Priced at Rs. 20,900 and Rs. 17,900 respectively, these two are additions to the already popular J-series lineup. Both the Galaxy J7 Pro and J7 Max packs in Samsung Pay, an innovative Social Camera, Android Nougat 7.0. Plus, the display size is almost same. So what’s the difference? Well, there is quite a handful of them when you look under the hood (and above, as well). So, let’s quickly round up and see the key differences between the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro and Galaxy J7 Max.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro and Galaxy J7 Max are apt successors in the J series lineup. At 5.5-inches, the Galaxy J7 Pro packs in a metal unibody with beautiful 2.5 D curved corners, similar to the Galaxy A5. Breaking the latest stereotype of minimal antenna lines, the J7 Pro proudly displays them on the rear, thus giving the smooth rear a stylish finish. Overall, the Galaxy J7 Pro weighs just about 181 grams and feels just about right in your hands, though a tad heavy. On the other hand, the Galaxy J7 Max has a slightly underwhelming look. Instead of curved corners, the 5.7-inch Galaxy J7 max is wide with squarish corners giving it a run-of-the-mill look. The J7 Max weighs roughly 179 grams, but owing to its width, one-handed operation on the J7 Max is a tad difficult.
Display
The display has been a stronghold of Samsung devices over quite some time now. Both the Galaxy J7 Max and the J7 Pro produces crisp and vivid images. But when it comes down to the comparison, the Super AMOLED of the Galaxy J7 Pro is hands down better than the TFT display of the Galaxy J7 Max. The difference in both the screens is apparent when it comes to viewing pictures, wallpapers or even when viewing the icons. Courtesy the AMOLED display, the Galaxy J7 Pro also has the option for Always on Display, meaning that you’ll always stay on top of notifications and messages, even while the screen is off.
Software
When it comes to the software aspect, both the Galaxy J7 Pro and Galaxy J7 Max sports Android Nougat 7.0 based on Samsung’s in-house TouchWiz. The J7 Max has a scaled down version of Samsung Pay — it only lets you make-wallets and UPI payment instead of adding your credit and debit cards like the Galaxy J7 Pro.
Hardware
The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is powered by the Exynos 7870 octa-core processor which clocks at 1.6 GHz and packs in 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. This processor can handle most of the casual task with ease, but when it comes to the high-end task or playing high graphic games, sadly, the processor goes for a dive. The 1.6 GHz MediaTek octa-core processor of the Galaxy J7 Max is almost at par with the J7 Max. It too can handle most of the task with ease but a significant lag is observed on games, especially the Asphalt 8. What’s surprising about the J7 Max is that it maintains its cool throughout, even when you have been gaming for quite some time. The following are some of the key hardware differences.
1. LED Notifications
The Galaxy J7 Max has the added advantage of the Samsung Smart Glow. This strip of LED light on the rear lights up in beautiful hues when you receive a message or a call. What’s more, you can customize the colors and events as per your choice. This notification light is immensely useful when the phone is kept face down. And on other days, the LED light on the top will help you in keeping notified. Sadly, this concept of LED light is missing in the Galaxy J7 Pro. Here, incoming messages and notifications are managed via the Always on Display feature.
2. NFC
Another key difference in the Galaxy J7 Pro and J7 Max is the inclusion of NFC. The J7 Pro enjoys the full advantage of NFC — Samsung Pay, being one of them. The exclusion of NFC in the Galaxy J7 Max doesn’t only mean that you miss out on the full benefits of Samsung Pay you also miss out on NFC tags automation or a faster file transfer process.
Camera
Moving on, the Galaxy J7 Pro and Galaxy J7 Max sport the same camera specs. The rear camera is of 13-megapixel with f/1.7 aperture coupled with autofocus and LED flash. The front camera is 13-megapixel with an aperture value of f/1.9. In daylight, the shots come out to be crisp and vivid and the HDR shots are even better. The above pictures should help in understanding the difference. Though the J7 Pro whips up better pictures, the camera is delicate and finicky, especially when it comes to setting focus on nearby objects. It’ll easily takes you 3-4 attempts in setting the focus. On the other hand, I didn’t encounter any such issues with the J7 Max.
Battery
Undoubtedly, battery life is the most important aspect of any smartphone. There have been cases where even premium smartphones have been crippled by low-performing batteries. Thankfully, both the phones are well equipped to see you through the day. The Galaxy J7 Pro is powered by a 3600mAh battery unit while the Galaxy J7 Max boasts of a slightly lower battery unit of 3300mAh. Battery Life is almost at par with each other, but again, If I were to compare, the Galaxy J7 Pro comes out as the clear winner.
Pricing
Price is the most important factor when it comes to buying a smartphone. The Galaxy J7 Pro retails at Rs. 20,900 while the Galaxy J7 Max is priced at Rs. 17,900.
Final Say
With the difference of just three thousand bucks, the Galaxy J7 Pro is the ideal choice with a great battery life, an impressive design, and the advantage of Samsung Pay. But then, prepare to be patient while taking pictures. Similarly, the J7 Max packs in almost the same specs, sans the Samsung Pay. At the end of the day, what really holds significance is what matters most to you. Is it a good camera or a cashless & cardless method of doing your transaction? If you ask me, I’d rather side with the Samsung Galaxy J7 Max. See Next: Samsung Galaxy J7 Max Pros and Cons: Should you Buy It?
