Samsung launches £130 Galaxy J2 Pro without any internet connectivity – it can’t even connect to Wi-Fi

Thomas McMullan Read more April 13, 2018

There’s a growing number of people who want a mobile phone, but don’t necessarily want the smorgasbord of distractions, or pricey data bills, that come with owning one.

Samsung launches £130 Galaxy J2 Pro without any internet connectivity – it can't even connect to Wi-Fi

Now, this so-called dumbphone movement has gathered further momentum with news that Samsung is getting in on the game with the release of a new device in South Korea with absolutely no internet connectivity.

The Galaxy J2 Pro supports calls and text messages, and comes with an in-built camera for taking pictures, but doesn’t work with 3G, 4G LTE or even Wi-Fi. It’s being pitched as a device for older people who may want a phone with bare-bones features, and is also being promoted in South Korea for students doing their school exams.

The device comes with a 5-in display, 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory and a microSD slot, plus a 2600 mAh replaceable battery. It also boasts an offline Korean-English dictionary app, and a set of rear and front cameras – 8MP and 5MP respectively.

Samsung’s Galaxy J2 Pro will set you back 199,100 won (£130), but students buying the phone until June will be able to get a full refund – that is, if they go on to buy a higher end Samsung Galaxy S or A smartphones after they finish their exams.

There’s no word yet on whether the phone will be sold in other countries. There does seem to be an appetite for devices that turn their back on constant connectivity, so it will be interesting to see if the Galaxy J2 Pro ends up being a success in South Korea, although its price is potentially a little steep for what it’s actually capable of doing. The idea of no internet access may indeed be more appealing than the reality.