Samsung’s first Android Go phone is the bare-bones Galaxy J2 Core

Samsung has launched its first-ever smartphone based on Android Go, a stripped-down version of Google’s mobile operating system aimed at entry-level devices. 

The Samsung Galaxy J2 Core is, unsurprisingly, not very powerful — after all, Android Go is designed to work well with really basic phones. But the J2 Core is a weakling even amongst Android Go phones. 

The J2 Core has a 5-inch, 960 x 540 pixel screen, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel selfie camera, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, an Exynos 7570 processor, and a 2,600mAh battery. On the software side, the J2 Core will rock Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition). 

If those specs sounds like the Middle Ages, keep in mind that Android Go phones typically cost around $100 bucks (Samsung didn’t release the price for the J2 Core, though) and are invariably entry-level devices, typically in markets with lower buying power. 

Compared to some other Android Go phones, though, J2 Core is pretty basic. For example, Asus’ ZenFone Live L1 comes with a 5.5-inch screen and 16GB of storage. Alcatel’s 1X also has more storage (16GB) and a bigger screen (5.34 inches) than the Samsung Galaxy J2 Core. Again, both those phones are priced at around $100, so if Samsung’s offering turns out to be cheaper, it could be a good deal for someone looking for an entry level device. 

The Samsung Galaxy J2 Core will launch in Malaysia and India on Aug. 24, and Samsung plans to bring it to additional markets “in the near future.”