Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone? The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 and Samsung Galaxy J5 are popular contenders. But which one offers the best value for your money? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 edges out the Galaxy J5 thanks to its octa-core processor and potentially better overall performance. However, the Galaxy J5's Samsung brand recognition and potentially better software support might sway some buyers. It's a close call, but the Ultra 6 offers more power.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 20 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, June. Released 2015, June | 2015, June 19. Released 2015, July 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 154 x 77 x 8.4 mm (6.06 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) | 142.1 x 71.8 x 7.9 mm (5.59 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 159 g (5.61 oz) | 146 g (5.15 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.1 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Adreno 306 |
| OS | Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) | Android 5.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 8GB 1.5GB RAM, 16GB 1.5GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide) |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/1.9, 28mm (wide), AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) |
| Video | - | |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes (market dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 15W wired |
| Music play | - | Up to 62 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 18 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Silver | White, Black, Gold |
| Models | Smart ultra 6 | SM-J500F, SM-J500G, SM-J500FN, SM-J500Y, SM-J500M, J500S, SM-J500H, SM-J5007, J5, SM-J500N0, SM-J5008 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 160 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.80 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.61 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) |
Vodafone Smart ultra 6
- More powerful Octa-core processor
- Potentially larger display
- Potentially longer battery life
- Generally better performance for multitasking and gaming
- Vodafone brand may have less software support
- Design might be less premium
- Camera quality may not be significantly better than the J5
Samsung Galaxy J5
- Samsung brand recognition and reliability
- Familiar Samsung user interface
- Potentially longer software support
- 15W fast charging
- Less powerful Quad-core processor
- Smaller display
- Potentially shorter battery life
- Slower performance compared to the Ultra 6
Display Comparison
The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 likely features a larger display (estimated 6 inches) with a potentially higher resolution compared to the Galaxy J5 (estimated 5 inches, 720p). While both use LCD panels, the Ultra 6's larger size and potentially sharper resolution could offer a more immersive viewing experience. Color accuracy and brightness are likely comparable within the budget segment.
Camera Comparison
While specific megapixel counts are needed for a definitive comparison, both phones likely feature a rear camera around 13MP. Image quality will depend on sensor size, aperture, and image processing algorithms. The Galaxy J5 might benefit from Samsung's established camera software. Low-light performance is likely similar on both devices.
Performance
Here's where the Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 shines. Its Octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor provides significantly more processing power than the Galaxy J5's Quad-core Snapdragon 410. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The Ultra 6's 4x1.5 GHz cores offer a noticeable speed boost.
Battery Life
The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 likely has a larger battery capacity (estimated 3000mAh) than the Galaxy J5 (estimated 2600mAh). Coupled with its more efficient processor, this could result in longer battery life for the Ultra 6, especially under heavy usage.
Buying Guide
The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 is ideal for users who prioritize performance and multitasking on a budget. The Samsung Galaxy J5 is a good choice for those who value brand reliability, a familiar user interface, and potentially longer software support, even if it means sacrificing some processing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Vodafone Smart Ultra 6 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Octa-core processor.
❓ Does the Samsung Galaxy J5 get software updates more frequently?
Generally, Samsung provides more consistent software updates for its Galaxy J series compared to Vodafone's Smart series, although this can vary.