Samsung Galaxy J1: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Where to buy

Samsung's Galaxy J1 is a budget Android smartphone aimed at anyone who needs to keep an eye on the price tag when purchasing a new phone.

The J1 has a small, fairly low-resolution screen measuring just 4.5 inches and 480 x 800 pixels, but it gets a boost from Super AMOLED technology that enhances colours and contrast. The phone is also quite light at 131g and packs in a decent battery life.

Design

• Basic but practical with no fancy trimmings.
• Bright AMOLED screen, though limited to a fairly low resolution.

• Read our full breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy J1's design

  As the Galaxy J1 is a budget handset, Samsung has opted for a relatively basic design that favours simplicity over style. The 4.5in screen is quite a bit smaller than most modern smartphones, though wider bezels mean the physical footprint is larger than that of Samsung's recent smartphones with their edge-to-edge screens.

  The J1's screen resolution is a modest 480 x 800 pixels, which is a far cry from the 1080-pixel and higher displays of most current smartphones. This is offset somewhat by Samsung's use of AMOLED technology, which delivers more vibrant colours and heightened contrast between elements on the screen.

  It's worth noting that unlike many other Samsung handsets, the Galaxy J1 does not feature any water resistance. Keep this in mind when you're poolside, fishing, enjoying some boating or any other water-adjacent activities.

Camera

• 5MP camera allows for decent if unremarkable photos.
• Handy camera shortcut makes it easier to capture fleeting shots.

• Read our full breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy J1's camera

  With a resolution of just 5 megapixels you won't be setting the art world on fire with photos taken on the Galaxy J1, even with the LED flash and autofocus features.

  However, the Galaxy J1 should take decent-enough shots for social media sharing, and the camera app does offer a pro mode if you're the kind of snapper who likes to get under the hood and play with the settings.

  One particularly nice touch is the camera's quick access function. A simple double tap of the home button fires up the camera for speedier shots.

  The front camera only has a 2MP resolution, so save it for selfies where you prefer to keep an air of mystery. Tinder profiles, perhaps?

Performance

• Suitable for general email and web browsing tasks, but not a whole lot more.

• Read our full breakdown of the Galaxy J1's performance

  The Galaxy J1 is definitely no raging beast when it comes to processing power, but it does have a quad-core processor running at 1.3GHz; specifically, Samsung's own Exynos 3475, if that's the kind of detail you like to have.

  In terms of RAM, the J1 offers just 1GB along with 8GB of storage. Good news on the storage front is that you can expand it with a MicroSD, up to an additional 128GB if you're keen. It's also 4G enabled for data and calling purposes.

Battery

• Low-power hardware gives the 2,050mAh battery plenty of legs.
• Ultra power saving mode offers even more battery life for times when recharging isn't an option.

• Read our full breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy J1's battery

  Unsurprisingly, the Samsung Galaxy J1 features a smaller battery than you'd find in its larger and more expensive siblings. At just 2,050mAh, it might not seem particularly beefy, but this is where the J1's humble specs provide an advantage. Its low-power processor and small display mean it chews through battery significantly slower than your average smartphone, and you should have little trouble getting through a full day without needing to charge it up.

  If you really want to push the battery as far as it will go, Samsung has built in a neat Ultra power saving mode that turns the screen black and white and shuts down all non-essential apps. This can extend battery life quite dramatically, and is especially handy if you're always on the go.

  You can also remove and replace the battery, which is a rather unusual feature in smartphones these days.

Pricing and availability

eBay

Specifications

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