Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: A Generational Leap
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utterly dominates this comparison. While the J3 (2016) offered basic functionality, the S23 Ultra boasts a superior display, vastly improved performance, a cutting-edge camera system, and significantly better battery life. It's a generational upgrade.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2016, March 31. Released 2016, May 06 | 2023, February 01 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, February 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 142.3 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.60 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Micro-SIM· Micro-SIM + Micro-SIM· Nano-SIM (USA models only) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 138 g (4.87 oz) | 234 g (8.25 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Asahi Dragontrail Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak) |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 - USA | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Spreadtrum SC9830Exynos 3475 Quad (28 nm) - USA | Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-400Mali-T720 - USA | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) or Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 8GB 1.5GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| eMMC 4.5 | UFS 4.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | Laser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, AF 5 MP, f/2.2, AF - USA | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 2 MP (USA) 5 MP, f/2.2 (all other regions) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0/4.1, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS, recording (market dependent) | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | - | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Music play | Up to 77 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 349 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 22 h | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | White, Black, Gold | Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition |
| Models | 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 | SM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS |
| Price | About 120 EUR | € 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00 |
| SAR | 1.17 W/kg (head) 1.12 W/kg (body) | 1.12 W/kg (head) 0.92 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.48 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) | 0.96 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 66h | Endurance rating 126h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.523 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 64dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 68dB | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 326Basemark X: 1424 | AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
- Affordable (when new)
- Compact size
- Outdated processor
- Low-resolution display
- Basic camera
- Limited storage
- No 4G/5G
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Exceptional camera
- Powerful performance
- Stunning display
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- 5G connectivity
- Ample storage
- Expensive
- Large size
- Can be heavy
Display Comparison
The display difference is staggering. The J3 (2016) has a basic LCD display with a reported infinite contrast ratio (likely a marketing term) and a brightness of around 3.523 nits in sunlight. The S23 Ultra features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 1274 nits, offering vibrant colors, incredible contrast, and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The S23 Ultra's display is simply in a different league.
Camera Comparison
The camera systems are worlds apart. The J3 (2016) has a basic camera setup suitable for casual snapshots. The S23 Ultra boasts a sophisticated multi-lens system with incredible zoom capabilities, advanced image processing, and stunning low-light performance. The S23 Ultra's camera is a significant upgrade for photography enthusiasts.
Performance
Performance is another area where the S23 Ultra shines. The J3 (2016) uses a Spreadtrum SC9830/Exynos 3475 chipset with a quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU. It's adequate for basic tasks but struggles with demanding apps and multitasking. The S23 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, an octa-core powerhouse that handles anything you throw at it with ease. Gaming, video editing, and heavy multitasking are a breeze on the S23 Ultra.
Battery Life
While the J3 (2016) boasts an impressive endurance rating of 66 hours (likely under very light usage), the S23 Ultra offers a more realistic active use score of 13:24 hours and an endurance rating of 126 hours. The S23 Ultra also supports 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging, providing significantly faster charging speeds and greater convenience.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)? Likely no one in 2024. It might be considered for a very basic, secondary phone for someone needing minimal functionality and a low price point (if found used). Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Anyone seeking a top-tier Android experience with a phenomenal camera, powerful performance, and a stunning display. It's ideal for power users, photographers, and those who want the best Samsung has to offer.