And Galaxy J7 (2017). The first one still stands apart, while the other two are clearly more expensive and more advanced. However, this time it was also decided to highlight the Galaxy J7 (2017).

Today samsung galaxy J7 (2017) looks more like a lightweight representative of the Galaxy A line. It does not have separate chips like water protection, slightly worse performance, but in many ways the device is very close to older brothers. So, for example, it is distinguished by support for the Always On function - other “Jacks” simply do not have this. There was also a fingerprint scanner and so on. I will not list everything here, otherwise you will not read the article. So let's get started: Galaxy review J7 (2017) in all details!

Video review Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)

Design

So, I have in my hands the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017), the third generation of this smartphone.

Needless to say, it has changed from year to year. So the very first device was made entirely of plastic, it was a “typical Samsung”. The second got a metal edging, got aluminum sidewalls. And now the Galaxy J7 (2017) is made entirely of metal.

From the front, the handset looks very solid, somewhat reminiscent of the same Galaxy A. It has a thinner frame around the screen, and at the same time added fashionable 2.5D glass.

Behind everything is really metal, except for the antenna inserts at the top and bottom. But they do not spoil the impression, on the contrary, they are decorated quite well, not at all like other smartphones. In addition, the gold color looks good, that is, we had the Galaxy J7 (2017) gold. There are more Black Galaxy J7 (2017) black, Galaxy J7 (2017) blue and Galaxy J7 (2017) pink.

The Galaxy J7 (2017) has a “regular” protection standard, that is, IP54. In other words, it is protected from small splashes and dust, but better phone do not drown. At the same time, the build quality is excellent, although Samsung has not seen anything else so far. And now it is more than expected - the hull has become non-separable!

The smartphone turned out to be moderately thin (8 mm), but weighty - 188 grams. Even for a 5.5-inch tube, this is decent. Apparently, the presence of a capacious battery affects, although again - the thickness is small.

As a result, I can conclude about the Galaxy J7 (2017) that it looks good, it feels great in the hand, the metal pleasantly cools the palm and generally leaves an extremely favorable impression.

Connectors and controls

In terms of connectors and buttons, the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is the most classic! Even microUSB left!

So many elements are placed above the screen that I sinfully thought that the Galaxy J7 (2017) somehow migrated the iris scanner from . In fact, nothing like that - there is an LED backlight for the front camera. There is a lens of this very camera, light and proximity sensors, as well as a conversational speaker.

Under the screen, you can see a mechanical Home button and two touch buttons for Back and Recent Apps. The touch buttons are not backlit, and, as I said, a fingerprint scanner is built into the Home - for the first time in the Galaxy J line.

Working with fingerprints is exactly the same as in all Samsung smartphones. You can add multiple fingerprints in the Lock screen & security settings. But before that, you will need to enter a PIN, password or graphic pattern.

Then all that remains is to scan your finger and that's it - they can unlock the phone. And just touch the sensor and the screen will immediately turn on. Our short video will tell you how the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) fingerprint scanner works:

On the reverse side at the top you can see the main camera lens with LED flash and antenna insert.

Behind the bottom is only an antenna insert.

On the left side you can see two buttons for volume control, compartments for SIM-cards and memory cards.

Samsung has stopped doing nonsense and now equips its smartphones with three full-fledged connectors at once: two for SIM cards and one for microSD. I note that the Galaxy J7 (2017) only supports nanoSIM - finally, even state employees are starting to switch to this standard. Card trays are removed with a paper clip or ejector. If something suddenly doesn’t work out for you, then our short video will help solve the problem:

The power button and speakerphone were placed on the right sidewall.

All other elements are placed below: a spoken microphone, microUSB and an audio jack. As I said, Samsung has not yet switched to USB Type-C in the Galaxy J series, apparently this will happen in 2018.

The upper end is empty - there is no microphone for noise reduction. You have to somehow distinguish Galaxy J from Galaxy A, right?

In general, Galaxy J7 (2017) in terms of ergonomics is the most classic. All the buttons are in their usual places, the card slots are full, the microUSB is in place, the mini-jack for the headset is conveniently placed at the bottom - what else is needed for happiness?

It is very easy to buy a case or cover for Galaxy J7 (2017) as it is a very popular smartphone model. I will say more, I even got one case in my hands!

Here is a silicone case for Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) costs about 1000 rubles. Moreover, this is a branded accessory, and even made in the main color of the smartphone.

There are also books and other covers for Galaxy J7 (2017) - it will be easy to find them.

Screen Galaxy J7 (2017)

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) stands out from its predecessors. If anyone is not in the know, both past generations came out with Super AMOLED screens, but their resolution was 1280x720 pixels, clearly emphasizing the mass positioning of smartphones. But the new device, which is made for 2017, we have a 5.5-inch Full HD display.

The Galaxy J7 (2017), thanks to its 1920x1080 resolution, provides a noticeably higher pixel density - 401 ppi versus 267 ppi for previous phones. And the Galaxy J5 (2017) does not shine against its background, offering only 282 ppi. In general, in the new generation, the older model in the line stands alone, offering the best screen.

However, the new Galaxy J7 (2017) is not only good for the screen - the smartphone still supports the Always On Display function. If anyone is not in the know, then for the first time it was introduced together with, and later the entire Galaxy A series acquired it. And now J7 (2017), which has become the first of the "Jacks" with this most useful feature.

For the uninformed, I’ll tell you what it does - the time and various notifications are always shown on the screen. Or it can be replaced with a calendar or just a picture. As a result, useful information appears before our eyes, but little energy is spent on this matter, thanks to the Super AMOLED screen.

Meanwhile, the Super AMOLED matrix does its job and provides a very pleasant picture, with good colors, juicy and rich. The viewing angles are wide, the image is clear and does not fade in the sun. And, finally, there is support for auto-brightness - a small but extremely useful option that its predecessors did not have.

Objective measurements also speak for the Samsung device. So the brightness was measured at 296.75 cd / m 2, which seems to be not so much, but in reality under the sun in automatic mode the phone can raise it noticeably higher. The black color is truly black, since we are dealing with OLED technology.

The color gamut, as expected, overlaps the sRGB color space, especially with the included Adaptive profile. There are no problems with color rendering.

The color temperature is slightly higher than usual. In the case of the Adaptive profile, it is at the level of 8000-8200K, and for the Main profile, it is much closer to the reference value of 6500K. However, Samsung devices usually have a slightly warmer picture.

The gamma curves look pretty good. Only when the Main profile is turned on does it protrude in the middle, that is, the average brightness shades of the image are shown lighter than they should be. But this is invisible to the eye.

As expected, Galaxy J7 (2017) can work with a dozen touches at once.

In the screen settings, you can now find a complete set: auto brightness adjustment, selection color profiles and even adjusting individual color channels.

As I said, the Galaxy J7 (2017) stands out in terms of the screen both against the background of its predecessors and against the background of other smartphones of the Galaxy J series. cost significantly more.

Camera Galaxy J7 (2017)

The evolution in terms of cameras in the Galaxy J7 is not very noticeable to the average layman: all three generations of smartphones offer a sensor with a resolution of 13 MP. Of course, its models differ, and the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) has the best optics - the lens aperture was increased to f / 1.7, against f / 1.9.

The control application is common for Samsung devices. The basis was taken from the one that the Galaxy S8 has. A swipe on the right opens the color filters, and on the left - the available modes.

For advanced shooting, the Pro mode may be of interest, where you can adjust the white balance, ISO sensitivity and exposure compensation.

The maximum resolution of 13 MP is achieved when the aspect ratio of the frame is 4:3.

The camera takes decent pictures. Frames come out clear, with good white balance. Of course, the brightness is not always well adjusted, but this is unlikely to bother many. Even in the evening, something tolerable comes out.

The video is captured in Full HD resolution.

The video looks decent, also sharp, with good colors.

The front camera has been updated much more seriously - instead of 5 MP, a 13 MP sensor is now used.

From the front camera shots of the Galaxy J7 (2017), you can clearly see that the number of megapixels does not mean their quality. The resolution is high, but everything is washed out and not very beautiful. The white balance is normal, the brightness seems to be the same, but at night the camera does not produce the best pictures.

The video from the front camera is also kind of like “high-quality”, with Full HD resolution.

However, he has all the problems for the photo: there is not enough sharpness.

More than that, given the positioning of the Galaxy J7 (2017), it makes good shots and videos. I'm talking about the main camera - everything is more or less decent there. But the front camera blurs the picture and it's not very pleasant.

Specifications Galaxy J7 (2017)

The lineup of the Galaxy J line for 2017 includes three main devices: J3 (2017), J5 (2017) and J7 (2017). Moreover, for individual markets, the latter was propagated with the help of budding in two more versions: Galaxy J7 Pro and Galaxy J7 Max. The processor and screen of the first is the same as our J7 (2017), but in the minimum version it has more memory, both RAM and flash. As for the J7 Max, this is a 5.7-inch device based on the MediaTek chipset, with a PLS display and also a decent amount of memory: 4/32 GB. It is produced only for India.

Above, I described how many changes happened to the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) compared to the 2016 device: screen resolution, cameras, various interesting features appeared. But what about the rest of the iron?

In general, everything is not bad, except for the fact that the processor has not been updated in any way in a year. The same Exynos 7870 Octa is used with eight Cortex-A53 cores operating at a frequency of 1.6 GHz. On the other hand, it's a decent mid-range chipset and not to say that it has become irrelevant.

Inside it is installed, albeit not the newest, but still not the old Mali-T830 MP2 video card. This accelerator is also not one of the fastest, not the most budgetary, but still there are better options. Moreover, it has only two execution units.

But more RAM was installed - 3 GB, which is also available for the first time for the Galaxy J line, including among the 2017 models. But there is only 16 GB of flash memory, which is logical - 32 GB was left for individual local versions and for the older Galaxy A series.

Otherwise, I will note the changes in terms of communications. So Wi-Fi reached the support of the 802.11ac standard, and at the same time increased the battery capacity by 300 mAh. For this, I had to pay for 11 grams of increased weight and 0.2 mm thicker “waist”.

In principle, the parameters of the Galaxy J7 (2017) look more or less normal, but at the level of the middle class, but no more. There is nothing very outstanding about them.

Performance Testing

The performance difference between Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2016) shouldn't be significant. Let me remind you that they have the same processor, and the amount of RAM is larger in the first device.

Basemark OS obviously leans more towards expanded RAM, as the 2017 smartphone was somewhat faster here.

The JetStream browser test also remained with J7 (2017), but its advantage here is much less significant.

Graphic benchmarks agreed that the platforms of the phones are the same, and therefore there is nothing to strain - the results are almost identical.

Galaxy J7 (2017) in Antutu

Now let's see how things stand in the popular Antutu system-wide test.

The result is similar to Basemark OS, although the superiority of the Galaxy J7 (2017) is less obvious. The difference will be imperceptible to the eye.

Autonomy Galaxy J7 (2017)

We will check the autonomy of the smartphone by.

What can I say, the autonomy of the Galaxy J7 (2017) is good, one of the best I would say. True, the J7 (2016) has it even better. Yes, its advantage, according to the diagram, is minimal, but there is a nuance: the battery capacity of the 2016 model is 3300 mAh, while the current one has 3600 mAh. Again, this does not mean anything, just a year earlier the phone showed an almost record result, and now it is only slightly worse.

As you can see, the power consumption profile is quite typical. The maximum falls on three-dimensional graphics, while everything else consumes very little charge.

Besides, in latest version Shell Clean UI has many ways to optimize power consumption.

Among other things, there are different profiles where you can configure how the phone will work. This sets the brightness of the screen, how the processor works, turning off wireless networks etc.

Total Galaxy J7 (2017) smartphone is fast and with excellent autonomy. A sort of workhorse that will appeal to many.

Games on Galaxy J7 (2017)

With games on the Galaxy J7 (2017), no problems are foreseen either.

• Riptide GP2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Asphalt 7: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Asphalt 8: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Modern Combat 5: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Dead Trigger: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Dead Trigger 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Real Racing 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Need for Speed: No Limits: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Shadowgun: Dead Zone: excellent, the game does not slow down;
• Frontline Commando: Normandy: did not start;

• Frontline Commando 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;
• Eternity Warriors 2: did not start;

• Eternity Warriors 4: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Trial Xtreme 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Trial Xtreme 4: excellent, the game does not slow down;
• dead effect: not available in the Play Store;

• Dead Effect 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Plants vs Zombies 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• dead target: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Injustice: Gods Among Us: excellent, the game does not slow down;

• Injustice 2: excellent, the game does not slow down.

As you can see, all games work without issues. With the Galaxy J7 (2017), another problem may arise - 16 GB of flash memory is enough for not the largest number of modern games

ON

Like all smartphones of 2017, the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) comes with Android 7 out of the box. Undoubtedly, Android 8.0 will also be released for it when all flagships and more expensive devices are updated.

Meanwhile, the device offers a well-known Clean UI shell interface to owners and users of Samsung technology.

It differs from the original Android, but not very much. So the notifications panel offers a variety of display options, from a thin strip of recent notifications and quick options, to a full expanded view.

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 has an excellent value for money, highly detailed matrix and good hardware. Responsible for performance is Samsung's own Eynos processor with 8 cores, in conjunction with 3 GB of RAM, this configuration allows you to run most demanding applications, as well as not the most voracious games. The battery capacity is 3600 mAh and this is enough for a couple of days of active use. In general, we will recommend Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 in the given price category it will be difficult to find something more suitable.

Samsung Galaxy J7 2017: Specs and price

OS	android;
Screen	5.5 inches;
Permission	1920×1080;
Camera	13 MP;
Frontal	13 MP;
CPU	1600 MHz 8 cores;
Built-in memory	16 GB;
RAM	3 GB;
battery	3600 mAh
Price	About 13000 rubles

Samsung Galaxy J7 2017: Pros and Cons

- Battery capacity is enough for 40 hours of active use. Fast charging support. Availability of support for energy saving mode;

— NFC support;

— Thoughtful native shell;

— Iron is enough for most voracious applications, as well as not the newest games;

- High-quality matrix with realistic color reproduction, as well as large viewing angles;

- A large number of positive reviews from users;

-Looks more expensive than it's worth

- Smart operation of the fingerprint scanner, as well as its comfortable location. Support for three fingerprints;

- The case, although metal, will slide in the hands;

— Cameras Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 are the most common and do not differ from competitors in a given price category. The front one is represented by 13 megapixels, as well as the front one;

- Not enough built-in memory, so it's better to buy an SD card right away;

- Simultaneous support for two SIM cards and a memory card;

- Screen with support for Always On Display technology;

- There is a pre-installed software;

- Thin bezels around the screen. There may be false touches because of this;

- The built-in shell eats up a lot of resources;

— High-quality communication;

- A large selection of accessories for the model on a well-known Chinese site;

- Of the built-in 16 GB, only 7 GB is available;

- High-quality sound in headphones;

— Ideal weight of the device;

- The screen size allows you to comfortably watch videos or read books;

— high density pixels per inch, therefore, the user will not see graininess;

— Protection against dust and splashes according to the IP54 standard;

- When dropped, the screen cracks, therefore, it is better not to drop it on the floor or buy it in addition safety glass;

- For voracious games, a smartphone is not suitable;

- Main Micro USB port, which is a legacy solution;

Output

Weighing all the positive and negative points, we can say with confidence that the Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 is an excellent model from a well-known brand, which is distinguished by a decent matrix, a large number of positive reviews, as well as a pleasant appearance.

In contact with

There is nothing extraordinary in the set. Traditionally, along with a smartphone, you can get a key-clip, an adapter and a USB cable, and instructions. There is a simple stereo headset. Headphones perform their role well, but still the smartphone belongs to the economy class, so the headset is not the best here. Therefore, when buying a gadget, you should immediately look for a new accessory.

Designers clearly tried and thought out to the smallest detail appearance corps. Firstly, the model is released in as many as four colors - more strict black and delicate golden, pink and blue. Secondly, the gadget received thin, almost imperceptible side frames around the screen and heavily rounded corners.

Of course, the case material immediately attracts attention. Unlike most modern gadgets, this model is all-metal. There are no gaps here (in general, there are no joints of individual body parts here), which means that there is no squeak or backlash.

Performance inherited from last year's version

Like the 2016 J7, it uses an 8-core Exynos 7870 chipset clocked at 1.6GHz. The Mali-T830MP2 video accelerator is responsible for graphics processing. Together they allow the gadget to work quite quickly. The results of synthetic tests are not surprising - 45,000 points is quite expected for a device of this class. Nevertheless, you can safely download Tanks or any other 3D toy - the gadget will pull.

The memory is expandable via microSD, and accessories up to 256GB are supported. Interestingly, the RAM is 3 GB, which is more than enough. But with the ROM, the manufacturer was clearly greedy - only 16 GB, of which 10.5 GB are actually available.

The entire system is based on Android 7.0.1, but there are no significant changes compared to Android 7.0. All the same, the location of icons in the top curtain is more convenient, the same minimalistic design and a set of standard pre-installed applications.

But there is also something interesting! Unlike some more expensive models, the smartphone has an FM radio. Also, because of the ability to use two SIM-cards, the Knox function appeared. Now you can download two identical applications on one device and link them to different telephone numbers. For example, install two separate WhatsApp for different sims.

SuperAMOLED screen

While competitors use IPS displays, Samsung prefers to use improved SuperAMOLED technology even in mid-range models. Each parameter looks advantageous - the brightness is perfectly adjustable both manually and based on the light sensor, and the color rendition is improved. Now the user himself can choose one of four modes that differ in white balance. All this allows you to experiment with picture quality, achieving the perfect comfortable image.

The display diagonal is 5.5 inches, and the picture resolution is 1920x1080 pixels. On a FullHD display, the image always looks bright, contrasting and saturated.

Another innovation that will surely please active users is the AlwaysOn Display function. The screen always displays the current time, icons and notifications. Now, to check if SMS has arrived or if a call has been missed, you don’t even need to unlock your smartphone. And most importantly, such a continuously working screen almost does not spend a charge.

Camera: frontal not worse than the main one

Surprisingly, in this model, both cameras have the same module of 13 megapixels. The only difference is in autofocus - the main camera has it, but the front camera does not. But front-camera offers so many different modes that you still get a good selfie.

The main camera, of course, produces good shots in the daytime. In the evening and at night, the quality can fail a little - the detail is not so good anymore, and the noise is in the way.

Most of the settings, modes, and just switching between the two cameras are carried out with a simple movement of the fingers. This saves precious seconds and allows you to "catch the moment" in motion. Among the modes there are already familiar and familiar HDR, landscape, panorama. But there is also an unusual mode Sport (obviously designed for fast moving objects) and Night. You can immediately apply an effect to any picture you take.

Record-breaking battery

How much lithium-ion battery is expected in a relatively budget, affordable smartphone? Most likely, about 2000-3000 mAh. Samsung gave the 2017 J7 a 3800 mAh battery. Given the good performance and big screen, you can count on 13-15 hours of work without an outlet. And if you use the gadget more moderately (for example, limit yourself to simply watching high-quality videos and with a comfortable brightness level), then the smartphone will last 19-20 hours.

If entertainment and games are not so important, then you can turn on the power saving mode. Then the charge reserve will be stretched for tens of hours. Perhaps, such a function will be relevant on trips and travels, or simply for people who use the phone only for its intended purpose - for calls.

Unfortunately, the fast charge function is not supported - if you need to fully charge the battery, then it is worth laying down at least 3 hours for this.

In the J line, the 2017 J7 is still the top and most expensive model. But it is worth recognizing that the price is quite adequate, because for 20,000 rubles (the price at the start of sales), the user receives a reduced version of the same Samsung flagships.

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy J7 latest model was announced in Europe in June, and this review considers a variant from the US carrier AT&T. Outwardly, it does not differ, but the internal components are slightly changed. J7 has many incarnations and all of them are intended for the middle price segment of the smartphone market. IN this case the handset shares features of Verizon's Galaxy J7 V, which launched in March, and last year's Galaxy J7. The cost of the device is about $240 and it has a lot of competitors. You can call smartphones of the Moto G series, Chinese brands like Honor 6X, even iPhone SE, if you do not pay attention to the screen size.

Design

Samsung has proven itself well in designing the look of flagship devices like the Galaxy S8, so its capabilities are not in doubt. However, these innovations have not yet reached the devices of the middle price category of this company. Externally, the Galaxy J7 resembles a tablet phone Galaxy Note 2, not counting some sensors, and this device came out five years ago. The large metallic Samsung lettering and silver ear grille work well with the non-illuminated silver buttons and the bezel around the Home button, which lacks a fingerprint scanner. All this gives the smartphone an outdated appearance, reminiscent of the times of plastic Samsung devices. This is where the silver accents end, using a rubberized plastic coating around the corners and back.

Also on the back is a single horizontal metal strip about 12mm wide, inside which is an 8MP camera and a single LED flash. They do not protrude beyond the body. On the right side is a metal speaker grill, also inside a metal strip. This unusual arrangement allows you not to cover the speaker with your hand when holding a smartphone. Below the right is a loud clicking power button, in this place it is easy to reach. On the other side, there is an equally loud volume control, although it is located a little higher and you have to drag your finger towards it when holding the device in one hand. The device weighs 159 g, which gives it a sense of solidity. More thin smartphones with large screens tend to slip out of the hands, but here a thicker body with rounded corners provides improved grip.

Screen

Samsung decided to use LCD instead of the usual AMOLED screens of its own production. It is able in most cases to produce rich and fairly accurate colors. The screen has a noticeable cool bluish tint, which is most often seen in white and purple colors.

Oddly enough, the screen resolution here is not even 1080p, but only 1280 x 720 pixels and a pixel density of 267 ppi. Despite this, the detail is at a good level. Enlarging an image in high-resolution photos does not result in grain or pixels. Meanwhile, there were such concerns from the TFT panel. The screen is very bright, the maximum value is 628 nits and it is enough to set the brightness to 25%. There is no ambient light sensor, and with it there is no automatic brightness control. Instead, it offers a not-so-great outdoor mode that brightens the screen for 15 minutes, or permanently if the screen is left on.

Interface and functionality

Together with the smartphone Samsung Galaxy S8 was introduced new interface this manufacturer called Samsung Experience. The main goal of this interface is simplicity and now this simple interface has made its way to the Galaxy J7. There is no large-scale support for gestures and sensors of flagship models, so the functionality is simpler. Users will get a lightweight interface with a stripped-down settings menu and meaningful search, device support, Samsung Secure Folder, and a more cohesive look and feel. You cannot enable up and down gestures to open the application list, as on the S8, which once again shows the simplified nature of this interface on this smartphone.

Samsung's proprietary apps are responsible for most of the functions, including text messaging, internet, and email. The quality here is at a good level, the messenger is simple and intuitive, like a web browser, apart from support for back and forth gestures, the email client has a convenient arrangement of elements. The main problem of the mail client is the lack of a linear view of notifications. For example, Gmail allows you to delete emails and reply to them through notifications, but Samsung only allows you to clear notifications or write a reply. The settings within the client do not match perfectly with the system settings. Option to synchronize SMS messages with account Email there is only in the app settings section, but not in the system settings, as is the case with other synchronization options.

Processor and Memory

The device is powered by the Samsung Exynos 7880 processor, it is an 8-core chip with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz. The same processor was used in the Galaxy J7 2016 and the unlocked J7 2017. We would like to see a faster 1.9 GHz Exynos 7880 processor with UFS 2.0 storage, but ordinary buyers of inexpensive smartphones will not notice the difference. Samsung achieves good results even with an old processor. It is assisted by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of eMMC. There will be no rapid speeds, but no slowdowns either. Navigating the system and multitasking sometimes show slight pauses, but overall everything runs smoothly and responsively.

Like most mid-range phones, this one can run games, but not the best. In them you will see the true colors of the screen, which at 720p look just mediocre. Grains and pixels are visible, more than with other use cases. Many frames will be skipped and games will stutter.

Connection

Bluetooth 4.1 communication standards, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/r, four frequency bands are supported, which allows you to work in most countries. There is no support, and with it the Samsung Pay payment system. If the South Korean company wants to make it ubiquitous, it should include this system even in cheap smartphones. In the meantime, you will have to buy a more expensive Galaxy A7 to get payments and a connector. Wireless charging is not there either, it is available only in flagships.

cameras

The rear camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels and a relatively large f / 1.9 aperture. Samsung is known for extensive functionality camera app and in Galaxy S8 it is one of the best. The Galaxy J7 lacks flagship options like selective focus, slow motion, or Hyperlapse. There are more basic options, such as night mode and Pro mode.

The photo quality is good. Color reproduction is quite accurate, detailing is sufficient in good light. There is a loss of orange in landscape shots, and there is not enough depth here. This can be attributed to the tendency to overexpose images. Using the HDR mode helps, but it will not return the orange color. Sometimes objects come out too sharp and detail is lost due to artifacts, but this happens infrequently.

HDR should be turned on in most cases to bring back details and colors. However, there is a limit here, especially in low light. In any case, HDR results in at least half a second longer exposure time, which should not be the case for correct exposure. Sometimes HDR increases the shooting time by a second.

In low light, the camera performs poorly. A relatively large aperture does little to increase detail, and in some situations increases the graininess of the image instead. Due to the tendency to overexposure, the level of detail in dark areas is increased where, with proper exposure, the lenses would not collect enough light. This does not improve image quality because overexposure blurs the image and erases small objects like leaves and branches. Enabling HDR, which doesn't happen automatically, solves this problem and brings another. Colors and separation between objects are restored, but sharpness is lost, causing the image to look drawn.

To consistently get high-quality photos, you need to use the professional shooting mode, especially in low light. This is Samsung's complete set with ISO settings, white balance, brightness, and more. Lowering the ISO does wonders for overexposure and sometimes helps boost detail. The problem does not disappear completely and will not help with weak light capture, but the result is better than in automatic mode.

I would like to see auto HDR and improvements to auto shooting so that you can simply point and shoot, which is what most users want.

The 5MP front camera offers a couple of useful features and delivers decent quality in good light. Beautify mode contains three sliders with Snapchat-style face filters. They are not cartoonish, as in Snapchat, but they allow you to change skin tone, make your face thinner, enlarge your eyes, and all this on a scale from 0 to 8. At low settings, this allows you to get rid of skin imperfections, at maximum you can become like an alien. Wide-angle selfies allow you to fit more people in the frame. You will need a strong hand to shoot or the photo will not turn out to be of high quality.

Video

The maximum video resolution is 1080p, and the quality and color reproduction are good. When moving, imperfections become noticeable. Image stabilization is completely absent and shaking is visible at the slightest uneven movement. Autofocus is also uneven, only focusing on a certain length and taking a while.

Call quality

This setting here is pretty good. HD Voice is supported, although even then there is a feeling of muffled muddy sound, which most will not even notice, unless they switch to this smartphone from a much higher quality one. The speakerphone is loud, but it also has the same little audio problem.

Offline work

There is nothing to complain about here. The 3300 mAh battery allows you to reach the second day of work with moderate use, especially if you lower the brightness. In tests with the screen on, the J7 lasted 12 and a half hours, which is impressive. Charging time is also quite long, 2 hours 22 minutes.

Conclusion

There is a temptation to classify this device as “for the elderly”, who are not chasing fashionable shiny flagships, who have enough solid devices for many years to come. The same price category and a little higher are tech-savvy people who see no reason to buy smartphones for 60 thousand rubles. As a result, the value of such models is constantly growing and will continue to grow. Many manufacturers, well-known and not so, offer their models at an average price.

If you don't care about screen size and want a cheap yet valuable Android smartphone, think again. iPhone SE has better call quality, faster and smoother operation, the best camera with 4K support, the best materials and a fingerprint scanner. $80 more than the $240 J7 is the 16GB iPhone 6s.

If you're loyal to Android and want a screen over 5 inches, options are also available, like the Moto G5 Plus. It has a better camera and 4K video recording with stabilization, fast charging, a fingerprint scanner, a nicer screen, and a $230 price tag. Externally, the device is also more attractive, but this is a matter of taste.

Nokia 6 for $230 has a stylish metal body, 16 MP camera, fingerprint scanner and NFC. There is also Honor 6X from Huawei. It's one of the best mid-range smartphones with some flagship features like dual cameras, 3GB storage with a fast processor, a fingerprint scanner, solid performance and a $200-$250 price tag.

As a result, we can say that the choice of devices for $200-$300 is greater than ever.

The Samsung Galaxy J7 for AT&T is not a bad device. The redesigned interface is lightweight and features proprietary Samsung apps that are both useful and intuitive. When navigating and launching applications, there are occasional hesitation, but more often everything happens quickly and smoothly. The screen is quite clear and colorful, although its shortcomings strain the eyesight. The camera isn't the highest quality for the price, struggling with exposure, focus and detail, but it's far from the worst and does the job.

Some of the competitors mentioned above are more attractive to technology enthusiasts, there are advantages for more casual users, but there are also disadvantages. So, protection from at least splashes would not hurt. Also, no one would turn down more flash memory or a better camera. Screen imperfections are also visible to anyone with eyes.

If you like Samsung's approach to Android and don't want to spend more than $300, the J7 2017 is your only choice. On the market as a whole, this is not the best smartphone in terms of price and quality.

pros

• Bright vibrant screen
• The camera reproduces colors well in sufficient lighting.
• The processor provides enough speed

Minuses

• Outdated look
• Materials feel cheap
• The screen strains the eyes
• Poor camera performance in low light
• No fingerprint scanner, no splash protection, no 1080p screen resolution

If you have no time to read, then in short - the Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 model year is the best smartphone in price range from 15,000 to 20,000 rubles. If you were planning to spend just that amount, then I can recommend it with confidence. Also if you ask me what to choose Galaxy J7 or A5 or A7? Then personally, I will choose the J7, since it has almost the same characteristics, the screen size is something between the Galaxy A7 and A5, and is made in a metal rather than a glass case. In 2015, Samsung first introduced Galaxy smartphone J7 in his model range. Being a member of the middle class, it has gained great popularity all over the world and, along with its younger brothers and J5, received an update in 2016 (model SM-J710F). So, this year Samsung's tradition of updating successful models continues, which is why I'm holding the Galaxy J7 (2017) in my hands. A smartphone that definitely caught our attention when it was announced. Then I felt that it would be a very interesting device. What I liked about it and what I didn't, you can understand in the next few minutes.

Specifications Samsung Galaxy J7

Operating system	Android v7.1 (Nougat)
CPU	Exynos 7870 (8-core, 1.60 GHz, Cortex-A53)
RAM	3GB
Inner memory	16GB
GPU	Mali-T830MP2
Screen	5.5" 1920 x 1080 pixel Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
Connection	Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS
cameras	13 megapixel rear, 13 megapixel front
Additionally	two SIM cards (Nano-SIM, alternate standby) Card slot microSD memory, supported up to 256 GB micro USB 2.0 port speaker Audio jack FM radio Geo-tagged camera, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR Fingerprint sensor Accelerometer Proximity sensor
Battery	3600 mAh
Dimensions	74.8 x 152.5 x 8mm
Weight	181 g

Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 - price

Now this smartphone costs a very pleasant 17,500 - 18,000 rubles. For this relatively low cost, you get a stylish smartphone that looks more expensive than its price, with an excellent screen and normal cameras.

Design

If in the previous two generations, the J7 looked in direct proportion to its price - downright budget, then the 2017 model looks much more expensive and may mislead many people who are not particularly knowledgeable in smartphones about its cost. In any case, it's hard not to agree that the Samsung Galaxy J7 looks more expensive than its money (now you can buy a J7 for less than 18,000 rubles).

The new J7 is a smartphone with an aluminum body

The shape and materials used by Samsung generally contribute to this effect. The smartphone has rounded edges and a sleek brushed aluminum body. Although the J7 is the largest device in the series, it is comfortable to hold with one hand when talking during calls, although for active use (for example, web surfing), the smartphone is still better to hold with two hands. In fact, the use of aluminum, rather than the now fashionable glass, is an advantage for me personally, since metal is an extremely practical material, unlike fragile and easily soiled glass. Compared to its predecessors, the 2017 J7 has the thickest profile, but due to the aforementioned rounded edges, it is more comfortable to fit even in tight jeans pockets. There are only 4 color options in which the case is made - light blue, pink, black and gold, which we are testing.

Galaxy J7 (2017) colors available - blue, pink, black and gold

The case of the smartphone is not a collapsible type, rear part is non-removable, that is, the battery cannot be changed, which is typical for modern smartphones. The main body of the J7 is made of metal. plus two individual element under which the antennas are hidden. Despite the fact that they are plastic, they look like a single unit with a smartphone. There are no cracks or gaps, it is impossible to put something between these plastic elements and the metal case. The same can be said about the plugs on the bottom left end. Under one flap are hidden slots for microSD and SIM-cards, and under the other a separate slot for the main SIM-card. This arrangement is very convenient, because if you want to take out the memory card, you will not stop the operation of your base SIM card. Looking at the body of the smartphone, I also note that the speaker is no longer at the back, but at the top on the right side.

Speaker is now on the right

I had mixed, but rather positive, feelings about this change. Yes, when J7 rests on the back cover, its speaker is not covered, but when you play games, the index finger of your left hand usually covers it. Therefore, feelings are mixed. Another question I would ask the manufacturer is why Samsung did not use USB Type-C for charging and data transfer in J7 (2017), but left it with microUSB?

Display Samsung Galaxy J7 2017

Unlike the thickness of the phone, which, as we said in this year's model, has increased compared to its predecessors, the J7 (2017) has become significantly narrower, but not at the expense of a reduction in display size. The screen to front ratio of the J7 2017 is 73.2% and in terms of resolution it is the first J7 with Full HD (1920x1080).

5.5" Super AMOLED display with 1920x1080 resolution

The pixel density per inch is 401ppi, the pixel size is 0.0634mm. As a result, the image is as detailed and clear as possible. Even if you look from a very close distance, you will not see individual pixels. It should also be remembered that the display technology, which is quite expected for Samsung, is Super AMOLED. It provides excellent color reproduction with good sharpness and contrast. And black color is the standard among mobile displays. Brightness is also above average for this price range - according to our measurements of 450 cd/m² with an 86% distribution across the entire viewing area. Compared to last year's J7, the 2017 display is a quarter brighter.

2.5D curved display is clearly visible even in bright sunlight

Even when used outdoors in direct sunlight, the display remains legible. I am also pleasantly surprised by the viewing angles. You can be sure - they are equal to almost 180 degrees. The last layer of the 2.5D curved display has an oleophobic coating, which on the one hand protects against fingerprints, and on the other hand, it allows you to work with touch screen even with gloves in winter.

Fingerprint sensor

Multifunctional fingerprint sensor

The first two generations of the J7 did not have a fingerprint sensor, but now the 2017 model can be unlocked with it. At the same time, the button below it is mechanical and is still used to return to the main menu. But I still lack the illumination of the left and right buttons.

Camera Galaxy J7 2017

The camera design of the new J7 has undergone major changes compared to previous models. The most notable change is that the camera does not protrude beyond the plane of the body.

The camera of the new Galaxy J7 is already in the same plane with rear panel phone

There are changes in her technical specifications. At first glance, the resolution remained at 13MP, but the aperture increased to f/1.7. This way, photos in low light will be much better than those taken by J7 (2016). You can shoot videos in Full HD. Slide right to open the Camera Modes menu. There you will find "Panorama", "HDR", "Night Mode", "Continuous Shooting", "Shooting Mode", "Enhanced Picture with Audio" and "Professional Mode" which will offer you a few manual settings such as ISO or balance adjustment. white. Sliding to the left will take you to an extremely varied menu of filters that will try to make your photos even more attractive. The front camera also has a resolution of 13 megapixels, but the aperture is f/1.9. Another good news for selfie fans is that there is also an LED flash on the front. The front camera has a wide-angle mode, which will allow you to add more people in one photo.

Sample photos from the Samsung Galaxy J7 camera

Here are some test shots I took with automatic settings and autofocus using the main camera.

An example of a captured video

Front-camera

There are even more positive changes in the front camera, and it's safe to say that Samsung has turned the Galaxy J7 (2017) into the perfect selfie smartphone. Compared to 5 MP in the previous model, here the matrix has grown to 13 MP with an aperture of f / 1.9. In addition, there is a front flash and many other filters and settings to take the perfect selfie.

Iron

Unlike the design, which, as was already clear in J7 (2017), has undergone major changes, the hardware has hardly changed. It is powered by an Exynos 7870 Octa CPU, the same 1.6GHz octa-core CPU as the J7 (2016). Same GPU Mali-T830MP2, but RAM increased from 2 to 3 GB.

CPU-X hardware test on phone

Thanks to the latter, the Galaxy J7 (2017) performs much better in games. During our tests in Asphalt 8: Airborne, the frame rate reached 30 frames per second on low graphics, and 17 frames per second on high settings. At this point, we also measured the case temperature, which averaged around 31°C. This is a fairly low temperature at maximum load. In addition to well-balanced hardware, the J7 (2017) aluminum chassis makes a tangible contribution to heat dissipation. As you know, metal conducts and radiates heat much better than plastic or glass.

Dual SIM and micro SD card slots

On J7, starting from the 2015 model, the amount of internal memory has not changed - 16 GB. If you need more, you can add up to 256 GB with microSD cards. But it will be necessary, since out of 16 GB only a little more than half is available to the user.

Android 7.1 Nougat

The operating system of the smartphone is Android 7.1 Nougat, optimized by Samsung programmers, and has a number of improvements and features. For example, the ability to manage two accounts at the same time in the same messenger (there are two SIM cards). Speaking of instant messengers, the new J7 has Always-on display technology, which, as the name suggests, leaves part of the display on at all times. There you can see the battery level, time, date, messages and notifications.

Battery

The Galaxy J7 (2017) battery has increased its capacity from 3300 mAh to 3600 mAh compared to last year's model. Hardware remained unchanged, but the display resolution has increased... but this is Super AMOLED, which does not consume much more power when the resolution is increased. So, now you are probably wondering which of the two smartphones has the best time. battery life? The result is in favor of the novelty. The J7 (2017) can last about 2 days in normal mode, or 9 hours of video at maximum brightness, or 15 hours of web browsing. This is on average 15-20% better than the results achieved by J7 (2016) a year earlier.

Battery settings and modes

In the battery menu, you will find two modes that limit power consumption. The first one makes a few minor restrictions that increase the run time, while the second one, called the maximum power saving mode, is more interesting. It limits the maximum screen brightness, mobile chip performance and mobile data. Only basic apps and settings are available. You also get information about the approximate time of work in this mode. The menu also contains information about the consumption of various applications in different periods of time.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) is a worthy successor to last year's Galaxy J7 with improvements in several different ways, and one can definitely call it one of the best deals in its price range (personally, I think it's the best). The smartphone has an updated design that includes a metal construction and nice rounded edges. In addition, there is now a fingerprint sensor. The display is also 5.5 inches, but now with Full HD resolution and support for Always on display technology. Also, the smartphone has a fairly capacious battery and several useful power-saving modes. In the 2017 model, I expected to see a USB Type-C port, but its absence is not yet critical. There are no changes in the mobile chip, but the existing Exynos 7 Octa 7870 provides good enough performance to comfortably work with the device. Last but not least, the smartphone received an improved camera, the front one is especially good.

Pros of Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)

• Updated design with all-metal construction
• Fingerprint sensor
• 5.5" Full HD Super AMOLED 2.5D display
• high time battery life + battery saving mode
• Android 7.1 Nougat and user interface with many useful features
• Low body temperature after extended operation
• 13MP (f/1.7) main camera that delivers high quality photos (under Rs 20,000) and 13MP front camera with LED flash

disadvantages

• Only 10.1 GB of available space
• MicroUSB port instead of USB Type-C
• No fast charging
• mobile processor 2016

Comparison of Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 with A7 2017 is it worth overpaying?

2017 Samsung Galaxy J7 owner review