On January 2, 2017,Samsung unveiled the2017 edition of the Galaxy A series, comprising three models. This move marks Samsung's first product launch since the discontinuation of theGalaxy Note 7 back in October 2016.[1] Following the unveiling,Samsung announced that they would sell up to 20 million smartphones, targeting Western andEastern Europe,Africa,Asia, andLatin America.[citation needed]
Newly improved features include 16-megapixel front and back cameras, anExynos 7 Octa 7880 SoC, a 3D glass display (similar toGalaxy S6 edge+,Galaxy Note 5 andGalaxy S7),barometer andgyroscope sensors andIP68certification for water and dust resistance as well as support forGear 360 (2017). The new design of the series are very similar to theGalaxy S7 and theS7 Edge, released in March 2016.[2][3] This was the last Galaxy A series to use theTouchWiz user interface, before being superseded bySamsung Experience andOne UI in later models.
| Model | A3[4] | A5[5] | A7[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support status | Unsupported | |||
| Dates | Announced | January 2017 | ||
| Released | ||||
| OS | Initial | TouchWiz 6 Android 6 | ||
| Latest | Experience 9.0 Android 8 | |||
| Dimensions mm (in) | Height | 135.4 (5.33) | 146.1 (5.75) | 156.8 (6.17) |
| Width | 66.2 (2.61) | 71.4 (2.81) | 77.6 (3.06) | |
| Depth | 7.9 (0.31) | |||
| Weight g (lb) | 138 (0.304) | 157 (0.346) | 186 (0.410) | |
| Colors | ||||
| Display | Size | 4.7 in (120 mm) | 5.2 in (130 mm) | 5.7 in (140 mm) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 | 1080 x 1920 | ||
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | |||
| Type | Super AMOLED | |||
| Front camera | 8 MP | 16 MP | ||
| Rear cameras | 13 MP | |||
| RAM | 2 GB | 3 GB | ||
| Storage | 16 GB | 32 GB 64 GB | 32 GB | |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa | Samsung Exynos 7880 Octa | ||
| Battery | Capacity (mAh) | 2350 | 3000 | 3600 |
| Replaceable | No | |||
| Fast Charging | No | 18 W | ||
| NFC | Yes | |||
| IP rating | IP68 | |||
This series' Galaxy A3 runsAndroid 6.0.1 Marshmallow withTouchWiz user interface right out-of-the-box, but was updated during August 2017 toAndroid 7.0 Nougat and once again in February 2018 to runAndroid 8.0 Oreo. The smartphone features anExynos 7870SoC consisting an octa-coreARMCortex-A53 CPU andMali-T830 GPU and backed by 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage expandable to 256 GB via theMicroSD slot which can also be used for a secondNano-SIM.[7]
The device retains a non-removable battery like its predecessor and its battery is rated at 2350mAh. Its extra features similar to the features found in Samsung's 2016 flagships includeIP68 water resistance,Always On Display, and 3D glass backing withGorilla Glass 4.[8] A new "Always On Display" functionality displays a clock, calendar, and notifications on-screen when the device is in standby.[9] It also features anFM radio.
This handset is currently the last in the A3 series, and also the last Samsung handset to feature a screen smaller than 5" (excluding the Japan-onlyGalaxy Feel).
Just like its predecessors, the Galaxy A3 (2017) was not made available in theUnited States,China,Malaysia andIndia.[10]
| Model | Processor | SIM | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM-A320FL | Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 | Single | Europe |
| SM-A320F | Asia,Africa,Oceania,Middle East, Russia,Kazakhstan,Ukraine | ||
| SM-A320F/DS | Dual | ||
| SM-A320Y | Single | Mexico,New Zealand | |
| SM-A320Y/DS | Dual | Latin America,Indonesia,Thailand |
This series' Galaxy A5 runsAndroid 6.0.1 Marshmallow right out of the box and runs onTouchWiz interface, but was updated during August 2017 toAndroid 7.0 Nougat and once again in February 2018 to runAndroid 8.0 Oreo. The smartphone features anExynos 7880SoC consisting of 8ARMCortex-A53 backed by theMali-T830 GPU and sports 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB internal storage, expandable to 256 GB via a dedicated MicroSD slot that it has unlike the predecessors of the A5 (which it was placed in the secondNano-SIM slot). The device retains a non-removable battery like its predecessor, rated at 3000 mAh with fast-charging capabilities. Its extra features similar to Samsung's 2016 flagships includeIP68 water resistance, Always On Display and 3D glass backing withGorilla Glass 4. A new "Always On display" functionality displays a clock, calendar and notifications on screen when the device is in standby.[3]
Unlike its predecessors, the Galaxy A5 (2017) was not released in theUnited States.[10] However, the Galaxy A5 (2017) was going to be sold in Canada,[11] unlike the 2016 edition.
| Model | Processor | SIM | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM-A520F | Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7880 | Single | Europe,Asia,Africa,Latin America,Oceania,Middle East |
| SM-A520F/DS | Dual | Russia,Kazakhstan,Ukraine,UAE | |
| SM-A520W | Single | Canada |
This series' Galaxy A7 runsAndroid 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box and runs onGrace UX interface (and upgradable toAndroid7.0 "Nougat" and Android 8.0 "Oreo" withSamsung Experience 8.1 and 9.0 respectively). The smartphone features anExynos 7880SoC consisting of 8ARMCortex-A53 backed by theMali-T830MP3 GPU and sports 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, expandable to 256 GB via a MicroSD card slot. Unlike the previous version of the A7, it has a dedicated MicroSD card slot allowing both a second SIM Card in dual SIM models and MicroSD card to be used at the same time.[12][13]
The device retains a non-removable battery like its predecessor, rated at 3600mAh with fast-charging capabilities. Its extra features, similar to Samsung's 2016 flagship's, includeIP68 water resistance, Always-on Display, and 3D glass backing withGorilla Glass 4. A new "Always On display" functionality displays a clock, calendar, and notifications on-screen when the device is in standby.[14] The Galaxy A7 2017 received the latest and last Android 8.0 Oreo update in 2018.
Unlike its predecessors, the Galaxy A7 will[needs update] not be coming to theUnited States, Western and CentralEurope as well as Caucasus countries andChina.[10] WhileSamsung Galaxy A7 (2015) had broader availability in Europe, this model was never sold in that region because it was being deemed too expensive and also due to near-direct competition againstSamsung Galaxy S7. Samsung will instead sell theSamsung Galaxy A3 (2017) andSamsung Galaxy A5 (2017) to these countries instead.
The Galaxy A5 and A7 allow forbootloader unlocking andcustom ROMs installs, and as a result the phone can be upgraded toAndroid 11 with thedegooglediodéOS.[15][16]
| Model | Processor | SIM | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM-A720F | Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7880 | Single | Asia,Africa,Latin America,Oceania,Middle East |
| SM-A720F/DS | Dual | Russia,Kazakhstan,Ukraine | |
| SM-A720Sp | Single | South Korea (SK Telecom) |
Svet Kompjutera praised A3 and A5's build quality and performance, noting that the difference in speed between the two is not great in everyday usage. A5's camera was assessed as above-average in the market segment. The price of A5 was judged as reasonable, but A3's price was seen unfavorably.[17]
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