New Samsung Galaxy J7+ With Dual Camera Brings Live Focus and Bixby To Mid-Level Category

It appears like it's only a matter of weeks now before the all-new Samsung Galaxy J+ gets officially launched in various countries in Southeast Asia, most likely including the Philippines.

An actual, working unit of the upcoming Android handset recently surfaced in a Cambodian tech video review channel on Youtube named "Cambo Report" and off hand, it seems like the smartphone will be introducing a number of fresh features to the company's midrange J-Series.

   

See more of it images.................

Samsung Galaxy Note8 Dual Camera Features Explained

Considering how accurate leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, 4, 5, 6, and Note7 had been, there's a big chance that a lot of things we are reading right now about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note8 are already on-point.

For one, I believe all these leaked press photos of the 2017 flagship phablet by the Korean Giant posted by Evan Blass on Twitter are the real thing. (We should all thank him, really.)

Also, the rumored technical specifications of the device (coming from various 'insiders' and 'experts'), including the 6.3-inch 1440 x 2960 pixels SuperAMOLED Infinity Display, 8 MegaPixel f/1.7 front cam, 10nm 64-Bit Exynos 8895 Octa processor, 6GB of RAM, plus the 64GB and 128GB expandable storage options could very well be true.

Of course, S-Pen stylus support is to be expected. Otherwise, this model won't be worthy of being in the Note line.

But of all "leaked" features of the Samsung Galaxy Note8, the Dual Camera Module at the back - beside the oddly placed Fingerprint Scanner - is the one that I'm most curious about.

According to reports, it's made of two 12 MegaPixel Dual Pixel optics with differing f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures.

Why? Well, it's because this stylus-toting phablet is the first mobile device by the Korean Giant to don this particular imaging set-up. Lots of questions pop in my mind whenever I look at it in photos: "What can it do exactly?" "Is it going to be a lot better than what's on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus?"

Thankfully, just recently, a website dedicated to keeping Galaxy fans in Netherlands abreast with the latest that Samsung has to offer in the mobile game posted leaked presentation slides on all the possible capabilities of the all-new Samsung Galaxy Note8 Dual Rear Camera. (source)

Let's go through the slides, one by one:

1. 3X Optical Zoom called "Smart Zoom"

It appears that the secondary 12 MP camera will have a telephoto lens that will allow Note8 to have three times optical zoom capability, which is impressive given that other high-end Dual Camera smartphones can these days can only 2X or 2.3X lossless zoom.

2. Refocus or Playing with Bokeh Effect

Aside from making 3X lossless zoom possible, the secondary cam also measures and maps out the location of each possible subject in a shot in 3D, which then allows the user to change the focus in the resulting images and applying beautiful bokeh or blur effects, mimicking what a DSLR can deliver.

3. Super Night Shot for Clearer and Most Crisp Photos in Low Light Conditions

Apparently, Samsung has found a way to make two cameras work together to deliver brighter and more brilliant photos even in settings where there's little ambient light. How is it done? We don't know yet but of all the rumored capabilities of Note8's Dual Camera Module, this is the one that I find most interesting. Will definitely wait for Samsung's explanation of this feature during the launch of the phablet.

4. Perspective View

With the two cameras positioned differently, they can snap photos with different perspectives when you press the shutter button. This lets you rotate the shot and pick the perspective you prefer after taking the photo.

5. Background Effect

According to the Dutch site, with the Dual Camera's ability to zoom in and measure depth, other more psychedelic tricks are also possible; Samsung calls this 'Background Effect'. This comes in handy if you want to add a particular mood and feel to your images.

Now, I don't know about you -- but considering all the key features and imaging capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Note8, I think it could very well be the absolute best smartphone that you can get this year. For me, it represents the very pinnacle of what Samsung could deliver in this product category. Needless to say, I'm very impressed with everything I'm learning about this model. Can't wait to see it in the flesh and to play with it!

Samsung Galaxy Note8 will be officially unveiled by the Korean Giant via an exclusive media event happening in New York on August 23, 2017. As for its price, insiders believe that the top-of-the-line phablet should go for around $1,000 USD or roughly Php 51,000 with current conversion.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active Has a Rugged Body, Large Battery, and Flagship-Level Specs Set

Korean Giant Samsung has been releasing "Active" versions of their flagship releases since the Samsung Galaxy S4 way back in 2013 -- and since then, I've been wanting to get my hands on such variants.

The only problem is that Samsung has never released them in the Philippines. I'm not sure why. But I don't think I'm the only Pinoy mobile consumer who'd love to own one of these.

Why not? Galaxy Active variants are often as powerful as the regular versions; They have rugged construction; And they have larger battery packs compared to the standard models.

All photos in this post are courtesy of Reddit.

Take for example the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, which was recently leaked by an anonymous Reddit user (he has since taken down his post on the social bookmarking and sharing site).

This version is every bit as powerful as the regular Samsung Galaxy S8, running its TouchWiz-flavored Android 7.1 Nougat OS with a beastly Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, having 4GB of RAM for multitasking, and coming with 64GB of internal storage.

Its imaging capabilities are likewise similar to that of the SGS8 and SGS8+. At the back, SGS8 Active has a 12 MegaPixel Dual Pixel f/1.7 camera which also shoots 4K 30fps videos. And in front, selfie-lovers should appreciate the 8 MegaPixel f/1.7 cam that's crafted to deliver clear shots in low light conditions.

But on top of all that, Samsung Galaxy S8 Active is also wrapped in an ultra-rugged shell with military standard certification and it is powered by a massive 4,000 mAh Li-Ion battery pack that should provide longer uptime compared to the regular S8. If you enjoy going out of town and off-the-grid for extreme adventures, I think you'd appreciate these two value-added features.

The only downside here is that SGS8Active doesn't have the Curved Infinity Display found on the standard flagship versions. The Korean Giant must have given it a flat face to make the touchscreen more shatter-resistant, adding to the ruggedness of the device.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active will be an AT&T exclusive model in the United States with a projected SRP of around $800 USD.

As for Galaxy fans in the Philippines who are eyeing this model, it looks like our only hope of getting it is through online sellers or the grey market players. Not sure, though, if these stores will be keen on bringing this SGS8Active here. But if there's demand, I don't see why not. Let them know.

Samsung Galaxy Note8 Philippines Price and Release Date Guesstimate, What We Know So Far

This TechPinas blog post aims to collate all relevant information about the Samsung Galaxy Note8 flagship phablet here in the Philippines. Trust that we'll update this entry every time we get fresh updates about this upcoming product.

Korean Giant Samsung has just started sending invitations to tech media around the world for the official unveiling of its 2017 top-of-the-line phablet model, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, which will happen in New York City, USA on August 23, 2017.

Update: The Korean Giant's 2017 powerhouse stylus-toting phablet has been officially announced! Samsung Galaxy Note8's official price in the Philippines is Php 49,990 and it hit store shelves starting on September 23, 2017.

You can watch our quick review of the new flagship device here:

The stylus-toting Note8 is the next iteration to the Samsung Galaxy Note7 of 2016, which - as you all know - had an unfortunate fate as it was recalled due to battery explosion hazard.

Given that it's been a while since the market had a high-end smartphone-tablet-hybrid with capacitive pen input support, I'm sure that many consumers are looking forward to getting their hands on this upcoming release -- regardless of how much it will cost.

Looking at leaked photos of the Samsung Galaxy Note8 - most of which I believe are already quite accurate, this product's design language and build will be largely similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ but it will have a larger, more squarish footprint plus it will have a Dual Camera module at the back (a first from Samsung) and of course, that hole at the rear for the stylus.

Alleged photo of Samsung Galaxy Note8 with case.

As for technical specifications, the SGNote8 is expected to sport a 6.3-inch Quad HD 1440 x 2960 pixels Infinity Display, a Dual 13 MegaPixel camera at the back with PDAF and Optical Image Stabilization, and an 8 MegaPixel front cam for selfies with f/1.7 aperture. Under the hood, it is said that this model will run its Grace-UI skinned Android 7.1 Nougat OS with either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 processor that's complemented by 6GB of RAM plus a choice of either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage that can be augmented via the secondary nanoSIM slot that supports microSD card memory expansion.

Now, as for the Note8's official release date, fans believe that the high-end phablet should hit store shelves in key markets around the globe a month after its formal announcement; So that should be by the end of September or early October 2017.

So how much will it be? Insiders believe that the Samsung Galaxy Note8 should fetch for around $1,000 USD or around Php 50,700 with current conversion. Considering the SRP of Samsung Galaxy S8+ upon launch, I believe this is more or less on point.

Are you excited about the Samsung Galaxy Note8? What do you like most about the Galaxy Note Series? Share your thoughts via our Facebook comments section below.

Update as of August 23, 2017: The Samsung Galaxy Note8 has just been officially announced in the Philippines via a media event held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. The official SRP of the handset is Php 49,990 and pre-order will start on September 8, 2017. Smart Communications will also bundle this handset with their leading postpaid plans. Here are the phablet's official technical specifications:

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Samsung Galaxy Note8
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Phablet with Stylus
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 162.5 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm
Weight : (TBD)
Available Colors : Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue, Midnight Black, Maple Gold
Operating System : Android 7.1 Nougat with Grace UI
Display : 6.3 inches (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2960 pixels (~522 ppi pixel density), SuperAMOLED Infinity Display, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 Octa
RAM : 6GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64/128/256 GB ROM options, expandable via hybrid nano SIM2 slot
Camera : Back: Dual 12 MegaPixels, f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), 2X Optical Zoom, Dual Tone LED Flash
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/1.7 aperture
Video Capture : Back - 4K 60fps, 1080p 120fps, 720p 240fps, Dual Video Recording, Video HDR
Front - 4K 30fps
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C 1.0 reversible, USB OTG, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v5.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE-A
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner, Heart Rate, Barometer
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,300 mAh Li-Po battery with Qi Wireless Charging and Fast Charge support
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Dual Camera Module, S-Pen Stylus Support, Infinity Display, New Design, Iris Scanner, Bixby Assistant, Improved Selfie Cam, Samsung Desktop Experience
Announcement : Philippines - August 23, 2017 via Unpacked! Event
Availability : Philippines - September 23, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 49,990

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro Smart Postpaid Plan Bundles, Now Available

For those who now thinking about getting the fairly powerful Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro to be new mobile companion: You might want to consider grabbing the device via Smart Postpaid Plans so you can maximize the smartphone's features through the MVP-company's leading services and innovations.

Coinciding the nationwide launch of the Korean Giant's new midrange handset here in the Philippines, Smart Communications today unveiled its official Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro Smart Postpaid Bundles, which don't just let you pay the handset via installment but also lets you enjoy Smart's fast and reliable mobile data connection on the go.

To get Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro through Smart Postpaid, simply add Php 600 per month to your preferred Postpaid Plan. This is comes with a 30-month contract and is only applicable to Line-only Postpaid Plans 399 to 2999.

With this deal, the total value for the handset will be Php 18,000, which is Php 2,000 more than its suggested retail price upon launch. But then, you have to consider that the payment will be done in small portions within the contract period and applications that will be approved on or before July 31, 2017 will come with free Samsung Level Active Headset worth Php 3,099, which more than covers the additional amount.

For budget-conscious students and yuppies, I recommend Smart Postpaid Plan 399 which comes with 3GB Data Allocation per month, 20 minutes of all-net calls, Unlimited all-net texts, and Free Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and Viber. If you can pay a bit more, go for Smart Postpaid Plan 599 that offers 5GB Data per month, 30 minutes of all-net calls, Unlimited all-net texts, plus Free Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and Viber.

Metal-clad Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is the Korean Giant's answer to popular selfie-centric Android smartphones by leading Chinese handset brands that have taken over the Philippine market. SGJ7Pro features a 5.5-inch Full HD SuperAMOLED display, a 13 MegaPixel PDAF f/1.7 rear camera that's crafted to perform well in low light settings, a 13 MegaPixel f/1.9 front cam with Soft LED flash that delivers clear and crisp selfies in low to zero lighting conditions, Dual SIM Capability, 4G LTE support, and a rather large 3,600 mAh non-removable battery pack.

Inside, this sleek handset runs its TouchWiz-skinned Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Mali-T830 MP2 GPU based Exynos 7870 Octa chipset, has 3GB of RAM for multi-tasking, and comes with 32GB of internal storage that can easily be augmented using the microSD memory expansion slot.

More: Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro Philippines

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro vs OPPO F3 Specs Comparison Review, Price Fight in the Philippines

The Korean Giant's 2017 mid-level powerhouse release Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is now up for pre-order in the Philippines and will officially become available in stores across the country come July 15, 2017. Once that model lands, it will go head to head with the very popular OPPO F3 Selfie Expert, which is the best-selling upper midrange smartphone in the Philippines for the first half of 2017.

For those who are currently trying to decide which of these two to get with their Php 15,990, which is the exact official suggested retail price of either models, I made this blog entry for you.

To make it easier for all of us to spot the key differences between these two midrange selfie-centric handsets, let's check out the TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specifications Comparison Table below:

Dimensions

OPPO F3 measures 153.3 x 75.2 x 7.3 mm while Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro has dimensions of 152.4 x 74.7 x 7.9 mm. OPPO's phone is slimmer while the Samsung's offering has a smaller footprint -- both by a bit. I'd say they're pretty even in this department.

Design and Construction

Both handsets flaunt a real metal shell and an overall aesthetic that's frankly reminiscent of the Apple iPhone. Which one looks better? It depends on the user's preference. Though, I want to note that the J7 Pro does have a unique looking U-shape antenna band design at the back, which - for me - makes it appear more interesting.

Display Quality

OPPO F3 and Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro both have similar 5.5-inch screen with Full HD resolution. In terms of size and pixel density (clarity), they're practically the same. Make makes them different is the display type. The Galaxy release feature's Samsung's very own SuperAMOLED display while the OPPO handset has IPS. Both look good in various viewing angles but SuperAMOLED has more vibrant colors with greater saturation while IPS shows more realistic hues, which some consumers might prefer.

Rear Camera

On paper, this is an area where the Galaxy J7 Pro can have clear superiority over its rival largely because of its 13 MegaPixel PDAF camera's very wide f/1.7 aperture, which allows it to perform very well in low light conditions. I'd love to try the camera first, though, to confirm this since software is also essential in boosting a cameraphone's low light capabilities.

Front-Facing Selfie Camera

The key-selling point of the OPPO F3 is its Dual Front-Facing Camera module which is comprised of a 16 MegaPixel autofocus f/2.0 lens plus an 8 MegaPixel fixed focus wide-angle f/2.4 optic; A Set-up that comes in handy for taking both standard selfies and groufies. Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, on the other hand, has a 13 MegaPixel f/1.9 front cam with Soft LED flash that boosts its performance in low to zero lighting conditions. While I think both phones have stellar Beautification Modes for selfies, I personally believe OPPO F3 would be a finer choice for users who particularly enjoy taking photos of themselves alone or with their friends and loved ones; This is largely because of the Dual Camera module makes the Chinese handset maker's phone more flexible for this purpose. Also, it has bright screen flash which can somehow compensate for a lack of a Soft LED front-flash.

Internal Hardware and Gaming Performance

Apart from the selfie-camera set-up, this is an area where OPPO F3 is obviously superior to the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro. The Chinese model's innards include the 64-Bit Octa Core ARM Cortex A53 based MediaTek MT6750T processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. In comparison, the Korean release has a 64-Bit Octa Core ARM Cortex A53 based Exynos 7870 Octa chipset and just 3GB of RAM plus 32GB of expandable storage. I don't have to tell you which one would give you smoother multitasking experience and more storage space for your files. Also, OPPO F3 - on paper - should be able to deliver better 3D gaming performance with its more powerful Mali-T860 MP2 GPU versus just Mali-T830 MP2 inside the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro.

Battery Size

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is the winner in this department - albeit not by much - as it has a 3,600 mAh Li-Ion battery versus just 3,200 mAh powering the OPPO F3. What's interesting to find out, though, is if J7 Pro can indeed last longer with regular use. We have to remember that uptime is also a function of the processor's energy efficiency apart from the battery capacity.

Notable Similar Features

Both handsets are equipped with a Fingerprint Scanner for quickly unlocking the interface with but a touch of a finger, a dedicated microSD card slot so the user won't have to sacrifice Dual SIM capability to get more storage space, Full HD 30fps video recorder, and 4G LTE support.

So based on their specs alone, which handset is a better purchase at Php 15,990?

It's a mixed bag, really. Studying their specs sheets, it would be hard to say which model is clearly superior across the board compared to the other. Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro sports a rear camera with wider aperture that's supposed to perform better in low light plus it has a larger battery pack. On top of that, some users might prefer its brilliant SuperAMOLED display over IPS. But we also have to consider that OPPO F3 has a Dual Front Facing camera, which should be more powerful and flexible in snapping selfies and groufies plus it has a far better set of internal hardware that ensures a butter smooth mobile experience. As a wrap-up, I'd say that it's good that the two phones have their own unique strengths and main selling points so the consumer just needs to weigh which specs and features are more important to him or her when making the big decision.

I hope you found this TechPinas Specs Comparison Review helpful. If you did, kindly share this entry with your friends on social media so they can benefit from it too. Thanks!

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro Philippines Price, Release Date, Specs, Press Photos

Here's another upcoming Android smartphone that my cousin and I saw at SM Manila CyberZone last Friday - June 23, 2017.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, which is now available for pre-order at Samsung Concept Stores and select partner retailers across the Philippines - is a midrange handset with a svelte real-metal shell and good selfie-centric features.

According to the sales representative that I talked to regarding this model, the SGJ7Pro will sell for Php 15,990, which puts it in direct competition with a handful of mid-level Android releases by Chinese brands, to be specific OPPO and Vivo.

For that amount, consumers can already get a well-designed daily driver with a decent set of technical specifications and fairly reliable imaging capabilities.

Looks-wise, the handset flaunts a design language that's similar to other J-Series models this year. The phone's unibody shell is crafted from anodized aluminum and the face is 2.5D Curved Scratch-Resistant glass. At the back, you'll find U-shaped antenna bands along with the small oblong camera module, which serve as identifying physical characteristics of this line.

As for specs, Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full HD SuperAMOLED display panel, a 13 MegaPixel PDAF f/1.7 rear camera with LED flash, 13 MegaPixel f/1.9 front cam with Soft LED flash and Beautification Mode, Dual SIM Dual Standby capability, 4G LTE support, and a non-removable 3,600 mAh Li-Ion battery pack.

Inside, this device runs its TouchWiz-flavored Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 and Mali-T830 MP2 GPU based Exynos 7870 Octa chipset, has 3GB of RAM for multi-tasking, and comes with 32GB of internal storage that can easily be augmented using the microSD memory expansion slot.

Just from looking at its technical specifications - to be specific, the SuperAMOLED display, the wide aperture front and back cameras, and the large storage space, Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro - I believe - is a pretty compelling offer at its price point. Of course, you also have to consider how good it looks.

For those who are interested, SGJ7Pro should be up for purchase at online stores and malls across the archipelago starting next month, July 2017. I was told that the smartphone will be out in two colors, namely, Black and Gold.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : Midrange
Dimensions : 152.4 x 74.7 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 169 grams (TBC)
Available Colors : Gold, Black
Operating System : Android 7.0 Nougat with TouchWiz Interface
Display : 5.5 inches (~73.3% screen-to-body ratio), 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density), SuperAMOLED Display, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex-A53, Mali-T830 MP2 GPU, Exynos 7870 Octa chipset
RAM : 3GB RAM
Internal Storage : 32GB ROM, expandable ~ dedicated microSD card slot supporting up to 256GB
Camera : Back: 13 MegaPixels, f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), LED flash
Front: 13 MegaPixels, f/1.9 aperture, Soft LED flash
Video Capture : Full HD 1080p 30 frames per second
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP, LE, EDR, 3G HSPA+; 4G LTE Cat6
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS
FM Radio : TBD
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Digital Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2,
3G HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G LTE band TBD
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,600 mAh Li-Ion battery
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : 13MP Selfie Camera with Soft LED Flash, TouchWiz UI features, Good Design, Wide Aperture Rear Camera with PDAF
Announcement : June 2017
Availability : Philippines - July 2017
Price : Official SRP - Php 15,990

Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 Price, Official Specs, and Press Photos

The Galaxy J-Series remains to be one of the most popular handset lines here in the Philippines -- so I'm sure many of you would be interested in this update.

The Korean Giant has quietly listed the 2017 version of the popular Samsung Galaxy J5 for pre-order at online stores in Germany, which could very well mean that the handset is on its way to being released in other key territories around the world -- mostly likely, including our country.

Flaunting a revamped look and a real metal shell with rounded sides and corners, the Samsung Galaxy J5 currently sells for 279 Euros in the above-mentioned market, which is more or less the same the SRP of its predecessors upon launch.

Notice the U-shaped antenna bands at the back of the device as well as the oblong black camera module. I believe these are the distinguishing design elements of this model.

As for the device's key specs, Samsung Galaxy J5 2017 sports a near-bezel-less 5.2-inch 1280 x 720 pixels SuperAMOLED HD display, a 13 MegaPixel camera at the back with LED flash, another 13 MegaPixel camera in front with Beauty Mode for snapping selfies you can instantly share on social media sites, and a non-removable 3,000 mAh battery pack, which is notably large given the size of the display.

Inside, SGJ5 2017 runs its TouchWiz-flavored Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with a 64-Bit Octa Core 1.6 GHz ARM Cortex A53 and Mali T830 based Exynos 7870 processor, has 2GB of RAM for multitasking, and comes with 16GB of expandable storage. I wish it had more RAM and ROM - considering what's under the hood of competing smartphones in this price category - but it is what it is.

As of writing, Samsung Mobile Philippines has yet to availability of this Dual SIM 4G-enabled new model -- so we don't have word yet on its official SRP as well as exact release date in our country. Nonetheless, I believe that the Galaxy J5 2017 will be launched here just in time for back-to-school season or within June or July 2017 with price tag in the range of Php 15,500 to Php 16,500.

Is this smartphone model right for you? Frankly, for that amount of money, you can already buy a handset from another phone company with far better technical specifications - one of which is the OPPO F3. However, if you're big fan of Samsung and your eyes are fixed only on this brand, I believe that the Galaxy J5 2017 should still be able to deliver a decent overall mobile experience given its price.

Samsung Galaxy S8+ with 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM, Now Available in Hong Kong

If you ask me, I think 4GB of RAM is already more than enough to deliver to smooth multitasking experience on a smartphone these days.

But of course, it certainly won't hurt if a handset has even more RAM to ensure lag-free performance.

Obviously representing another effort to maintain dominance in the flagship category, Korean Giant Samsung has just released a new version of Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus with 6GB RAM in Hong Kong -- and according to sources, this model will also be released in other key markets in Asia; Hopefully, including the Philippines.

This beefed-up model shares almost the same exact technical specifications as the earlier release, the regular Samsung Galaxy S8+. You get the same 6.2-inch Quad HD SuperAMOLED Infinity Display, 12 MP Dual Pixel f/1.7 rear camera with OIS, 8 MegaPixel front cam for selfies with f/1.7 aperture, 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 Octa, TouchWiz-flavored Android 7.0 Nougat OS, and non-removable 3,500 mAh fast-charging battery -- all wrapped in a sleek IP68-certified water-resistant shell made of scratch-resistant glass and real metal.

Apart from the larger RAM, the new version will also have a more sizable internal storage at 128GB. This will give the user more space for photos, videos, and other content without having to add a microSD card to the unit or to regularly transfer files to a computer or an portable hard drive.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus 6GB RAM model is now available at select Samsung Concept Stores ih Hong Kong for 6,998 HKD or around Php 44,640 with current conversion and before taxes. If and when this version will be launched in the Philippines, expect it to be priced at around Php 48,000 to Php 50,000 as the current SGS8+ here with 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM already sells for Php 45,990.

Samsung Galaxy Note7R Price and Specs : Refurbished Note7, A Great Purchase?

Contrary to what some people believe, Samsung didn't destroy all of the hazardous Galaxy Note7 units that it recalled from October to December 2016.

Instead, the Korean Giant merely fixed them along with other units that were never sold to address their main issue -- the one that led to the most expensive debacle in the smartphone industry of the past half decade.

In fact, today - May 12, 2017, the company finally started selling the Samsung Galaxy Note7R (R for Refurbished) in China via online gadget shops with price tag starting at $520 USD or around Php 25,880 with current conversion and before taxes -- that's more than Php 10,000 off the Note7's supposed price upon launch back in Q4 2016.

According to insiders, soon, Samsung will bring this new model to other key markets around the world -- hopefully, including the Philippines.

If Samsung can guarantee that these Galaxy Note7R units will not explode, then I certainly believe that consumers should check it out.

I mean, given the phablet's many attractive flagship-level selling points - including its powerhouse internal hardware, industry-leading stylus support, large curved SuperAMOLED display, top-notch imaging capabilities, and good security features - including the Iris Scanner, I think Note7R is a real steal at this greatly lowered price point.

Obviously, the release of the Galaxy Note7R is great news for all mobile consumers as it further expands our choices when picking a new daily driver. I wonder, though, how Samsung will address the fact that this re-issue would most likely cannibalize on the sales of its similarly priced A-Series models; One problem solved, another surfaces.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Samsung Galaxy Note7R
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen), Phablet with Stylus
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm
Weight : 169 grams
Available Colors : Gold Platinum, Black Onyx
Operating System : Android 6.0 Marshmallow with TouchWiz Skin
Display : 5.7 inches (~78.0% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2560 pixels (~518 ppi pixel density), Super AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 5 capacitive toucscreen, Always On Display, 16M colors, Curved, Gorilla Glass 5
Processor, GPU, Chipset : 64-Bit Octa Core Exynos 8890 Octa
RAM : 4 GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64 GB expandable via hybrid nanoSIM slot that doubles as microSD card slot supporting up to 200GB
Camera : Main: 12 MegaPixels, f/1.7 aperture, Phase Detection Autofocus, Optical Image Stabilization, LED flash, 1/2.6' sensor size, 1 µm pixel size, Touch Focus, Geo-tagging, Face detection, Auto HDR, Panorama Front: 5 MegaPixels, f/1.7, Dual Video call, Auto HDR
Video Capture : Main: 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @ 60fps, Optical Image Stabilization, Auto HDR Front: 1080p @ 30 fps, Auto HDR, Dual Video Recording, Live Panorama
Audio and Video Playback : Video: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC, Full HD (1080p), UHD (depends on variant) Audio: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(*), WAV(*) (*) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support
Ports : USB Type C, 3.5 mm combo jack
Connectivity, Sharing : 4G LTE-A Cat9, 3G HSPA+, WiFi: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), HT80 MIMO(2x2) 620Mbps, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Mobile Hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, LE, apt-X, ANT+, NFC, S Beam, Samsung AllShare Play and Control, Samsung AllShare Cast (WiFi Display), Mirroring and Extension, Samsung AllShare Framework
Sensors : Accelerometer, RGB Light, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer, Temperature, Humidity, Gesture, Heart Rate Monitor, Touch-Type Finger Scanner, UV, Iris Scanner
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Network : 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 (TBC)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM = nanoSIM 1 (LTE) + nanoSIM 2 (2G, Hybrid)
Battery : Non-Removable Li-Ion 3,200 mAh battery, Wireless Charging compatible, Fast battery charging
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Flagship Release, S-Pen, Large Display, IP68 Certified, Dual Pixel Camera, Iris Scanner
Announcement : May 2017
Availability : Q2 2017
Price : Starts at $520 USD
Price Guesstimate in the Philippines - Php 28,000 - Php 30,000

Smart Postpaid Offers Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus Starting at Plan 399

It wasn't too long ago when you could only get expensive flagship smartphones from Smart Communications when you sign-up for their more high-end postpaid plans.

This year, however, the MVP-company is pulling off a shocker.

Whereas, previously, Samsung Galaxy S-series smartphones were bundled only with Smart Postpaid starting at Plan 999, you can now get the stunning Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus beginning at - get this - Plan 399! Yup. It's true!

Imagine: For just Php 399 plus a monthly fee of Php 1,500 (along with a one-time cash-out of Php 5,000 upon sign-up), you can already own the Samsung Galaxy S8 and enjoy Smart's reliable mobile services -- to be specific, 3GB of mobile data, unlimited All-Net SMS, plus 20 minutes of calls to all networks per month.

Side Note: Watch my exclusive hands-on and initial impressions video of the Samsung Galaxy S8 2017 flagship Android smartphone:


Want the larger Samsung Galaxy S8+? Well, you can just add Php 1,500/month plus a one-time cash-out of Php 8,000 to Plan 399 under a 24-month contract to get hold of the incredible 6.2-inch top-of-the-line phablet!

Update as of April 27, 2017: Smart Postpaid has lowered the one-time cash-out requirement for Samsung Galaxy S8 to just Php 3,000 (from Php 5,000) and only Php 6,000 (from Php 8,000) for the Samsung Galaxy S8+! Kindly share.

Here's the cool part: You can also get Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ simply by adding adding Php 1,500 per month to all of Smart Postpaid's baseline plans, including Plan 599 with monthly 5GB data, Plan 799 with monthly 8GB data, Plan 999 with monthly 10GB data, Plan 1499 with monthly 18GB data, Plan 1999 with monthly 24GB data, Plan 2499 with monthly 30GB data, and Plan 2999 with monthly 36GB data.

All of these Smart Postpaid Plans come with built-in call minutes to all networks, unlimited texts to all networks, and free access to popular messaging apps: Facebook Messenger, Viber, and Whatsapp.

For those who want to enjoy luxurious, exclusive perks and privileges, Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ will also be made available with premium data plans from MVP's high-end brand, Smart Infinity.

The 5.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S8 and the 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S8+ - together - represent the absolute best that the Korean Giant has to offer in the smartphone category for the first three quarters of 2017.

Some of the key selling points of these two powerhouse handsets include their stunning QHD SuperAMOLED Curved Infinity Display, sleek glass-metal-glass-sandwich design language, IP68 Water and Dust resistant build, beastly Exynos 8890 Octa processor, 4K video recording capability, 8MP f/1.7 Selfie Camera in front, and industry-leading 12 MegaPixel Dual Pixel f/1.7 camera with optical image stabilization.

Supplementary Reading:
Samsung Galaxy S8 Philippines
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Philippines

Samsung Service Center Experience and Review : Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Screen Replacement

Apart from the 2017 flagship release, Samsung Galaxy S8, there's currently another thing about the Korean Giant that I find particularly impressive: Their after-sales support here in the Philippines.

Last Friday - April 7, 2017, I visited the Samsung Service Center in SM North EDSA Annex to have my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge fixed.

Frankly, before I headed there, I had expected the experience to be terrible; Long lines, hours of waiting, and grumpy support staff. I mean, like what most of use are used to when having our devices repaired in centers like this.

Thankfully, everything turned out better than what I thought it would be. A lot better.

In fact, the whole experience panned out as the complete opposite of my initial expectations.

I want to give a shout out to Joana of Samsung Service Center SM North EDSA for being so helpful.

My Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge unit had a relatively 'simple' issue that I found quite annoying.

As soon as I returned home from my trip in Europe last month, I noticed a horizontal thread-thin line of dead pixels right smack in the middle of the screen.

The black line seemingly appeared randomly or out of nowhere as I never mishandled my phone while I was abroad; Never dropped it nor hit the screen with something that could have damaged it.

Apart from that problem, my unit was working perfectly.

I arrived at the Service Center at around 5:45PM and I immediately got a number to have my phone's problem addressed.

Apparently, Samsung Philippines has different lines or queues depending on the product or the phone model that you have.

Thankfully, they have a special line for their current flagship-level handsets, Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which I own. So I was but one customer away from talking to a representative at the counter when I entered the waiting area; It was really fast.

When it was my turn, I handed Joana my SGS7Edge and pointed out the issue. She looked at the screen and confirmed it.

After which, she asked if I still have my official receipt. I answered, "Sadly, Joana, I no longer have it. Honestly, I think I've lost it in my pile of documents at home."

She answered, "No problem, Sir. I will just check in our system when the unit was made to see if it's still covered by warranty. As per checking, the screen's issue is not caused by physical damage." She was very courteous and straight-forward.

Thankfully, Joana was able to confirm that my device was good for 100% service and parts warranty.

She then asked me to back-up all the files in my phone first as the unit will be factory reset to complete the repair process.

Good thing I had my laptop with me. It took me around 15 minutes to transfer content - photos, videos, and other files - from my handset to my computer.

After I handed her the phone, Joana went inside the 'repair booth' and asked the technicians if they have the parts needed for the repair, among other things.

Joana returned to the counter and told me, "Sir Mark, I think we can repair your unit in 2 to 3 hours! Just leave it us and we'll text you once it's been fixed."

I was pleasantly surprised as I was expecting that I would have to leave my beloved phone for 2-3 days to be repaired.

The Service Center is located in one of the largest malls in world so I knew I could easily make the most of the 2-3 hours of waiting time.

After buying shirts at H&M with my good friend, Lucky, I received a messaged from Samsung Service Center. It was at 8:23PM or a little more than two hours since I handed Joana my phone.

"Hi good day! This is from Samsung Service.Your unit is ready for pick up. Thank you."

Again, I was impressed.

When I returned to the Service Center, Joana had already left but she had endorsed my case to her colleagues.

One of them handed me my repaired unit - with a brand new Edge screen - and asked me to sign the 'release' papers.

I didn't have to pay a cent for the service and the new screen. I believe I was able to save more than Php 12,000, which is amazing.

While I was checking if my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is working properly after the display replacement, I asked the staff, "Do you offer the same speedy repair service to owners of other Galaxy models? Even those in the entry-level category?"

One of them answered, "[Sir Mark, we always try to fix units the fastest way we can regardless of the model. Your phone's problem was less complicated compared to other issues so we were able to do fix it in less than three hours. It really depends on the problem of the unit.]"

Fair enough.

Anyway, I decided to share this story for those who are now planning to have their Samsung devices fixed at any official Service Center of the company and also to give praise where it is due. And with that, let me say, "Thumbs up, Samsung Philippines! Your after-sales support is top-notch! Keep up the good work!"

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Philippines Price, Specs, Release Date, Actual Unit Photos

Just like in 2015 and 2016, Korean Giant Samsung again launched two new H1 flagship Android smartphones at the same time to go head-to-head with the top-of-line releases by its competitors this year.

Unlike in previous years, however, the company didn't add the suffix 'Edge' on the second, larger 2017 model. Instead, they used 'Plus' -- obviously, to reflect the downright massive screen size increase that users can enjoy on the variant.

I mean, look, the 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S8+ almost dwarfs the 5.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S8 -- and that's saying a lot because the latter is no push over when it comes to screen size as well.

Side Note: As I've shared on Facebook, Samsung will no longer have Edge high-end smartphone variants because the Edge display has become the default in flagship.

Apart from the difference in display real estate, though, the two models are practically the same.

You get the same absolutely beautiful, incredibly sleek glass-metal-glass sandwich design identity and IP68 Certified Water and Dust Resistant build.

Likewise, you get the same implementation of the stunning Infinity Display that greatly diminishes the bezels framing the SuperAMOLED panel to near minimum -- thanks to the new 1440 x 2960 pixels resolution that makes the display taller and larger but not wider compared to previous screens of this size. This stunning display rendition also allowed this high-end phablet to be even smaller than other handsets in the market with just 5.5 or 5.7-inch screens.

I'd bet that you'll also marvel at the new pressure-sensitive patch below the screen that sends haptic feedback when you click on the virtual home button. That's right; Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are the first flagship models from the Korean Giant not to have a physical home button in front, which is another factor that made the Infinity Display possible. If you're wondering, the Fingerprint Scanner had been relocated at the back, just beside the camera module; Not sure if it's a better position but it's nice that it's still there.

Speaking of the camera, both SGS8 and SGS8+ have a 12 MegaPixel Dual Pixel f/1.7 OIS shooter at the back that can also record 4K 60fps videos. Frankly, it's largely the same as what's on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which should make those two older phones almost as good as the new ones in terms of hardware alone -- I believe. I'd love to do a shootout between the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus and my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge eventually to prove or disprove this.

It is in the front camera where users will notice a big improvement coming from the 2016 releases. The SGS8 and SGS8+ both sport an 8 MegaPixel f/1.7 front cam that can now deliver far more crisp selfies even in low light conditions. In comparison, SGS7 and SGS7Edge only have a 5MP front shooter.

Underneath this near-seamless svelte shell, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus - again, like the SGS8 - runs its TouchWiz-skinned Android 7.0 Nougat OS with a 64-bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 processor which incorporates a scalable Mali-G71 GPU making the handset a real beast when it comes to 3D gaming. This top-notch processor is complemented by 4GB of RAM for multitasking (an odd choice given that a number of flagship offerings by other brands - even from 2016 - already have 6GB of RAM) and 64GB of internal storage that you can easily beef up using the microSD card slot that shares its space with hybrid secondary nanoSIM card slot.

Powered by a non-removable 3,500 mAh battery pack that's frankly could have been bigger given the size of the display, Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is ideal for demanding high-end consumers who want their daily driver to be gorgeous, powerful, and to have a massive display for enjoying content all at the same time.

For those who are interested, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will be available in key markets around the world starting on April 21, 2017. Since the first Galaxy S release, the Philippines has always been prioritized by Samsung when it comes to the availability of its smartphones so I'm expecting this model to be launched here on that same date. As for the price, the SGS8+ will go for Php 45,990; Making it the most expensive S-Series model to date. The handset will be out in a number of gorgeous hues, including Maple Gold, Midnight Black, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, and Arctic Silver.

TechPinas Smartphone Technical Specs Table (TSTST)Name : Samsung Galaxy S8
Type : Slate Form Factor (Full Touchscreen)
Price Category : High-End (Flagship Level)
Dimensions : 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm
Weight : 173 grams
Available Colors : Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue
Operating System : Android 7.0 Nougat with TouchWiz UI
Display : 6.2 inches (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio), 1440 x 2960 pixels (~529 ppi pixel density), SuperAMOLED, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors, Curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor : 64-Bit Octa Core 10nm Exynos 8895 Octa
RAM : 4GB RAM
Internal Storage : 64GB ROM, expandable via hybrid nano SIM2 slot
Camera : Back: 12 MegaPixels, Dual Pixel, f/1.7, 26mm, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash, 1/2.5" sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size
Front: 8 MegaPixels, f/1.7
Video Capture : Back - 4K 60fps, 1080p 120fps, Dual Video Recording
Front - 4K 30fps
Audio and Video Playback : MP3, WAV, eAAC+, FLAC, MP4, H.264
Ports : USB Type C 1.0 reversible, USB OTG, 3.5 mm audio jack
Connectivity : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v5.0 with A2DP, EDR, 3G HSPA+; LTE-A
GPS : A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
FM Radio : No
Sensors : Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyroscope, Fingerprint Scanner, Iris Scanner, Heart Rate, Barometer
Network : 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 20(800), 28(700), 38(2600), 40(2300)
SIM Card Type : Dual nanoSIM
Battery : Non-removable 3,500 mAh Li-Po battery with Qi Wireless Charging and Fast Charge support
Uptime : TBD
Value-Added Features : Infinity Display, New Design, Iris Scanner, Bixby Assistant, Improved Selfie Cam
Announcement : Philippines - March 30, 2017
Availability : Global - April 21, 2017
Price : Official SRP in the Philippines - Php 45,990