Skip to main content

Samsung’s Galaxy J5 and J7 sport a front-facing LED flash and a 5-megapixel selfie cam

As the selfie craze continues to grow, phone manufacturers are looking for any edge they can get on the competition to entice those who just can’t get enough of themselves. Higher resolution front-facing cameras are becoming the norm, but there is one other spec that has been missing from most phones — the front-facing LED flash.

Samsung announced the Galaxy J5 and the Galaxy J7 for China, which happen to be the company’s first smartphones featuring front-facing LED flashes. The front-facing flash compliments a 5-megapixel, wide-angle, front-facing camera on the two phones. Higher-resolution cameras have become the norm on the front of Samsung’s phones lately, and the flash will only enhance the quality of selfies taken with the J5 and J7.

Samsung_Galaxy_J7_Official_Press_01
Samsung Galaxy J7 Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although more people are using their front-facing shooter, Samsung can’t forget about that rear shooter. Both models get a 13-megapixel rear camera with a very low aperture of f/1.9. That is exactly what the Galaxy S6 offers, and the camera should provide fantastic quality for low light shots.

The Galaxy J5 and J7 differ only in display size, processor, and battery. The J5 will feature a 5-inch 720p (1280 x 720) screen, a 64-bit quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, and a 2,600mAh battery. The J7 gets slightly better specs with its 5.5-inch 720p (1280 x 720) screen, 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, and 3,000mAh battery.

Samsung_Galaxy_J5_Official_Press_01
Samsung Galaxy J5 Image used with permission by copyright holder

Rounding out the rest of the specs, both phones sport 1.5 GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a MicroSD slot for expandable storage, dual-SIM capability, and LTE connectivity. Samsung will offer both devices in white, black, and gold.

Pricing is pretty reasonable. The J5 comes in at 1,398 CNY ($225), while the J7 is slightly higher at 1,798 CNY ($289).

Both the J5 and J7 might be Samsung’s first phones with front-facing LED flash, but other manufacturers already offer handsets with the same feature. The HTC Desire EYE, Sony Xperia C4, and the Asus ZenFone Selfie all offer front-facing LED flashes. In the case of the Desire Eye and ZenFone Selfie, both offer dual-LED front-facing flash and higher resolution cameras.

It doesn’t appear that either phone will be offered outside of China, but selfie lovers shouldn’t fret. It’s likely that this is a new trend for Samsung, which means that we will probably to see this feature on future phones.

Editors' Recommendations

Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
The best Samsung Galaxy A71 5G cases and covers
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G camera

It may be the most expensive device in the A-series -- although flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S21 still cost a lot more -- but the Samsung A71 5G packs a lot of punch for the price. With its 6.7-inch AMOLED full HD+ screen and 4,500mAh battery, you'll want to keep this $600 smartphone safe, if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one. A sturdy case is a must -- but should you opt for a clear TPU case or a sleek leather wallet cover? We've hand-picked a selection of some of the best Samsung Galaxy A71 5G cases around to help you decide.

Note: These cases are designed to fit the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G model, and are not compatible with the Samsung Galaxy A71 4G.
Poetic Guardian Case

Read more
OnePlus Nord CE 5G vs. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
OnePlus Nord CE 5G Camera

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G ("Core Edition") is the latest entry in OnePlus' Nord range of budget smartphones. For a price tag of only $420, it provides a substantial 4,500mAh battery, an impressive 6.43-inch AMOLED display, 5G support, and some highly usable software. It's a very strong phone for the price, but in a world where surprisingly great budget phones are becoming more common by the month, it faces some stiff competition.

Chief amongst its rivals is the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. This sub-$500 phone also offers 5G support, while it throws in a beautiful 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen, its own 4,500mAh battery, a decent camera, and an IP67 water resistance rating. It's a highly accomplished budget device, and dollar-for-dollar, it's arguably one of the best phones out there right now. But is it better than the OnePlus Nord CE 5G?

Read more
Samsung’s Galaxy A22 5G is one of the cheapest 5G phones we’ve seen yet
samsung galaxy a22 5g news black top

Just when you thought 5G phones couldn’t get much cheaper, Samsung announces the Galaxy A22 5G, which will be available in the U.K. in the near future for 209 British pounds, or about $295 at the current conversion rate. To put its price into context, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G costs 250 pounds/$352, while in the U.S., the Galaxy A32 5G is $280.

What do you get? The Galaxy A22 5G has a 6.6-inch TFT screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a Full HD+ resolution, plus a triple camera on the back with a 48-megapixel main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP depth camera. The selfie camera has 8MP and is set inside a V-shaped notch at the top of the screen. This is a cheap phone so it’s no surprise to find the A22 5G is made of plastic, but so is the Galaxy A52 5G, and that feels great in the hand.

Read more