Carrier-specific version of headsets are
a pretty common occurrence these days. Besides a new confusing branding, these
devices typically come with minor tweaks, compared to the generic model. The
new Samsung Galaxy J3 V 3rd Gen - a new Verizon exclusive, however, offers
quite a significant improvement over the regular Galaxy J3 (2018).
The Exynos 7570 Quad, Quad-core 1.4 GHz
Cortex-A53 chipset of the original, has been swapped for an octa-core Exynos
7884A. Frankly, this is the first time we are hearing of this particular
silicon, but, with an eight core A73 (Dual/1.35GHz) + A53 (Hexa/1.35GHz) setup,
it should provide a tangible performance boost to the entry-level galaxy
device.
The press release, we received also
claims that the new Verizon J3 features: "enhanced front and rear cameras,
increased storage capacity, up to 29 hours of battery life and easy
navigation". Comparing the rest of the specs sheets, however, we can't
confirm any of these features are new. The camera setup is still 8MP on the
back and 5MP on the front. Granted, no lens specs have been quoted, but we can
only assume those are also unchanged - f/1.9 and f/2.2, respectively.
The display also seems identical - a
5-inch, 720p unit. RAM and storage are set at 2GB and 16GB and the battery is
2,600 mAh. Technically speaking, Verizon announced a pair of Galaxy J3 devices.
One is called the J3 V 3rd Gen, while the other, simply J3 3rd Gen. The only
difference, however, seems to be that the latter is offered on a pre-paid deal
for US$ 124.99, while the other one is a post-paid unit, retailing at US$ 168. At
least that takes care of the confusing naming part of the release.
On a different note, Verizon also
managed to certify the Motorola Moto Z3 Play on its network. Currently, the carrier
seems to be offering a BYOD (Bring your own device) deal for the Moto, meaning
you can pick one up from Motorola, Best Buy or Amazon, then bring it over to
Verizon, for a potentially free SIM card and no annual contract. The full
details of the offer are available in the last source link.
