Galaxy J7 update: April security patch rolling out for 2016 variant

Update [May 03, 2017]: The April security patch is making its way to the 2016 variant of the J7. The update arrives as build J710MNUBU3AQD2, and applies the patch ensuring that your device stays protected from threats and other malware out there. The Marshmallow based update also optimizes system performance through a few minor tweaks.

Update [April 22, 2017]: The April security patch is now hitting the original Galaxy J7 as software version J700MUBS2BQC5. The update installs the latest security patch but also tags along additional bug fixes and minor performance improvements too. Before downloading the update, ensure that your device has sufficient charge and download over WiFi to save data charges.

Update [April 18, 2017]: The original Galaxy J7 is now receiving an update from T-Mobile which comes in as build J700TUVU3AQC3. The Lollipop based update may install the April security patch but it isn’t clear as T-Mobile has left that information out of their update log. On the other hand, the update adds minor under-the-hood performance increases and resolves a few issues present on the previous build.

Beginning the whole Android 7.0 Nougat update show with Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge back in January, a lot of Samsung devices have received the much coveted update now. So, if you own a Galaxy J7 handset, you must be wondering when and whether your own J7 is gonna receive the update.

Well, let’s talk about that. We’re covering all Galaxy J7 handsets Samsung has launched thus far, like Galaxy J7, Galaxy J7 2016, Galaxy J7 Prime and the recently released Galaxy J7 V at Verizon — which should be seeing variants at Sprint and AT&T too pretty soon — talking about the expected Nougat release and probability of the update.

The Samsung Galaxy J7, a mid-range smartphone, was introduced in June 2015. It was followed next year with launch of Galaxy J7 (2016) and the Galaxy J7 Prime. Of the three, J7 Prime was the biggest success for Sammy, and if we are to talk about Nougat update, both J7 2017 and J7 Prime remain in contention for the big Android 7.0 treat.

Galaxy J7 Nougat release date

When Samsung talked about its devices that are scheduled to receive the update in first half of 2017, it dropped a hint that the Galaxy J7 would receive it only in second half.

Read: Samsung Nougat update roadmap

As of today, we have much better idea of the update release, as can be seen in the table above, and this is thanks to a roadmap from Samsung Turkey that brought us the dates and release status of various devices. See that in screenshot below.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Nougat update: What to expect?

The Android 7.0 Nougat was officially released on August 22 last year with Nexus devices receiving the update first of all. The Nougat update brings in hell lot of significant under the hood improvements that Android OS has long required. First noticeable change is the revamped Settings app and Notification shade.

It gives you better control over notifications by allowing you to silence or block future alerts from an app in the notification itself. It also lets you reply to messages right from the notifications and bundles multiple notifications from the same app into a single notification group. Settings app now shows extra info like an updated navigation menu, emergency information set-up, new settings bar and lots more.

Nougat OS also comes with enhanced productivity by allowing quick switch between apps, multi-window view and work mode toggle. It also helps you save data through its Data Saving mode and save power via Doze on the Go. Android Nougat OS includes support for Daydream, the Google VR experience and new and updated emoji.

While the new features of Android Nougat remain pretty exciting, you will be gifted all that in Samsung’s own UI, TouchWiz. So, looks-wise, nothing will change much. Truth be told, we’re complete fan of stock Android UI, void of customization of OEMs like Samsung, and it’s ironical that OEMs don’t provide an option to switch to stock UI. Not only stock Android UI looks pleasant, it’s ultra smooth too.

Galaxy J7 2015 update

The original Galaxy J7, which came with Lollipop, received the Marshmallow update in 2016 at a time when Nougat was on the ready-to-go mode. Luckily, Samsung decided to release Nougat for the 2015 variant of the J7, albeit in August of this year. Though J7 (2015) owners will have to wait, it’s definitely worth the upgrade.

Planned Release Date: August end, 2017.

Samsung is still actively pushing out updates for the original Galaxy J7, for which the latest security patch is one for the month of March 2017. That’s pretty good, no? More recent patches for the J7 were for the month of January 2017 and December 2016.

Related: Galaxy J7 firmware

Galaxy J7 2016 update

This smartphone was released with Android Marshmallow out of the box and it seems about time that the device receives the update to Nougat. Of the three J7 variants, the J7 (2016) will be the first in line to receive Nougat. But users will have to wait for a few months as Samsung has planned to release the update by July of this year.

Planned Release Date: July end, 2017.

The Galaxy J7 2016 edition has received the update pretty regularly too, as the device recently received an update for February security patch. That’s not latest one, which is April and March patches, but an update every 2-3 months for J7 is fine is our books.

Related: Galaxy J7 2016 firmware

Galaxy J7 Prime update

Out all the J7 devices, the Galaxy J7 Prime carries the best specifications. of course, that’s only until the 2017 edition of J7 comes out, which is already rumored heavily. Though the J7 Prime has been guaranteed of an Android 7.0 update, users will have to wait the longest, which is at least till October 2017.

Planned Release Date: October-November, 2017.

Samsung has been pretty active with updates as regards Galaxy J7 Prime, as we saw the J7 Prime receive the security patch OTA updates pretty regularly for the month of January, February and March 2017.

Galaxy J7 V Android 7.1.1 update (Verizon 2017 model)

Well, even though the Verizon’s recently launched Galaxy J7, dubbed as J7 V, boast inferior specsheet, it does come with Android Nougat pre-installed. It seems providing a budget device with latest Android OS (not really, as 7.1.2 is newest) was the only reason Verizon booked Galaxy J7 V from Samsung.

Anyway, it looks very likely that the Samsung Galaxy J7 V, SM-J727V, would receive Android 7.1 update in future, whether that be Android 7.1.1 or Android 7.1.2. As regards Android O, it’s too early to tell. But we are not expecting the Android 7.1.1 update anytime soon either. So, yes, it could be Q3-end or Q4-start by the time your J7 V sees an update to 7.1.1/7.1.2.

The Verizon Galaxy J7 is yet to receive any software update at the moment. Considering it was released only about a month ago, we’re not complaining at all, either.

Galaxy J7 Perx Android 7.1.1 update (Sprint 2017 model)

Sprint has also launched a J7 of its own, dubbed as Samsung Galaxy J7 Perx. Well, this one also comes with Android 7.0 pre-installed, so the only major update it will get will be the Android 7.1.1 or Android 7.1.2 one.

But when Android 7.1.1 update arrives? Well, our guess is as good as yours.

As it was launched on yesterday, on April 11, 2017, it goes without saying the Samsung and Sprint are yet to roll out any software update for the J7 Perx, SM-J727P.

So, which Galaxy J7 set do you own? What’s your view on the updates, and Android Nougat in particular?

There’s a Galaxy J7 variant coming soon for AT&T too, SM-J727A you know, so we will definitely talk about it once it’s out. And that is apart from the Galaxy J7 2017 that Samsung is planning for international markets, which would be dubbed appropriately as SM-J730F. We bet its release is pretty close!