Introduction of Samsung Galaxy A7
If you’re a mobile gamer in Saudi Arabia weighing a purchase of the Samsung Galaxy A7, understanding real-world battery drain under gaming load is crucial. The Galaxy A7 sits in the midrange segment and promises balanced everyday performance, but gaming — especially prolonged 3D titles — stresses both the SoC and the battery. This review digs into lab-style and real-world gaming battery life test results, explains what they mean for PUBG Mobile / Call of Duty Mobile players, and gives practical advice to squeeze more playtime from your Samsung Galaxy A7.
Test setup & methodology (how we measured gaming battery drain)
To analyse gaming battery drain we combine industry-standard synthetic runs (continuous GPU/CPU stress) with real-world gameplay sessions:
-
Device: Samsung Galaxy A7 (model commonly reviewed in 2018 release, 3,300 mAh battery).
-
Baseline settings: Screen brightness ~75% (typical indoor bright conditions in Saudi cities), Wi-Fi or mobile data enabled depending on test, sound on, notifications off.
-
Synthetic test: GFXBench / Manhattan-style continuous rendering loop to measure time-to-empty under constant GPU load and to detect thermal throttling.
-
Real-world gaming: Continuous play of a graphically demanding title (30–60 minutes runs) measuring battery drop per hour and noting frame drops, heat and device throttling.
-
What we track: battery % drop per hour in gaming, total continuous gaming runtime to 0%, temperature/thermal throttling signs, and effect on performance (FPS stability).
This mixed approach mirrors what reviewers and labs use for midrange phones and gives a reliable measure of gaming battery drain.
Which Galaxy A7 are we testing?
When people say Samsung Galaxy A7 today they most often mean the Galaxy A7 (2018) — the well-known A7 with the Exynos 7885 and a 3,300 mAh battery. This review focuses on that model’s gaming battery behavior, since most published battery and gaming drain tests reference the 2018 device.
Test conditions & why they matter
Battery drain numbers depend heavily on test conditions: display brightness, network type (Wi-Fi vs. 4G/5G), graphics settings in games (e.g., HD/Ultra), frame rate caps, background apps, and whether the test uses continuous looping 3D workloads or mixed real-world usage. Review labs typically run standard suites (benchmark loops, PUBG/CoD matches continuously) while community reports reflect varied daily use—this explains the spread in reported runtimes.
Published test results — what reviewers found
Independent tech reviews and battery tests show a mixed but consistent picture:
-
Mixed heavy-use test (video + benchmarks + gaming): One comprehensive drain and charging test reported the Galaxy A7’s 3,300 mAh cell produced around 5 hours 44 minutes of screen-on time under an intensive mixed workload, and the device lasted roughly 17 hours from start to finish in that testing profile. That suggests the phone copes reasonably well with mixed heavy usage.
-
3D gaming (continuous) tests: Testing that focuses purely on 3D gaming shows lower numbers. A lab reported a 3D gaming test result of about ~4 hours and 15 minutes for the A7 in certain runs — far shorter than mixed-use runtime, which indicates gaming is the most battery-taxing scenario.
-
Real-world reviews: Gaming reviews (PUBG, Asphalt, other titles) found that the Galaxy A7 can run many games at acceptable framerates but will show heating and more aggressive battery drain during longer sessions. Users have reported variance — some seeing acceptable endurance, others experiencing faster-than-expected decline possibly due to software or background app behaviour.
Key hardware facts that affect gaming battery life
-
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) ships with a 3,300 mAh battery, which in the midrange class is reasonable but not flagship-large. That capacity sets the ceiling for how long the phone can sustain high-power tasks like gaming.
-
The A7’s midrange SoC (Exynos 7885 on the 2018 model) is efficient for typical tasks but under sustained GPU load it cannot match flagship power efficiency — which leads to faster battery drain during intense 3D gaming.
-
The phone does not support the fastest charging technologies found in higher-tier phones, so long play sessions followed by short top-ups are less convenient.
These hardware realities are why gaming is where you’ll see the biggest gap between light-use battery life and sustained-play battery drain.
What that means for gamers in Saudi Arabia
Mobile gaming is popular across Saudi Arabia — titles like PUBG Mobile / BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Free Fire are commonly played. For local users considering the Galaxy A7:
-
Short sessions (30–90 minutes): Expect comfortable play with modest battery reduction. A typical 60–90 minute PUBG session will generally consume a noticeable percent (often in the 15–30% range depending on brightness and network), leaving you with usable battery afterward on the tested device.
-
Marathon sessions (2+ hours): Heat build-up and accelerated drain will kick in — continuous 3D gaming for several hours will reduce battery life quickly and produce the kind of 3–4 hour continuous gaming runtimes seen in lab tests. If you play long sessions (tournaments, long duo/solo grind), prepare to recharge or use a power bank.
-
Competitive play (frame stability): The A7 is capable of playable framerates in many titles but it’s not a flagship-class gaming phone. To preserve battery and thermal performance, lower graphics settings or cap frame rate where possible.
Charging, thermal behavior & longevity
-
Charging: The Galaxy A7 (2018) is not known for fast-charging speeds compared to modern fast-charge standards; classic brick chargers included with older A-series units are slower. That means long gaming sessions followed by slow charging cycles unless you use a faster aftermarket charger that the device supports safely.
-
Heat & throttling: Sustained gaming causes the SoC to warm up. Throttling may occur as the device reduces clock speeds to manage temperature — that impacts frame pacing and perceived smoothness over long sessions. Users in hot climates like parts of Saudi Arabia should be aware external temperatures will amplify heat buildup.
-
Battery health: Heavy daily gaming and repeated full-charge cycles over many months will reduce long-term battery capacity. Using recommended battery-saving practices increases the effective life of the battery. Samsung also provides Adaptive Battery and other settings that can help reduce long-term drain if enabled.
Practical steps to improve gaming battery life
-
Lower in-game graphics & FPS: Reducing resolution/detail and capping FPS has a large effect on drain and temperature.
-
Use Wi-Fi when possible: Wi-Fi typically uses less power than mobile data; prefer it for long sessions.
-
Enable Adaptive Battery & optimize background apps: Samsung settings can limit background activities.
-
Keep brightness moderate / auto-brightness on: Screen is a major power consumer during gaming.
-
Use a power bank for longer sessions: If you expect marathon play, carry a reliable power bank with passthrough or fast output.
-
Avoid charging while gaming often: Charging plus gaming increases heat and can accelerate battery wear.
-
Software updates: Keep firmware updated — some updates include battery and thermal improvements. Community reports show variability in user experience that is sometimes improved through updates.
Verdict — is the Samsung Galaxy A7 a good gaming phone?
For casual to moderate mobile gamers, the Galaxy A7 offers reasonable gaming capability with fair battery endurance for short to medium sessions. If your main priority is long, uninterrupted competitive gaming or maximum graphics/refresh rates, modern midrange or dedicated gaming phones will outperform the A7 in both thermal management and battery endurance. Published tests show the A7 can last multiple hours in mixed-use and around 3–5 hours under strict 3D gaming — perfectly adequate for many users but not best-in-class.
Recommendation for buyers in Saudi Arabia
-
Casual gamer / daily user: The Galaxy A7 remains a decent budget/midrange pick if priced attractively in local stores — it balances cameras, display and battery for everyday use with occasional gaming.
-
Heavy gamer / competitive player: Consider a newer midrange with a larger battery (4,500 mAh+), modern SoC, and fast charging for better marathon gaming and faster top-ups.
-
If keeping A7: Follow the practical steps above and consider a quality power bank and a proper charger to improve experience.
FAQs
Q.1. How long will the Galaxy A7 last while playing PUBG Mobile continuously?
Expect roughly 3–4 hours of continuous 3D gaming in many lab-style tests; real-world numbers vary with settings and network.
Q.2. Does playing while charging damage the Galaxy A7 battery?
Regularly gaming while charging raises heat and can accelerate battery wear; occasional use is OK, but avoid making it a habit.
Q.3. Will a power bank help for long gaming sessions?
Yes — a good, high-output power bank is the simplest way to extend playtime for marathon sessions.
Q.4. Can software updates improve battery drain?
Yes — firmware and app updates often include battery and performance fixes; keep device software up to date.
Q.5. Best quick settings to save battery while gaming?
Lower in-game graphics, reduce screen brightness, enable Adaptive Battery, restrict background apps, and use Wi-Fi when possible.
