What's good
- Decent camera
- 4G support
- NFC support
- Great battery life
- Removable battery
- MicroSD support
What's bad
- Price
- Weak processor for more than basic use
- Limited internal storage
- Washed out, low-resolution display
While making a budget phone requires compromises, the increasing market competition has lead to major advances in features in recent years. Does the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime make the right compromises to stand out?
Let’s see what reviewers are saying!
The Core Prime takes the typical Samsung design and converts it into an all-plastic affair. However, reviewers didn’t mind the plastic shell. GSM Arena noted, “It's shiny, but not glossy and glistens under the light. It hides fingerprints quite well.” The plastic shell also means a removable back for swapping batteries on power-hungry days.
Coming around front, you’re greeted with a 4.5-inch, 800-by-480 TFT panel. Unfortunately, reviews weren’t stellar. TechRadar said, “With today's HD-optimised web content, browsing the web on the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime shows up some unsightly artifacts and leaves a generally drab impression.” Many reviewers also noted that the screen’s colors were dull and visibility in sunlight was difficult.
Powering the phone, you’ll find a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon 410 processor. PC Advisor UK summed performance up well, saying, “In general use the phone feels fairly zippy but there's the occasional slowdown and also slight delays when launching apps.” However, don’t expect 3D games to run smoothly.
Media lovers will find the phone’s support of microSD cards essential for enjoying their favorite movies and music on the go. The phone only offers 8GB of internal storage, with roughly 3GB taken up by the OS and pre-installed apps. As the phone runs Android 5.1.1, there’s no support for Android Adaptable Storage to help things out either.
The battery life was a popular point among most reviewers. While the battery is only 2000mAh, the phone's relatively low specs offer plenty of use on a single charge. GSM Arena noted, “The phone will last you three days of use, two if you push it harder.”
The camera was equally well received. The 5MP rear camera includes a flash and autofocus. There’s also a 2MP front-facing lens for selfies and video chat. Expert Reviews UK put the camera to the test and said, “While its resolution isn't as high as other budget smartphones it produced some remarkably decent shots when I took it outdoors, as colours were rich and vibrant with very little noise on show.”
Overall, the biggest problem most reviews pointed out about the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime is the price. TechRadar summed up opinions on the phone well, saying, “In an increasingly competitive low-end smartphone field, the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime fails to stand out or excel in any way. It will meet your day-to-day demands, but you can do better for the money.”
What the Critics Are Saying...


- Richard Goodwin, Know Your MobileFor the price, the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime delivers a lot of value. It’s small, packed with useful features, thanks to its Android OS, and possesses excellent call quality as well as decent battery life.


- Katharine Byrne, Expert ReviewsThe main problem with the Core Prime, though, is its age. When it first came out in 2014, it had fewer handsets to compete with, but ever since Motorola completely rewrote the rulebook on what we should expect from cut-price smartphones with its Moto G and Moto E handsets, the Core Prime just can't...


- Jon Murdy, TechRadarIt's busy at the bottom, and the Core Prime struggles to stand out.


- Jim Martin, Tech AdvisorIf you love Samsung Android phones then you'll like the Galaxy Core Prime. It does lack a few features, but the missing ambient light sensor is one cut corner too far. For only £79, we prefer Vodafone's Smart Prime 6. It has a 5in 1280x720 screen, better cameras and an ambient light sensor. Pl...


- Eric M. Zeman, Phone ScoopAn updated handset that improves upon its predecessor's specs while maintaining a low price point.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy Core Prime with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy Core Prime has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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