The Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 is the smaller, less expensive of Samsung's two new-generation Galaxy Players.
Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica is a passionate content strategist and team leader across the CNET family of brands. She leads a number of teams, including commerce, performance optimization and the copy desk. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on the iPhone and Samsung devices. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds.
Jessica began her leadership role managing CNET's How To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones to home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the UK.
The smaller of the two Samsung Galaxy Wi-Fi-only audio players, the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 is the cheaper, less sophisticated alternative if you're looking for something that's basically a phone without, well, the phone part.
2 of 7Josh Miller/CNET
Side by side
The 3.6-inch model, left, is smaller and also has the less sharp resolution of the two, as it's HVGA whereas the 4.2-inch Player's screen is WVGA. The Player 3.6 also lacks some of the more-sophisticated features, and is available at Best Buy for $149.99. The 4.2-incher is available May 13 for $199.99.
3 of 7Josh Miller/CNET
Gingerbread in the hand
Like the larger version, the Galaxy Player 3.6 has Android 2.3 Gingerbread, on top of a 1GHz Cortex-A8 processor, a 2-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a front-facing VGA camera.
4 of 7Josh Miller/CNET
Memory
Like the 4.2-inch version, the Player 3.6 has 8GB of internal memory, and a microSD slot that lets you expand up to 32GB.
5 of 7Josh Miller/CNET
Bottom view
The awkwardly placed 3.5mm headset jack and Micro-USB charger port are up top.
6 of 7Josh Miller/CNET
Controls
I love the physical, central button on the Player devices.
7 of 7Josh Miller/CNET
Right spine
Here's your close-up of the power button and volume rocker on the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6.
