Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) review: Jump start

Jump start

GSMArena team, 20 June 2016.

Telephony and loudspeaker

The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) is available as a single-SIM phone, but there's a dual-SIM version as well. On the latter, the SIM card manager lets you pick a preferred SIM for voice, text and data.

Dialer - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Call log - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Filtering the log - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Call settings - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
Dialer • Call log • Filtering the log • Call settings

The Do Not Disturb mode can be put on an automated schedule. When it's on, only priority notifications can get through hand you decide what counts as "priority" - it can be anything from calls from select contacts to reminders from key apps.

In our loudspeaker test, the Galaxy J7 (2016) scored an Average mark. You won't have problems hearing the phone ring in most situations.

Speakerphone testVoice, dB Pink noise/ Music, dB Ringing phone, dB Overall score
Apple iPhone 6s 66.5 64.6 65.8 Below Average
Oppo F1 Plus 66.3 66.2 65.9 Below Average
Samsung Galaxy S7 retest 67.2 64.6 66.6 Below Average
Meizu m3 note 66.5 64.6 71.7 Average
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) 64.5 71.0 68.9 Average
LG G5 68.7 66.2 73.2 Good
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 66.5 66.6 75.8 Good
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note 74.7 66.6 72.3 Good

Text input

The Galaxy J7 (2016) uses an updated version of the Samsung Keyboard. It's quite comfortable, with a dedicated numbers row, a row above that for word suggestions and additional characters on each key (accessible via long-press).

Keyboard - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review A lot of options to play with - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review A lot of options to play with - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review A lot of options to play with - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
Keyboard • A lot of options to play with

If that seems too tall, you can scale the keyboard down (or up, if you want bigger keys). We don't like that the Space key is quite short, though.

Keyboard size is adjustable - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
Keyboard size is adjustable

Additional typing tools include swipe input, My Hot Keys (predefined phrases that can be typed by long-pressing a number key) and voice dictation.

Other apps

Samsung continues to bundle the Microsoft app package that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Skype. Note that only Skype was actually installed, the rest are just shortcuts to Galaxy Apps (this way they don't take up space until you actually need and install them).

Microsoft app package - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Microsoft app package - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Microsoft app package - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
Microsoft app package

Google Drive is pre-installed, however, the actual document editors are not (they are a free download, though).

The Samsung-customized web browser features tabs, the ability to save web pages and enhanced privacy control. It gets the job done, but if you want synchronization across devices, Chrome or Firefox are a better bet.

S Health is on board though without the advanced sensors (heart rate, blood oxygen) its functionality is more limited. It can still track walking/running/cycling and you can manually input water and coffee intake and so on.

S Health is missing the hardware sensors - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review S Health is missing the hardware sensors - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review S Health is missing the hardware sensors - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
S Health is missing the hardware sensors

The My Files app is the default file browser. It features Google Drive integration. You can ZIP folders to make them easier to share as a single file.

My Files - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review My Files - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review My Files - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
My Files

Finally, there's Galaxy Apps, Samsung's own app store. Galaxy Essentials is a good place to find great tools (like Kids Mode), but for general app shopping, you would probably be better off with Google Play.

Samsung Apps - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Samsung Apps - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review Samsung Apps - Samsung Galaxy J7 2016 review
Samsung Apps

Reader comments

  • Suraj
  • 27 Jan 2024
  • Dkr

It's been a long time since I used this phone it's a very good phone

  • JR
  • 10 May 2023
  • mZx

I use this phone since June 2016. There is nothing wrong about this phone believe it or not. Never replace the battery. The only disadvantage is the limitation of its 16GB. Very happy but unfortunatelly I have to change it due to the 16GB.

  • geo
  • 01 May 2023
  • mTa

its one of the best phone.i am using it for the last 7 years.