On the 15th of June, 2016, Samsung officially launched the 2016 Galaxy J Series of affordable smartphones. The launch event was held at the magnificent KL Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC), in partnership with Yes which officially announced their 4G LTE network as well.
There is a reason for this particular partnership between Samsung Malaysia and Yes. The new Yes 4G LTE network is a pure data network with VoLTE (Voice over LTE) capability. The new Samsung Galaxy J7, J5 and J1 smartphones have been optimised for the next-generation data-centric mobile network that Yes just announced.
Samsung Launches The 2016 Galaxy J Series
The launch event kicked off with Mr. Lee Jui Siang (Vice President of IT and Mobile, Samsung Malaysia Electronics) giving a quick overview of the 2016 Galaxy J Series smartphones and why they have been optimised for the new-generation data network.
Then Mr. Go Benn Lee (Product Manager, Mobile & IT Business Unit, Samsung Malaysia Electronics) presented the key features of the 2016 Galaxy J Series smartphones. Check it out!
Then it was time for some hands-on time with the new Galaxy J7, J5 and J1 smartphones. We also got to meet up with new and old friends. Here’s my wefie with Jacob Yeoh, Deputy CEO of YTL Communications, Livan Bai of Priority Communications and Soo Yi of Samsung Malaysia. What an awesome night!
Okay, fun time over. Let’s check out the key compelling features of the 2016 Galaxy J Series smartphone, as well as their specifications, prices and availability.
Next Page > Optimised For Data, Dual SIM Capability, Specification Comparison, Price & Availability
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The 2016 Galaxy J Series Is Optimised For Data
Arguably the key feature of the 2016 Galaxy J series is their Ultra Data Saving (UDS) Mode. The new UDS mode is designed to reduce data usage by up to 50%. It achieves this by compressing data that is uploaded and downloaded, while restricting data usage by background applications.
According to Samsung, the UDS Mode reduced data usage by up to 62% on Instagram and 46% on YouTube! This was based on their test results using Opera Max that was carried out from April 1-25. Of course, the actual results will vary according to your usage patterns.
As a bonus, the UDS Mode also frees up RAM, and increases battery life. In fact, Samsung says that the UDS Mode will double the 2016 Galaxy J Series smartphones’ standby time!
This is perfect for the next-generation data-only 4G LTE networks like the new Yes 4G LTE network.
Dual SIM, Dual Standby Capability
All 2016 Galaxy J Series smartphones come with dual SIM, dual standby capability. This gives you the flexibility of using two different networks in a single device. This is particularly convenient for frequent travelers who can now use their local SIM and international SIM cards simultaneously.
2016 Galaxy J Series Smartphone Comparison
In this table, we will compare the specifications of the 2016 Samsung Galaxy J7, J5 and J1 smartphones.
| Specifications | Galaxy J7 (2016) | Galaxy J5 (2016) | Galaxy J1 (2016) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5" Super AMOLED 1280 x 720 pixels 267 ppi | 5.2" Super AMOLED 1280 x 720 pixels 282 ppi | 4.5" Super AMOLED 800 x 480 pixels 245 ppi |
| Operating System | Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 | Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 | Android Lollipop 5.1.1 |
| SoC Platform | Qualcomm MSM8952 (Snapdragon 617) or Exynos 7870 | Qualcomm MSM8916 (Snapdragon 410) | Exynos 3475 |
| Processor | Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 or Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Graphics Processor | Adreno 405 or Mali-T830MP2 | Adreno 306 | Mali-T720 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2GB | 2GB | 1GB |
| Storage | 16 GB (User Available 10.8 GB) MicroSD slot (Up to 128 GB) | 16 GB (User Available 10.9 GB) MicroSD slot (Up to 128 GB) | 8 GB (User Available 4.1 GB) MicroSD slot (Up to 128 GB) |
| Front Camera | 5 MP (f/1.9) LED flash | 5 MP (f/1.9) LED flash | 2 MP (f/2.2) |
| Rear Camera | 13 MP (f/1.9) Autofocus 1080p @ 30fps Single LED Flash | 13 MP (f/1.9) Autofocus 1080p @ 30fps Single LED Flash | 5 MP (f/2.2) Autofocus 720p @ 30fps Single LED Flash |
| Connectivity | 4G FDD LTE: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28 4G TDD LTE: B38/B40/B41 UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz USB 2.0, BT4.1 + A2DP GPS/GLONASS/Beidou VoLTE, NFC | 4G FDD LTE: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B28 4G TDD LTE: B38/B40/B41 UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz USB 2.0, BT4.1 + A2DP GPS/GLONASS VoLTE, NFC | 4G FDD LTE: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8 4G TDD LTE: B38/B40 UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz USB 2.0, BT4.1 + A2DP GPS/GLONASS VoLTE |
| Dual SIM capability | Dual Micro-SIM | Dual Micro-SIM | Dual Micro-SIM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Hall Sensor Proximity Sensor | Accelerometer Hall Sensor Proximity Sensor | Accelerometer Proximity Sensor |
| Battery | 3300 mAh (Removable) | 3100 mAh (Removable) | 2050 mAh (Removable) |
| Size (Height x Width x Thickness) | 151.7 x 76.0 x 7.8 | 145.8 x 72.3 x 8.1 | 132.6 x 69.3 x 8.9 |
| Weight | 169 g | 158 g | 131 g |
| Available Colours | Black, White, Gold | Black, White, Gold | Black, White, Gold |
| Price | RM 1049 | RM 849 | RM 449 |
Price & Availability
The 2016 Samsung Galaxy J7, J5 and J1 smartphones are available beginning today, June 16, 2016 at all Samsung Experience Stores and authorised dealers, at the following recommended retail prices :
- 2016 Galaxy J7 : RM 1,049 / ~US$ 262
- 2016 Galaxy J5 : RM 849 / ~US$ 212
- 2016 Galaxy J1 : RM 449 / ~US$ 112
All three models will be available in 3 colour options – Black, White and Gold. In Malaysia, every 2016 Galaxy J series smartphone will come with a free Yes 4G LTE prepaid card with 30 GB of free data (15 GB per month x 2 months) worth about RM 190!
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