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Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
...


7.9/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 21 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Vibrant display
  • Plenty of internal storage
  • microSD support
  • IP68 water and dust resistance
  • Good camera
  • Premium design

What's bad

  • Low-light camera use requires a steady hand
  • Older version of Android (6.0 Marshmallow)

Samsung’s S series receives lots of love in the flagship arena. But their mid-tier A-series offers a similar experience at a lower price point. But when making a good mid-tier phone, it’s about cutting corners in the right places.

Does Samsung keep the Galaxy S magic without the price tag on their 2017 A5? Reviews are out and we’ve scoured them all so you don’t have to!

Let’s see what they’re saying!

Reviewers were quick to point out how the phone resembles a Galaxy S6 or S7. It has that Samsung design look. You'll find rounded edges, a physical home button and the grilled loudspeaker. Yet, the A5's glass and metal design separates its from the budget bracket.

PhoneArena says, “Its glass-and-metal construction feels so seamlessly well put together, we’d forgive you if you mistake it for the flagship Galaxy S7 model. The similarity is certainly there. In the hand, the phone feels well balanced, with a nice heft to it.”

There’s even IP68 water and dust resistance to save your phone from those random drops in the sink, bathtub or pool.

The only complaints we found were for users of the black model. They found the finish a fingerprint magnet when paired with the darker color.

Heading around front, reviews of the 5.2-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen are positive. While it’s not sharp enough for VR support, reviewers loved the vibrant colors, rich blacks and clear text. Know Your Mobile said, “For normal viewing this is nice and clear, and as we’ve come to expect from Samsung display tech the color gamut is fantastic, contrast is excellent, and the brightness levels are quite capable, though not the brightest on the market by any means.”

The 1.9GHz octa-core Exynos 7 processor keeps the screen stutter-free, even with the latest games. Reviews say the 3GB of RAM offers smooth multitasking. Some reviewers question if this will cause issues as apps continue to increase in complexity.

The Inquirer put the phone through a series of tests and declared it “more than capable of meeting most people's day-to-day smartphone performance needs.”

If you’ve found the TouchWiz UI frustrating in the past, reviews show that their new Grace UI is much less intrusive. It runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with no sign of if Nougat or O will be offered. The phone’s 32GB of internal storage should be enough for most users. Need more space for your movies, music or other files? A microSD slot offers quick expansion up to 256GB of extra storage.

With 16MP cameras on both sides of the phone, reviewers loved the quality of both selfies and outdoor shots. Pocket Lint said, “The camera is capable of taking balance shots in good light with eye-pleasing sharpness and depth.” Some reviews noted blurry low-light action shots. But with a steady hand, image quality improved.

Reviews for the 3000mAh internal battery are mixed. Some reviewers applauded the phone for a two-day run on a single charge. Others mentioned needing to top off before the end of day one. If you’re a gamer or power user, the included fast charge adapter will net you a full charge in 1.5 hours.

Reviews for the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) are positive. Know Your Mobile summed up opinions well, saying, “It is a cohesive and well-thought-out package, and again, a big part of the appeal is getting premium aesthetics and build on the outside as much as the inside; this shouldn’t be the exclusive territory of flagships, and Samsung clearly understands that with the Galaxy A5.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.9 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.9 GHz
5.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.2"
16+ MP, f/1.9
Camera
Camera
16+ MP, f/1.9
3000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSM Dome
GSM Dome

This handset stays true to the “Galaxy S7 Mini” nickname, although its screen is actually a bit larger. You feel that you’re getting a taste of Galaxy S7, maybe 70% of the experience or 80% tops, by spending a few Benjamins less. It’s a very good looking phone, with an extrem...

- Alexandru Stănescu, GSM Dome
The Indian Express
The Indian Express

Samsung galaxy A5 (2017) scores on pretty much everything, except of course the processor. It sports a stunning design, great front and back cameras, and offers an average battery life. Galaxy A5 (2017) shouldn’t disappoint you if you are a regular user and do not play a lot of games of watch...

- Hansa Verma, The Indian Express
LaptopMedia
LaptopMedia

Galaxy A5 (2017) is a model that slightly exceeds the mid range but this is completely explicable. The smartphone impressed us in the first place with its design which closely resembles that of the flagship Galaxy S lineup. However, the other features are also at the desired high level. A Super AMOL...

- LaptopMedia Team, LaptopMedia
tech2
tech2

The A5 is not a bad phone, but it’s not the best by any means. It’s well-built, but not exceptionally so. It has a good camera, but it’s definitely not the best option around. It’s also limited to Android 6.0 for now. In the end, I think this phone lives or dies by Samsung Pa...

- Anirudh Regidi, tech2
What Hi-Fi
What Hi-Fi

The Samsung Galaxy A5 is a mid-range phone in flagship clothing, and does a pretty impressive job of balancing the two so you don’t feel like you’re missing out. Understandably, there are some compromises to be made, but Samsung has picked them carefully and, in some cases, you migh...

- What Hi-Fi team, What Hi-Fi


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy A5 (2017) with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy A5 (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
5.2"

The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)'s screen size is 5.2 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.9 GHz

There is a Samsung Exynos 7 Octa core 1.9 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo) operating system (OS).

Camera
16+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 16+ MP, f/1.9 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 16+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 256 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3000 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 960 minutes, 1080 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy A5 (2017) Specs

Overview
Release Date February 3, 2017
Regions Available Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Update Available: 8.0 Oreo)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Samsung Exynos 7 Octa core 1.9 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.522 W/kg
Body: 1.39 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
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, PAN
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
16+ Megapixels, f/1.9
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
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
16+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 424 pixels
Size 5.2 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 3000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 1140 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 1080 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 960 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] 14.6 x 7.1 x 0.8 cm (5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 169 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-A520F

Also available in dual-SIM variant.

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Reviews
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