Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) USB OTG???

[~misfit~]

A friend who was using a Galaxy S2 which started playing up asked me if I
could advise on an affordable replacement. (We're both with 2degrees.) USB
OTG / host mode was a prerequisite. I checked 2degrees' site for available
Samsung models, saw the J3 (2016) model (the 2017 version has a crapier
display)
https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/2d/mobile/ols/consumer/browse/phone/details/phone-details.jsp?productId=1-ZURXYP&planCode=&planType=Prepay
Then, as 2degrees' site doesn't give many details I checked the various
phone info sites out there;
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_j3_(2016)-7760.php
http://www.gsm-specs.com/samsung-galaxy-j3-2016-sm-j320/
I foud out the exact model that 2degrees are selling (SM-J320ZN) and added
that to the search-string;
http://www.phonemore.com/samsung-galaxy-j3-4g-sm-j320zn/specs/2835

They all agree that it DOES have OTG. Just to be sure (because I have
terrible luck and wanted to be sure of my advice) I also checked youtube and
found *three* sub-2 minute videos showing that the J3 does in fact have OTG.
https://youtu.be/5d_kxslfvFA
https://youtu.be/eenoWhZvhzU
https://youtu.be/0SW7TtuFarg

So she and her friend both bought one each and, yeah, you guessed it, after
a couple of weeks when she went to use it she discovered they *don't* have
USB OTG. I went with her when she took it back to the 2degrees shop and they
tested it then said as they didn't advertise it as having OTG then there was
nothing wrong with it. I pointed out that, after much searching 'the
internet told me' it does have OTG and the branch manager said yeah but
there are many different models. I pointed out that I'd checked that but he
just kept saying it wasn't advertised as having OTG so there's not a problem
with it. I pointed out that the Galaxy S8 isn't advertised as having OTG on
their site either and would he say the same thing to an S8 buyer but no
luck....

So does anyone have any input? I doubt that 3degrees have a special hardware
model just for them so could it be the ROM (or whatever it's called)? Do you
reckon 'rooting' the phone would do anything? Any helpful input appreciated,
I don't know a lot about android devices and I hate that my advice (which I
thought was accurate after spending two hours researching) has proven wrong.
:-/
--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy
little classification in the DSM*."
David Melville (in r.a.s.f1)
(*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

[~misfit~]

Thanks for all of the replies.

[Jon Cooper]

Sorry ~misfit~ I am 5 years late but I am finding exactly the same thing with my 2017 J3.

[~misfit~]

On 25/09/2022 8:45 am, Jon Cooper wrote:
> Sorry ~misfit~ I am 5 years late but I am finding exactly the same thing with my 2017 J3.

All good, I still check the group from time to time. :)

Yeah, there were conflicting stories about OTG support for the J3. Seems it was market-dependent
and not available on the models bought into NZ. I still use my J3 as a (flac) music server, both
wired and bluetooth (different rooms).

I bought a Nokia 4.2 to replace it as a phone a few years back. The Nokia's at the end of it's
update life now (on Android 11) but still does well for what I use it for. Hopefully it'll last me
a while longer.

Cheers,

--
Shaun.

"Humans will have advanced a long, long way when religious belief has a cozy little classification
in the DSM"

David Melville

This is not an email and hasn't been checked for viruses by any half-arsed self-promoting software.