Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime was a part of Samsung’s J series, which was targeted towards the mid-range segment of the market. Launched in 2016, the J7 Prime was an upgrade over the regular J7 model, offering a more premium build and additional features. Here’s an in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime:

Overview:

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime aimed to offer a blend of good performance, camera capabilities, and a premium design within the mid-range price bracket. Its full metal unibody design and improved specifications over the regular J7 made it a popular choice among consumers looking for a budget-friendly Samsung device with a premium feel.

Features:

  1. Operating System: Initially shipped with Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), later received updates.
  2. Display: 5.5-inch Full HD PLS TFT LCD with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
  3. Processor: Exynos 7870 Octa-core.
  4. Memory: 3 GB RAM with options of 16/32 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 256 GB.
  5. Camera: 13 MP rear sensor with an f/1.9 aperture and an 8 MP front camera with an f/1.9 aperture.
  6. Battery: A 3300 mAh non-removable battery.
  7. Other Features: Front-mounted fingerprint sensor, dual SIM support, and a full metal unibody design.

Pros:

  1. Design: The full metal unibody design gave the J7 Prime a premium look and feel, which was a significant upgrade over the regular J7.
  2. Camera: The f/1.9 aperture on both the front and rear cameras allowed for better low-light photography compared to many competitors in the same price range.
  3. Display: The Full HD display was sharp and offered good color reproduction.
  4. Battery Life: The 3300 mAh battery, combined with Samsung’s optimizations, ensured a full day’s usage for most users.

Cons:

  1. No AMOLED Display: Unlike many other Samsung devices, the J7 Prime used a PLS TFT LCD instead of Samsung’s signature AMOLED, which meant slightly less vibrant colors and contrasts.
  2. Older Micro-USB Port: At a time when many devices were transitioning to USB-C, the J7 Prime still used the older Micro-USB port.
  3. Heavy Custom UI: Samsung’s TouchWiz UI (now known as One UI) was known to be quite heavy and came with a fair amount of bloatware.

Comparisons to Other Technologies:

In its price bracket, the J7 Prime faced competition from:

  • Vivo V5s: Offering a 5.5-inch HD display, MediaTek MT6750, and a 20 MP front camera.
  • Oppo F3: With its 5.5-inch Full HD display, MediaTek MT6750T, and a dual front camera setup.
  • Moto G5 Plus: Featuring a 5.2-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, and a metal design.

Launch Date:

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime was announced in September 2016.

Common Issues/Problems:

  1. Software Updates: While the device did receive some updates, it wasn’t always the first in line, and major Android updates took a while to arrive.
  2. Performance Hiccups: Over time, some users reported performance slowdowns, especially with heavy multitasking.
  3. Camera Consistency: While the camera was good for its price, it sometimes struggled with consistency, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

Conclusion:

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime was a solid mid-range offering from Samsung in 2016. It combined a premium design with decent specifications, making it a popular choice among users who wanted a Samsung device without spending flagship money. While it had its shortcomings, especially in terms of software updates and the absence of an AMOLED display, the overall package was competitive for its price, making it a worthy contender in the mid-range segment.

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