Mobile phones Samsung Galaxy J 3. Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) - Specifications

TFT IPS- High quality liquid crystal matrix. It has wide viewing angles, one of the best indicators of color rendering quality and contrast among all those used in the production of displays for portable equipment.
Super AMOLED- if a regular AMOLED screen uses several layers, between which there is an air gap, then in Super AMOLED there is only one such touch layer without air gaps. This allows you to achieve greater screen brightness with the same power consumption.
Super AMOLED HD- differs from Super AMOLED in its higher resolution, thanks to which you can achieve 1280x720 pixels on a mobile phone screen.
Super AMOLED plus- this is a new generation of Super AMOLED displays, differs from the previous one by using a larger number of subpixels in a conventional RGB matrix. The new displays are 18% thinner and brighter than displays made using the old PenTile technology.
AMOLED- an improved version of OLED technology. The main advantages of the technology are significantly reduced power consumption, the ability to display a larger color gamut, reduced thickness and the ability of the display to bend slightly without the risk of breaking.
Retina-high pixel density display designed specifically for Apple technology. The pixel density of Retina displays is such that individual pixels are indistinguishable to the eye at a normal distance from the screen. This ensures the highest image detail and significantly improves the overall viewing experience.
Super Retina HD- the display is made using OLED technology. The pixel density is 458 PPI, the contrast reaches 1,000,000:1. The display has a wide color gamut and unsurpassed color accuracy. Pixels in the corners of the display are smoothed at the sub-pixel level, so edges are not distorted and appear smooth. The Super Retina HD reinforcing layer is 50% thicker. It will be harder to break the screen.
Super LCD is the next generation of LCD technology, it is characterized by improved characteristics compared to earlier LCD displays. The screens not only have wide viewing angles and better color reproduction, but also lower power consumption.
TFT- A common type of liquid crystal display. Using an active matrix controlled by thin-film transistors, it is possible to significantly increase the performance of the display, as well as the contrast and clarity of the image.
OLED- organic electroluminescent display. It consists of a special thin-film polymer that emits light when exposed to an electric field. This type of display has a large reserve of brightness and consumes very little energy.

The brand positions the J line as the entry level, even though the cost of the top models can reach 20 thousand rubles. The price difference could not but affect the technical characteristics of the devices. The most prominent representatives of the series are the J3, J5 and J7 gadgets.

The company presents the new models as an alternative to the more noble A-series. That is, J-devices are designed for those who do not need advanced or expensive functionality, but want to have a gadget from a famous brand in their pocket, and not some no-name device from China with an unclear warranty and incomprehensible service.

Nevertheless, the abundance of more than competitive “Chinese” makes the younger J-series (J3/J5) not so attractive. So here we are talking more about buying a venerable brand, rather than functionality and some remarkable features. Let's consider the most attractive option for domestic consumers - the J3 model, the youngest in the series.

So, the subject of today's review is a smartphone (2017). Characteristics, owner reviews, advantages and disadvantages of the gadget, as well as the advisability of the purchase will be discussed in our article.

Positioning

The first step is to clarify some price points that may After all the press releases, where the company presented journalists with a brand new model for 9,990 rubles, a device with slightly different characteristics should have gone on sale.

Here we are talking about the AMOLED screen that is equipped with the older models of the series. In fact, the gadget received a good, but still TFT matrix. Conveyor versions of the smartphone (J330F) began to differ not only in “filling”, but also in price. In total, the consumer received, in fact, an ordinary gadget for 12 thousand rubles.

Naturally, the “Chinese” from the budget segment look much more attractive. Huawei, Meizu and Xiaomi can offer almost the same thing, but for less money - 9, 8, or even 7 thousand rubles. But if you look at all Samsung models, the J3 device received the minimum price. That is, for 12 thousand rubles, the consumer has a branded smartphone with a unique design in a metal case.

Looking at the characteristics and reviews of the Samsung J3 (2017) in general, users are, in principle, willing to overpay for the name and a better quality body at the expense of the matrix. So everyone here has their own preferences and views on this situation.

Equipment

The smartphone is sold in a small box made of thick cardboard in a plain design. There are no beautiful landscapes, girls or cars on the packaging - only a blue background and the name of the series with an emphasis on the year of production.

On the reverse side there is a very modest specification and manufacturer's markers. At the ends you can see accompanying labels and distributor stickers. The interior decoration is organized quite sensibly and the accessories do not “quarrel” with each other. Actually, there’s not much to fit there, because the equipment is budget-friendly.

Contents of delivery:

• the device itself;
• mains charger;
• USB cable for synchronization with PC and recharging;
• wired headphones;
• SIM card removal tool;
• documentation with warranty obligations.

The set is quite meager, but more is not needed here. Any additional accessory adds cost to the gadget, and the price is already high. Judging by the reviews of Samsung J3 (2017) owners, they are quite satisfied with the existing equipment. Today it is very difficult to please the consumer with standard cases or styluses, so users prefer to buy everything themselves, as they say, according to their taste and color.

The accessories themselves look reliable and not cheap: the charger is well assembled, the cords are elastic and protected, and the SIM card clip is made of a good alloy. In general, it feels like the device was equipped with a venerable brand. This is also confirmed by numerous reviews of the Samsung J3 (2017) in a positive way.

Appearance

The manufacturer didn’t bother with color schemes and released the J-series in the usual classic colors. In stores you can find blue, gold, pink and black gadgets. Judging by the reviews of the Black smartphone (2017), buyers are tired of the black color, and a good half of users prefer blue or gold colors. Pink devices are extremely rare, but due to the specificity of the shade, it is almost not in demand, so it’s difficult to write this down as a minus.

The dimensions of the device can be called acceptable for its diagonal - 143 x 70 x 8 mm. Weighing 142 grams, the model fits well in the hand and does not cause any discomfort even after prolonged use. Reviews of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) smartphone are entirely positive in terms of ergonomics: the device is really comfortable and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.

The device has a metal body, but with extensive inserts in the upper and lower parts. Comparing the older models with the J3, you can see that the brand has saved on design: visually the device looks like a budget phone, and only an expensive case can hide this. Judging by the reviews of (2017) Gold, the “golden” solution slightly saves the appearance, helping to merge the plastic inserts with the metal body. But upon careful examination, the budget segment of the gadget is still felt.

The next thing the manufacturer saved on was sensors. The smartphone does not have a fingerprint module, nor does it have an automatic light sensor. The latter costs a penny, and such savings are not entirely clear. Users in their reviews of (2017) have repeatedly criticized the brand for such a decision. Even frankly cheap Chinese models have a light sensor, and some have a fingerprint scanner. So here the manufacturer clearly went too far with cutting out unnecessary things.

Interfaces

On the front panel there is a familiar Samsung physical button, and on the sides there are two touch keys. They work great and respond well, but they are completely devoid of backlighting - again, saving money.

In the upper front part there is a peephole for the front camera with a flash. On the left side is the volume rocker, and on the right is the power key. The speaker is also located on the end just above the power button. This decision caused a mixed reaction in reviews of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) smartphone.

On the one hand, the speaker does not cause any problems and even looks original. But on the other hand, his vociferousness has noticeably decreased. And if other gadgets from Samsung were distinguished not only by high-quality sound, but also by a good volume level, here we have only a solid average.

The bottom end is reserved for a standard 3.5 mm mini-jack and a micro-USB interface for synchronizing with a computer, peripherals and recharging. Slots for SIM and SD cards are located on the left side: one for the nano format, the other for an external drive or the same SIM card.

Assembly

As for the build quality, there are no complaints here. Users in their reviews of the Samsung J330F Galaxy J3 (2017) smartphone did not note any creaks, backlashes, gaps and other shortcomings that are typical for gadgets in the budget segment.

All parts fit tightly together and the device looks monolithic. So here we have a solid five: the gadget’s belonging to a noble brand is still felt.

Display

The device received an ordinary screen on the same unremarkable TFT matrix. The maximum that it is capable of is HD scanning. Judging by the reviews of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017), almost the only thing that pleased the matrix was its good readability of data in the sun, and that’s all.

There is no automatic adjustment of brightness and contrast, but there are several presets for different operating scenarios. For example, when the “Outdoor” mode is turned on, the brightness is turned up to the maximum value and the screen becomes easy to read even in direct sunlight.

The screen does not have any specific settings. In general, users in their reviews of the Samsung J3 (2017) are perplexed about this. Yes, the smartphone does not have the best TFT matrix, but it is also capable of some “tricks”. And why the manufacturers did not include the appropriate tools in the firmware is not entirely clear.

There are some minor complaints about the viewing angles, and only the mediocre TFT matrix is ​​to blame for this. Therefore, you won’t be able to scroll through photos or watch videos in the company of friends: when you change the angle, the picture begins to distort, losing saturation and color.

Performance

The proprietary Exynos 7570 chipset running on four cores with a frequency of 1.4 GHz is responsible for the performance. 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory are enough for ordinary needs. The interface does not slow down and responds quickly, and all tables and icons scroll through and work as intended. If the internal storage is not enough, then it is possible to increase the volume using external SD cards, up to 256 GB.

Judging by the reviews of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) SM J330F, users are generally satisfied with the performance of the gadget. Essentially, what you pay for is what you get. There are no issues with the operation of standard applications, but some problems may arise with serious third-party programs. For “heavy” and modern toys, 2 GB of RAM is no longer enough, so sometimes you have to reset the graphic presets to the average, or even the minimum value (if the application starts at all).

Cameras

The main camera has a 13-megapixel matrix with autofocus and some kind of flash. The resulting photos are quite good, but only in good lighting. The camera's capabilities can be compared with the same "Chinese" ones - nothing outstanding, but nothing particularly to reproach.

Users, judging by reviews of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) Black, are generally satisfied with the capabilities of the matrix. Yes, in the dark the camera is practically useless, but the budget gadget was bought for the most part as a phone, and not as a camera.

The front camera has more modest capabilities with a 5-megapixel matrix. There is no autofocus here, but there is a flash and a variety of modes. The camera is perfect for taking selfies and further processing the latter right on the spot. Fortunately, there are enough tools for this, as well as decorations in the stock firmware. If you analyze the reviews of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) J330F, you can see that the main consumer of the gadget is young people. So the brand made the right decision by adding similar functionality for selfies to its device.

Communications

For the same savings, the manufacturer equipped the gadget with a single-band Wi-Fi module. Users in their reviews of the Samsung J3 (2017), especially city residents, have repeatedly complained about this decision. In large cities, the airwaves are crowded to the maximum, and normal operation will not work with one band.

In addition, the device does not have ANT+, and even today it does not have the necessary NFC module. There are no complaints about the Bluetooth wireless protocol: version 4.2 works as it should and transfers data quite quickly. The GPS module, one might say, functions as standard, and there are no questions about it either. The only thing worth noting is that it eats up a fair amount of battery, so you shouldn’t get carried away with it.

As for regular cellular communications, judging by user reviews of the Samsung J3 (2017), there are no problems: reception is stable, no interruptions or sagging were noticed. The Internet also works well, including LTE, and packets are not lost. So, if the connection starts to glitch or behave strangely, then the cellular operator is to blame, not the device.

Platform

The smartphone runs on the Android operating system version 7.0.1. In addition to the standard set of applications, the manufacturer has finally included a sensible FM radio in the firmware. Previous versions of the latter were so buggy that they caused a whole storm of negative emotions among users. In the latest versions of the platform, the holes have been patched up, and now everything works as it should.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the KNOX function, where the user has the opportunity to install any application in two copies at once. This is very convenient if you actively use instant messengers like WhatsApp on your work and home SIM cards.

But, as usual, the brand has stuffed its device with proprietary software. A good half of the applications are either entirely advertising-based or simply useless. It is quite difficult to remove all these “useful” programs from the stock firmware, so you have to resort to the help of third-party utilities that completely cut out all unnecessary software. As one of the options, you can immediately take care of changing the firmware to an amateur one. Fortunately, there are a lot of them on specialized forums, and some are even marked by the manufacturer as recommended or approved.

Autonomous operating time

The gadget received a 2400 mAh lithium-ion battery. For the gluttonous “android” brethren, this is clearly not enough. The unspoken minimum in the budget segment ranges from 3000 mAh, but here we have a very modest battery.

If you use your smartphone specifically as a phone or messenger and, with rare exceptions, allow yourself to play games or watch videos in high quality, then the charge will last for two or even three days with a reserve.

For fans of games and other multimedia entertainment, battery life will be sorely lacking. The device in this mode is barely enough for daylight hours, and already closer to dinner it begins to “ask” for a power outlet. So autonomy is one of the weakest features of the model.

There is no wireless charging, like the older generation, but for most users this is not critical. But what I wanted to get was fast recharging. Owners in their reviews more than once complained about the manufacturer due to the lack of it. With such a modest indicator of autonomy, such a necessary thing as instant recharging is simply necessary. In normal mode, the battery is recharged in 2.5-3 hours.

Summarizing

As for the telephone, our respondent has no complaints: the connection is good, the vibration alert is noticeable, the subscriber can be heard very well, as well as you. The speaker volume is at an average level, but the device cannot be called quiet.

The smartphone is suitable for those who need a telephone gadget. For those who often surf the Internet and like to play games or watch movies, the J3 is far from the best option. Here we have a mediocre TFT matrix and the same performance. All this is perfectly optimized for standard tools, but, alas, it won’t handle anything really serious. And even if it does, it will last no more than an hour with such a modest battery.

J3 is the youngest model in its series and costs about 12 thousand rubles. The next generation (J5/J7) has more serious components and costs 15 and 18 thousand rubles, respectively. If you are looking for a normal gadget in the mid-price segment, then the J5 and J7 models are very good options, which cannot be said about the J3. It is difficult to classify it in the budget category because of the price, but in terms of its characteristics it does not reach the average level.

If you are not an ardent fan of the Samsung brand, and you need a smart device under 10 thousand rubles, then it is better to pay attention to the reputable “Chinese” from Meizu, Huawei and Xiaomi. They dominate the budget segment and offer really high-quality and inexpensive gadgets.

I recently bought this smartphone, I like it madly, but there is one problem - the BATTERY. The phone dies very quickly, overnight the charge drops by 10-15% ((((. And this despite the fact that the applications are closed and not connected to Wi-fi. Now I don’t even know what to do

Alexander, what’s wrong with him? Can you be more specific about what you recommend for this price?

Manufacturer

operating system

A shell pre-installed on portable devices, including a set of tools for managing resources, functions and applications. At the moment, the most common operating systems for modern smartphones and tablets are Apple iOS (only on Apple devices) and Google Android (on devices from most manufacturers). The largest number of applications have been developed for them. The third most popular platform is Microsoft Windows, which, like Android, is not tied to the manufacturer. BlackBerry devices traditionally use their own OS, and other mobile platforms are extremely rare.

SIM card type

Modern mobile devices that support cellular communications use three types of SIM cards: a standard-sized mini-SIM module, a compact micro-SIM module, and the smallest nano-SIM. All three modules have the same pin arrangement and can be installed in any mobile device that has a SIM card slot. If the dimensions of the slot and SIM card do not match, an adapter is used or the plastic case is cut off. Currently, SIM cards are produced both in the form of a specific type of module and a universal one (Mini or Micro), from which, if necessary, a smaller module is “broken out” using special slots.

Number of SIM cards

OS version as of the start of sales

Android 5.1 Lollipop

GSM is a global standard for digital mobile cellular communications and belongs to second generation networks (1G - analogue cellular communications, 3G - broadband digital cellular communications). Telecom operators around the world use one of 4 frequency bands for GSM: in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia - 900, 1800 or 1900 MHz, and in America and Canada - 850, 1800 or 1900 MHz. A phone that supports only one of the GSM frequency standards will not function in networks of other standards. Currently, the vast majority of manufactured devices are three- and four-band, thanks to which they operate without problems all over the world.

850, 900, 1800, 1900

CPU

CPU

Spreadtrum SC9830

CPU frequency

The processor clock speed shows the maximum number of simple operations that the processor can perform in one second. The higher the frequency, the higher the speed of the device, but such a comparison is only appropriate for processors of the same line, since, in addition to frequency, there are other parameters that affect performance (its architecture, cache size, etc.).

Number of Cores

Modern processor manufacturing technologies make it possible to place more than one core in one package. The more cores, the higher the performance, however, there are other parameters that affect the power of the processor.

Camera

Main camera

The vast majority of modern smartphones and tablets are equipped with cameras for taking photos and videos. This tool is always at hand, so you can capture important information or catch an interesting moment. The quality of the footage can be roughly determined based on the number of megapixels of the built-in camera matrix. However, due to the impossibility of installing full-fledged optics (lens), which plays one of the key roles for obtaining high-quality images, built-in devices are significantly inferior in characteristics to independent digital cameras.

Autofocus

Automatic focusing of the lens when shooting. On a mobile device with autofocus, you can get better photos: sharper, more detailed.

Front-camera

The number of light-sensitive elements (in millions of pixels - megapixels) that are used to form an image on the camera sensor. The higher the number of megapixels of the matrix, the higher the detail of the image. The front camera is more often used as an addition to the main one; its direct purpose is video communication, which does not require high resolution. For photo and video shooting, the rear camera has a higher resolution.

Multimedia

WEBM, MKV, MP4, M4V, 3G2, 3GP

Connectors

Micro-USB is a compact version of the most common data transfer interface, designed for portable devices. Used in most modern smartphones, tablets, e-readers, cameras and other portable devices. In 2011, it was approved as a unified standard for charging smartphones, tablets, players and other portable equipment, which allows you to charge the entire fleet of electronics using one cable.

Headphone jack

Nutrition

Battery capacity

Nominal battery capacity- this is the amount of electrical energy that the battery must have when charged. It is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh). The larger the capacity, the longer the device can work without being connected to the mains.

Talk time

Additional Information

Device model

Screen

Screen diagonal

Traditionally, for all modern devices it is indicated in inches. 1 inch is equal to 2.54 cm. The larger the screen, the more convenient it is to use the device, however, at the same time, the dimensions of the case and power consumption increase.

Horizontal screen resolution

Vertical screen resolution

Touch screen

Screen type

Today, screens for mobile devices are created using LCD technologies, where liquid crystals are used to backlight the matrix, and AMOLED - an active matrix based on organic light-emitting diodes. The design of both matrices uses TFT thin-film transistors.

LCD screens can be divided into two groups: TN and IPS.

TN is the oldest technology for manufacturing TFT matrices. Advantages: low price, short pixel response time. Disadvantages: small viewing angles, inability to get perfect black color, as a result, low contrast, problems with correct color rendering. Not used in modern devices.

IPS is characterized by wide viewing angles (178 degrees), the ability to correctly display black color, which has a positive effect on brightness, contrast and color reproduction. LCD displays tend to overcompensate for red tones with muted greens, so the images they produce have a natural color rendition similar to the standard color gamut profile used in photos and videos.

Separately, it is worth noting the Retina screen, developed by Apple based on an IPS matrix. It has such a high pixel density that the human eye is unable to notice that the image consists of them.

“Younger” AMOLED technology has both advantages and disadvantages compared to LCD. Among the undoubted advantages are shorter response times, thinner screens and full viewing angles (180 degrees). Each subpixel of such a matrix has its own backlight, which allows you to achieve a wide color gamut, high clarity and contrast of the picture. However, AMOLED's ability to display a wider color gamut often results in oversaturated images and unnatural colors, since the most powerful colors in the subpixels are blue and green. The energy consumption of AMOLED screens directly depends on the brightness of the image: to display black colors, the LEDs do not emit light, and when actively working in bright colors, they gradually “burn out” and power consumption increases significantly. The screen structure consists of several layers (matrix, LEDs, transistors), which makes it possible to produce rounded screens.

Touch screen type

Resistive screens are inexpensive to produce and respond to pressure (not touch) with any object: finger, stylus, credit card. When pressed, the conductive layers are mechanically closed (bending of the top layer) and the coordinates of the pressing point are calculated. Disadvantages: light transmission is no more than 85%, they do not support multiple simultaneous touch points, and they are not able to recognize pressure. They are used in budget models of portable devices, often in e-books.

Capacitive touchscreens are the most expensive to produce due to complex electronics for signal processing. Advantages: recognition of multiple touch points (multi-touch), transparency up to 90%. Such screens are more durable, since the top layer is made of glass. Not susceptible to touch with regular gloves (special gloves for capacitive screens are now produced) or hard objects. They are used in most portable devices - smartphones, tablet computers, laptop touchpads.

Inductive screens respond only to a special stylus and are usually used in graphics tablets (art tablets, children's tablets).

Infrared screens work on the following principle: the grid formed by infrared rays is interrupted when the screen is touched by any object. The controller determines the location where the beam was interrupted. They are used more often in e-books.

capacitive

Multi-touch

A technology that allows touch screens to recognize multiple touch points simultaneously. It is especially relevant for providing navigation functions, scaling (moving or spreading fingers), and rotating objects on the screen.

Memory

Built-in memory capacity

Modern portable devices are equipped with drives for storing files and installing applications, implemented in the form of Flash chips. The size of the built-in memory is key when choosing a portable device, especially if it does not have a slot for installing memory cards.

RAM capacity

Used for temporary storage of data. A large amount of RAM allows you to increase the overall system performance and makes it possible to comfortably work in multitasking mode and with resource-intensive applications.

Memory card support

Maximum memory card capacity

Wireless connection

Also referred to as LTE. It is a wireless high-speed mobile data standard that builds on previous technologies and is a natural upgrade for operators with GSM/UMTS and CDMA2000 networks. 4G exchanges data at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s - the figure depends on the operator and the quality of network coverage. Different countries use different frequencies for 4G, making it possible to connect only multi-band devices to 4G networks around the world.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.