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The Samsung Galaxy J3 Star (SM-J337) is probably the least among the brand’s phone releases this year, but it is definitely worth the second look. Not only does this phone look chic on the outside, but it is also in every sense worth every penny.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star Tech Specs vs Other Budget Phones

The Samsung Galaxy J3 Star doesn’t have any particular specs that make it stand out, and one of the major deal breakers we could easily detect is its lack of a fingerprint sensor.

Other phones in the same price range were able to have it, so why Samsung, why?

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: Chic Design

If there’s one thing more noteworthy on the outside for the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star, it is its chic design. It has a pale pink color, giving us an impression that it appeals to a more feminine market. It also has curved edges, giving it a smooth feel in the hands, and it is also lightweight weighing only 5.36 ounces. (Perfect gift for mom!)

All the quick access buttons are on the side. The volume rockers are on the left side, while the power button is on the right. It still has the home button located at its usual location.

This phone supports T-Mobile’s Band 71, assuring you of a better connection even when indoors.

Having Trouble With The Device Unlock App? Here’s A Complete Troubleshooting Guide.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: So-so Versatility

One thing is for sure, the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star is not the phone for gamers. Sure, you can play games, but if you use it for heavy apps and gaming you may not totally enjoy using it.

It is because the phone only has 2GB of RAM, which we believe is still fair for the price. We also do not expect budget phones (within the same price range as this one) to have a bigger RAM capacity because budget phones aren’t usually made for gamers. In a real-world experience, the phone would do great if you are doing pretty much just the basic stuff, which includes, emails, Facebook, Google, and some games.

But if you are going to multi-task and use several heavy apps at once, say Facebook and web-based gaming apps, you might experience certain lags. This phone is just not cut out for heavy gaming.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: Camera, UI Experience

The cameras on the J3 Star are also just on the so-so scale. Nothing spectacular or special about it, aside from the fact that we know Samsung cameras are always better, crisper, and clearer than most phones out there.

You can also play with your photos and enhance it, but you can always install other photo editing apps. The phone comes with a 16GB internal memory that is expandable upto 400GB so you can store pretty much a lot of data and pictures on this phone.

The Samsung Galaxy J3 Star has a removable battery, so whenever you run out of battery, you can always insert a spare one while you have the other charged up for next use.

Good thing, this phone has a powerful 1.4GHz dual-core processor, which helps improve its power efficiency.

Samsung Galaxy J3 Star: Going Big with Bixby

Last but not least, the J3 Star has the Bixby assistant on board. Samsung’s infamous Bixby will help you with “social streaming.” It is not that helpful for you if you don’t like setting up or dealing with voice commands.

This is Samsung’s version of iPhone’s Siri. Bixby on the other hand just doesn’t have a specific personality like Siri or Amazon’s Alexa.

Among Bixby’s most common uses are social media sharing, like snapping a selfie and sharing it on Facebook using your own voice in the process. Simply tell Bixby to “take a selfie” and “post this on Facebook,” and voila, the errand is done.

Unlocking the Samsung Galaxy J3 Star

People hate bloat apps, but there is one pre-installed app from T-Mobile that you should be thankful for, and that is the Device Unlock App.

With the Device Unlock App on board, you are able to choose between a Temporary or a Permanent Unlock on your device; all can be done if you pass T-Mobile requirements for your phone.

If you want a quick, easy, and affordable way to get your phone unlocked, you can always turn to UnlockBase to do it for you. Check out our list of supported phones for the Device Unlock App- T-Mobile.

Let me start off by saying that you can get this phone for FREE if you are planning to port over to MetroPCS. The same model is also available through T-Mobile (different version) with a $150 price tag, a little higher than MetroPCS, but with no significant difference on the tech specs. Do note that this phone may be cheap, but it doesn’t come unlocked. There’s only one way to permanently unlock your phone and that is through the Mobile Device Unlock app already pre-installed in the unit.

You Might Be Interested: How To Use The  Device Unlock App

Moto E5 Play: Nothing fancy but worth it

The Motorola E5 Play does not boast any fancy features, it doesn’t have a striking look that will make you “wow” in its appearance, but for the affordable price tag, it is no wonder one of the best value budget phones for the year 2018.

Although this phone came out together with its brother the Motorola E5 Plus, they are two worlds apart, and the latter is priced a little higher but for good reasons. It has a whopping 5000mAh battery and more advanced tech specs.

It runs on the Android Oreo 8.0 and has a 2GB of RAM packed together with a 1.4GHz Quad-core processor. It also has a huge 2800mAh battery that can last you a day on a single charge and comes with a 16GB built-in storage space which is expandable through a microSD card.

What makes this model a winner for us for its price is its 3.5mm headphone jack and fingerprint reader located at the back.

With these features on board, it tells us that Motorola had been all out on the technical specs and the quality of experience you would get for a budget phone.

You Might Be Interested: How To Troubleshoot Device Unlock App Errors- MetroPCS

Moto E5 Play Design

The Motorola E5 Play is has a straight up plastic back cover- it’s nothing shiny or glass-like on the outside, but it has a huge screen standing 5.2 in tall.

This is complemented by good front and rear cameras that both hhavea flash and autofocus features; giving you bright and crisp photos. The back camera is 8MP and the front camera is 5MP.

Despite having the tagline “Everyday. Extraordinary,” there is pretty much nothing extraordinary about the Motorola E5 Play on the outside that would make it stand out; only that it is fairly priced and has decent enough features for a smartphone in 2018.

But the unique selling point of this phone compared to the other budget smartphones is its water-repellent coating.

It is not waterproof; it is just water-repellent. This means that it cannot survive underwater submersion, but it cannot be easily penetrated by water.

It is indeed the bottom line Motorola phone but it doesn’t mean the E5 Play had compromised all the good stuff. It has a remarkably loud and clear speaker, ga ood camera with a flash, and a fingerprint sensor.

Moto E5 Play vs LG Aristo 2

It’s a bit unfair if we compare the Moto E5 Play to the Moto E5 Plus because they have a considerable price difference, so we will compare it to another phone within the same price range, which is the LG Aristo 2 when it comes to the features.

It’s clear to see that both phones have almost similar features. The better phone actually depends on personal preferences, whether you like a big phone like Motorola Moto E5 Play or a smaller phone like LG Aristo 2.

Learn More: MetroPCS Permanent Mobile Device Unlock

If you’re more concerned about the quality of the images and having a better camera, the LG Aristo 2 might be the best for you. But if you are more concerned about power and longer battery life, the Moto E5 Play is clearly the better option.

Moto E5 Play – Conclusion

The Motorola Moto E5 is a budget phone so if you plan to get this phone, always remember to manage your expectations.  Nothing about it has a wow factor, but it offers a remarkably clean Android experience and all the complete security necessities we would be looking for in a smartphone.

With the Moto E5 Play, Motorola has once again proven that they are truly a lord of budget phones always going beyond the price and giving a better experience every time.

Do you want to use your mobile phone abroad or do you want to unlock your mobile device for use on other carriers? If you bought your mobile device from T-Mobile or if you are currently using a T-Mobile-enabled phone, we’ve prepared a complete guide to SIM unlock your phone on a legal and easy way

Most of the mobile carriers nowadays have pre-installed programs or softwares that prohibits mobile devices to be used on another carrier. So, if you plan to switch carriers using the same mobile device you need to get a SIM Unlock code.

And just like most carriers, T-Mobile also programmed their mobile phones this way. Let’s explore how you can unlock your mobile device through the guidelines we will discuss below.

Network Compatibility

Make sure the mobile phone you wish to use with another carrier is compatible with their network. Take note that even if you find your phone model on their website, phones/mobile devices purchased from T-Mobile has specific version numbers- that means some of your phone’s functionality/features may or may not work fully on the network you want to switch to.

Verizon and Sprint uses CDMA technology, while AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM technology for their networks. You can’t use a GSM phone on a CDMA network, and likewise, a CDMA phone can’t be use on a GSM network.

Do not confuse yourself on a CDMA phone with a sim card slot. Some CDMA phones have sim slots to be simultaneously used on the 4G LTE towers of carriers like Sprint or Verizon, but it doesn’t necessarily mean this phone can work on a carrier with a GSM network that uses sim cards to work.

SIM Unlock Legality

Unlocking a mobile device is fully legalized in the US. If you are using a T-Mobile phone, they will even allow you to have your phone temporarily unlocked (for travel, etc) depending on your eligibility.

Like T-Mobile, almost all carriers around the world (except those from European countries) tie up your phone’s unlock eligibility on a specific number of months that you have used up their service. It’s usually 90 days (3 months) after activation that they allow you to unlock your phone through them if you are still in a contract (postpaid).

Some service providers, however, do not allow you to unlock your phone without paying your phone’s remaining device balance- if you are still in a contract. Being in a contract means they have subsidized your phone for X number of months, and this ultimately means that if you haven’t finished your contract, you will pay for the device balance equivalent to the subsidized amount on the remaining number of months left before your contract ends.

T-Mobile also has a specific set of policies regarding device unlock which we will cover in the next section.

Unlocking With T-Mobile Customer Service: What to Expect

Ok, now this is probably the first tick box you have in mind and bet you already tried calling customer service, but have pleaded to no avail. Before you raise your eyebrows, let’s first go through the T-Mobile unlock requirements and policies for those who haven’t tried their luck with cx svc.

That’s quite a long list, but what we must take note is that T-Mobile does ask for the device to be paid in full for EIP or postpaid accounts. That’s one route you can go, but good news, you have another option! And that is to use a third party unlock service provider.

Here at UnlockBase, we help you get your unlock code quick and at an affordable rate. To make it clear once and for all, WE DON’T REQUIRE YOU TO QUALIFY ON ANY T-MOBILE UNLOCK POLICY. We have a different set of unlock eligibility requirements and we will discuss that on the latter part of this article.

Going back, T-Mobile used to provide SIM unlock codes, but to avoid errors and to make things easier, they have created the Mobile Device Unlock App and pre-installed it on your phone. Let’s go through the Mobile Device Unlock App on the next section.

How To Use The Mobile Device Unlock App

With the Mobile Device Unlock App, you will no longer need to go to a physical store or contact customer service as the app lets you unlock your phone with just one tap. If you think your account is eligible and qualified on all the T-Mobile Unlock requirements, you will be able to request for unlock conveniently.

There’s no need to enter any code, just tap and request for unlock. Easy as that.

The only caveat is this app is ONLY available ON ANDROID devices.

You have two unlock options, Temporary or Permanent. If you are travelling or just want to temporarily use a non- T-Mobile SIM card on your phone, you can opt for the Temporary Unlock.

If your temporary unlock request expires, you will receive an expiration message. If you change your mind and want to unlock your mobile permanently, you have to wait for your Temporary Unlock to expire.

If you want to Permanently unlock your phone, you can tap on the Permanent Unlock option. If successful, the app will automatically uninstall on your mobile and you only need to restart the phone to get rid of the pop-up notification.

Unlocking Through UnlockBase: What You Need To Know

As mentioned earlier, at UnlockBase, we don’t require you to qualify for any specific unlock eligibility requirement according to the T-Mobile policies. We do have our own set of Unlock Eligibility requirements that are prerequisites prior to finalizing your unlock order.

These prerequisites make sure that the unlock process will be smooth, easy, and fast.

We only want to eliminate any factors that may complicate the unlock process or that may cause the unlock to fail. If you qualify to all our unlock eligibility requirements, you are assured of a refund in case the unlikely event happens and the unlock failed.

For Android devices which support the Mobile Device Unlock App, we can remotely enter your IMEI on the T-Mobile server and get your phone unlocked within 3-5 business days.

We already have discussed how we unlock your device through the Mobile Device Unlock App on a previous blog post. It includes the supported devices, the troubleshooting steps, and all the how-tos on unlocking your phone.

The Unlock Eligibility requirements vary per phone model (we will give you a copy of this via email before confirming your order), but to give you an idea, here’s a few of the general requirements we ask before we proceed.

✔  Make sure your mobile device is CLEAN, NOT REPORTED LOST OR STOLEN

✔  Make sure to try first a Permanent Unlock on your phone before confirming your order, please follow the steps listed earlier. Confirm your order only when your error is like this:  “Unlock Failed: This mobile wireless device is not eligible for unlocking. For Device Unlock eligibility details, please go online or contact Customer Care.”

✔  We can’t process an unlock unless you fix all other errors on your mobile.

✔  Make sure your phone is connected to the server before continuing. If you are getting an error that says “Server not responding, try again later”,  it means your phone is not communicating to the server. Either you have weak mobile data signal or your WiFi connection is not strong and steady.

✔  Make sure your phone is running on its original software and not on a Custom OS. Rooted devices, or a mobile device that is running on a Custom OS, will not be recognized by the server and will not be unlocked.

If you are ready to unlock your phone, take note of your mobile’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). This serves as your mobile’s unique serial number and this is the only thing we will need to get your T-Mobile device successfully unlocked.

Once we receive your order, we will be sending you a form through an email that enlists all the unlock eligibility requirements. Again, it varies per phone model, so make sure to follow and tick all the corresponding boxes.

Sending the form back to us means that you agree to the terms and conditions stated therein. Furthermore, sending the form back to us means that you are confirming your order.

Once received,  we will also send you back the unlock instructions and possible troubleshooting steps. Your IMEI will now be in queue, and since we have a thousand unlock orders per day, we hope you will comply with the 3-5 business days delivery or as the stated turnaround time on your order confirmation email.

Since this is a digital service, we will not be able to refund you when you change your mind during the waiting period. All orders are considered final as we are sending them to our suppliers as well.

Should the unlikely happen that your device was not successfully unlocked, and provided that the circumstances are outside the Eligibility requirements we have agreed upon, we will refund you 100% of the money that you paid for the service.

We will try our best to provide you support and answer your questions immediately during the unlock process. Our tech and customer service team are ready to help you 24/7. If you find yourself lost or confused during the unlock process, don’t hesitate to shoot us an email.

Takeaway

Unlocking a T-Mobile Android device is pretty easy and straightforward. Through the use of the Mobile Device Unlock App you can now unlock your phone with just one tap. Easy, fast, and convenient – UnlockBase can help you with all your mobile unlock needs.

Do you think we missed something? Please tell us on the comments section down below.

T-Mobile is one of the largest service provider in the US and they have widespread coverage in either side of the country – even expanding it down to Mexico and a part of Canada. T-Mobile price plans are also remarkably low and budget-friendly for the average Joe, which helped them amass subscribers more than its competitors.

T-Mobile’s 4G LTE improvement rollout is set to finish by the end of 2017, reassuring the fastest and the best connection even in the suburbs and the rural areas. That’s not the only thing T-Mobile prepared for everyone for the holiday seasons, though.

Brace yourselves, here are the top 5 gadget steals and deals from T-Mobile:

1. Get One. Gift One. (LG and Samsung)

As if switching to T-Mobile’s fast network isn’t sweet enough, they are giving a free Samsung flagship phone of equal or lesser value when you buy one Samsung phone and switch to them or add a new line of service with a qualifying rate plan!

With their BOGO (Buy One, Get One) promo, you only need to have one phone on EIP (Equipment Installment Plan) attached to the new line of service and you’re free to do whatever you want to do with the gift phone you have. Either you want to unlock your Samsung or *upgrade the device on other existing lines in your account.

Upon purchase, you will pay the downpayment for one device and the applicable taxes for both. Do note that you are going to pay for both the remaining device balance when you cancel your service before the 24-month contract ends. Nonetheless, T-Mobile plans for Samsung are easy on the pocket, and if you have more questions about the promotion and how to redeem it, check here.

If you’re not in love with Samsung flagships, this BOGO offer is also available on LG flagship devices. You can now get your hands on the LG V30 and other LG flagships without worrying so much about the costly month-to-month bills.

If you are torn in between these two Android giants, reading about LG V30 and Samsung Note 8 or maybe looking at the price plans is going to help you decide.

LG flagships are surely a bargain!

2. Beats at 30% Off

If you are the audiophile hoping to see a miraculous discount on your smartphone’s grandest accessories, then you’re in good luck! T-Mobile offers up to 30% discount on all Beats headphones and you can even get up to $60 off of the beat you want to bring home.

If you have awesome credit, you can get these headphones for zero down payment! Powerbeats3 wireless earphones starts at $6.67 per month for 24 months. While Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones and Wireless On-Ear headphones starts at $10 per month for 24 months.

Your majestic Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear headphones starts at $14.59 monthly on a 24-month contract. These Beats prices are unbeatably low!

This is a limited time offer and if you want to know more about it, go here. You’re very welcome.

3. Save $50 on Apple Watch Series 3

If you want connectivity on the go, T-Mobile also offers a $50 discount on Apple Watch Series 3 starting December 8 this year. This is for a limited time only and you need to purchase your device under the EIP (Equipment Installment Plan) and put your line on a qualified plan to be eligible for this offer.

The only caveat though is the credits stop when you cancel your service before the 24-month contract. You can’t also combine this promo with other promos like having 3 months of free service when you purchase this device.

Here are the plan rates for all 4 different models of the Apple Watch Series 3:

4. Free Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod

If you are won over by the modular capacity of Motorola Moto Z2 Force, you are probably also drooling over the modular accessories you want to connect.

Well, today you must be very lucky because when you buy Moto Z2 Force with T-Mobile, you will get an Insta-Share Projector for FREE! Let me tell you how.

This is another limited time offer and this runs between November 22 and December 31, 2017 only. If you buy your Moto Z2 Force in between these dates you will be qualified for this T-Mobile and Motorola promo.

You only need your phone’s IMEI and pictures of your phone’s box and receipt of purchase. Go to this pageon or before January 28,2018 at 11:59:59 PM ET and enter the necessary details it needs. Complete the form and fill in your shipping address right.

You can also visit this page if you have additional questions about the promo.

5. Zero Down for All!

Are you looking for a mid-range, high-quality phone you can own with zero down?

T-Mobile not only has 1 (one) but 4 (four) different phones you can choose from! If this isn’t good news enough, did you know you can have them at a beastly low 18-month contract under $10 bucks?

Here are your options:

Takeaway

There you have it folks. Let’s embrace the holidays with this bonanza from T-Mobile. Enjoy your holidays and have a great new year!

If you have questions about your phone’s SIM unlocking needs, Unlockbase has got your back. Don’t hesitate to shoot us a message anytime. We’ll cater them anytime of the day for yah!

Unlocking your ZTE device should be easy and straightforward. In fact, just like any other phone brand, you only need three things to get your ZTE device successfully and permanently unlocked.

1. Non- carrier SIM card
2. Your phone’s IMEI number (Dial*#06#)
3. IMEI Status (Make sure your phone is not blacklisted or reported lost or stolen)

If you have these ready, you can then order an unlock code specifically for your phone. We usually send you 3 or more codes as we see necessary, but in most cases, you will only use one code which is the NCK code or the Network Code Key or simply the unlock code.

Codes You Will Receive:

• Unfreeze Code
• Reset Key
• Service Provider Code
• Network Code (NCK)

All the other codes will be used depending on how your phone reacts with a non -carrier SIM card the moment you turn it on. Just simply follow the instruction that your phone prompts you to do. If in case, you are lost or you need help, you can always contact our customer service team via live chat or email.

How To Unlock ZTE Through An Unlock Code

1. Insert SIM card from a source different than your original Service Provider (i.e. if you have a Rogers phone, use a non-Rogers SIM card)
2. Phone will ask you to enter SIM unlock PIN
3. Enter unlock code
4. Your ZTE phone will be unlocked!

That’s how easy it is! If you want to unlock your phone now, just go to this page and choose your device model number correctly. You will be prompted to enter your IMEI number and your carrier’s information. Just follow through the process and you will receive an email confirmation from us about your payment.

Our email confirmation will inform you about the turn around time for us to generate an unlock code specifically for your phone. It will also contain the instructions necessary to get your phone permanently unlocked.

How To Unlock ZTE Through Mobile Device Unlock App (MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA)

If you got your phone through MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA, it is most likely that you will not need to buy an unlock code because your phone has a pre-installed app that will unlock your phone without a code. This pre-installed app is what the Mobile Device Unlock App.

If you have the Mobile Device Unlock App on your phone, try to unlock your phone using the app.

1. From that application list, tap on Device Unlock.
2. Hit Continue.
3. Choose Permanent Unlock.

Your device will give you two possible prompts if your phone is off-contract or eligible for unlock by your carrier it will unlock successfully and it will ask you to restart your phone. If it otherwise tells you,

It means that your phone is not yet eligible for unlock by your carrier. If you are seeing a different kind of error, you can look up the troubleshooting steps here.

If this is the error you get, you don’t need to go to the MetroPCS or T-Mobile store to get your phone unlocked. We can remotely register your IMEI to your carrier’s database, just click on your carrier below and choose your device make and model correctly.

Pick your carrier correctly and just follow through our order process. You will receive an email confirmation from us and this will guide you throughout the unlocking process.

If in case you feel lost or you need help, we have 24-hour support that can answer your questions through live chat or email. Don’t hesitate to shoot us a message anytime.

To make the unlock process easier, the Mobile Device Unlock app had been pre-installed by two major carriers in the US, T- Mobile and MetroPCS. Through this app, we are now able to remotely register any IMEI as “Eligible” in your carrier’s database without the need for an unlock code. However, this only works on compatible devices, please visit list at the bottom.

Good news! Turn around is less than 2 business days!

How does it work?

Select one of these two services below to unlock with “Mobile Device Unlock“

1. From that Application list, tap Device Unlock.
2. Tap Continue.
3. Choose the desired device unlock type: Permanent Unlock
4. If successful, restart the device to apply the settings.

Note: If you do not restart the device, you will have a persistent alert in the notification tray.) 

You need not visit any T-Mobile or MetroPCS store to get your device unlocked. The Mobile Device Unlock app allows an unlock request right where you are at the moment.

Error Types and Troubleshooting Steps

List of Compatible Devices By Carrier

Select one of these two services below to unlock with “Mobile Device Unlock“

Device Unlock is an Android app that allows you to request and apply a mobile device unlock directly from the device. This allows you to automatically apply Mobile Device Unlock to the device without using a manual code. When your phone is locked with “Mobile Device Unlock” it’s totally useless to order an unlock code.

Only supported devices (see below) may download the app or have it pre-installed. Supported devices may download the app from: Google Play.

It’s very important to order the unlock service of your Cell Phone using the correct service.

How to apply a “Mobile Device Unlock”

1. From that Application list, tap Device Unlock.
2. Tap Continue.
3. Choose the desired device unlock type: Permanent Unlock
4. If successful, restart the device to apply the settings.

Note: If you do not restart the device, you will have a persistent alert in the notification tray.

Troubleshooting “Mobile Device Unlock” app

1. Check that you have an active data connection.
2. Clear the application cache.
3. Check that the device memory is properly managed.
4. Restart the device and try again.

If you receive an error, review the following table for troubleshooting:

1. Make sure you use the original Stock ROM (no custom Firmware like CyanogenMod, or Unbranded ROM).
2. Make sure you’re using the latest version of Firmware for your Cell Phone.
3. Finally (after upgrade) perform a Hard Reset on your Cell Phone.
4. Turn off 3G/LTE and force the use of a local WiFi Hotspot.
5. Make sure you use home Wifi (and not a public/company WiFi since they might limit somehow your internet usage).

Select one of these two services below to unlock with “Mobile Device Unlock“