Looking for an affordable Samsung smartphone? The Galaxy Core Plus and Ace 3 were popular budget options. But which one offers the best value? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Ace 3 edges out the Core Plus thanks to its slightly more powerful processor options (especially the LTE variant) and impressive sunlight display contrast. While both are budget phones, the Ace 3 offers a marginally better overall experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - G3500 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - S7270, S7272 |
| 4G bands | - | 3, 7, 8, 20 - S7275 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 42.2(14.4 - 3G)/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - S7275 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, October. Released 2013, October | 2013, June. Released 2013, July |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 129.7 x 66 x 9.5 mm (5.11 x 2.60 x 0.37 in) | 121.2 x 62.7 x 9.8 mm (3G) / 121.2 x 62.7 x 10 mm (LTE) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 132.5 g (4.66 oz) | 115 g (3G) / 119.5 g (LTE) (4.06 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~217 ppi density) | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.3 inches, 52.6 cm2 (~61.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | TFT |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.2 GHz | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 (3G) / Dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait (LTE) |
| Chipset | - | Broadcom BCM21664 (3G) / Qualcomm MSM8930 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) (LTE) |
| GPU | - | Broadcom VideoCore IV (3G) / Adreno 305 (LTE) |
| OS | Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) | Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 4GB | 4GB 1GB RAM (3G), 8GB 1GB RAM (LTE) |
| Phonebook | 1000 entries, Photocall | - |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 5 MP, f/2.6, AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | VGA |
| Video | | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 3.0 | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (LTE model only) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite | - |
| Games | Yes | - |
| Java | No | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, Email | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 40 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 320 h | Up to 370 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h | Up to 8 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1800 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 1800/1500 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Black, Pink | Black, White, Dark Red |
| Models | SM-G3502, SM-G350, SM-G352, SM-G3520, SM-G3502C, SM-G3502U | GT-S7272, GT-S7275, GT-S7275R, GT-S720, GT-S7270, GT-S7278, GT-S7270L |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | 0.61 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) | 0.67 W/kg (head) 0.45 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.54 W/kg (head) 0.46 W/kg (body) | 0.47 W/kg (head) 0.35 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.8dB / Crosstalk -73.5dB | - |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 34h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 879:1 (nominal) / 1.622:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB |
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 66dB
|
Samsung Galaxy Core Plus
- Simple and reliable
- Affordable
- Decent basic functionality
- Lower performance compared to Ace 3
- Unknown battery capacity
- Basic camera
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
- Better performance (LTE variant)
- Excellent sunlight display contrast
- Longer battery life (34h endurance)
- Potentially more RAM
- Still a budget phone with limitations
- Basic camera
- Older model
Display Comparison
Both phones feature similar displays with a respectable 879:1 contrast ratio and an impressive 1.622:1 contrast ratio in sunlight. However, the Ace 3's slightly better sunlight visibility gives it a small advantage. Screen resolution is likely to be around 800x480 for both, offering adequate clarity for everyday use.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are not explicitly provided, but both phones likely feature basic 5MP main cameras and potentially front-facing cameras. Image quality will be comparable, suitable for casual snapshots but not high-end photography. Video recording capabilities are likely to be 720p.
Performance
The Core Plus has a single-core advantage with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. However, the Ace 3 offers two processor options: a 1.0 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 (3G) and a 1.2 GHz Krait (LTE). The Krait processor in the LTE Ace 3 is generally more efficient and provides a noticeable performance boost compared to the Core Plus's processor. RAM is likely to be around 768MB - 1GB for both.
Battery Life
The Ace 3 boasts an endurance rating of 34 hours, suggesting a larger battery capacity and/or more efficient power management compared to the Core Plus. While the Core Plus's battery capacity is unknown, the Ace 3's superior battery life is a significant advantage.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Core Plus is a good choice for users prioritizing a simple, reliable phone for basic tasks. The Galaxy Ace 3 is better suited for those who want a slightly faster experience and appreciate a brighter, more visible display, particularly in sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still worth buying?
Given their age, finding these phones new is unlikely. If you can find them used at a very low price, they can still serve as basic smartphones for light usage. However, newer budget phones offer significantly better performance and features.
❓ What operating system do these phones run?
Both phones originally shipped with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). Updates were limited, and they likely won't support newer Android versions.
