Samsung Galaxy J2 (2016) preview: First look

11 July 2016
The 2016 Galaxy J2 is Samsung's latest budget Android device. It is the successor to last year's Galaxy J2 and improves upon it in several areas, most predictably in the specification department. However, Samsung has also added some new features, such as the Smart Glow, a unique ring of LED notification light around the rear camera that lights up in various colors, and also S Bike mode, and something Samsung calls Turbo Boost Technology. Will all this be enough for the phone to survive in the fiercely competitive budget Android phone market? We took a quick look at the device to find out.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • XMF
  • 12 Jul 2016

Dual heatpipes, 11 Jul 2016The back cover is so weird, the smart glow notification LED... moreyea, seems corious

    • n
    • nganghanimtonla
    • t7X
    • 12 Jul 2016

    samsung wake up! its already 2016! weak chipset even my 2013 mid range phone is better. and please stop polluting the world with your trash device!

      • B
      • Beast
      • t}n
      • 11 Jul 2016

      Mali 400mp2 gpu.. in 2016??? Are u kidding..

        • D
        • AnonD-510098
        • m5I
        • 11 Jul 2016

        They should make the front home buttons glow instead

          The back cover is so weird, the smart glow notification LED light is too thick making the whole device look uglier. The notification LED light should be at the front , must be simple and clear to read, so it is a gimmicks of the smart glow, I don't like the design, it force user have to place the phone face down to show off the smart glow while receive a message.

            This can be the Ringing Bells Freedom 251 $4 smartphone.

              • D
              • AnonD-551566
              • PH0
              • 11 Jul 2016

              AnonD-322352, 11 Jul 2016"This isn't a premium device, but it doesn't even try to hi... morei DID read the preview... it isn't a premium device... it's a mid ranger (arguably though)
              i dun understand ur comment XD

                • k
                • kris
                • q}0
                • 11 Jul 2016

                Bad choice in SOC. They should have just put a Snapdragon 410.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-385420
                  • 0pY
                  • 11 Jul 2016

                  Samsung always seem to put features on there phones that are just battery drainers,this Soft Glow feature needs to put on the Front not the Back of there phones,as people lay there phones down so they can see the screen,so Soft Glow will not be seen,unless there a Special ringtone included with this application,i am sure loads will turn off this soft glow if it does drain the battery like always on display did,so all this time and money producing Soft Glow might be just silly idea from Samsung again,If we get more Energy lasting phone batteries made available,which we All waiting to see this happening but never get Why?

                    • D
                    • AnonD-322352
                    • vV5
                    • 11 Jul 2016

                    AnonD-551566, 11 Jul 2016keep in mind that is just a mid-ranger (to not say low-end)... more"This isn't a premium device, but it doesn't even try to hide its price category."

                    Read the preview.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-551566
                      • PH0
                      • 11 Jul 2016

                      AnonD-322352, 11 Jul 2016The back LED is really, really tacky. The phone just doesn'... morekeep in mind that is just a mid-ranger (to not say low-end) so no need for "premium" looks although it would've been nice and i still believe that the LED notification is just a test to see how fond ppl get and if it makes the sales then it'll be added to the flagships, so let's wait and see

                        • F
                        • Fury dante
                        • Nug
                        • 11 Jul 2016

                        Why bother to make this trash Samsung please reduce the number of phones u make its hilarious

                          • D
                          • AnonD-322352
                          • vV5
                          • 11 Jul 2016

                          The back LED is really, really tacky. The phone just doesn't scream premium at all.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • p4K
                            • 11 Jul 2016

                            Lets remove that one notification led from the front and put four to the rear where nobody can see them.

                            What a useless feature.

                              • D
                              • AnonD-551566
                              • PH0
                              • 11 Jul 2016

                              wow what a harsh veredict it is, but well needed... seems a like an underwhelming mid-randger, i'm not really a fan of the led notification (since i can't find a use myself) i'm guessing someone will like it even in the back (i have a friend who always puts the phone downside while gaming) though i don't think it would be a lot of ppl...
                              let's see the news on the upcoming weeks to see if it sold well or maybe a poll XD

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • tRe
                                • 11 Jul 2016

                                Its either this or the Sony Xperia E5...

                                  • M
                                  • Martin
                                  • gyc
                                  • 11 Jul 2016

                                  ugly design.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • RIF
                                    • 11 Jul 2016

                                    Wow GSMARENA already have this phone this quick

                                      • s
                                      • sherp
                                      • MUp
                                      • 11 Jul 2016

                                      I don't know who designed this phone but the smart glow ring is just horrible.
                                      Wrong proportions, size, led bleeding. And if that wasn't enough it's placed on back of the device. It looks like plastic gimmick.