Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) vs Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) and the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Price | $26 | $26 |
| Our rating | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Battery | 2,600 mAh | 2,600 mAh |
| RAM (max) | 5 GB | 5 GB |
| Storage (max) | 16 GB | 256 GB |
| Screen size | 5 in | 5 in |
| Main camera | 13 MP | 5 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 142 g | 147 g |
| Released | Jul 2017 | Apr 2017 |
Summary: Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is ahead on our rating, main camera, weight (lower is lighter). Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime is ahead on storage (max).
★ Which should you buy? Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.
Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Type | PLS TFT LCD | TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels (HD) |
| Protection | Undisclosed | Corning Gorilla Glass (some variants) |
Platform
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| OS | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat |
| Chipset | Exynos 7570 Quad (14 nm) | Exynos 7570 Quad (14 nm) or Qualcomm Snapdragon 425/430 (carrier dependent) |
| CPU | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 or Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 (carrier dependent) |
| GPU | Mali-T720 MP2 | Mali-T720 or Adreno 308/505 (carrier dependent) |
Memory
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot), up to 256GB |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM (International variant); some regional variants had 1.5GB RAM | 16GB 1.5GB RAM |
Main Camera
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Modules | 13 MP, f/1.9, AF | — |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Single | — | 5 MP, f/1.9, AF |
Selfie Camera
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Modules | 5 MP, f/2.2 | — |
| Features | LED flash (variant dependent) | — |
| Video | No official specification | Yes |
| Single | — | 2 MP, f/2.2 |
Battery
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion (Non-removable) | Removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh |
| Capacity | 2400 mAh (some regional variants had 2600 mAh) | — |
| Charging | Standard 5W charging | — |
| Talk time | — | Up to 20 hours (3G) |
Body
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Dimensions | 143.2 x 70.3 x 8.2 mm (5.64 x 2.77 x 0.32 in) | 139.7 x 69.85 x 8.89 mm (5.5 x 2.75 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 142 g (5.01 oz) | 147 g (5.19 oz) |
| SIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) |
| Build | Plastic frame, partial metal back (variant dependent) | — |
Comms
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | No |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go | microUSB 2.0 |
Launch
| Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, June | January 2017 |
| Status | Available. Released 2017, July | Available. Released April 2017 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is lighter, Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) or Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime?
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) — 142 g for the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) versus 147 g for the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime.
Which is newer, Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) or Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime?
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) — Jul 2017 for the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) versus Apr 2017 for the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime.
Is the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) or the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime rated higher?
We rate the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) 6/10 and the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime 4/10.
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