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Samsung makes Galaxy J1 2016 official: larger screen, faster chipset

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Jan 14, 2016, 2:08 AM

Samsung makes Galaxy J1 2016 official: larger screen, faster chipset

The Galaxy J1 2016 has reared its pretty head here and there before, but all of a sudden Samsung made it official on the hush-hush, and in a place none other than Dubai, which we usually associate with luscious hotels and luxury malls, not humble workhorses of a smartphone.

First off, let's get the specs out of the way. The Galaxy J1 (2016) is an upgrade over its predecessor, which turned out to be ultrapopular with the budget-conscious crowd, selling millions of units last year. In line with the times, the screen of the 4.3" J1 munchkin, has now grown to 4.5 inches, though it still keeps the 480x800 pixels resolution, diminishing the pixel density a bit in the process.

The processing power has seen a more significant upgrade, with a 1.3 GHz quad-core Exynos 3475 running the show. This chipset is built on the 28nm process, and incorporates the Mali-T720 GPU clocked at 600 MHz, so running the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop version that the J1 (2016) ships with shouldn't be an issue, if TouchWiz doesn't get in the way. The 1 GB of DDR3 RAM is a welcome change, too, as the 2015 edition of the J1 shipped with either 512 MB or 768 MB, depending on the model.

The camera combo stays the same, at least when it comes to sensor resolution - a 5 MP rear shooter, coupled with a 2 MP selfie camera at the front. Samsung has doubled the internal storage amount from 4 GB to 8 GB, compared to its predecessor, and also placed a larger, 2050 mAh battery.

The 4G LTE connectivity now comes standard with the J1 (2016), and, all in all, it sounds like a fine entry level Android handset. With the pricing on display here, which translates to about $135, the Galaxy J1 (2016) might have a steep hill to climb against the Chinese value offerings in the regions it is destined for, though the brand name would certainly earn it some street cred before the competition, what do you think?

source: GSMArena

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.