Last week, Samsung finally took the wraps off the Galaxy J3 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017). As we mentioned in our initial thoughts post, we're pretty impressed with the handsets, though we're a little disappointed the firm didn't dedicate more resources to increasing their power. Nevertheless, they still offer a ton of great features.
Here's a few of our favorite.
Android 7.0 Nougat
Yes, you read that right: the Galaxy J3 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017) all ship running the latest flavor of Android, with Samsung's Experience — formerly known as TouchWiz — user interface plastered over the top. For those unaware, that's the same overlay that can be found on the recently-released Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.
Big batteries
Nobody wants to pick up a smartphone only to find that it's unable to last a full day on a single charge. However, it doesn't look like Galaxy J3 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017) or Galaxy J7 (2017) owners will have that problem as all three handsets sport relatively larger batteries — 2,400mAh, 3,000mAh and 3,600mAh, respectively. Pretty impressive.
Fingerprint sensor
It's quite rare for a budget-friendly smartphone — from a large, non-Chinese manufacturer, at least — to come with a fingerprint sensor, yet both the Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017) do, similar to the Galaxy J7 Prime that launched in India last year. It's unclear why there isn't one on board the Galaxy J3 (2017) as well, but we're guessing it's for the same reason it doesn't have an AMOLED display: it's too cheap.
Metal body
The Galaxy J3 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017) and Galaxy J7 (2017) are three of the lowest-priced smartphones on the market (at least from a big name manufacturer) to feature a metal frame, which not only increases their appeal from an aesthetic standpoint, but also makes them a little more durable than if they were constructed from another material — like plastic — as they won't shatter when dropped from a considerable height.
Selfie camera
The 5MP front-facing camera on the J3 (2017) is nothing to write home about, but things start to get a little more interesting when you take a look at the new J5 and J7. Tucked away beneath their 5.2- and 5.5-inch displays, you'll find a 13MP shooter, which sounds like it's perfectly capable of capturing crystal clear selfies in any environment.
What do you think about the Galaxy J3 (2017), Galaxy J5 (2017) and the Galaxy J7 (2017)? Be sure to let us know your thoughts, along with whether you'll be picking one up, in the comments section down below. On a related note, stay tuned for our comprehensive reviews of all three handsets in the coming weeks.
