Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro: Plans | Pricing | Specs

With 3GB of RAM, a full HD display and twin 13MP front and rear cameras, the Galaxy J7 Pro represents the pinnacle of Samsung's 2017 budget smartphone line.

Where Samsung sticks to a relatively logical naming scheme with its premium Galaxy S smartphones by increasing the number with each generation, it's taken a decidedly more confusing approach to distinguishing new models in its budget-focused Galaxy J line. Take, for example, the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, also known as the Galaxy J7 (2017). It's the direct successor to the Galaxy J7 (2016), which succeeded the Galaxy J7 (2015) and, well, you get the picture.

Convoluted naming conventions aside, the Galaxy J7 Pro represents the top tier of Samsung's budget-friendly smartphones released in 2017. It improves upon numerous aspects of 2016's Galaxy J7 while maintaining a relatively affordable price tag.

Design

• 5.5-inch super AMOLED screen is now accompanied by a full HD display.
• Premium features like a fingerprint sensor, Always on Display and Samsung Pay support add plenty of value.

• Read more on the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro's design

  
  For the 2017 refresh of its Galaxy J smartphones, Samsung has taken cues from the curved design of its more modern Galaxy S handsets like the Galaxy S8. Gone are the flat edges of 2016's Galaxy J7, replaced by a rounded metal backing and a curved-glass front built to fit more comfortably into your hands. It's a considerably slicker look than J series handsets of years past and it helps the Galaxy J7 Pro feel like a more expensive handset than it actually is.
  
  

  Samsung has made some significant improvements to the Galaxy J7 Pro's super AMOLED screen as well. It still measures in at 5.5 inches, but the resolution has seen a bump up from 720 x 1280 to full HD 1080 x 1920. Samsung has also incorporated the Always on Display functionality from its more expensive smartphones, which allows you to view the clock, your calendar and check notifications while the screen is turned off.

  To keep up with increasing data needs, Samsung has bolstered the internal storage of the Galaxy J7 Pro to 32GB, up from 16GB in 2016's Galaxy J7. If that's not quite enough space for you, the Galaxy J7 Pro supports external storage via microSD cards up to 256GB in size.

  The Galaxy J7 Pro further distinguishes itself from its predecessor with the inclusion of a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the handset as well as authorising digital payments. This goes hand-in-hand with the addition of Samsung Pay support, which allows you to register eligible credit cards to your Samsung account and make in-store payments using your phone. If you're tired of carrying around multiple credit cards, this can be quite a handy feature.

Camera

• Better low-light performance thanks to a larger f/1.7 aperture on the rear camera.
• A higher-resolution front-facing sensor allows for sharper selfies.

• Read more on the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro's camera

  
  Shutterbugs will be glad to know that Samsung has made several small yet valuable tweaks to the camera on the Galaxy J7 Pro. The rear-facing camera still uses the same 13MP sensor from 2016's Galaxy J7, but the aperture of the lens has increased to f/1.7. This allows the lens to take in more light and thus achieve clearer pictures in low-light situations.
  
  

  The front-facing selfie camera sees an even more significant upgrade, trading in its 5MP sensor for a higher-resolution 13MP one. Maximum aperture size remains fixed at f/1.9 and there's an LED flash for when you want to take selfies in the dark.

  On the software side, Samsung's camera app introduces a handy floating shutter button that you can drag around the screen as you shift about to find the perfect shot. Anyone who has inadvertently exited the camera app while fumbling for the shutter button will greatly appreciate this nifty feature.

  The one area that sees no improvement from 2016's Galaxy J7 is video capture, which remains capped at 1080p resolution and 30fps.

Performance

• Eight-core 1.6GHz processor is powerful enough to handle general tasks without a hitch.
• The 2016 GPU starts to show its age on the gaming front.

• Read more on the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro's performance

  As the flagship of the Galaxy J series, the J7 Pro packs a respectable amount of power for a budget handset. Under the hood lies an eight-core 1.6GHz processor, albeit the exact same one that was in 2016's Galaxy J7. You get 3GB of RAM this time around, though, which should make for a smoother experience when multi-tasking across different apps and playing 3D games.

Battery

• Samsung pitches the included 3,600mAh battery as capable of up to 18 hours of video playback
• Sealed battery means carrying around spares is no longer possible.

• Read more on the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro's battery

  Samsung has taken what some might consider a backwards step with the batteries in its 2017 Galaxy J series handsets. Where it had previously opted for removable batteries you could swap in and out at your leisure, the Galaxy J7 Pro and its contemporaries feature sealed batteries that require trained hands to replace. While this is a common trend in modern smartphones, it's unfortunate for those who like to carry around spare batteries in case of emergencies.

  On the plus side, battery capacity on the Galaxy J7 Pro is a step above its predecessor, increasing from 3,300mAh to 3,600mAh. According to Samsung, this translates to up to 18 hours of continuous video playback or up to 91 hours of audio playback with the Always on Display feature disabled.

Pricing and availability

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro

Style and power that doesn't cost the world

The Galaxy J7 Pro sits at the top of Samsung's 2017 budget smartphones, delivering solid performance and plenty of features at an affordable price.

Buy Now

• The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is currently selling for around $350 at online retailers like Catch and DWI.