The Galaxy J1 is a pretty nifty budget phone from Samsung, but confusingly it’s available in two identically named editions, one released in 2015 and the other in 2016. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Above: Galaxy J1 2015 (left), Galaxy J1 2016 (right)
Check Settings
The easiest way is to ask the phone itself. Go to Settings > About Phone, and scroll down until you see model name. The 2015 model Galaxy J1 will be called just ‘Galaxy J1’, while the 2016 model will be called ‘Galaxy J1 (2016)’.
Gold or blue?
Nope, this isn’t about the dress. If your phone is black or white, it might be either the 2015 or 2016 model. If it’s gold however, it must be a 2016 model, while a blue phone is definitely the 2015 version.
Can you see the headphone jack from behind?
The two models look almost identical, but one small difference is the appearance of the headphone jack. This is found at the top of both phones, but the jack is only clearly visible when looking at the back on the 2016 version. On the 2015 model, there’s no indentation in the top of the phone, and therefore no indication that the headphone jack is up there. It’s a subtle difference (highlighted in yellow below), but it’s one that might be useful if you’re trying to identify the phone and you can’t turn it on.
Now what?
Now you’ve (hopefully) identified your Galaxy J1 model. Awesome! Now you can find the right accessories for your phone. Check out our full range via the buttons below:
| 2015 | Shop J1 (2015) cases > | Shop J1 (2015) accessories > |
| 2016 | Shop J1 (2016) cases > | Shop J1 (2016) accessories > |
If you’re still not sure which model you have or you have an idea on how this article could be improved, please let us know in the comments below!