Hi, I'm looking for a phone to replace my Samsung Galaxy S2 (yes, I know it's really old!!) without too much hassle or expense.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 seems a good deal at the moment @ $188 from HN, Officeworks, etc.
It looks to have the same charger but I will need to get a micro-SIM.
I did buy a second hand S2 a while back when I had an issue with mine & successfully used the Samsung Switch app to move across my data quite successfully - is this likely to work to the J3?
Am I going a step backwards in any of the features?
Is this an old model that is likely to have issues with apps, andriod versions, etc in the future?
Sorry for all the questions, but as you can see I don't change phones often!!
Gary.
Phone to Replace My Samsung S2
Gaz1 on 27/12/2017 - 21:13
Comments
J7 Prime would be my choice. It has enough RAM and a good CPU to run most things on Android.
Sorry, more than I want to spend & screen a bit too big.
I rarely use any apps - primarily phone calls, email & a bit of Google Chrome.
The J3 however is pretty outdated, the latest J3 is from 2016 and has a fairly sluggish processor.
It's also missing some fairly modern and useful conveniences,
- Fingerprint sensor
- Ambient light sensor (which saves power)
- NFC for contactless payments
It also suffers from having a mediocre camera and some performance issues (a result of having 1.5GB RAM). Typically, low-end Samsung smartphones aren't very good value.
If you're going to be using a phone for as long as you have with the Galaxy S2, it can be worth spending the extra dollars getting a phone that will be supported for a longer period of time when it comes to software updates. The Motorola G5 for e.g is a top pick.
and the Nokia 5 is a similar phone that you can grab for $203.40 with the PUNCH coupon code
Good advice. You are always a true source of info. Good day mate…
Thanks for the comments. Not fussed about those features (and don't have them now) & rarely use the camera.
Performance might bother me a bit, but I wonder how it will perform compared to my old S2.I prefer to stay with Samsung due to the simplicity of moving my data & apps to the new phone using the Samsung Switch App.
edit: nvm this comment
Well, if you have must have a Galaxy J3 go for it —reviews say performance is a problem but if all you do is call, text and browse the web, I believe it is a sufficient enough device.
if you are used to the Galaxy SII performs, the J3 despite it's shortcomings may still feel like a big upgrade to your old phone
However the main downgrade will be internal storage (8GB storage)
SOC is a rather unheard-of Spreadtrum SC9830, which delivers just about the same single core performance as the Galaxy S2's Exynos CPU and about 2 times more the multi-thread performance. So in some respects, a step forwards but also a step backwards in overall features and performance.
@scrimshaw:
Not so much that I must have a J3, but it is about the max I want to spend, otherwise I will just keep using the S2.Hmm, well, my advice then is to consider why you want to upgrade your phone. Do you want speed, or are you looking for additional features?
If a performance boost is what you are looking for, a Samsung phone in the less-than $200 dollar range will not deliver to your expectations, and you may be better off staying with the Galaxy SII until the day it becomes unusable. The J3 isn't that much of a leap ahead when it comes to performance and it's getting close to 3 years old — not worth the $188 asking price. Maybe when it's worth $99…
Also, transferring old apps, device settings and even app data is pretty straightforward on Android devices. You're not limited to using Smart Switch, so don't feel that you need to get a Samsung device to get this sort of convenience.
@scrimshaw:
No problem with the speed of the S2.
The charging socket is wearing & a bit temperamental and the rare occasion I want to install an app it often says its not compatible (I presume Android version too old), but that's about it.
I guess I might wait a bit longer & see how the other models drop in price over time.
What is the main difference between the Samsung J series, A series & S series?J series — Samsung's lowest end budget tier phones. There is a J3, J5 and J7, made in three different years (2015, 2016, and 2017).
A series — Mid tier. It usually has a more stylish metallic design compared to J series and better cameras. Again there's a A3, A5 and A7.
S series — Flagship. They usually have best processors and best of everything else. Consequently the highest price. Also the best selling series of Samsung phones, and most Samsung deals usually feature a Samsung S series phone.
So you might be looking at a A or J series phone, but I wouldn't consider buying the A3 or J3 as they generally have pretty anemic performance.
The phone you're using now belongs in the "S" flagship category, in case you're wondering why you've been able to use it for so long is because it was the top tier phone (in it's time)
@scrimshaw:
Aaah - that's a great explanation.
I notice also a J1 but the J3 appears to have dropped to about the same price as the J1 with the current special.
Are you saying that J3 was 2015, J5 was 2016 & J7 is 2017? (Or that they made a variation of each of these for 3 consecutive years?)Yes, every year Samsung makes a new J series.
https://i.imgur.com/KQIqFCY.png
You can see the entire lineup if you visit GSMArena and you can also compare the specs side by side https://www.gsmarena.com/
At this point you'll probably want a phone that has a Snapdragon 430, or Exynos 7570 or better.
how come someone is still using s2!!!
go for Motorola g5 or g4I prefer to stay with Samsung due to the simplicity of moving my data & apps to the new phone using the Samsung Switch App.
S3
S2 specs still seem decent :)