The Samsung Galaxy S series may get all the glory, but they’re not the only great phones under Samsung’s belt. For a few years now, the company has released phones under the Galaxy J name — so what’s next? After months of rumors, the company officially announced the launch of not one but two new smartphones within the J series — its revamped Samsung Galaxy J7 and Samsung Galaxy J3.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Price and availability
After rolling out to carriers at the start of June, the Galaxy J7 and J3 will soon be made available to purchased unlocked from Samsung. Starting September 14, you’ll be able to pick up the Galaxy J7 for $250, and the Galaxy J3 for $170.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 is available from Sprint for $288, or you can pay $12 per month (with $0 down) if you sign up with Sprint Flex Lease. Meanwhile, the Galaxy J3 is available from the carrier for $192 or $8 a month ($0 down) with Sprint Flex Lease.
The Galaxy J3 is also available for purchase through AT&T for $210, or you can opt for a 30-month installment plan which will come out to $7 per month. At Verizon, you can purchase the device for $168 or $7 per month for 24 months under its postpaid option. For those under Verizon’s prepaid plan, the Galaxy J3 will cost $125.
Samsung Galaxy J7
Design
In comparison to last year’s Samsung Galaxy J7 variants (Verizon’s J7 V and Sprint’s J7 Perx), the 2018 version doesn’t differ much in terms of specs. It features a 5.5-inch HD display, packed into a round, slim body. For those who use their smartphone primarily to consume video content, this phablet-sized device will do the trick. On the bottom, you will find the front-mounted fingerprint sensor along with a volume rocker on the left side of the device and power button on the right.
Specs
Under the hood, the Galaxy J7 includes a 3,300mAh battery which is smaller than last year’s version which packed a 3,600 mAh powered battery. While some rumors originally claimed the J7 would include 3GB of RAM, the device offers 2GB along with 16GB of storage. There is also a MicroSD card for expandable storage up to 256GB if you need extra space.
On the back, you will find 13-megapixel rear cameras that were specifically made for low-light environments. That way, you should be able to take clear photos whether you’re in a dimly lit restaurant or at a concert. The front-facing camera comes in at 13 megapixels as well.
As for the operating system, the J7 runs Android 8.0 Oreo — which launched last summer. While it’s no longer the latest Android operating system out there seeing as how Android P is now in beta, it’s still filled with features. From persistent notifications, high-quality Bluetooth audio, enhanced encryption, battery life improvements, and more, it has plenty to offer.
Samsung Galaxy J3
Design
The Galaxy J3 has a similar as the J7 but with a smaller HD display — coming in at 5 inches. The overall design hasn’t changed much since last year’s version either, with a simple yet sleek look. The front includes an oval home button along with back buttons and multitasking buttons. On the left side of the device is the volume rocker and on the right is the power button.
Specs
When it comes to specs, the Galaxy J3 includes an 8-megapixel camera on the back and 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Under the hood, you will find a 2,600mAh battery and an Exynos processor. For storage, you’ll have 16GB along with 2GB of RAM — which is a bit more than last year’s 1.5GB of RAM on the Galaxy J3. With a micro SD card slot, it’s expandable for up to 256GB. As with the Galaxy J7, it will also run Android’s 8.0 Oreo operating system.
Updated on September 7: The Galaxy J7 and J3 will soon be available for purchase as unlocked phones from Samsung.
