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Samsung has been quietly working away on its latest Galaxy J5 and J7 smartphones, which offer decent specs on a reasonably tight budget. However, there are various different models of Galaxy J7 already floating around, so here’s a quick look at the various Galaxy J7 2017 versions and when we’re likely to see a J7 mobile in the UK.
Since the Galaxy J7 smartphone is aimed at various markets across the globe, Samsung has launched a few different versions of this mid-priced mobile. Just to make things extra complicated, these all have different specs and names.
At first we had the original Galaxy J7, which was launched early 2016 and aimed at India. Next came the Galaxy J7 Prime, released late last year in Vietnam and now the Galaxy J7 Perx, also called the Galaxy J7 V, which launched in the US in April 2017. But the Perx, or V, isn’t a huge step forward in tech and there still could well be another variant released for other areas of the globe, including us UK lot.
Samsung is up against fierce competition in the affordable handset world from the likes of the Lenovo P2, Huawei P8 Lite 2017, Moto G5 and Wileyfox Swift 2 Plus, all offering strong specs for a small asking price (sub £200 SIM free).
So what do we know so far about the Samsung Galaxy J7 in 2017 and when it’s finally coming to the UK?
Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 specs and features
The Samsung Galaxy J7 Perx, as we’ll call it instead of referencing that V Verizon network version every time, is the US Sprint network exclusive 2017 release of the Samsung handset. The Perx offers a step up in some of the tech but actually a drop in other areas, to keep that price competitive.
The processor in the J7 Perx is a respectable Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset backed by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. There is also a microSD card slot that means it can be expanded by an extra 256GB if you need it.
As for the visuals, the screen on the J7 Perx is a 5.5-inch TFT unit with a meagre 1280×720 HD resolution. This is where the company is clearly saving money. Considering the J7 Prime of last year got a Full HD 1080×1920 resolution 5.5-inch display, this feels like a bit of a step backwards. The Prime also boasted 3GB of RAM and a more premium build.
This devolution of tech can also be found in the camera department. Last year’s J7 came with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing selfie snapper. This year the J7 Perx, or J7 V, has an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter.
The J7 Perx does still have a 3,300mAh battery (which is removable as a bonus), meaning a decent battery life of well over a day. Another perk of the newer handset is the latest Android 7.0 Nougat operating system, which comes pre-installed as standard. You also get the newer Bluetooth 4.2 for better performance with connected devices.
Check out our round-up of the best Samsung phones in 2017 for alternative Galaxy mobiles.
Samsung J7 2017 price and release date
The Samsung J7 Perx, or J7 V, are both out now in the US on Sprint and Verizon respectively. Pricing is $264 for the handset offline, which is about £212 at a direct conversion. If you wish to import to the UK, expect that figure to be boosted by taxes and the rest of course.
The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime, which launched in Vietnam, is also out now price at the UK equivalent of £225.
When’s the new Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 coming to the UK?
Rumours still abound for more new J7 handsets to be launched in 2017. Of course some of those leaks, like a TENAA shipment document, could have been referring to the newly announced J7 Perx.
However, it is likely that Samsung is yet to release new 2017 variants – perhaps also as network exclusives – worldwide.
Samsung has fierce competition in this area, with many handsets offering better specs for lower prices. So it would make sense for Samsung to play on its name and go for a more premium end – suggesting we may yet see a technologically upgraded J7 for 2017 still to come.
