Samsung Galaxy J4: Disappointing specs, features on the cheap

Samsung Galaxy J4

It was back in early February 2018 that we first saw an instance of the Samsung Galaxy J4 alongside other new names like the Galaxy J6 and Galaxy J8. Months later, Samsung made the trio official and while there are still some uncertainties over the phones’ availability, we’ve already highlighted all that you need to know about the J6 and J8 via the links below. If you are keen to know about the Galaxy J4, however, take a seat because this is exactly what this post is all about.

Like the linked Samsung Galaxy handsets above, the Galaxy J4 is the first of its kind and while it tries everything possible to find a sweet spot between the Galaxy J3 and Galaxy J5, it looks more of a successor to the J3 2017, be it on matters of design, specs and features, or even the pricing, which is by far the best aspect of the phone.

Galaxy J4 specs

Galaxy J4

  • 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display (720p)
  • Exynos 7570 processor
  • 2GB or 3GB RAM
  • 16GB or 32GB storage, expandable up to 256GB
  • 13MP main and 5MP front camera
  • 3000mAh removable battery
  • Android 8.0 Oreo
  • Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, MicroUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, 4G LTE, Dual-SIM, etc.

Looking at the above specs sheet, you’ll notice that the Galaxy J4 has a bunch of similarities with the Galaxy J3 2017. In fact, other than the bigger display screen, bigger battery, and the fact that the phone runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, there isn’t much of a difference between the J4 and J3 2017.

It’s strange that Samsung Galaxy J4 is here to compete against devices like Xiaomi Redmi 5, Redmi Note 5, Honor 7A or even the ZenFone Max Pro M1, yet the device still rocks the old-age 16:9 aspect ratio. Also, it’s worth noting that the J4, like its immediate counterpart, doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner for authentication purposes, a feature a flurry of competing devices offer, with some even including facial recognition.

It’s, however, great to see the inclusion of a 3000mAh removable battery unit, a significant improvement over the 2400mAh used in the J3 2017 and a departure from the unibody design that was slowly finding its way to the budget segment. However, you’ll be disappointed that the microUSB port is still in use and there’s also no mention of fast charging technology.

To cap what looks like a disappointing effort from Samsung, all the above hardware is housed in a plastic body that represents a significant downgrade over the aluminum body used on the Galaxy J3 2017. But then again, all this is available on the cheap, which is where Samsung nailed it.

Galaxy J4 price and availability

Galaxy J4Samsung Galaxy J4 isn’t targeting folks who are after flashy devices with high-end specs and features. If it were, it would simply call on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ to take care of that. Instead, the J4 is meant for budget spenders who find pride in rocking a Samsung-branded handset.

At just INR 9,990 for the base model, the Galaxy J4 will leave you with little to regret, however, if you want the 32GB storage variant, you’ll have to part with INR 11,990. So, if you have been mulling over the Galaxy J3 Pro in India and couldn’t buy it probably because you didn’t like the 5-inch screen and 2600mAh battery unit, well, the Galaxy J4 might be your answer.

Besides India, the Galaxy J4 has also been launched in Kenya priced at about $190, an indicator that more markets will be joining the party sooner or later. But when exactly this will be happening is only known to Samsung.

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Hillary

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