Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) release date, specs rumors: several appearances confirm smartphone's existence

The Samsung Galaxy logo is displayed during the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2015 event in New York. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Even though Samsung is widely known for its lineup of premium and high-end smartphone devices, the company actually makes a lot of money selling low to midrange products as well, including the Galaxy J series. Since about a year ago, the South Korean electronics giant has been quite successful in its low-end phone venture, thereby prompting a refresh of several devices intended for next year.

One of them is the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017), which recently appeared in benchmarking and certification sites, including Geekbench and the Federal Communications Commission. The phone was first leaked by renowned leakster Evan Blass on his Twitter account.

Per GSM Arena, the Galaxy J3 (2017) isn't really that different in terms of looks when compared to the 2016 model. The only notable changes are the front-facing camera that's been relocated and the rounded corners. On the inside, the specifications seemingly suggest that it will be a midrange offering and not really in the lowest end of Samsung's long list of devices. Proof of this is the use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset combined with 2 GB of random access memory (RAM). And by the way, the upcoming device is disappointingly running Android 6.0 Marshmallow instead of the Android 7.0 Nougat right out of the box.

The Galaxy J3 was first unveiled and made available last year, and while this new model serves as its successor, Samsung actually introduced an upgraded version in between earlier this year in the form of the Galaxy J3 Pro. This time, even though the changes are minimal, it is expected that the Galaxy J range of low-budget smartphones will click with the masses, which is obviously the reason why Samsung is still updating it. Nonetheless, an octa-core central processing unit and Samsung's ever-convenient TouchWiz user interface will always carry the fight for the company.

Although there is no official release date yet, the Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) is poised for release early next year.

News
Chris Pratt says Jesus is essential to his life
Chris Pratt says Jesus is essential to his life

Hollywood actor Chris Pratt continues to boldly affirm his Christian faith, most recently by naming Jesus as one of the top things he simply cannot live without. 

Cathedrals Cycle Relay concludes in Bradford after 2,000 miles
Cathedrals Cycle Relay concludes in Bradford after 2,000 miles

The 2,000-mile journey connected more than 40 cathedrals across the UK.

Four ways to change how Christians are portrayed in the media
Four ways to change how Christians are portrayed in the media

National denominations and big Christian organisations can do so much – but motivated local churches, seeking to win coverage on their doorsteps, could help transform how the Church is perceived across the country and beyond.

London resident threatens to sue council over trans display
London resident threatens to sue council over trans display

The display was made in honour of the controversial Tavistock clinic