Samsung J1 Review

Samsung J1 Review

I strongly disagree on 2nd part. You can actually buy decent phones starting from 150/200 EUR. You can get decent 720p screen, 2gb ram and a Snapdragon 615 for that price (i have a ZTE Blade S6). A few years back, it was either flagships or low range phones, now you can get good midrange if you look for them (Samsung A series are overpriced).

Telephone & Voice QualityPhone appThe phone app with its central keypad is very easy to use. Entered numbers can be saved directly as a contact and the device shows the corresponding contact when the number is already saved or if you have called it before. There are four tabs at the top, starting with the number pad (default view), the history, favorites and contacts. The use of this app should not be a problem for any user. We are not really impressed by the voice quality. Obviously, this also depends on signal quality, but voices are slightly distorted on both sides. However, there were no annoying background noises (crackling). The microphone at the bottom does not properly filter wind noise. Although the integrated hands-free feature works, the quality is not very good. Voices sound tinny and the sound is muffled when the smartphone is lying on a table because the speaker is located at the rear next to the camera.

The phone comes with a 5-megapixel sensor on the back that takes photos that are, well, good enough. Photos come out a bit too soft, but details are a tad above average (for a 5MP sensor) and noise is kept under control as to not be a problem. Under low-light it’s a complete failure, but like the Galaxy E5 and E7, Samsung offers Night and HDR modes in the camera to somewhat improve p erformance under dim lighting conditions.

Otherwise, the performances are often average. Overall, the handling could be smoother, the signal quality was not very good in the review and there is room for improvements in terms of the voice quality. The main camera takes decent snapshots under good lighting conditions and there is not much criticism for the display, either.

The screen manages an average brightness of 364 cd/m². You get a very even picture impression in combination with the very good brightness distribution of 95%. The results of the Galaxy J1 are just average within our comparison group, there are some devices like the Honor Holly or the Huawei Y540 that are up to 30% brighter. You can at least increase the luminance up to 435 cd/m² for a limited time (15 minutes, control box next to the brightness setting), which can help in bright environments.

AccessoriesScope of deliveryIn addition to the Samsung Galaxy J1, the box contains the battery, a power adaptor with a fixed USB cable, a separate USB data cable, a headset as well as a quick-start guide and warranty information. Samsung also offers some optional accessories like universal Bluetooth receivers or external batteries. Warranty The warranty period is 24 months after the purchase, but the battery is only covered for six months.

Ultra Power Saving Mode Never run out of battery with the Ultra Power Saving Mode that gives you a boost of power during important situations, letting you complete the tasks you need on minimal battery life. If you are working on something important with low battery, this feature can be a lifesaver.

The virtual keyboard occupies at least 50% of the screen (see pictures) and you cannot see a lot from the actual content, especially in the browser. A handy feature is the row of numbers in the top row that ca n be selected by a protracted tap. This means that you do not have to switch to another view. The key size itself is limited in portrait mode because of the comparatively small display, and big fingers can have problems with typos. The situation is much better in landscape mode since the keys are wider. Swype inputs are possible, but you have to activate the feature in the settings first. Obviously, it is possible to download other keyboards from the Play Store. The touchscreen offers decent gliding capabilities and it is also sensitive up into the peripheral areas, but our inputs were not always executed immediately. Those small breaks are annoying and can be quite frustrating. The navigation through the OS is pretty smooth, but there are stutters when you want to use the keyboard.

Samsung has equipped the Galaxy J1 with a replaceable 7.13 Wh battery (lithium-Ion), which results in very good runtimes in combination with the low consumption values. The more practical Wi-Fi test (browser script, adjusted brightness at around 150 cd/m²) determines almost 11 hours for the Galaxy J1. None of the rivals can keep up with this result. The Galaxy J1 also has an advantage in all the other scenarios. A full charge of the battery takes about three hours when the device is turned on.

The black value is quite high at 0.63 cd/m², which results in a contrast ratio of 587:1. With the exception of the Motorola Moto E 2015, all comparison devices are very close in this discipline. Really deep blacks cannot be produced by the panel and the colors could be slightly richer. Further measurements with the software CalMAN show decent results for such an inexpensive device. The grayscale has quite a high average DeltaE 2000 deviation of 7.28 compared to the sRGB reference color space, but once again, this is an average result. The measurements also show that the colors shift towards blue, but you cannot see a strong blue cast in practice.CalMAN - Colo rChecker CalMAN - Grayscale CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps CalMAN - Colorspace

The virtual keyboard occupies at least 50% of the screen (see pictures) and you cannot see a lot from the actual content, especially in the browser. A handy feature is the row of numbers in the top row that can be selected by a protracted tap. This means that you do not have to switch to another view. The key size itself is limited in portrait mode because of the comparatively small display, and big fingers can have problems with typos. The situation is much better in landscape mode since the keys are wider. Swype inputs are possible, but you have to activate the feature in the settings first. Obviously, it is possible to download other keyboards from the Play Store.

In recent times, Samsung has shifted a lot of its focus to the Indian market. The company launched its first Tizen phone in India, made its Galaxy E series (read our review) exclusive to the country, and then follo wed up with the Galaxy J1. The Galaxy J1 is the first device in the Galaxy J lineup, and is slightly higher in price than the Samsung Z1 and also comes with slightly better â€" yet decidedly low-end â€" hardware.

Discussion SpeakersThe position of the small mono speaker is not perfect, because it can be quickly covered next to the camera on the back. At least, the small module is pretty loud, but the sound quality cannot impress us at all. Overall, the sound is focused on high tones and as expected, bass is completely missing. We liked the playback via 3.5 mm stereo jack much better, but you should avoid the supplied headset. The maximum volume via a stereo jack is more than sufficient. It was easy to connect the Galaxy J1 with an external Bluetooth speaker (Denon Envaya Mini). The connection was stable and there were no dropouts. Another important aspect is the possible delays, but that was not a problem for the J1. The playback of YouTube videos was in sync and the y were much more entertaining compared to the integrated speaker.