Looking for an affordable smartphone? The BLU C5L Max and Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) are both contenders in the budget market. But which one offers the best bang for your buck? We'll break down their specs, performance, and features to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) is the clear winner. Its superior chipset, better camera, and more refined software experience outweigh the BLU C5L Max's lower price. While the BLU offers basic functionality, the J7 provides a more enjoyable and reliable user experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - SM-J737U |
| 4G bands | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 28, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 66 - SM-J737U |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14 - SM-J737A |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December. Released 2021, December | 2018, June. Released 2018, July |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.5 x 76.5 x 10.5 mm (6.28 x 3.01 x 0.41 in) | 153.2 x 76.2 x 8.6 mm (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 174 g (6.14 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 480 x 960 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~188 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~68.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Unisoc SC9832 (28 nm) | Exynos 7870 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T820 MP1 | Mali-T830 MP1 |
| OS | Android 11 (Go edition) | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, AF or 13 MP, f/1.7, AF (operator dependent) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 5 MP / 13 MP, f/1.7 (operator dependent) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.1/4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (operator dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio (SM-J737T1 only) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Po 2000 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, Red, Green, Bronze | Black, Blue, Gold |
| Models | - | SM-J737F, SM-J737V, SM-J737T, SM-J737A, SM-J737P, SM-J737T1, SM-J737U, SM-J737S, SM-J737R4 |
| Price | - | About 200 EUR |
BLU C5L Max
- Very Affordable
- Basic Functionality
- Decent Battery Life (potentially)
- Weak Performance
- Low-Quality Display
- Subpar Camera
- Outdated Software
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018)
- Better Performance
- Vibrant Super AMOLED Display
- Improved Camera
- More Reliable Software
- Brand Recognition
- Slightly More Expensive
- Older Model (potential software update limitations)
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) typically features a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and deeper blacks compared to the BLU C5L Max's likely lower-quality LCD panel. While both have similar resolutions (likely 720p), the Samsung's display quality is noticeably superior.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) generally boasts a better camera setup, often with a 13MP main sensor and a front-facing camera with flash. The BLU C5L Max's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, but image quality, especially in low light, will be noticeably inferior to the Samsung.
Performance
Here's where the Samsung truly shines. The Exynos 7870 Octa chipset is significantly more powerful than the Unisoc SC9832. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a generally more responsive experience on the Galaxy J7 (2018). The BLU C5L Max will likely struggle with demanding apps and multitasking.
Battery Life
Both phones likely feature around 3000mAh batteries. However, the Samsung's more efficient chipset and optimized software often result in better battery life in real-world usage, despite having similar capacity.
Buying Guide
The BLU C5L Max is best suited for users on an extremely tight budget who primarily need a phone for basic calling, texting, and light app usage. The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) is ideal for those seeking a more capable and reliable smartphone with a better camera and smoother performance, even within a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the BLU C5L Max worth buying?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and only need basic phone functionality. Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) offers significantly better value.
❓ How does the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018)'s software compare?
The Galaxy J7 (2018) typically runs Samsung's Experience UI, which is more polished and feature-rich than the likely stock Android experience on the BLU C5L Max. It also benefits from Samsung's longer software support history.
