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Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
...


7.7/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) currently has an Informr score of 7.7 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 12 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Great battery life
  • Attractive, durable design
  • IP68 water and dust resistance
  • microSD support
  • Solid performance

What's bad

  • Weak camera in less-than-perfect lighting
  • Low display resolution for the price
  • Rear shell is a fingerprint magnet
  • RAM low for heavy multitasking

Featuring a high-end look with mid-tier specs and pricing, Samsung hopes the Galaxy A3 will attract buyers looking for a premium feel to their mobile without the power or cost of a top tier model.

While the phone looks great, does it have what it takes to make reviewers recommend it? Opinions are rolling in. Let’s see what they’re saying!

With its glass back and metal sides, reviewers all agreed that the A3 looks like a flagship phone. There’s also IP68 water and dust resistance and a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. The curved back impressed reviewers. TechRadar noted, “... it simply feels great in the hand.”

Some reviews mentioned issues with slipping and fingerprints. But no one had any issues with phones breaking or cracking.

Heading around front, reviews of the 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED panel are split. While reviewers loved the brightness and vivid colors on offer, some felt that the display lacked the detail and clarity of similarly priced competitors. TechRadar said, “... [the display] doesn’t show visual media at its best.”

Powering the phone, you’ll find a 1.6Ghz octa-core Exynos processor paired with 2GB of RAM. Reviewers noted slight delays loading apps due to the lack of RAM. Otherwise, performance reviews were solid. Recombu said, “General usage is fast and fluid whilst most 3D games play comfortably in the phone's native resolution…”

The phone ships with 16GB of internal storage with only 9.5GB or so available after the pre-loaded software. If you plan to keep media for offline viewing or listening or play games, take advantage of the microSD port.

Speaking of software, the phone ships with a slightly dated version of Android—6.0.1. However, reviewers found Samsung’s TouchWiz UI easy to use and relatively bloat-free.

As with most mid-tier phones, reviews for the phone’s 13MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing lens are good—if the lighting is good. However, once lighting dims, so does your potential to take good pictures. Trusted Reviews summed up issues and opinions well, saying, “The camera lacks optical image stabilisation, so with shots taken in poor light especially, you’ll need to keep the phone fairly still. In addition, the camera here simply isn’t as smart as those featured in Samsung’s more expensive devices.”

Battery life received high marks across the board. Despite the smaller 2350mAh battery, most reviewers hit a day and a half on a single charge. Some even pushed it to two days. While the phone lacks quick charging features, the smaller battery capacity means you can get a full recharge in under two hours.

Overall, the A3 impressed reviewers—though some wish the screen and camera were better. Most would recommend the phone at its current price. TechRadar noted, “For casual users looking to make a stylish statement… it’s well worth considering.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.6 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.6 GHz
4.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.7"
13+ MP, f/1.9
Camera
Camera
13+ MP, f/1.9
2350 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

It delivers some of the best performance in several key areas compared to most other devices from this price tier - including display, camera, and processor power. It’s not going to move mountains, but that’s not really the point of it, the point is to be cheap, cheerful, and for the outlay very, ve...

- Paul Briden, Know Your Mobile
TechRadar
TechRadar

Samsung has created another solid mid-range smartphone contender, and this one looks and feels more like its high-end brothers than ever.

- Jon Mundy, TechRadar
GSM Dome
GSM Dome

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) is basically a tiny battery phone, with a good pair of cameras and it’s the best small phone that $240 can buy. It fights in a segment of very few competitors, like older iPhone 6s or 6 models, maybe an Xperia Compact or two. It’s less pricey than its alternative...

- Alexandru Stănescu, GSM Dome
Recombu
Recombu

Whilst the Galaxy A3’s cameras tick all the fundamental boxes for what you’d expect from a pair of 2017 mid-range snappers it’s a case of software outshining hardware with this latest member of the A Series.

- Alex Todd, Recombu
Recombu
Recombu

Despite its standing in the company’s current product lineup, for the most part, Samsung hasn’t skimped on quality with this mid-ranger. Its design and build quality are unquestionably excellent with useful inclusions like water resistance, USB-C and a fingerprint sensor to boot.

- Alex Todd, Recombu


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy A3 (2017) with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy A3 (2017) has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
4.7"

The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)'s screen size is 4.7 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.6 GHz

There is a Samsung Exynos 7 Octa core 1.6 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP, f/1.9 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2350mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2350 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1020 minutes, 1020 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy A3 (2017) Specs

Overview
Release Date January 29, 2017
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Samsung Exynos 7 Octa core 1.6 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.349 W/kg
Body: 1.38 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels, f/1.9
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance, Exposure value, Hyperlapse, HDR, Voice activation
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 312 pixels
Size 4.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2350 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 1020 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 1020 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1020 minutes
Standby Time Unknown
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Black Sky, Gold Sand, Blue Mist, Peach Cloud
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.5 x 6.6 x 0.8 cm (5.3 x 2.6 x 0.3 in)
Weight 138 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Samsung SM-A320F

Also available in dual-SIM variant.

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
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