Buzz
Shortly after the debut of Galaxy J7 Prime, Samsung introduces the J5 Prime to the Vietnamese market. The device inherits the solid metal design language, rear camera specifications, and fingerprint sensor from its J7 Prime sibling, with a smaller screen size and a more streamlined configuration.
1. In-depth Review of Galaxy J5 Prime: Impressive Rear Camera, Feature-Rich Software, Powerful Battery
Shortly after the launch of Galaxy J7 Prime, Samsung introduces the J5 Prime to the Vietnamese market. The device inherits the solid metal design language, rear camera specifications, and fingerprint sensor from its J7 Prime sibling, with a smaller screen size and a more streamlined configuration.
Specifically, the Galaxy J5 Prime features a 5.0-inch HD 720p display using a PLS TFT LCD panel, a 4-core 64-bit Exynos 7570 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage expandable up to 256GB via microSD, a dual-camera setup of 13MP/5MP, a 2,400 mAh battery, 4G LTE dual SIM support, and comes pre-loaded with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with the TouchWiz interface.
Design
The design of the Galaxy J5 Prime doesn't bring much novelty. It resembles the J7 Prime but comes in a smaller size with a metal body, softly rounded back, and plastic ends for improved signal reception. The front features a 2.5D curved glass and a fingerprint sensor integrated into the physical Home button. The layout of physical buttons, external speaker, and ports is similar to the Galaxy J7 Prime, showcasing good craftsmanship. For a detailed review of the J7 Prime's design, check the article below.
The Galaxy J5 Prime still employs a PLS TFT LCD screen with HD 720p resolution, similar to the J7 Prime but in a smaller 5.0-inch size, protected by a curved 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass. With a pixel density of 294ppi, the display is adequate for showcasing content with decent color reproduction, though there's a slight shift in colors at different viewing angles. The brightness is not high, but the device automatically adjusts for better visibility under direct sunlight.
Performance
The configuration of the Galaxy J5 Prime is trimmed down compared to its counterpart, the J7 Prime. The device is equipped with a 4-core 64-bit Exynos 7578 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz, 2GB RAM, and 16GB internal storage. Looking at the specifications and benchmark scores, one might assume the J5 Prime lags behind competitors in the same segment.
However, real-world usage paints a different picture. The J5 Prime performs well in meeting user needs, exhibiting fast app loading, minimal lag when switching between applications, even when handling graphics-intensive games like Asphalt 8, N.O.V.A 3, Dead Trigger 2. Nevertheless, the device's 3D graphics processing capability is not entirely smooth and crisp.
Camera
The Galaxy J5 Prime inherits the 13 MP rear camera with f/1.9 aperture from its predecessor, the J7 Prime, and a 5MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture similar to the J5 2016. The photo capture interface doesn't introduce any new features, retaining modes like Auto, Professional (allowing adjustment of various parameters), HDR, Panorama, Continuous Shot, Night, Portrait, Sports, and Sound & Shot. The focus and photo capture speed of the J5 Prime are quite fast, although there's a slight delay when switching to HDR mode.
The image quality captured by the J5 Prime surpasses even the J7 Prime. In ideal lighting conditions, the images exhibit exceptional detail, sharpness, and a wide dynamic range that captures more details in contrasting light. Notably, the white balance of the J5 Prime is better than the J7 Prime, and the colors appear richer (high contrast) than reality, providing a visually pleasing experience.
In low-light conditions, the device handles noise quite well, resulting in clear images, but there is a risk of losing focus when the subject is in motion. A comprehensive review of the rear camera of the Galaxy J5 Prime will soon be available on the forum, so stay tuned.
A glimpse of quick shots taken with the rear camera of the J5 Prime:
Software and Features
The Galaxy J5 Prime still employs a customized TouchWiz interface based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, similar to its predecessors, the J7/J5, or the J7 Prime. However, the most notable feature on this interface is S-Bike, Ultra Data Saving, and a host of new power-saving modes. S-Bike is a safe driving mode integrated by Samsung on some Galaxy J 2016 devices. When activated, users can confidently control their vehicles, as the system automatically sends an SMS notification to callers, indicating that you are riding a motorcycle and cannot answer the call immediately.
In emergency situations, you can still receive calls, but you must stop the vehicle or move at speeds below 10 km/h. As for the new power-saving features, I've detailed them in an article, which you can revisit through the link below.
Battery Life
The 2,400 mAh battery of the Galaxy J5 Prime offers commendable usage time. In my tests involving web browsing, gaming, YouTube, Facebook, and Messenger, the device provided an OnScreen time of 5 hours and 50 minutes, equivalent to approximately 14.5 hours of mixed usage.
One of the reasons behind the prolonged usage of the J5 Prime is the energy-efficient TFT display, and the device running Android 6 optimally manages battery consumption. With these results, most users can confidently use the device for a full day under heavy usage or extend it to the second day with conservative usage.
Overall Impression
Upon the initial release and a quick hands-on experience with the Galaxy J5 Prime, slight shortcomings were observed in benchmark scores. However, with continued usage and exploration, it becomes evident that Samsung has crafted a device that is more than satisfactory. It's a smartphone priced at 5 million, featuring a robust battery, excellent camera capabilities, and sufficient performance to meet the entertainment needs of the younger generation. A worthwhile purchase for all...
