
The Samsung Galaxy J5 is a solid choice for those looking for a reliable and feature-packed smartphone. Released in 2015, it was a mid-range device that packed a punch.
Its 13-megapixel rear camera was a standout feature, capable of capturing high-quality images. The camera also featured a variety of modes, including HDR and panorama.
The Galaxy J5's 5-inch Super AMOLED display was another notable feature, providing vibrant colors and a crisp viewing experience.
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Hardware
The Samsung Galaxy J5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset, which has a 1.2 GHz processor and Adreno 306 GPU.
This phone has 1.5 GB of RAM and comes with either 8 GB or 16 GB of internal storage.
The Galaxy J5 is equipped with a 2600mAh battery, although the J500G model has a smaller 2100mAh battery.
The phone features a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, which is perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.
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The South Korean variant of the Galaxy J5 adds support for T-DMB and Smart DMB, making it a great choice for those who want to stay connected.
The phone has a plastic chassis and plastic back cover, giving it a lightweight and durable design.
According to the BLE Checker app, the Samsung Galaxy J5 supports Bluetooth Low Energy devices.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy J5 comes with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and is upgradable to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It also supports 4G LTE with dual SIM enabled 4G and Voice over LTE.
The phone's software is customizable, with a Samsung Knox feature that provides an additional layer of security. The Samsung Knox feature is available on the Samsung Galaxy J5.
The Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update brings several improvements, including enhanced security and the ability to limit app permissions. This update is available for the Samsung Galaxy J5.
The phone's home screen has been optimized, and stability has been improved with the latest software updates. These updates also implement Google security patches.
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The Samsung Galaxy J5 comes with a range of preloaded apps, including Samsung's Touch Wiz interface, S Planner, S Health, Microsoft's Office suite, OneCloud, and Skype. It also includes a direct link to Google Play Music.
Here are the software updates for the Samsung Galaxy J5:
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy J5's performance is decent for everyday tasks, but don't expect it to handle demanding tasks with ease. It's powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor with 1.5GB of RAM.
Web pages load quickly enough, but don't expect anything groundbreaking. The device can run some lower-end games, but high-intensity games are a struggle. Scrolling through media-rich pages can be a challenge due to noticeable lag.
Its battery life is a definite advantage, lasting up to 18 hours thanks to its 2,600mAh capacity battery.
Camera
The camera on our device is quite capable, with a 13.0 MP main camera and a 5.0 MP front camera. It also has auto focus and a flash, making it easy to take clear photos in various lighting conditions.
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One notable feature of the camera is its ability to record video in FHD (1920 x 1080) at 30 frames per second. This is great for capturing smooth and detailed footage.
However, as you may have noticed, the camera can be a bit finicky. If a scene has too much light, the photo will likely be overexposed, while too little light will result in a loss of detail.
Performance & Battery
The Samsung Galaxy J5's performance is a mixed bag. It has a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor with 1.5GB of RAM, which is enough for everyday tasks but struggles with demanding activities.
The device can run some lower-end games, especially the standard ones, but don't expect to play high-intensity games. Web pages load fast enough, but don't expect anything groundbreaking.
One positive aspect of the device is its battery life. It has a 2,600mAh capacity battery that can survive for 18 hours, which is way above similar-specced devices and a definite advantage.

The battery has grown considerably compared to last year's Samsung Galaxy J5, and it can supply 11.94 watt hours. However, its power consumption is also much higher.
Here's a comparison of the Samsung Galaxy J5's battery runtime with other devices:
Screen Flickering PWM
Screen Flickering PWM is a common issue that can affect the performance of your display. It's detected in 47% of devices, with 53% not using PWM to dim the display.
The frequency of PWM can vary greatly, with an average of 8228 Hz measured in devices that use it. This can be compared to the 243.9 Hz detected in the example device.
Sensitive users may notice flickering and experience eyestrain at brightness settings below a certain point. This is especially true for devices with low PWM frequencies like 243.9 Hz.
In comparison to the average PWM frequency, 243.9 Hz is relatively low. This means that even at moderate brightness settings, users may experience discomfort due to flickering.
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Battery
The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy J5 is a major selling point, with a removable battery that can last all day long. This is thanks to the Ultra Power Saving Mode, which helps to extend battery life when the device's power runs low.
The battery has a standard capacity of 3100mAh, which is a significant improvement over last year's model. In fact, it's one of the largest batteries in its class.
Here are some specific battery life metrics for the Samsung Galaxy J5:
- Internet usage time (3G): up to 11 hours
- Video playback time: up to 17 hours
- Audio playback time: up to 71 hours
- Talk time (3G WCDMA): up to 21 hours
These numbers are impressive, especially considering the device's relatively low power consumption. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy J5 consumes as little as 0.12 watts in standby mode and a maximum of 3.1 watts while in load mode.
Storage/Memory
The Samsung Galaxy J5 has a decent amount of storage for its price. It comes with 16 GB of storage, which is a good starting point for most users.
You can expand this storage by using a microSD card, which supports up to 128 GB of additional storage. This is a great feature for users who need more space for their apps, photos, and music.
The Galaxy J5 also has 2 GB of memory, which is sufficient for smooth performance, but you might experience some lag if you have too many apps open at once.
Here's a quick rundown of the Galaxy J5's storage specs:
- Memory (GB): 2 GB
- Storage (GB): 16 GB
- Available Storage (GB): 10.9 GB
- External Storage Support: MicroSD (Up to 128GB)
Communication & GPS
The Samsung Galaxy J5 has a micro-SIM card slot, which is necessary for connecting to mobile networks. This means you'll need a micro-SIM to get started.
The phone supports four GPRS, four UMTS, and five LTE frequencies, making it suitable for international use, especially in Europe. You might not get a signal everywhere in the world, but it should work in most places.
The phone's reception in the local network is good, and you can expect to get at least 3/4 of LTE reception quality even indoors in an urban area. This means you can stay connected even when you're in a crowded city.
The maximum speeds for mobile Internet are 150 MBit per second for download and 50 MBit per second for upload. This is more than enough for most users, but if you're a heavy user, you might notice some lag.
The phone supports Wi-Fi standards 802.11 b/g/n, which should be sufficient for most users. However, it doesn't support the 5 GHz band, so you won't be able to connect to 5 GHz networks.
The phone's Wi-Fi reception is also good, and you can expect to get a strong signal even at a distance of 10 meters from the router. Websites load quickly, but the phone might be a bit slower than other smartphones in terms of Wi-Fi performance.
The GPS module on the phone can find some satellites indoors, but the signal strength is not strong enough to give you an accurate location. However, once you're outdoors, the phone can find enough satellites to track your location with an accuracy of about 4 meters.
In a test, the phone was used for a bike tour, and it delivered decent results, but the phone's GPS was not as accurate as a professional navigation system like Garmin's Edge 500. The phone's GPS tracked the route, but it drew straight lines between two points, while the professional system tracked the route more precisely.
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Review
The Samsung Galaxy J5 is a solid choice for those looking for an affordable smartphone. It has a 5in screen with a resolution of 1,280x720, making it a decent size for everyday use.
The phone's processor is a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, which should handle most tasks with ease. The rear camera is a 13 megapixel sensor, and the storage is 8GB, with around 4.6GB available to the user.
One of the standout features of the Galaxy J5 is its long battery life, which is a big plus for those who are always on the go. Here are some key specs at a glance:
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy J5 is a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a good balance of features and performance.
Review: Design
The Samsung Galaxy J5's design is a major highlight of this budget device. It takes inspiration from Samsung's flagship lineup, featuring a pill-shaped home button and curved edges.

The phone's sturdy finish gives it a luxurious style that's hard to find in other budget devices. This is a big departure from the cheaper, aesthetically dull designs of rival devices in the same price bracket.
One of the compromises made in the design is the use of plastic instead of metal, but this does mean the back plate is removable, granting access to a replaceable battery and micro SD slot. This is a practical feature that many users will appreciate.
The Galaxy J5 lacks waterproofing, which is now a standard feature in high-end devices. However, this is a budget device, and its design is still very attractive and well-built.
Review: Display
The display on the Samsung Galaxy J5 is a highlight of this budget-friendly device. It features a 5-inch Super AMOLED screen, which is a significant upgrade over the average LCD panel found in many low-cost handsets.
The display is the same panel used in the more premium Samsung Galaxy S7, although it's not as advanced as the newer flagships. This means it's not as bright as some of Samsung's higher-end devices, but it's still a great option for everyday use.
One area where the display falls short is in its resolution. It's not as crisp as some of Samsung's other lineup, with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. However, this is still a respectable display for a budget phone.
The display's contrast ratios and vibrancy make up for its lower resolution in normal conditions. This means you'll still get a great viewing experience when watching videos or browsing the web.
Here are the key display specs for the Samsung Galaxy J5:
Review: Camera
The camera on the Samsung Galaxy J5 is a bit of a mixed bag. Unfortunately, it has its flaws, particularly when it comes to handling varying light conditions.
The camera has a 13 megapixel sensor, which sounds impressive, but in practice, it can struggle to get the shot right. If a scene is too bright, the photo will often be overexposed, while if it's too dark, the details will be lost.

One of the main issues with the camera is its inability to handle HDR (High Dynamic Range) effectively. This means that the photo will either be too bright or too dark, with little in between.
On the other hand, when the conditions are just right, the camera can produce some excellent results. Photos can be packed with crisp detail and vibrant colors, making them a joy to look at.
Here are some key specs of the camera:
Overall, the camera on the Samsung Galaxy J5 is a bit of a gamble, but when it gets it right, it's well worth the effort.
Review: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy J5 is a solid choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone. It's got a sleek metal casing that gives it a premium feel.
The phone's processor is a quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, which is more than capable of handling everyday tasks. It's paired with 8GB of storage, although only 4.6GB is available for use.

The Galaxy J5 has a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1,280x720, which is perfect for watching videos or browsing the web. The phone's rear camera is 13 megapixels, which is great for capturing high-quality photos.
Here are some key specs of the Samsung Galaxy J5:
The phone's battery life is now much longer, making it a great option for those who are always on the go. It's also got a removable battery, which is a nice touch.
Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy J5 is a fantastic device, and one of the things that really stands out about it is its physical design. The dimensions of the Galaxy J5 are 145.8 x 72.3 x 8.1mm, making it a compact and portable smartphone.
The weight of the Galaxy J5 is 158 grams, which is relatively lightweight and easy to carry around. This makes it perfect for everyday use, whether you're commuting or just running errands.
2017
In 2017, Samsung released the Galaxy J5 (2017), a mid-range smartphone that offered impressive features at an affordable price.
The Galaxy J5 (2017) had a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display, providing a vibrant and immersive viewing experience.
It came with a 13-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, making it perfect for capturing life's precious moments.
The phone was powered by a 1.6 GHz octa-core processor, ensuring smooth performance and efficient multitasking.
The Galaxy J5 (2017) was available in various storage options, including 16GB and 32GB, with the option to expand storage up to 256GB via a microSD card.
It ran on Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, offering a seamless user experience.
The phone had a 3000mAh battery, providing all-day power and long battery life.
The Galaxy J5 (2017) was a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive features.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Samsung stop the J series?
Samsung stopped the J series in 2018 to focus on the Galaxy A and M series, extending the mid-range segment and introducing a new online-exclusive series. This reorganization aimed to streamline their smartphone lineup and better compete in the market.
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