Samsung Galaxy A5 2017

Key Features

Processor Exynos 7880 Octa-core 1.9 GHz	Battery Capacity 3000mAh
RAM 3GB	Storage 32GB
Display 5.2-inch	Resolution 1080×1920 pixels
Rear Camera 16MP	Front Camera 16MP

Introduction

After the Galaxy A5 (2016) received a lot of critics from its users, Samsung is trying to renew the model in 2017 by taking in consideration the preferences of its customers. To do this, the firm decided to keep the fundamentals and to add the feature of water resistance. But the Galaxy A5 2017 is still as good as its predecessor.  After all, the model of 2016 was widely acclaimed, and was certainly among the best phones of mid-range of last year. To succeed another time, the firm must strike the right balance between adding new features and preserving the three pillars that made the success of the 2016 generation: autonomy, screen and design.

Design

When it comes to the design, the body is still made of aluminum but this new version of A5 is apparently thicker than its precedent. On the whole, however, the telephones have the same shape but A5 (2017) has a thickness of 7.9 mm. compared to A5 (2016) which measures 7.3 mm. The 2017 model displays 159 grams on the scale, a few grams more than the previous one (155 g). This version seems actually to be more rounded with a finer design

By retaining these aesthetic features, the A5 2017 deserves just as much as the congratulations we gave to its predecessor and the S7, although next year it will be time to change under penalty of seeing a certain monotony and design. Last good aesthetic point for this A5 2017: the photo sensor no longer protrudes from the back; this fact became rare enough to be noticed.

We appreciate, on the other hand, less the colors that look a little “milky” (especially blue and pink) proposed by Samsung. We would recommend you to see the black first before making a final choice, admitting that the tastes and the colors are not to be discussed.

Let’s not forget that the implementation of the new model look well thought out and enjoyable.

Display:

Like last year, Samsung has its A5 with a 5.2-inch screen. We now have a Full HD definition, but still with an AMOLED panel and all the advantages that this includes, in terms of contrast.

The latter are therefore as always virtually infinite, and the colorimetric control of Samsung is always felt. That being said, and as we had already noted during our takeover, the rendering is slightly worse than on the A5 of last year. It is also noted that the “adaptive” mode gains a possibility of manual adjustment to adjust it as it feels, but the “basic” profile remains the best for us.

The Galaxy A5 2017 also inaugurates a “blue light filter” mode similar to Apple’s Night Shift displaying a more yellow rendering when activated. It can be set to activate only at the end of the day, rendered to promote sleep.

Performance

The Galaxy A5 (2016) was equipped with an Exynos 7580 clocked at 1.6 GHz which had proved very satisfactory with good performance over time and a low heat emission. The version of 2017, the smartphone is adorned with one of an Exynos 7880 which consists of 8 ARM Cortex A53 cores that can reach 1.9 GHz at best. This new SoC uses eight Cortex-A53 engraved in 14 nanometers and also ranges on its GPU by trading the Mali-T720 by a T860 and the set is backed by 3 GB of RAM.

It can be expected that this new chip will manage its frequency even better and will allow displaying more frames per second than on the previous smartphone. The set gives results frankly mid-range that we could find on mundane mobiles. Moreover, the frugality of the chip allows the A5 2017 to maintain an excellent autonomy.

The good news is that Samsung now offers 32GB of default storage compared to 16 previously. The storage can even be enlarged by inserting a Micro SD Card. The choice of Samsung on the processor, although criticized, is however coherent. The manufacturer wanted to preserve the main argument of last year’s model: autonomy. Once again, the Galaxy A5 2017 is among the most autonomous smartphones on the market if we set aside devices that we will call “exotic”, with excessive batteries.

The previous model has an exemplary autonomy thanks to its battery of 2,900 mAh. But now with the 3000 mAh onboard, the A5 will allow it to hold two days for a modest current use. However, long periods of 3D games should be avoided if this lifetime is to be guaranteed. We also appreciate the quick charger which allows us to fill all the accumulators in 1 hour 30 minutes.

Camera

The rear camera’s resolution is up to 3 MP and reaches 16 MP. So much as the frontal sensor for selfies. The latter is thus experiencing a big improvement – at least on paper. On the Galaxy A5 (2016), it did not exceed 5 MP.

Conclusion:

In the end, the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A5 is an undeniable success. It must however be recognized that on this mobile more than elsewhere, the devil lodges in the details. As its predecessor the smartphone retains the main advantages: design also autonomy and gains waterproofness. This trio is a serious argument.

On the other hand, the small errors on the screen, the performance or the photo prevent it from posing as an undisputed master on the price segment. The duel against Honor and his “8” is likely to be a little more difficult this year, especially because the latter is cheaper. Even so, the Galaxy A5 2017 remains among the best in its class. You can buy it with your eyes closed if you want a mid-range device.