The 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display doesn't disappoint
Samsung has fitted the Galaxy J5 (2017) with a 5.2-inch 720p Super AMOLED display - same as the one in last year's model, if going solely by the numbers. The pixel density is 282ppi, but the fact that it's a diamond pixel arrangement with half the number of blue and red subpixels means you'd be able to see the weave of pixels if you look closely.
Looking at the test results, it may well be the same panel indeed. Maximum brightness isn't great at 326nits (a dozen less than the 2016 model), but in Auto the J5 (2017) can do way better. The brightness under direct light is virtually identical to what the J5 (2016) produced in Outdoor mode - the difference here is that the latest model has an ambient light sensor and can boost the brightness on its own, while you had to manually engage Outdoor mode on the J5 (2016).
Display test
100% brightness
Black, cd/m2
White, cd/m2
Contrast ratio
Nokia 5
0.69
632
916
Huawei P10 Lite
0.351
560
1595
Sony Xperia XA1
0.512
537
1049
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
0.475
528
1112
Xiaomi Redmi 4
0.576
527
915
Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
0.377
522
1385
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Max Auto
0
485
∞
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
0.322
484
1503
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
0
484
∞
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) Max Auto
0
482
∞
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) outdoor mode
0
476
∞
Motorola Moto Z Play
0
371
∞
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
0
353
∞
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
0
348
∞
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
0
338
∞
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
0
326
∞
Our sunlight legibility test puts the 2017 model slightly ahead of its predecessor. It obviously falls short of the premium AMOLEDs but you still can't find an LCD in this class that can match the Galaxy J5 (2017) in sunlight legibility. Pretty great then.
Sunlight contrast ratio
Samsung Galaxy S8 4.768
Samsung Galaxy S8+ 4.658
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 4.615
Oppo R11 4.454
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge 4.439
OnePlus 3 4.424
Samsung Galaxy S7 4.376
HTC One A9 4.274
Samsung Galaxy Note7 4.247
Samsung Galaxy A3 4.241
OnePlus 3T 4.232
Google Pixel XL 4.164
ZTE Axon 7 4.154
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) 4.124
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge 4.124
Samsung Galaxy Note5 4.09
Huawei Nexus 6P 4.019
OnePlus X 3.983
Vivo Xplay5 Elite 3.983
Apple iPhone 7 3.964
Oppo R7s 3.964
Huawei P9 Plus 3.956
Meizu Pro 6 Plus 3.935
Lenovo Moto Z 3.931
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) 3.918
OnePlus 5 3.914
Samsung Galaxy C5 3.911
Samsung Galaxy C7 3.896
Samsung Galaxy A5 3.895
Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor 3.879
Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor 3.873
Samsung Galaxy A8 3.859
Sony Xperia XZs 3.818
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) 3.817
Motorola Moto X (2014) 3.816
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) 3.812
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) 3.804
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode 3.802
Xiaomi Redmi Pro 3.798
LG V20 Max auto 3.798
Sony Xperia XZ 3.795
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) 3.789
Apple iPhone 6s 3.783
Meizu Pro 5 3.781
Microsoft Lumia 650 3.772
Xiaomi Mi 6 3.767
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) 3.756
Oppo F1 Plus 3.709
Vivo X5Pro 3.706
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) 3.688
Apple iPhone SE 3.681
Huawei Mate 9 3.68
Samsung Galaxy A7 3.679
Meizu PRO 6 3.659
BlackBerry Priv 3.645
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) 3.599
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra 3.597
Apple iPhone 7 Plus 3.588
LG G6 3.556
Apple iPhone 6s Plus 3.53
Motorola Moto Z Play 3.526
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) 3.523
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode 3.523
Acer Jade Primo 3.521
Microsoft Lumia 950 3.512
Oppo R7 Plus 3.499
nubia Z11 3.466
Huawei P10 Plus 3.456
HTC U Ultra 3.453
Samsung Galaxy J7 3.422
Meizu MX5 3.416
LG V20 3.402
Huawei P10 3.379
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3.378
Oppo R9s 3.352
Honor 8 Pro 3.341
Oppo R7 3.32
Lenovo P2 3.316
Honor 9 3.289
Xiaomi Mi 5s 3.276
Nokia 5 3.261
Nokia 6 (Chinese version) 3.244
Xiaomi Mi 5 3.24
Samsung Galaxy J2 3.235
Sony Xperia X Performance 3.234
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 3.228
Motorola Moto X Play 3.222
Oppo F3 Plus 3.218
Huawei Mate 9 Pro 3.206
Huawei P9 3.195
ZTE Nubia Z17 3.159
Lenovo Vibe Shot 3.113
Motorola Moto X Force 3.105
LG Nexus 5X 3.092
HTC U11 3.089
Huawei Mate S 3.073
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL 3.065
Sony Xperia XA1 3.012
Sony Xperia L1 2.994
Huawei P10 Lite 2.974
Samsung Galaxy Note 2.97
Huawei Mate 8 2.949
Xiaomi Redmi 4 2.92
Xiaomi Redmi 3S 2.913
Sony Xperia XA Ultra 2.906
LG G5 2.905
HTC One S 2.901
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime 2.893
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus 2.884
Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2.877
Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB) 2.877
Sony Xperia Z5 2.876
Nokia 3 2.871
Microsoft Lumia 550 2.851
Lenovo Moto M 2.813
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro 2.803
Sony Xperia Z5 compact 2.784
Meizu MX6 2.751
LG V10 2.744
Xiaomi Redmi 3 2.735
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) 2.714
Meizu M5 2.71
Sony Xperia M5 2.69
Huawei P9 Lite 2.679
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime 2.679
Vivo V3Max 2.659
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2.658
Xiaomi Mi 4i 2.641
Xiaomi Redmi 4a 2.635
Sony Xperia XA 2.609
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto) 2.582
Motorola Moto G4 Plus 2.582
Meizu M5s 2.58
Xiaomi Mi 4c 2.574
LeEco Le Max 2 2.567
Microsoft Lumia 640 2.563
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 2.563
Lenovo K6 Note 2.544
Lenovo Moto G4 2.544
Oppo F1 2.528
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 2.525
Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c 2.506
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 2.503
Oppo F1s 2.481
Motorola Moto G 2.477
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2.473
Huawei G8 2.471
Huawei nova 2.467
Lenovo Vibe K5 2.459
Meizu m3 max 2.447
HTC 10 evo 2.407
Huawei Honor 7 2.406
Sony Xperia E5 2.386
ZUK Z1 by Lenovo 2.382
HTC 10 2.378
Oppo F3 2.376
vivo V5 Plus 2.371
Meizu m1 note 2.362
Huawei nova plus 2.329
HTC One E9+ 2.305
Alcatel One Touch Hero 2.272
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note 2.254
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra 2.253
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) 2.249
Sony Xperia C4 Dual 2.235
Xiaomi Mi Note 2.234
Motorola Moto G (2014) 2.233
Huawei P8 2.196
Meizu M5 Note 2.189
Huawei Honor 6 2.169
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 2.166
OnePlus Two 2.165
HTC One X 2.158
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20) 2.145
LG Aka 2.145
Archos 50 Diamond 2.134
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2.119
Xiaomi Mi 4S 2.095
Acer Liquid X2 2.084
Huawei P8lite 2.078
vivo V5 2.059
Moto G 3rd gen max manual 2.026
Xiaomi Mi Max 1.996
Sony Xperia E4g 1.972
OnePlus One 1.961
Meizu m3 note 1.923
Meizu m2 note 1.892
BlackBerry Leap 1.892
HTC Butterfly 1.873
ZTE Nubia Z9 mini 1.759
Sony Xperia U 1.758
Asus Zenfone Selfie 1.68
Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen) 1.675
ZTE Nubia Z9 1.659
Jolla Jolla 1.605
Motorola Moto E 1.545
Sony Xperia M 1.473
Sony Xperia L 1.351
Xiaomi Redmi 2 1.311
HTC Desire C 1.3
Meizu MX 1.221
Sony Xperia E 1.215
As for color accuracy, do not expect much of it in Adaptive display mode. This default setting produces noticeably blue whites and average DeltaE is 5.6 with a maximum of 12.9. The good news is that in any of the other modes the blue tint is gone. If for some reason you insist on true-to-sRGB reproduction, the basic mode can get you close to that with an average DeltaE of 3.
Connectivity
The Galaxy J5 (2017) is sold as either a single SIM or dual SIM package though not all regions necessarily get both. Nano SIMs must be used in any case. The microSD slot is always available even if you have two SIMs inside, so you don't have to sacrifice carrier/plan flexibility for extra storage or the other way around. The LTE is Cat.6 for up to 300Mbps of downlink.
The J5 (2017) comes with Wi-Fi b/g/n support in the 2.4GHz spectrum and a/n/ac over 5GHz. There's GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, and Beidou; Bluetooth v.4.1, and an FM radio receiver. NFC is also on board with a dedicated menu in the Settings.
Charging and wired connectivity use a microUSB 2.0 interface - how about a switch to USB-C across the range already! On a positive note, there's a 3.5mm jack for attaching headphones or an external amp.
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) battery life
The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) is powered by a 3,000mAh battery and that's 600mAh less than the J7 (2017) but then the display here is smaller and the resolution is lower, so we expected comparable results.
With screen size and resolution out of the equation in voice calls, the J5 (2017) scored 21:37h on a 3G call compared to the J7 (2017)'s 26:29h.
In tests with the display on the two variables - size and resolution - made things more complicated and the numbers didn't match our expectations.
In video playback the Galaxy J5 (2017) outlasts the J7 (2017) by two full hours, only to be defeated in web browsing by 4 hours. We've come to expect AMOLEDs to be much more efficient in our video test than web browsing, and that's the case with the J5 - perhaps even more so in this instance.
In the end, the overall result of the Galaxy J5 (2017) is 97h in our battery test - an excellent endurance rating despite the slightly lower than projected web browsing longevity.
Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
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