In 2016, Samsung released one of the most compact devices on the smartphone market: the 4-inch Samsung Galaxy J1 mini. In addition, the J1 mini is the cheapest smartphone from the manufacturer, the price at the time of writing is about 80 USD.
This model has another name - Galaxy J1 Nxt mini, but it appears mainly in other countries. In this review we will try to figure out what this device is.
In 2016, other devices were released, reviews of which you will find here: , , , .
Specifications Samsung Galaxy J1 mini SM-J105H
The technical part of the smartphone is very modest by 2016 standards.
Design
The appearance of the device is very simple, without any frills. It is highly likely that the design was based on earlier budget models. Available in 3 color variations: black, white, gold. The product is made of matte plastic, the frame is made of metal, which is very pleasing and distinguishes the J 2016 series from last year. Ours was gold in color and the plastic had a pearlescent tint. The design is collapsible, the battery can also be removed. The case height is 121.6 mm, width is 63.1 mm, and thickness is 10.8 mm. It’s sort of a “well-fed” device, but thanks to this it fits more confidently in the hand, given its small width and height.
CPU
The device is equipped with a 4-core Spreadtrum SC8830 (1.2 GHz) processor. The graphics are processed by the Mali-400 MP2 video chip. The solution is budgetary, but generally sufficient for the job. In the interface, there are no noticeable problems with the speed of operation, as well as delays in the operation of applications.
The smartphone can run demanding 3D games, but it is not suitable as an affordable gaming solution due to its small screen. Demanding games like Asphalt 8 and Modern Combat 5, surprisingly, run smoothly, but at the lowest graphics settings. Even on a small screen in games, pixels are visible; straight lines have turned into a ladder.
Memory
The amount of internal memory is 8 GB, of which slightly less than 4 GB is available to the user. This volume is quite enough to install regular applications. Interestingly, you can install a MicroSD with a capacity of up to 128 GB in the memory card slot: as a rule, this is not yet found in public sector phones. Thanks to this feature, the Samsung Galaxy J1 mini is an excellent candidate for replacing an MP3 player and voice recorder. After all, this volume is more than enough to store a substantial collection of music tracks.
But with RAM it’s not all fun. Its volume is only 768 MB, while the generally accepted standard in modern budget devices is 1 GB of RAM.
Battery
The battery in this smartphone is modest: only 1500 mAh. But given the specifics of such devices, they are usually not used for gaming, watching movies and surfing the Internet. Therefore, energy consumption is more gentle. The classic scenario for using such a smartphone is calls, SMS, occasionally social networks, listening to music from time to time, a calculator and an alarm clock as needed. In this mode, it will calmly last one day, perhaps up to two days. It all depends on the intensity of use.
Also, the situation is partially saved by the “Maximum Energy Saving Mode”. When activated, it automatically dims the screen backlight, optimizes the performance of running applications, and limits their access to the network in sleep mode.
Camera
The smartphone has 2 cameras, but here they are most likely for show. The main one completely lacks such basic features as autofocus and flash. For its level, it shoots tolerably well in daylight, but without autofocus it’s very difficult to get a more or less clear shot of text. The camera has settings, and they are most likely just for show. Having selected the “Sport” mode, the main camera took this picture:
Click on the photo for full size
And below is a photo without the “Sport” mode. There isn't much difference.
Well, here’s a close-up shot with the main camera, in sufficient lighting:
The maximum video recording resolution is HD (1280 x 720), recorded at a frequency of 30 frames/s.
The 0.3 MP front camera is even worse, but it’s ok for video calls.
Take a photo on the front camera:
Display
The display diagonal is only 4 inches. This has been a rarity lately, and buyers may and would like to purchase a modern, compact device for calls and work, but the choice is small. With a modest diagonal, the resolution is 480 x 800 pixels, but this device doesn’t need more. The pixel density is 240 ppi, which is very low. Individual pixels can be seen. if you look closely.
The display itself is the most budget-friendly and is made using TFT technology. Viewing angles are small, so if you look not at a right angle, but even slightly to the side, the colors will become very dark.
The brightness reserve is enough for comfortable use indoors, as well as in places where direct sunlight does not reach.
Network communications
The smartphone is dual-SIM, both slots are designed for Micro-SIM cards. One SIM can work in 2G networks, the second - in 3G. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules are present, the device can be used as a pocket portable access point. Navigation is supported by GPS and GLONASS.
The manufacturer saved money on the proximity sensor, but there is a software solution that blocks the screen during a call (the screen remains lit during a call). To unlock the screen during a call, you need to tap it twice. You can accidentally use your ear or cheek to unlock and open the notification curtain, turn on Bluetooth or other functions. This is in theory and according to reviews on the network, in practice it was not possible to unlock the screen with the ear.
Sound
The main audio speaker hole is located on the back panel near the camera. The maximum volume reserve is enough to hear a call in a not particularly noisy place. There are no complaints about the quality and volume of the sound of the conversational speaker.
operating system
The OS is Android 5.1 Lollipop. The system is not overloaded with unnecessary elements, the shell is quite simple, so it does not slow down. There are no plans to update to Android 6, but Android version 5.1 is sufficient for this device, and even earlier OS versions would be sufficient.
Pros and cons of Samsung Galaxy J1 mini
Pros:
- compact size due to small display;
- support for flash drives up to 128 GB;
Minuses:
- low screen quality;
- the camera does not have a flash or autofocus;
Our review of the Samsung Galaxy J1 mini SM-J105H
The smartphone may be of interest to those who do not need a camera, high performance and at the same time the need for conversations on the phone without using a headset. Considering the cost, the Samsung Galaxy J1 mini absolutely cannot compete with other devices in the lowest price segment with the same characteristics. Yes, it is cheaper than all other smartphones from this manufacturer, but more expensive than its competitors. So Samsung, in this device, relies on the brand and the lack of a large number of fresh compact smartphones on the market.
This device is good for:
- using instant messengers if the user has small fingers and will accurately hit the letters;
- for people who fundamentally like compact smartphones and this is the main criterion when choosing;
- for a child whose first smartphone;
- for a music lover who is not picky about sound quality. You can install a 128 GB card on the device, which can accommodate many tracks.
It’s safe to say that everything in this smartphone is budget, but it works well and without any slowdowns.
Our video review of this smartphone:
Samsung Galaxy J1 mini, a simple and convenient Android smartphone in a compact, lightweight body. Do you want to buy an inexpensive Android smartphone at an affordable price? Samsung Galaxy G 1 mini is a new product in a thin case with a 4-inch diagonal screen, which can be comfortably operated with one hand. Of the main Galaxy J1 mini specifications We can highlight: the Android operating system, a 4-core processor with a frequency of 1200 MHz, a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, a 1500 mAh battery and a main 5 MP camera. The new product received 8 GB of internal memory, of which about 4.4 GB will be available to the smartphone user, expandable using MicroSD memory cards up to 128 GB. Galaxy G 1 mini works with SIM cards in Micro-SIM format and supports 3G network operation. The main advantages of the smartphone include: compact size, ease of use with one hand and inexpensive price for the Samsung Galaxy J1 mini. The downside is that there is little RAM, only about 750 megabytes. The battery supports the smartphone for up to 8 hours of talk time and up to 7 hours of Internet use on 3G networks. To save battery energy, you can use the maximum power saving mode, which will extend the operation of the Galaxy G 1 mini if the battery suddenly runs out and you need to stay connected. Smartphone users can download and install Android applications completely free of charge from hundreds of thousands available. You can distribute the Internet from your phone to other devices via a Wi-Fi access point; up to several simultaneously connected devices to the Internet are supported.
More detailed specifications and
What to do if you need a simple phone? And not with buttons, but a smartphone and so that it would not be embarrassing to go out in public with it? It’s logical to start with the offers of operators; the Big Three usually offer budget options. You can also choose a suitable smartphone among entry-level models. For Samsung, this is the recently introduced Galaxy J1 mini. Let's find out what's good about this budget Korean product.
Equipment
The smartphone is in a small white box; in addition to the device itself, there is also a charger. That's it, there is nothing else, no headphones, no cable.
Smallest galaxy
Budget Samsung is devoid of the attributes of expensive models, no glass or metal, only plastic. But the plastic is of good quality, it doesn’t feel like you’re holding a primitive phone in your hand. When you buy a budget communication device, this is an important point.
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The body is black on the front and back, and the central part is made of dark gray glossy plastic. The sides are slightly flattened, so the Galaxy J1 mini resembles other Samsung models. The case comes in three colors: in addition to black, they offer white or gold.
Along the perimeter there is a frame slightly protruding above the surface. The phone rests on it when you place it face down to avoid scratching the display coating. Usually Samsung makes the frame sparkle and shine, but here it is matte and does not attract attention.
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I think everyone has held a Samsung smartphone in their hands at least once in their life, so the layout of the buttons will seem painfully familiar. The volume control is on the left, the power button is on the right, and below the screen is a block of three keys. The wide central physical button responds with a clear click and the presses are unmistakable. The key on the left launches a menu of running applications, and the right one takes you back a step. The buttons are not backlit, which is not very nice, but you can get used to it over time.
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At the back there is only a speaker hole and a camera lens, and what more could you want? The cheapest Samsung smartphone is designed laconically.
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Aim more accurately
The case cannot be called thin; the thickness is more than a centimeter. But the phone itself is compact, so it is easy and convenient to operate with one hand. Although it is heavy for a baby - 120 g. The small smartphone fits easily in pockets, it does not stick out or protrude from clothes.
But after large diagonals, typing texts on a 4-inch screen is no longer very convenient; fingers often miss the symbols on the keyboard. I solved the problem using Swype-style predictive input. In addition, you can type more accurately, sacrificing speed for the sake of grammar.
Only 4 inches
Screen size - 4 inches, resolution 480 x 800 pixels. For 2016, these are modest numbers, but the first Samsung i9000 Galaxy S had exactly this screen back in 2010. After this nostalgic pause, we will evaluate the quality of the screen, since they are most often saved on in budget devices.
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This is a TFT-TN panel, so viewing angles are far from maximum. If you turn the phone in your hand to the left or right, the picture on the screen dims or brightens, but there is no vertical distortion. On sunny days, the brightness has to be turned up to maximum, otherwise you won’t be able to see anything on the screen.
The smartphone does not have a light sensor; the brightness must be adjusted manually. This limitation is often found in the most affordable smartphones from major manufacturers, although inexpensive Chinese brands do not skimp on this.
Slow gas
The filling is quite modest: a 4-core Spreadtrum SC7731 processor, Mali-400 graphics, 768 MB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, of which 4.7 GB is free. AnTuTu produces a little more than 20 thousand “parrots”. Yes, it's not much, but at least the menu doesn't work at a snail's pace.
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Although there are lags: you switch between applications and see for a moment a blank screen, and not the desired program. I used the phone without pain and suffering, as sometimes happens with budget devices. Galaxy J1 mini, according to Samsung, sees a microSD card up to 128 GB, but it’s unlikely that anyone will put such a volume here; the card costs as much as the phone itself.
Nature UX shell, also known as TouchWiz, although this is an outdated name. The model uses Android 5.1, which appeared about a year ago. You can't count on 6.0 Marshmallow. In the settings we change the font size, you can also select the character style. Of course, we set a background image, arrange icons on desktops, and add widgets.
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Just a camera
The 5 megapixel camera is very simple, there is no autofocus, and there is no flash. Because of this, we lost the flashlight function. The “Pro” mode with manual settings looks like a joke: what to configure? But you can quickly launch the camera by double-clicking the physical button under the screen, just like in the older Galaxy. Examples of photos are below; due to the limited capabilities here, it is difficult to shoot texts or small objects. In general, a typical camera “for show”.
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The front camera is 0.3 megapixels, you can recognize facial features in photographs, nothing more is required from it. Video recording quality is limited to 1280 x 720 pixels.
Dual SIM, but no LTE
The Galaxy J1 mini has a pair of microSIM slots, 3G works, reception is normal. Alas, there is no LTE; it is better not to use a smartphone as a modem for a laptop, because with 4G the Internet works much faster. There is also GPS for navigation, and Bluetooth keeps a stable connection with the Bose SoundLink On-Ear headset.
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Charge every other day
Battery capacity is 1,500 mAh, the battery is replaceable. Charging is enough for 1.5-2 days of work with checking email, periodic use of the browser and applications for social networks. The operating time indicators are good, but there is a simple filling here, you don’t expect other numbers. The smartphone has an energy-saving profile when we limit the number of running applications.
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Results
Samsung Galaxy J1 mini is the cheapest smartphone from the Korean company. It costs 5,490 rubles, as two covers for . He is capable of simple games, he cannot be called slow or scary in appearance. A simple smartphone from a well-known brand, and the brand name often plays a decisive role in the purchase.
Of the budget alternatives, I’ll mention it costs 5,390 rubles. Another option is Alcatel One Touch Pop 3 for 5,990 rubles.
Advantages:
Dual SIM cards
good working hours
nice design and quality build
Flaws:
bad camera
no light sensor
no LTE
Grade:
We would like to thank the online store Video-shoper.ru for providing this phone.
Specifications
- Android 5.1.1
- Case colors – gold, black, white
- Display 4 inches, 480x800 pixels, TFT, no automatic brightness adjustment
- Spreadtrum processor, 4 cores up to 1.2 GHz
- Front camera VGA, main camera 5 megapixels, no autofocus
- RAM 0.75 GB, internal memory 8 GB (4.4 GB available), microSD memory cards up to 128 GB
- Li-Ion battery 1500 mAh, talk time up to 8 hours (3G), data transfer - 7 hours (3G), video playback up to 7 hours, music playback up to 29 hours
- microSIM, two cards, one module
- 2G/3G
- USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, GPS/GLONASS
- Dimensions – 121.6x63.1x10.8 mm, weight – 123 grams
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- Charger with USB cableInstructions
- Guarantee
Positioning
Samsung has almost completely abandoned the budget segment. By releasing the J model range, they partially compensate for the lack of such devices. But in terms of price/quality ratio, these models are far from ideal; rather, they are intended for those consumers who do not understand the market and at the same time want to buy a device from a large manufacturer. The fee for the brand in this case is excessive, since similar solutions from other companies cost at least 1.5-2 times less, and operator models look even more attractive. If the regular J1 uses a SuperAMOLED screen, which can be at least some distinctive feature, but is offset by an even higher price, then the J1 Mini has nothing like that. This is a very, if not very, very, budget solution in terms of its filling and a very expensive solution based on the price. However, let's look at it carefully.
Design, dimensions, control elements
The model is available in three colors – white, black and gold. Oddly enough, buyers often choose the gold color, apparently due to its perception among the target audience.
The phone dimensions are 121.6x63.1x10.8 mm, weight is 123 grams. It is small, but a little thick, which looks unusual compared to other models, especially since the battery is small by modern standards. The model fits well in the hand and the build quality is excellent. These are perhaps a few of the advantages of this device.
On the right side there is an on/off button, on the left side there is a paired volume key. At the top end there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, at the bottom end there is a microUSB connector.
The back cover can be removed, inside there is a removable battery, two slots for microSIM cards, as well as memory cards.
Display
Display 4 inches, 480x800 pixels, TFT, no automatic brightness adjustment. The screen is not very bright and is difficult to see in the sun due to its size. This is a very budget solution, which is also inferior to both analogues in its price group and cheaper solutions. We can say that such screens are already perceived as outdated.
Battery
The Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery provides, according to the manufacturer, up to 7 hours of Internet use (3G or Wi-Fi), up to 8 hours of talk time, and up to 29 hours of music playback. In real conditions, the device works for a day under a very heavy load; ordinary consumers will get about two full days. This is a good result, which was made possible thanks to both the screen and the not very rushed processor.
The device has a maximum energy saving mode, it turns off everything except the main functions, and the operating time increases. Considering that the screen is a regular TFT, this does not provide any huge increase in operating time compared to a similar function in the company’s flagships.
Processor, memory, performance
The device has 768 MB of RAM, which is very little; most budget solutions have 1 GB of memory. The Spreadtrum SC8830 chipset, four cores with a frequency of up to 1.2 GHz, is an ultra-budget and very cheap solution. Result? Not a single synthetic test that has 3D tests can be completed on this device - they simply crash. Performance is low, noticeably lower than most budget devices.
In practice, this means that the interface is slow, jerky and not very pleasing to the eye. This can be seen in very inexpensive models from last year; in modern state-of-the-art models, the interface works noticeably faster.
Memory cards can be installed up to 128 GB, but who will do this in such an inexpensive device? The main thing is that there is 8 GB of built-in memory, of which a little more than 4 GB is available for your needs.
Communication capabilities
The usual and familiar set, there is synchronization with a PC (USB 2.0, KIES), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, BT 4.0, there is no NFC, but there is support for GPS/Glonass. The positioning speed is low not because of the quality of the antenna, but rather because of the general brakes of the device.
Camera
Front VGA camera! What can I say? Nothing. The main camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, but it does not have autofocus, which makes most photos blurry; it is good for taking landscapes. You can find examples of photos and videos below.
Sample photos
Its next new product, but not at all of the flagship class, but exactly the opposite - a budget model with the designation Galaxy J1. This smartphone hit the shelves at the beginning of 2015, and in 2016 Samsung updated the device and the J1 (2016) smartphone was released. This article is about the 2015 device. What attractive features, besides belonging to a popular brand, a device can demonstrate - we will look into it below.
So, if you look at the device from the front side, you will notice a metallic edging around the perimeter, the company logo and an inscription about the presence of 2 SIM cards, a hardware key under the screen, average dimensions - 13 cm by 6.8 cm and 8. 9 mm with a weight of 122 g. An unusual moment appears when examining the device from the ends - there are quite large recesses there, which gives this model a unique style, and also when looking at the back - the “mother of pearl” effect in the plastic from which the back is made is interesting lid. In addition to the classic black and white models, you can choose a blue device.
The screen characteristics fully correspond to the budget class of the Galaxy J1 - a diagonal of only 4.3 inches, at least an average resolution of 480 by 800 pixels, the same pixel density of 217 and the simplest TFT LCD matrix. The undeniable advantages of the resulting display include low power consumption and excellent touch response time.
Both cameras in the smartphone are of quite high quality, the front one is 2 megapixel, equipped with an auto shooting function when showing the palm, and the main one with a 5 megapixel matrix is complemented by a flash and an autofocus function.
The Galaxy J1 smartphone is controlled using the not the latest, but still current version of Android – 4.4, with the proprietary TouchWiz “add-on”. In total, the user receives a fairly simple and understandable interface - 5 working screens and with a standard set of pre-installed software, which is placed on these same screens.
The hardware in the device is quite modest - a 2-core Spreadtrum processor operating at a clock frequency of 1200 MHz, a Mali graphics accelerator and a small amount of memory for running programs - only 512 MB. The hardware copes well with basic everyday tasks, but you shouldn’t expect flawless functioning of “heavy” programs. The size of the total storage is also not large - 4 GB, but there is a slot for a memory card.
The battery capacity for a budget smartphone is quite standard - 1850 mAh; the Galaxy J1 will have to be charged with average usage once every 2 days, at best.
In general, a typical representative of the budget line, not counting the small advantages in the camera. The highlight of this model can be called the design. Samsung Galaxy J1 is stylish due to its unusual ends, mother-of-pearl cover and metallic edging. The device fits like a glove in your hand and is very comfortable. But if you like to play the latest games, then this model is not for you.
