Samsung

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G: Pros and Cons

Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop)
Samsung Exynos 3 Quad 3475
Mali-T720 MP1
1 GB / 8 GB
4.5 inch (480 x 800 px)
5 MP, 2592 х 1944 px, autofocus

Samsung announced the launch of the Galaxy J1 4G smartphone in 2016. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 4.5 inch Super AMOLED display, Samsung Exynos 3 Quad 3475 SoC, and 1 GB of RAM. The Galaxy J1 4G series was launched with Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) pre-installed, but it is upgradable. The 4.5 inch AMOLED displays has fast response times. This smartphone has a single camera on the back (5 MP, 2592 х 1944 px, autofocus). Does this phone justify its price tag? I hope to provide clarity by the conclusion of my review.

Table of Contents

This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the Samsung Galaxy J1 4G 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.

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G / 1

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G specifications

BrandSamsung
NameGalaxy J1 4G
ModelSM-J120
Release date2016

Weight, dimensions, colors

Weight4.62 oz
Dimensions5.22 x 2.73 x 0.35 inch
Colorsblack, gold, white
SIM typeMicro SIM

The weight of Samsung Galaxy J1 4G is about 4.62 oz with battery. This is average for smartphones of the same size. A micro SIM is a smaller version of the standard SIM card used in mobile devices.

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G / 1

System, chipset, performance

OS versionAndroid OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop)
SoCSamsung Exynos 3 Quad 3475
CPUQuad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
GPUMali-T720 MP1

The Samsung Galaxy J1 4G comes with Android OS v5.1.1 (Lollipop) out of the box. Google has integrated many services with Android. These include Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Drive. The mid-range CPU can deliver fast, efficient performance for many tasks. Many mobile devices use ARM Mali GPUs. They are well known for their good performance and power efficiency.

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G / 2

Display type, size, resolution

Display typeSuper AMOLED
Screen size4.5 inch
Resolution480 x 800 px
Multitouch supportyes

AMOLED displays enable an Always-On Display feature. A part of the screen remains active to display the time, date, and notifications. Smaller smartphones are generally more compact and easier to handle. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner.

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G / 3

Memory, storage

RAM1 GB
Internal storage8 GB
Memory card slotmicroSD

1 GB of RAM is not typically considered to be enough for a smartphone. Having more RAM alone does not guarantee better performance. Most people think a smartphone needs at least 32 GB of storage. The Galaxy J1 4G has only 8 GB. You can expand the internal storage (8 GB) with a compatible microSD card.

Samsung Galaxy J1 4G / 4

Cameras, flash

Main camera5 MP, 2592 х 1944 px, autofocus
FlashLED
Selfie camera2 MP

The single camera can be enough for many smartphone users. It depends on their photography needs and preferences. The Galaxy J1 4G 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
Bluetoothv4.1, A2DP
GPSA-GPS, GLONASS
NFCno
FM radiono
USBmicroUSB 2.0
Headphone3.5 mm jack

The Samsung Galaxy J1 4G supports 4G/LTE networks. The phone is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi networks. The Galaxy J1 4G smartphone is capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices. The GPS allows this smartphone to find their exact location. It provides accurate navigation and mapping. 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-Ion 2050 mAh

The Li-Ion 2050 mAh battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The Li-ion is a low maintenance battery. It does not need periodic full discharge. You can simply buy a new battery from the open market and interchange it by yourself.

Features, sensors, specials

Sensorsaccelerometer, 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). 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 Samsung 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

  • Super AMOLED display
  • microSD slot
  • Dual SIM support

Cons

  • limited-size screen
  • insufficient memory
  • 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
Add Samsung Galaxy J1 4G to your comparison

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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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