Samsung, it seems, is following the Huawei approach to smartphone launches. Seemingly launching a brand-spanking new phone on a monthly basis: the Samsung phone to peer over the wall in June 2018 is the rather dull-named Galaxy J6: a budget-friendly smartphone with flagship features.
Please, don’t let its “budget” attribute send you running for the hills, the Galaxy J6 is just as well-equipped as any modern smartphone launch, with all the essential features squeezed inside. This is Samsung’s second non-flagship phone with an all-screen front, and its 13-megapixel camera looks particularly special, too.
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But, with specific details still rather thin on the ground, I’ve gathered all the necessary tidbits of information about the Galaxy J6 in one handy place. Below, you’ll read about the Galaxy J6’s specifications, design and – most importantly – how big of a dent it will likely cause to your wallet.
Samsung Galaxy J6: Everything you need to know
Samsung Galaxy J6 release date: When’s it coming out
Samsung’s Galaxy J6 is expected to launch sometime in summer 2018. As for specifics, well, I’m afraid Samsung is yet to release such details, but I’ll keep you posted if anything changes.
Samsung Galaxy J6 price: How much will it cost?
Again, Samsung is keeping schtum about the Galaxy J6’s UK price. We already know it’s going to be miles cheaper than the rest of the Korean giant’s handsets given its J-series monicker, so I wouldn’t expect the new J6 to cost anything north of £300.
Samsung Galaxy J6 specs: What’s inside?
Samsung’s Galaxy J6 is equipped with a 5.6in, 1,480 x 720 Super AMOLED display, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, expandable up to 256GB via microSD. Powering the handset is an as-yet-unnamed octa-core 1.6GHz processor.
Camera-wise, the handset includes a 13-megapixel f/1.7 unit complete with phase-detect autofocus on the rear, alongside a solitary 8-megapixel f/1.8 selfie-snapper on the front. A 3,000mAh capacity battery keeps the phone chugging along, and the J6 runs Android 8 Oreo straight out of the box.
Samsung Galaxy J6 design: What does it look like?
Let’s talk about the Infinity Edge display. In a first for the J-series range – or any of Samsung’s budget offering for that matter – 2018’s Galaxy A8 features a 5.6in bezel-less display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Its resolution is slightly limiting at only 720p but this is Samsung’s Super AMOLED panel, though, so expect pixel-perfect contrast ratios and accurate colours when you first switch it on.
Elsewhere, you’ll find the volume buttons on the left edge, and the power button on the right, while the solitary micro-USB port sits at the bottom for charging. A fingerprint reader is on the back, just below the rear camera.
In the UK and Europe, the Galaxy A8 will be available in three colours; black, lavender and gold. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone port, if you’re still to join the Bluetooth headphones revolution although it seems the J6 isn’t IP-certified for water- or dust-resistance.
Samsung Galaxy J6: Early verdict
While your local Carphone Warehouse may already be filled to the brim with Samsung phones, the new Galaxy J6 is uniquely different. Up until now, the Korean firm’s J-series range of phones had gotten quite stale, with only marginal processor improvements every yearly upgrade. The Galaxy J6 offers the biggest shake-up in years.
Its similarly-priced budget competition is fierce, however. Coming up against the Moto G6, Honor 9 Lite and even Samsung’s other (likely cheaper) handsets in the J-series lineup, the J6 certainly isn’t without its rivals.
Still, the Galaxy J6 holds a decent first glimpse of what Samsung has planned for its budget smartphone offering, and I expect other manufacturers will follow a similar pattern in the near future. Let’s just have a break from Samsung smartphones for at least a few months. Please.