recent addition was made last year - the Duo messenger. Microsoft, as usual, is represented by shortcuts to office suite applications. They still need to be installed and, if asked, subscribe. Skype and OneDrive do not need to be installed, unless they are updated.
News Briefing has not changed. Individual news selections, etc. are also possible.
Notification panel and quick settings. The full list of icons is opened by dragging the border between notifications and icons. There is a quick launch of the access point, energy saving.
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) supports Smart Switch app. With it, you can transfer all personal data from your old phone to a new one. Not only Samsung devices and not only Android are supported.
Samsung applications are folded into a separate folder, though not all of them. There are a few more that are in the main menu.
The Samsung voice recorder is much better than the stock Android one. Here you can choose the quality of the recording, its format, as well as block incoming calls for the duration of the recording.
S Health in the new Galaxy is no longer just a fitness tracker, it's an entire ecosystem with social features, supported accessories, and APIs that work with third-party apps. You can use other trekkers, but the information from them, if desired, will still fall into S Health.
The file manager looks familiar. It is possible to display folders as a list or preview icons. You can send files directly from the manager to a secure folder.
Its own browser, or rather an add-on for Chrome, is tied to a Samsung account, offers cloud links and supports extensions.
Samsung Notes are also multifunctional and convenient. Take notes by voice, by hand, draw, print. Nothing will be lost.
Samsung Members is a support service, a corporate magazine, a Galaxy owners forum and a phone manager all rolled into one. True, some of the functions are available through registration with Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) lacks biometric identification tools, but this is no reason to leave the smartphone without Secure Folder. You can restrict access to it with a password or a picture. In the folder, you can place personal files, as well as copies of applications that only the owner of the smartphone will have access to.
Samsung also pre-installs a label on the Galaxy J3 with a link to its store. There is another label - Gifts from Samsung. Unfortunately they didn't offer us anything. Apparently test devices are not allowed.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) also has a Yandex app. Here and search, and weather, and news.
Finally, the last "bun" is Ubank mobile banking.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) accelerated less than other smartphones in the line. It remains a very budget device. In some cases, it can be seen that the potential of the smartphone is higher. Functionality restrictions are made for the sake of positioning the device on the market.
The unequivocal advantages of the smartphone are the screen and the main camera. Given the chip made on the selfie, the front one could be of a higher resolution, for example, 8 megapixels, not 5.
On the whole, it turned out to be a worthy budget model, which can be recommended with a clear conscience and a caveat that you should not expect revelations from the device for such money.
Price Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017)
You can buy Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) for 12 thousand rubles, which is a good price, slightly higher than its predecessor.
Lenovo K6 Power costs 14,000 rubles. It has a Full HD display, though IPS, not AMOLED. It received an 8-core Snapdragon 430 and 2 GB of RAM. The resolution of the main camera is 13 megapixels, and the front camera is 8 megapixels, and most importantly, a 4000 mAh battery.
Xiaomi Redmi 4X with 16 GB of storage costs 13,000 rubles. It has a 720p IPS display, an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor and 2 GB of RAM, 13 and 5 megapixel cameras, and a 4100 mAh battery.
Huawei Honor 6C is also offered for 13,000 rubles. It has a 720p IPS display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. The resolution of the cameras is 13 and 5 megapixels, the battery capacity is 3020 mAh.
It unites all the rivals of Android 6.0 and the fact that they are at least a little thicker than the Galaxy J5 (2017), with the exception of Huawei. In the end, we can say that the AMOLED display and the latest Android 7.0 require sacrifices, if not financially, then in terms of performance. Set your priorities.
pros:
- good body;
- decent design;
- good main camera;
- good screen;
- two separate slots for SIM-cards.
Minuses:
- low resolution front camera;
- relatively unproductive platform;
- lack of a fingerprint scanner, NFC;
- no auto-adjust screen brightness.
2016 was a year of updates for most of the mobile range from the South Korean company Samsung. Changes have not bypassed the most diverse line of Galaxy J phones. In the Russian market, this budget series has about five models, and Samsung J3 2016 takes the place of the “golden mean” in it. Whether the Samsung Galaxy J3 is worthy of competition in its price range - let's find out from our review of the smartphone.
Key Features of Samsung Galaxy J3
It is quite logical that one should not expect something extremely surprising and amazing from the economy class among Samsung phones. The smartphone is significantly inferior not only to the simplest representative of the updated A-line of the same manufacturer, but even to its slightly older colleagues in the niche. However, you should not write it off so immediately. Indeed, for budget phones, the Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 shows quite good results.
Frame
Of course, it is unlikely that any budget model can boast of a body made of even a simple 2.5D glass. Galaxy J3 2016 is no exception. In general, its design is not original or special "style" - the phone looks quite simple, but it's not that cheap. The body of the updated smartphone, like its previous version, is made of plastic. The back panel of the gadget imitates a matte metal finish in one of three available colors: standard white, universal black and gold, which has been very popular in recent years. The side part is made in the form of a metal edging, which can mislead you a little and lead you to think that there really are aluminum inserts in the case. Unfortunately, it is not.
The design of the Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 is not much different from most models of the South Korean developer
The screen occupies most of the front panel. Below it are a mechanical button "Home", as well as touch "Context menu" and "Back". By the way, on the J7, the sensors, unlike most modern Samsung models, are visible all the time, and not just when backlit. At the moment, this is already a rarity, and in later representatives of the market, the company hides such controls. Above the screen is the front camera, speaker, proximity sensor and the Samsung logo. There are no flashes on the front camera, as you can see.
Phone parameters are 142 x 71 mm, its thickness is 7.8 mm. Weight - 138 g.
Screen
The smartphone cannot boast of a large screen size. Here it is only 5 inches. In addition, there is a small black frame around the entire perimeter of the working display, which cannot be removed in any way. However, this is quite enough for any work with the phone, and due to its small size, the device is comfortable to hold in your hand. The display resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels, which is a standard for budget and mid-range phones. Of course, the image on the Samsung Galaxy J3 does not compare with the same Galaxy S7. The cheapness of the gadget will show through in a few square silhouettes, not the sharpest edges of the image or pixels that you can even see with the naked eye. True, with special diligence.
In tests, the smartphone does not show the top results. Even among representatives of its own niche, it is often inferior to colleagues in terms of brightness and the number of colors that it can reflect. But this is not as critical as it might seem. Especially when you consider that the phone is from the most budgetary line of smartphones from Samsung, and even not its oldest model.
At the same time, the updated Galaxy J3 now has a Super AMOLED display, which means that, despite the weak technical savvy, the picture on the Galaxy J3 screen promises to be quite high-quality. This is immediately evident in the color accuracy rating, where the Delta E error is only 2.7, with an average of 3.2.
Photo gallery: smartphone test results
One of the clear distinguishing features of the phone was its impressive Super-AMOLED display. The color temperature of the display is somewhat high, but these are quite typical readings for all models from the South Korean developer. The phone has a high brightness, which allows you to comfortably work with it not only indoors, but also outdoors
Among other things, the phone has a fairly wide viewing angle. Unfortunately, the Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 does not have auto-brightness, but the level of “illumination” of the display can be adjusted manually without any problems.
technical stuff
Processors Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 also do not differ in special characteristics. It has a Spreadtrum SC9830 quad-core chipset clocked at 1.5 GHz and a Mali-400 MP4 GPU. The smartphone performs standard and simple tasks quickly, without delays, reboots, various bugs and other things. However, it is worth turning to the South Korean offspring with a slightly more resource-intensive request, as the phone begins to notice noticeable difficulties. For complex work or “heavy” games, unfortunately, this smartphone is not intended.
In terms of software, the Galaxy J3 boasts Android Lollipop version 5.1.1 and Samsung's famous TouchWiz skin, which makes your device's interface easier to work with, as well as giving it a certain playfulness and personality.
Photo gallery: technical capabilities
In this mode, you can manually adjust things like white balance, ISO, exposure, and more.
Daytime shooting (+ photo)
The camera in the Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 behaves quite predictably for a budget phone camera. Under near-ideal conditions of good light and minimal shaking of hands or objects in the frame, images come out crisp, detailed, rich and vibrant. The camera determines the light balance accurately, and the color reproduction is close to the original. However, as soon as at least one component of the “ideal” shooting disappears, the quality of the frames noticeably decreases, blurring appears, and color is lost. In addition, many users note that the phone sometimes takes too long to select the focus object.
Quality and detail in sufficient daylight show excellent results 
It is more difficult to shoot people: the slightest movement - and part of the picture is blurry 
Auto white balance works well too. 
Color reproduction is very accurate despite overcast skies and no sun
Night shooting (+ photo)
In low light, indoors or at night, you should not hope for a good quality of the shots you have taken. Images immediately lose daylight detail, a large amount of noise appears, the pictures become more gray and nondescript. At the same time, autofocus noticeably slows down.
As soon as dusk falls, you can safely put your Samsung Galaxy J3 2016 in your pocket 
At night, the detail of the pictures drops several times
Autofocus seems to be starting to seriously consider whether it's even worth trying to shoot something. 
Macro mode, in general, behaves well even indoors. Of course, you can’t hope for a rich and bright photo, but the pictures come out at a decent level. 
If you want to get an unblurred picture indoors in normal mode, you will have to provide the phone with very serious stabilization. 
But moving objects will not work with excellent detail
Video recording
The video story is the same. The phone records videos in 1020 x 720 resolution, i.е. only HD, the frame rate is 30 fps. With sufficient daylight, the results are pretty good even if it's not Full-HD. But at night the quality drops a lot.
Front-camera
Everything repeats with accuracy in the case of the front camera. The 5 megapixel lens produces acceptable results during the day and in well-lit areas. The Galaxy J3 2016 front camera does not have a built-in flash, so at night or in a room with dim light, you simply cannot take a selfie (not that high-quality, but at least distinguishable).
Despite the fact that the resolution of the front camera of the Samsung Galaxy J3 is less than that of the main one, the pictures taken with it sometimes come out much better. 
But not always
