Refined Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) boasts a design and build quality that can rival even flagship devices. Samsung's refined glass and metal combination, coupled with sleek curves, elevate the A5's aesthetic appeal to flagship standards. The phone's ergonomic design makes it a delight to hold, enhancing the overall user experience.
Distinctive Materials
The use of glass and metal in the A5's construction not only exudes a premium feel but also contributes to its durability, ensuring a device that is both stylish and robust.
Ergonomic Considerations
The curved back design of the A5 enhances its grip, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. However, the glass surface on the front may be prone to smudges, detracting slightly from its otherwise impeccable design.
Functional Features
The inclusion of a fingerprint reader embedded in the home button, along with the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack and the latest USB-C port, reflects Samsung's commitment to blending modern functionalities with classic conveniences.
Fingerprint Sensor and Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is equipped with a reliable fingerprint sensor, ensuring secure and convenient access to the device. Additionally, the phone's connectivity features cater to the diverse needs of users, offering seamless integration with modern and traditional peripherals.
Dependable Fingerprint Sensor
The fingerprint sensor, embedded within the home button, provides dependable security without compromising on user convenience. While not the fastest in its category, it offers consistent and reliable performance, mirroring the standards set by its flagship counterparts.
Enhanced Connectivity
With the inclusion of the latest USB-C port, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) embraces modern connectivity standards, ensuring faster data transfer and charging capabilities. Furthermore, the retention of the 3.5mm headphone jack reaffirms Samsung's commitment to accommodating a wide range of audio peripherals, catering to diverse user preferences.
Always-On Display and Water Resistance
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) introduces the always-on display feature, offering the same level of functionality as the S7. This includes displaying the clock, calendar, and app notification icons, providing convenient access to essential information at a glance. Notably, the device is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, a rare feature in the mid-range segment and even among premium devices. This ensures that the Galaxy A5 (2017) can withstand water immersion up to a certain depth, making it a durable choice for everyday use.
Vibrant AMOLED Display
The Galaxy A5 (2017) is equipped with a vibrant AMOLED screen that delivers rich, contrasted colors, providing an immersive visual experience for users. Additionally, the device offers a super color accurate screen mode, catering to users who require precise color reproduction for tasks such as photo editing or graphic design. With its high screen brightness, the Galaxy A5 (2017) ensures excellent visibility even in bright environments, enhancing usability in various lighting conditions.
Battery Life and Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) demonstrates impressive battery performance, outperforming the S7 in all screen-on battery tests. Despite initially shipping with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, an update to Android Nougat is expected in the near future, enhancing the device's software capabilities.
Software Update
The anticipated Android Nougat update for the Galaxy A5 (2017) will bring about significant improvements in user experience, performance, and security, ensuring that users can leverage the latest features and optimizations offered by the updated operating system.
Grace UX and 3D Touch
The Grace UX update on the A5 introduces a refreshed user interface with subtle changes and new features. Notably, the inclusion of 3D Touch allows users to access additional options and functionalities by applying a longer press on app icons, enhancing the device's overall usability and interaction experience.
Chipset and Benchmarks
Equipped with a brand-new Exynos chipset, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) delivers impressive performance that rivals the Snapdragon 625. Our tests revealed that the new chipset performs similarly to the Snapdragon 625, often trading the leading spot depending on the benchmark used. While the difference is never substantial, the Exynos chipset excels in the graphics department, showcasing its prowess in handling visual-intensive tasks.
Graphics Performance
The Exynos chipset stands out as the undisputed leader in the graphics department, demonstrating its capability to handle visually demanding tasks with finesse, enhancing the overall user experience.
Benchmark Performance
In various benchmark tests, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) showcases commendable performance, often competing neck and neck with devices equipped with the Snapdragon 625 chipset. This ensures smooth and efficient operation across a wide range of applications and tasks.
Camera Performance
While the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) impresses with its camera capabilities, certain limitations are worth noting. Despite the absence of 4K video recording, the 1080p video quality is commendable, exhibiting high levels of detail and low noise. However, the lack of video stabilization may pose a drawback for users seeking enhanced video quality.
Main Camera Image Quality
The main camera delivers impressive image quality, capturing photos with minimal noise and vibrant colors, ensuring visually appealing results for various scenarios. The device excels in rendering detailed and vivid images, contributing to a satisfying photography experience.
Selfie Camera Performance
The 16-megapixel selfie camera produces high-quality images, showcasing exceptional detail and vibrant colors, enabling users to capture stunning self-portraits and group photos. The selfie camera's performance adds value to the device's overall photography capabilities.
Pros and Cons
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) offers several compelling features, including a refined design, top-notch display, and waterproofing for added durability. Additionally, the power efficiency of the 40 nanometer chipset enhances the device's overall performance. However, the device falls short in the camera department, with average performing cameras posing a downside to an otherwise impressive smartphone experience.
Pros:
- Refined design and build quality
- Top-notch display
- Waterproofing for added durability
- Power efficiency of the 40 nanometer chipset
Cons:
- Average performing cameras
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) presents a compelling option for users seeking a well-rounded mid-range smartphone. With its refined design, top-notch display, and waterproofing capabilities, the A5 offers a premium experience. While the device excels in power efficiency, the average performing cameras are a notable drawback. Nevertheless, the overall smartphone experience provided by the Galaxy A5 (2017) remains highly enjoyable, making it a worthy consideration for those in the market for a mid-range powerhouse.
FAQ
1. What are the key features of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)?
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is equipped with a 5.2-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, providing vibrant colors and sharp visuals. It is powered by an Exynos 7880 Octa-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks and multitasking. The device also boasts a 16MP rear camera and a 16MP front camera, both of which offer excellent image quality for photography enthusiasts. Additionally, it has a 3000mAh battery with fast charging support, ensuring that you stay connected throughout the day.
2. Does the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) have water and dust resistance?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) comes with an IP68 rating, making it both water and dust resistant. This means the device can withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This feature adds an extra layer of durability and peace of mind, allowing you to use the phone in various environments without worrying about accidental splashes or dust exposure.
3. What storage options are available for the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)?
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) comes with 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot that supports up to 256GB. This provides ample space for storing apps, photos, videos, and other media files. The expandable storage option ensures that you can keep all your important data and media with you without running out of space.
4. How does the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) perform in terms of battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is equipped with a 3000mAh battery that offers impressive battery life. With moderate usage, the phone can easily last an entire day on a single charge. The device also supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly recharge the battery when needed. This ensures that you can stay connected and productive without worrying about frequent recharges.
5. What are the connectivity options available on the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)?
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) supports a wide range of connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and USB Type-C. These connectivity features ensure that you can stay connected to high-speed internet, transfer files efficiently, and use various wireless accessories. The inclusion of USB Type-C also allows for faster data transfer and charging compared to traditional micro-USB ports.
