Samsung Galaxy Core Prime vs. Galaxy J3 (2016): A Detailed Comparison

Looking for an affordable Samsung smartphone? The Galaxy Core Prime and Galaxy J3 (2016) were popular budget options. But which one offers the better experience? We'll break down their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy J3 (2016) edges out the Core Prime thanks to its significantly better battery life and slightly more powerful processor. While both are budget phones, the J3 provides a more enduring and responsive experience, making it the slightly better choice overall.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Core Prime	Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - G360F	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28 - G360G	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	2, 4, 12 - G360T (T-Mobile)	-

Launch
Announced	2014, November. Released 2014, November	2016, March 31. Released 2016, May 06
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame	Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	130.8 x 67.9 x 8.8 mm (5.15 x 2.67 x 0.35 in)	142.3 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)	· Micro-SIM· Micro-SIM + Micro-SIM· Nano-SIM (USA models only)
Weight	130 g (4.59 oz)	138 g (4.87 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Asahi Dragontrail Glass
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~207 ppi density)	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density)
Size	4.5 inches, 57.6 cm2 (~64.9% screen-to-body ratio)	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53	Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 - USA
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm)	Spreadtrum SC9830Exynos 3475 Quad (28 nm) - USA
GPU	Adreno 306	Mali-400Mali-T720 - USA
OS	Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 5.1.1 (Lollipop)	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) or Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	8GB 1GB RAM	8GB 1.5GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	eMMC 4.5

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash, HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.6, AF	8 MP, f/2.2, AF 5 MP, f/2.2, AF - USA
Video	720p@30fps	720p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP	2 MP (USA) 5 MP, f/2.2 (all other regions)
Video	-	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP	4.0/4.1, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes (LTE models, except SM-G360BT)	Yes (market dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio, RDS, recording (market dependent)
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Accelerometer, proximity
	Digital TV (SM-G360BT)	-

Battery
Music play	Up to 60 h	Up to 77 h
Stand-by	-	Up to 349 h
Talk time	Up to 13 h (3G)	Up to 22 h
Type	Li-Ion 2000 mAh, removable	Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Gray	White, Black, Gold
Models	SM-G360T, SM-G3606, SM-G3608, SM-G3609, SM-G360BT, SM-G360F, SM-G360FY, SM-G360G, SM-G360GY, SM-G360H, SM-G360H/D, SM-G360BT, SM-G361, SM-G361H, SM-G361F, SM-G360HU, SM-G360T1, SM-G360M, SM-G360P, SM-G360V, SM-S820L, SM-G360AZ, SM-G361HU	SM-J320H, SM-J3109, SM-J320FN, SM-J320P, SM-J320F, SM-J320M, SM-J320Y, SM-J320A, SM-J320G, SM-J327T1, SM-J320V, SM-J320YZ, SM-J320W8, SM-J320ZN, SM-J320N0, SM-J320R4
Price	About 150 EUR	About 120 EUR
SAR	0.70 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body)	1.17 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.60 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body)	0.48 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 66h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.523 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 64dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 68dB
Performance	Basemark X: 1895	Basemark OS II 2.0: 326Basemark X: 1424

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	-	Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 66h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.523 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 64dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 68dB
Performance	Basemark X: 1895	Basemark OS II 2.0: 326Basemark X: 1424

Samsung Galaxy Core Prime

Compact size
Affordable price
Basic functionality

Short battery life
Modest performance
Low-resolution display
Limited camera quality

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)

Longer battery life
Slightly better performance
Decent sunlight visibility
More modern design (compared to Core Prime)

Still a budget phone
Limited camera quality
Small display
Performance not suitable for demanding tasks

Display Comparison

Both phones feature relatively small displays, typical for their era and price point. While contrast ratios are listed as 'Infinite' (likely a marketing term), real-world sunlight performance is reported around 3.523 for both. Expect decent visibility indoors, but struggles in direct sunlight. Neither display is particularly vibrant or high-resolution.

Camera Comparison

Camera quality on both devices is modest, as expected for budget phones. Both feature Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed specifications (resolution, aperture) are missing. Image quality will be acceptable for casual snapshots in good lighting, but expect noise and limited detail in low-light conditions. Video recording will be limited to basic quality.

Performance

The Galaxy J3 (2016) has a slight advantage here. Its 1.5 GHz Quad-core Cortex-A7 (and a secondary 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7) chipset, though not powerful, generally outperforms the Core Prime's 1.2 GHz Quad-core Cortex-A53. Expect slightly faster app loading and smoother multitasking on the J3. Both will struggle with demanding games.

Battery Life

This is where the Galaxy J3 (2016) truly shines. Its endurance rating of 66 hours significantly surpasses what the Core Prime offered. The Core Prime's battery life was considerably shorter, requiring more frequent charging. This makes the J3 a much better choice for users who need a phone that can last through a full day or more.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is a good option for users prioritizing a compact size and basic functionality on a very tight budget. The Galaxy J3 (2016) is ideal for those needing longer battery life and a slightly smoother performance for everyday tasks, even if it's still a budget device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

Neither phone is ideal for gaming. The Galaxy J3 (2016) offers slightly better performance, but both will struggle with demanding titles. Stick to simpler games.

❓ Are these phones still worth buying in 2024?

Given their age, finding these phones new is unlikely. Used, they are only worth considering if you need a very basic, ultra-budget phone and are aware of their limitations. Newer budget smartphones offer significantly better features and performance.