Quick look at Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) – first impressions, camera, performance

Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) can now be found in many countries. Finally, we managed to grab this bad boy and start preparing a comprehensive review. We are still testing the model but have also gathered some initial impressions that we would like to share for more impatient readers. If you happen to show interest in this smartphone, you can check its current price and availability here: http://amzn.to/2teG7bY

The new Galaxy J5 (2017) now features a completely metal body which is a distinctive feature that sets it aside from previous generations. Its dimensions are almost the same with an 8mm thick profile and weight of 160 grams. In its rear part the device is slightly curved along the edges for the purpose of more comfortable grip. However, the smooth surface is also somewhat slippery so do be careful. Another thing that is new in this model is the implementation of a fingerprint scanner in the Home button.

And so, the available display is again 5.2″ in diagonal with HD (1280 x 720) resolution. Of course, we are again dealing with a Super AMOLED panel and you will be presented with awesome image quality with high brightness and contrast levels. Also, the display menu has several different modes as well as a blue light filter whose degree can be manually adjusted.

This time Samsung has used their own mobile chip – the Exynos 7870. It features eight Cortex-A53 cores whose operational frequency reaches up to 1.6GHz. Additionally, there is a Mali-T830 GPU and the RAM capacity stays the same – 2 GB. The same applies to the amount of internal storage – 16GB, but you can expand via the microSD card slot. Also, the OS and pre-installed apps occupy 5.9 GB of the available space. We have yet to put the available chip to all our tests but for now we can display its results in the following benchmarks – Geekbench 3 (left) and 3DMark Ice Unlimited (right).

 

As expected, the OS is the up-to-date Android 7.1 Nougat, and along with it you get the latest version of Samsung’s UI which we also find in Galaxy S8. In the upcoming review we will look at all intriguing software features. A naked eye could really tell that there really are software improvements over the previous model.

Galaxy J5 (2017) comes with a 3000mAh battery but we have not yet put it to the test to check its endurance. Additionally, the main camera is 13MP but now boasts an f/1.7 aperture that we have seen in the company’s high-end models. It should ensure even higher quality photos especially in low light. You can check the first test shots we took with it below. We are also impressed by the front-facing camera which is also 13MP and promises quality selfie shots. Furthermore, you will also be able to find all familiar modes and we shall touch upon them in our review.


Specs sheet


OSAndroid v7.1 (Nougat)
CPUExynos 7870 (8-core, 1.60GHz, Cortex-A53)
RAM2GB
Internal storage16GB
GPUMali-T830MP2
Display5.2-inch Super AMOLED capacitive multitouch display with 1280 x 720 p resolution
ConnectivityBluetooth 4.2, A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS
Cameras13MP (rear), 13MP (front)
Features
  • Nano-SIM card slot
  • microSD card slot that supports up to 256GB
  • microUSB 2.0 port
  • loudspeaker
  • audio jack
  • camera with geo-tagging, touch focus, face recognition, panorama, HDR
Battery3000 mAh
Dimensions 71.3 x 146.2 x 7.9 mm
Weight160 grams

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