Samsung Galaxy J1: Plans | Pricing | Specs

Matt Sayer

Last updated: Apr 11, 2019

Samsung's J1 smartphone is a highly affordable entry into its world of Galaxy Android phones.

4.5 inches

Display size

480 x 800px

8GB

Internal storage

5 MP

Rear camera

2,050 mAh

Battery size

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Display

Display Size

4.5 inches

Resolution

480 x 800px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

207 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

5MP

Rear camera aperture size

f/2.2

Video recording

720p

Front camera megapixels

2MP

Front camera aperture size

f/2.2

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

132.6mm x 69.3mm x 8.9mm

Weight

131g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

802.11 b/g/n

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

Spreadtrum SC9830

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android 5

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 128GB

Battery capacity

2,050mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

Launch price (RRP)	$399.99
Launch date	2016-01

Matt Sayer

Matt Sayer is a technology writer and editorial engineer for Finder, combining industry expertise with data-driven solutions to help people make better decisions. His extensive portfolio spans investigative reporting on the roll-out of 5G, statistical analysis on the legacy of E3 and guides for popular products like mobile phones and smart speakers. Matt has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about finding ways that technology can better our lives.

Where to buy

Buy at eBay

What's in this guide?

Design
Camera
Performance
Battery
Pricing and availability
Specifications

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Price

$150

Where to buy

eBay

Specifications

Display

Display Size

4.5 inches

Resolution

480 x 800px

Pixels per inch (PPI)

207 ppi

Camera

Rear camera megapixels

5MP

Rear camera aperture size

f/2.2

Video recording

720p

Front camera megapixels

2MP

Front camera aperture size

f/2.2

Physical Dimensions

Dimensions

132.6mm x 69.3mm x 8.9mm

Weight

131g

Connectivity

NFC

Wi-Fi

802.11 b/g/n

Network category speed

N/A

Power, storage and battery

Processor

Spreadtrum SC9830

RAM

1GB

Operating system

Android 5

Internal storage

8GB

External storage support

Up to 128GB

Battery capacity

2,050mAh

Device features

Headphone jack

Yes

Fingerprint sensor

Water resistance rating

N/A

Wireless charging

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Samsung Galaxy J1: Plans | Pricing | Specs