Android Go is a low-configuration variant of Android designed to take up less resources and run on low-end hardware. It was unveiled by Google back at I/0 2017, and the first Android Oreo (Go edition) phones went on sale in April. Previously, we reviewed the Blackview A20, which was one of the first Android Go phones. We also took an in-depth look at the Android Go software ecosystem.
In terms of devices, Android Go phones have been released by the likes of HMD Global (Nokia 1), Micromax, Intex, and other local smartphone vendors. Recently, Google also announced Android Pie (Go edition), which would be rolling out in new smartphones starting this fall. We know Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone vendor, was developing its own Android Go phone, and photos of the phone had leaked a month ago. Now, the company has officially launched the Android Go-powered Samsung Galaxy J2 Core in India and Malaysia, and availability will expand to additional markets in the future.
In terms of specifications, the Galaxy J2 Core is a standard Android Go phone. It's powered by the Exynos 7570 SoC, which has four Arm Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.4GHz, paired with Arm's Mali-T720MP1 GPU. The main bottleneck here is 1GB of RAM, which doesn't lead to a good user experience in current generation Android Go devices. There is 8GB of storage, along with a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
The Galaxy J2 Core has a 5-inch qHD (960x540) TFT LCD. The phone has an 8MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and LED flash, while the 5MP front-facing camera also has a f/2.2 aperture. It's powered by a 2,600mAh battery.
The phone ships with Android Oreo (Go edition). Samsung didn't state anything regarding an Android Pie (Go edition) update. Interestingly, the Galaxy J2 Core is the first Android Go phone to run a customized OEM user interface instead of running stock Android. Samsung Experience is still present here on top of the Android Go OS, confirming earlier reports.
This has potential implications on performance as it's popular knowledge that Samsung Experience isn't exactly a light user interface (in the past, it was notorious for showing jank and stutter even on flagship Samsung phones). This time it will have to run on especially low-end hardware, so here's hoping that Samsung has optimized the phone's software for the Galaxy J2 Core to be usable as a first-time smartphone.
In terms of software features, the J2 Core includes Samsung's Ultra Data Saving feature that provides options and suggestions for efficient data use. Samsung states that it comes pre-loaded with "fewer apps" that use less memory, providing up to 1.5 times the available storage capacity compared to previous offerings. (It's unclear which previous offerings the company is referring to here.)
Full specifications of the Galaxy J2 Core are noted below:
Samsung Galaxy J2 Core - Specifications at a glance
|
Specifications |
Samsung Galaxy J2 Core |
|---|---|
|
Dimensions and weight |
143.4 x 72.1 x 8.9mm, 154g |
|
Software |
Android Oreo (Go edition) |
|
SoC |
Quad-core Exynos 7570 (4x Arm Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.4GHz); Arm Mali-T720MP2 GPU |
|
RAM and storage |
1GB of RAM with 8GB of storage; microSD card slot |
|
Battery |
2,600mAh |
|
Display |
5-inch qHD (960x540) LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 |
|
Ports |
microUSB port, dual nano SIM slots, 3.5mm headphone jack |
|
Sensors |
Accelerometer, proximity |
|
Rear camera |
8MP with f/2.2 aperture |
|
Front-facing camera |
5MP with f/2.2 aperture |
The Galaxy J2 Core will be available in India and Malaysia starting August 24, and availability will expand to additional markets in the near future. Samsung hasn't revealed pricing details yet, but it's fair to expect the phone to priced at or below the $100 price point, considering that the regular Galaxy J2 sells for ₹7,000 in India. The phone will likely compete against phones such as the Xiaomi Redmi 5A and the recently launched Amazon 10.or D2 in pricing.