Choosing a budget smartphone can be tough. The Honor 5X, released a few years prior, offered impressive battery life, while the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) brought Samsung's brand recognition and a more modern design. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone comes out on top.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) edges out the Honor 5X thanks to its more efficient chipset and generally improved user experience. While the Honor 5X boasts incredible battery life, the J7's performance and Samsung's software support make it the slightly better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - SM-J737U |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 66 - SM-J737U |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 4, 5, 7, 12, 17 - Canada | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14 - SM-J737A |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, October. Released 2015, November | 2018, June. Released 2018, July |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 151.3 x 76.3 x 8.2 mm (5.96 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) | 153.2 x 76.2 x 8.6 mm (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 158 g (5.57 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939v2 Snapdragon 616 (28 nm) | Exynos 7870 Octa (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Mali-T830 MP1 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), EMUI 4 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 3GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF | 8 MP, AF or 13 MP, f/1.7, AF (operator dependent) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, 22mm (wide) | 5 MP / 13 MP, f/1.7 (operator dependent) |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP | 4.1/4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (operator dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | 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, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Black, Gold | Black, Blue, Gold |
| Models | KII-L21, KII-L22, KII-L23, KIW-AL10, KIW-CL00, KIW-TL00, KIW-TL00H, KIW-UL00, KIW-L21, KIW-L22, KIW-L24, KII-L05 | SM-J737F, SM-J737V, SM-J737T, SM-J737A, SM-J737P, SM-J737T1, SM-J737U, SM-J737S, SM-J737R4 |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 200 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 76h
| - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 71dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 70dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 874Basemark X: 5009 | - |
Honor 5X
- Exceptional battery life
- Affordable price (when new)
- Fingerprint sensor
- Older chipset
- Slower performance
- Outdated software
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018)
- Better performance
- Vibrant Super AMOLED display
- Samsung's software support
- Improved camera
- Battery life not as impressive as Honor 5X
- Can feel dated compared to newer phones
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) features a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, a significant advantage over the Honor 5X's likely IPS LCD. Resolution is likely similar (1080p), but the AMOLED panel provides a superior viewing experience. The Honor 5X has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD.
Camera Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) typically features a better camera setup, often with a 13MP main sensor and a front-facing camera with flash. The Honor 5X also has a 13MP main camera, but image processing and low-light performance are likely superior on the J7. Expect better video recording capabilities on the J7 as well.
Performance
The Exynos 7870 in the Galaxy J7 (2018) is built on a more modern 14nm process, making it more efficient than the Honor 5X's 28nm Snapdragon 616. While both have octa-core CPUs, the J7's chipset generally delivers smoother multitasking and app loading. The Honor 5X's Snapdragon 616 is adequate for basic tasks but can struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
The Honor 5X is the clear winner in this category. Its endurance rating of 76 hours is exceptional, significantly outperforming the Galaxy J7 (2018), which likely offers around 30-40 hours of typical usage. The larger battery capacity of the Honor 5X contributes to this impressive longevity.
Buying Guide
The Honor 5X is a good pick for users prioritizing extreme battery life above all else and are comfortable with an older device. The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) is ideal for those seeking a reliable, well-supported smartphone with a decent camera and a smoother overall experience, especially if brand preference leans towards Samsung.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor 5X still worth buying?
If battery life is your absolute top priority and you can find it at a very low price, the Honor 5X can still be a decent option. However, be aware of its age and limited software updates.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
The Samsung Galaxy J7 (2018) generally receives better software updates and security patches compared to the Honor 5X, although support for both devices is now limited.
