More and more, Samsung defies our conventional expectations of how non-flagship, low-cost Android devices should look, and what they can afford to accommodate under the hood on a tight budget.
The entry-level Galaxy J2 (2016) pioneers a new LED notification system dubbed Smart Glow, also packing a hearty 1.5GB RAM, while the mid-end Galaxy C5 and C7 sport unusually stylish aluminum bodies, cranking up the memory to a colossal 4 gigs.
Next up, the 2016 editions of the relatively well-received (at least in China) Galaxy On5 and On7 are tipped to bump their own RAM counts up from 1.5 to 3GB, with powerful matching octa-core Snapdragon 617 and 625 processors respectively.
This is all essentially etched in stone early, mind you, courtesy of the FCC-equivalent Tenaa agency, as is the Full HD 5.5-inch display of the Samsung Galaxy On7 (2016), and the largely unchanged 720p 5-inch panel of the second-gen On5.
Both upcoming mid-rangers also feature solid 13 and 8MP cameras, running Marshmallow out the box, and allowing for 32GB internal digital hoarding (each) while holding up to 128 gig microSD cards. But perhaps the biggest surprise and most meaningful upgrade is their apparent replacement of faux leather, i.e. plastic, backs with covers made of metal. Not the greatest-looking metal, but a step forward in build quality nonetheless.