The Gionee Elife S7 and Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) were both contenders in the budget smartphone market. Both offered compelling features for their price, but which one ultimately delivered a better experience? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) edges out the Gionee Elife S7 thanks to its more efficient chipset (14nm vs 28nm), leading to potentially better battery life and thermal management. While the S7 boasts a slimmer profile, the J5's overall package is more well-rounded.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 38, 39, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, April | 2017, June. Released 2017, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 148.8 x 72.4 x 5.5 mm (5.86 x 2.85 x 0.22 in) | 146.2 x 71.3 x 8 mm (5.76 x 2.81 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 125.3 g (4.41 oz) | 160 g (5.64 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~282 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~69.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~71.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6752 (28 nm) | Exynos 7870 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T760MP2 | Mali-T830 MP1 |
| OS | Android 5 (Lollipop), Amigo OS 3 | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0 AF | 13 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, 1/4.0" | 13 MP, f/1.9, 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 83 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 270 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 24 h (2G) / Up to 15 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 21 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Black, Maldives Blue | Blue, Pink, Gold, Black |
| Models | S7 | SM-J530F, SM-J530Y, SM-J530FM, SM-J530G, SM-J530YM, SM-J530L, SM-J530S, SM-J530K, SM-J530GM |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | - | 0.35 W/kg (head) 1.36 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -85.0dB / Crosstalk -90.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 97h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.599 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 82dB
|
| Performance | - |
GeekBench: 3667 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 3.8fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Gionee Elife S7
- Extremely slim design
- Decent CPU performance for basic tasks
- Potentially higher display resolution (spec missing)
- Less efficient chipset
- Unknown battery life
- Potentially weaker camera
- Less reliable brand reputation
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)
- Excellent battery life (97h endurance)
- More efficient chipset (14nm)
- Stronger brand reputation
- Likely better camera quality
- Thicker design than the S7
- Performance not top-tier
- Display quality details missing
Display Comparison
Both phones feature similar contrast ratios (Infinite nominal, 3.599 in sunlight), suggesting comparable outdoor visibility. The Elife S7 likely had a slightly higher resolution display, but the J5's display technology might have offered better color accuracy. Specific display sizes and resolutions are needed for a more precise comparison.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are missing for both devices, making a direct comparison difficult. However, Samsung generally has a stronger reputation for camera quality in their mid-range devices. We'd expect the J5 to offer slightly better image processing and potentially better low-light performance.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017)'s Exynos 7870 (14nm) chipset holds a significant advantage over the Gionee Elife S7's Mediatek MT6752 (28nm). The smaller fabrication process generally translates to better power efficiency and potentially slightly better performance. While both have octa-core CPUs, the Exynos 7870 is known to be a more capable performer.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) shines in this category with an impressive endurance rating of 97 hours. The Gionee Elife S7's battery capacity is unknown, but it's likely smaller, resulting in significantly shorter battery life.
Buying Guide
The Gionee Elife S7 is a good choice for users prioritizing a very slim design and a slightly more powerful CPU for basic tasks. The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) is ideal for those seeking longer battery life, a more reliable brand reputation, and a generally smoother user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) is likely the better choice for gaming due to its more efficient and powerful chipset.
❓ Is the Gionee Elife S7 still worth buying?
Given its age and potential lack of software updates, the Gionee Elife S7 is generally not recommended unless you specifically need its ultra-slim design and can find it at a very low price.
