Looking for an affordable Samsung smartphone? The Galaxy J1 Nxt and J1 Ace are both contenders in the budget market. But which one offers the best value for your money? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace generally edges out the J1 Nxt due to its potentially faster CPU (depending on the variant) and slightly more modern chipset. Both are entry-level devices, but the Ace offers a marginal performance advantage and potentially better connectivity.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - J111F |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - J110F |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 - J110G, J111F |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, February. Released 2016, February | 2015, August 31. Released 2015, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 126.6 x 63.1 x 10.8 mm (4.98 x 2.48 x 0.43 in) | 130.1 x 67.6 x 9.5 mm (5.12 x 2.66 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 123 g (4.34 oz) | 131 g (4.62 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~217 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~57.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.3 inches, 52.6 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7 - J111FQuad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53- J110L |
| Chipset | Spreadtrum SC9830 | Spreadtrum SC9830Marvell PXA1908 - J110L |
| GPU | Mali-400MP2 | Mali-400MP2Vivante GC7000 UL - J110L |
| OS | Android 5.1 (Lollipop) | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 768MB RAM (J1 mini), 8GB 1GB RAM (J1 Nxt) | 4GB 512MB RAM (J110L), 4GB 768MB RAM (J110F, J110G), 8GB 1GB RAM (J110M, J111F) |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | 2 MP |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| 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 |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 29 h | Up to 68 h |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h (3G) | Up to 10 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1500 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 1900 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Gold, Black | White, Black, Blue |
| Models | SM-J105F, SM-j105H, SM-J105H, SM-J105B, SM-J105Y, SM-J105M | SM-J111F, SM-J110G, SM-J110F, SM-J110H, SM-J110M, SM-J110L, SM-J111M |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.57 W/kg (head) 1.22 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.76 W/kg (head) 0.47 W/kg (body) | 0.69 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy J1 Nxt
- Simple and easy to use
- Affordable price point
- Compact size
- Limited performance
- Basic camera
- Outdated chipset
Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace
- Potentially faster CPU (depending on variant)
- Slightly more modern chipset
- Compact size
- Still a budget device with limitations
- Basic camera
- Performance varies by variant
Display Comparison
Both phones likely feature a similar, basic LCD display, probably around 4.5-5 inches with a resolution of 800x480 or similar. Expect decent viewing angles but limited brightness and color accuracy. The J1 Ace might have a slightly newer panel, but the difference would be minimal.
Camera Comparison
Both phones likely have a basic 5MP rear camera and a front-facing camera, probably also 5MP. Image quality will be adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions, but don't expect exceptional results. Low-light performance will be poor on both.
Performance
The J1 Nxt uses a Spreadtrum SC9830 with a 1.2 GHz Quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU. The J1 Ace has a more complex situation. Some variants (J110L) use a Spreadtrum SC9830Marvell PXA1908 with a 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7 or 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7, while others (J111F) feature a Dual-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53. The A53 cores in the J111F variant offer a significant performance boost over the A7 cores, making it noticeably faster. Overall, the J1 Ace has the potential for better performance.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is likely around 2000-2300 mAh for both devices. Expect a full day of moderate use, but heavy users will need to charge before the end of the day. Battery life will largely depend on usage patterns and network conditions.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy J1 Nxt is ideal for users who prioritize simplicity and basic functionality on a very tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace is a better choice for those needing a slightly faster experience and potentially better network support, though still within the budget category.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the difference between the J1 Nxt and J1 Ace?
The J1 Ace has a potentially faster CPU (depending on the variant) and a slightly more modern chipset. The J1 Nxt is a simpler, more basic device.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
Neither phone is ideal for gaming. However, the J1 Ace (with the Cortex-A53 variant) will offer a slightly better experience than the J1 Nxt.
