My son used a TracFone feature phone all through law school, and would like to upgrade to his first smartphone (and stay with TracFone). I'm seeing Black Friday specials on both the Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit ($65 at Shopko) and LG Rebel 4 ($50 at both Target and Shopko). Which would be better as a first smartphone for him?
I've noticed that you say that tracfones don't get os updates some do it just seems to be extremely rare. My Samsung tracfones have been getting security updates from time to time so it just depends on the manufacturer
If I had two J3 orbit phones, I would shit on one and bury the other with it. This is the worst phone I have ever purchased or used and do not recommend it to anyone. It has a mind of it's own and jumps from screen to screen and it is always full of adds.
December 23, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Rob said...
One item not mentioned in the article is band available for this phone. It would seem ridiculous to sell a phone that can only make CDMA calls since these will be eliminated at the end of 2019. Is this phone VOLTE capable?
I recently bought the Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit at Best Buy on sale for 49.99. Settings has a selector to enable VoLTE. I got a software update notice today (August 1, 2019). After the update the phone UI layout has changed. In settings it reports that I am now running Android version 9 (Pie). The phone was running Oreo 8.0.0 when I bought it. So far it has been a good phone.
I am returning phone tomorrow to Best Buy...it took off by itself and shut itself off. 3 and 1/2 hours with Samsung "aide" finally told to return it. What a stressful headache. !
I returned my Tracfone to Best buy.It went crazy...after 3 hours aide said take it back...I don't know why but I just replaced it...and 30 days later this one is also not so smart anymore. George
September 16, 2019 at 4:20 PM
Anonymous said...
How Can I tell if the HSN trackfones are VoLTE compatable vs the ones on trackfone website? On this phone trackfone website adds vl at the end of the name. How a feller to know if that are the same. I want the deal from Hsn but I also want it to work.
The review has been corrected to now say the battery is removable.
Thanks for the good review.
May 25, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Anonymous said...
Just wanted to mention that my J3 Orbit came with Android 9.0 Pie. It was advertised on Tracfone to have 8.0 Oreo but imagine my surprise when I unboxed it and fired it up that it shows Android 9.0 to be installed. I bought it from Tracfone Sept. 19, 2020, for $29.99. Mfr date shows Sep 2019. John
I've been using my Orbit for over a year, and I'm very happy with it. It replaced a Luna Pro, which replaced a Core Prime, which replaced a Stardust, which replaced a Century. I've always waited to pay low refurb prices, usually $30-35. Two of my kids are also on Orbits and happy with them, while the other two family members didn't want the bother of an upgrade so are still on older models.
I mostly just make calls, text, and read Kindle books on it. Also use it for scheduling alerts. I don't play many games, and those games I do occasionally play are graphically simple. Chess is a favorite.
Starting with the increased resolution of the Luna Pro, these phones have been nice for reading Kindle books; before that it was a chore with the lower resolution of the earlier phones and I avoided it.
It doesn't do fast charging, but charging at about 1A is plenty fast enough to fully charge overnight. And I get a few days of charge with normal usage.
Does anyone know if a J3 Orbit S367VL Tracfone will accept a GSM type SIM card so that it can connect to AT&T towers for phone service ?(instead of CDMA type SIM card for use with Verizon service) ?
And does the V in the model number S367VL stand for Verizon?
February 26, 2021 at 1:14 AM
Tracfone Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit (S367VL) Review
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Tracfone Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit Review
The Galaxy J3 Orbit features a modest 5" HD touchscreen, Android 8.0 Oreo, an 8 MP camera and octa-core processor. It also has 16 GB internal storage and 2 GB RAM.
The J3 Orbit follows it's predecessor, the J3 Luna Pro, which was released last fall, with a number of similar features while also getting several important updates. We see the J3 Orbit has the same size screen and internal storage, but updated OS, processor and more.
Tracfone continues to release new devices for the fall 2018, with a number of new phones already available such as the J3 Orbit's big brother, the J7 Crown, and also several Motorola devices like the Moto E5 and Moto G6.
Let's check out the pro's and con's on the Galaxy J3 Orbit
Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit Quick Facts
What we Like
-Octa-core processor
-Android 8.0 Oreo
What we Don't Like
-Only 16 GB internal storage
-2 GB RAM
-A little expensive ($150)
The new J3 Orbit brings some nice updates, like the octa-core processor which is better equipped for handling multitasking and more demanding operations. But we do see some possible limitations when it comes to the internal storage at just 16 GB, and actually less available to the user.
There's no doubt that Samsung's new budget phone is a solid performing device, the company is generally know for excellent smartphones, yet is it worth the price tag with Tracfone releasing the Moto G6 that features 32 GB storage and other updated features?
We will look into this and more, but first, the full list of features.
Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit (S367VL) Features and Specs
Android 8.0 Oreo
4G LTE with CDMA (Verizon) network coverage
WiFi
Bluetooth
MP3 Player
Alarm Clock
GPS
Standard 3.5mm headphone jack
Hearing Aid Compatible
Access to over 1 Million Apps on Google Play
SMS/MMS
USB Charger
Caller ID, Voicemail, Call Waiting
Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit Technical Specs Size: 5.62'' x 2.76'' x 0.35'' inches (5.36 oz) Camera: 8 MP Rear Camera, 5 MP Front Screen: 5" HD TFT-LCD Touchscreen (1280x720 resolution) Processor: 1.35 Ghz Octa-core processor (Exynos 7884A) Memory: 2 GB Storage: 16 GB internal storage (Up to 400 GB via Micro SD Card) Battery: 2600 mAh removable with 19hrs talk time, 21 days standby
Samsung Electronics is a multinational company based in South Korea and the second largest information technology company behind Apple. They are the largest manufacturer of mobile phones, with the Galaxy line being their most popular and the Galaxy S9 their most recent phone.
The Samsung Galaxy Orbit is designed as a budget device but it still retains some of the classic Samsung styling from higher-end devices and the specs should keep up with moderate smartphone users who want to run a variety of apps and maybe some games.
Let's look at the details about this phone to learn more.
Tracfone Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit Review
Touchscreen
The screen on the Galaxy J3 Orbit is just 5" with HD resolution (1280x720), which is small by current standards, yet not everyone prefers a large phone and this smartphone actually fits in smaller hands quite comfortably. Brightness and clarity are both good, and the screen has Gorilla Glass protection to limit the chance of cracks or scratches.
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Tracfone Samsung Galaxy J3 (S36VL) Orbit Review
Internal Specs - Memory, RAM and Processor
The J3 Orbit is limited to 16 GB internal storage, with just over 8 GB actually usable (about 7.5 GB is used by the OS and pre-installed apps). For users who like to have a variety of apps or keep media on their device, the only option may be the MicroSD card slot which allows up to 400 GB additional storage.
For the processor, we see a 1.35 Ghz Octa-core processor (Exynos 7884A) with 2 GB RAM that will be able to handle typical daily smartphone usage, but isn't the best suited for more demanding tasks such as running some games or resource intensive apps.
The internal specs aren't exactly inspiring, but they also hold up well for low to moderate users.
Camera
While the rear camera is just an 8 MP shooter, it does take nice pictures in good lighting. Samsung devices are well known for their capable cameras and the J3 Orbit's rear camera also features LED flash and auto-focus. On the front we have a 5 MP camera good for shooting selfies.
Learn How to Take Better Pictures on your Cell Phone with our list of 8 tips. In many cases, just using a few of our tips will lead to much better photos versus buying a new phone with a better camera!
Battery
Battery life is quote good with the J3 Orbit, despite a smaller sized, 2600 mAh battery. But thanks to the efficient processor, and certain operating system improvements, battery life is about 19 hrs talk time, and over 21 days on standby. The battery is removable.
If you do find yourself running out of battery life quickly, there are a handful of tips you can use to make the battery last longer, including dimming the screen, setting the phone on airplane mode, and turning on darkmode for any apps that support it.
Android OS
It is always important to run the most recent Android Operating System to maintain good performance and security, and the Galaxy J3 Orbit comes with Android 8.0 Oreo. This version includes a number of graphical design changes over previous versions, and some performance upgrades to help increase battery life and more. Remember that Tracfone smartphones are not able to get OS updates, so this phone will keep Android 8.0.
Design
With a matte back and slick overall design the Samsung Galaxy J7 Crown is a nice looking phone at a small and convenient size. The power button on the left and volume on the right side of the phone, and it features both a headphone jack and micro USB charging port.
Overview
This phone features some nice upgrades from the previous model, while maintaining the same size. It is unfortunate that it does not improve beyond 16 GB storage, which is a little low for many users.
Overall we find the Galaxy J3 Orbit to be a very capable and nicely designed phone, but at the price, there may be better options.
The LG Rebel 4 is a very similar device, with the same size screen, same OS version, same RAM and internal storage, but the Rebel has only a quad-core processor. However, the Rebel is also much cheaper, with it likely available for Black Friday for just $49.
Another comparable smartphone is the Moto E5 which has similar specs for RAM, storage, camera and OS, but with a larger 5.7" touchscreen and it is available for $99.
While the Galaxy J3 Orbit is a solid smartphone in both performance and design, there are several other competitively priced smartphones also available that we would probably choose for the lower cost.
Where to Buy the Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit
The Orbit is available from several online retailers for around $150.
We found it with 1200 minute airtime bundle from HSN for $149
The Galaxy J3 Orbit is also available from BestBuy for $149
And we also found the Orbit on the Tracfone Website for $149
For additional resources and information, take a look at the J3 Orbit Online Tutorial and the User Guide.
This concludes our review of the Galaxy J3 Orbit from Tracfone. We hope this information is useful, and please leave a comment below with any thoughts or questions.
18 Comments
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November 16, 2018 at 12:22 PM
My Tracfone is a Rebel 3.
November 16, 2018 at 12:24 PM
My son used a TracFone feature phone all through law school, and would like to upgrade to his first smartphone (and stay with TracFone). I'm seeing Black Friday specials on both the Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit ($65 at Shopko) and LG Rebel 4 ($50 at both Target and Shopko). Which would be better as a first smartphone for him?
November 22, 2018 at 1:34 PM
The battery is removable.
November 22, 2018 at 3:42 PM
I think the battery is removable.
November 22, 2018 at 8:10 PM
I've noticed that you say that tracfones don't get os updates some do it just seems to be extremely rare. My Samsung tracfones have been getting security updates from time to time so it just depends on the manufacturer
November 25, 2018 at 8:52 PM
If I had two J3 orbit phones, I would shit on one and bury the other with it. This is the worst phone I have ever purchased or used and do not recommend it to anyone. It has a mind of it's own and jumps from screen to screen and it is always full of adds.
December 23, 2018 at 1:09 PM
One item not mentioned in the article is band available for this phone. It would seem ridiculous to sell a phone that can only make CDMA calls since these will be eliminated at the end of 2019.
Is this phone VOLTE capable?
February 14, 2019 at 9:26 AM
NO LTE in northern NJwith this phone!
February 15, 2019 at 2:10 PM
I recently bought the Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit at Best Buy on sale for 49.99. Settings has a selector to enable VoLTE. I got a software update notice today (August 1, 2019). After the update the phone UI layout has changed. In settings it reports that I am now running Android version 9 (Pie). The phone was running Oreo 8.0.0 when I bought it. So far it has been a good phone.
August 1, 2019 at 1:51 PM
I am returning phone tomorrow to Best Buy...it took off by itself and shut itself off. 3 and 1/2 hours with Samsung "aide" finally told to return it. What a stressful headache. !
August 24, 2019 at 5:55 PM
I returned my Tracfone to Best buy.It went crazy...after 3 hours aide said take it back...I don't know why but I just replaced it...and 30 days later this one is also not so smart anymore. George
September 16, 2019 at 4:20 PM
How Can I tell if the HSN trackfones are VoLTE compatable vs the ones on trackfone website? On this phone
trackfone website adds vl at the end of the name. How a feller to know if that are the same. I want the deal from Hsn but I also want it to work.
November 1, 2019 at 12:23 PM
I agree with two others above who commented that the battery is removable.
(The review says it is not, on the Galaxy J3 Orbit.)
May 16, 2020 at 9:45 PM
The review has been corrected to now say the battery is removable.
Thanks for the good review.
May 25, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Just wanted to mention that my J3 Orbit came with Android 9.0 Pie. It was advertised on Tracfone to have 8.0 Oreo but imagine my surprise when I unboxed it and fired it up that it shows Android 9.0 to be installed. I bought it from Tracfone Sept. 19, 2020, for $29.99. Mfr date shows Sep 2019. John
November 4, 2020 at 9:07 PM
I've been using my Orbit for over a year, and I'm very happy with it. It replaced a Luna Pro, which replaced a Core Prime, which replaced a Stardust, which replaced a Century. I've always waited to pay low refurb prices, usually $30-35. Two of my kids are also on Orbits and happy with them, while the other two family members didn't want the bother of an upgrade so are still on older models.
I mostly just make calls, text, and read Kindle books on it. Also use it for scheduling alerts. I don't play many games, and those games I do occasionally play are graphically simple. Chess is a favorite.
Starting with the increased resolution of the Luna Pro, these phones have been nice for reading Kindle books; before that it was a chore with the lower resolution of the earlier phones and I avoided it.
It doesn't do fast charging, but charging at about 1A is plenty fast enough to fully charge overnight. And I get a few days of charge with normal usage.
January 3, 2021 at 10:49 PM
Does anyone know if a J3 Orbit S367VL Tracfone will accept a GSM type SIM card so that it can connect to AT&T towers for phone service ?(instead of CDMA type SIM card for use with Verizon service) ?
And does the V in the model number S367VL stand for Verizon?
February 26, 2021 at 1:14 AM