At the moment, a phone from Samsung, which is called the Galaxy A7, is considered one of best smartphones on the market for similar equipment. However, due to the high cost, which generally corresponds to the quality of the device, the device is not very popular among buyers. It is because of this that the company decided to transfer a large number of functions and design components to another phone in the same line. Let's talk about it in this article. Its name is “Samsung Galaxy A5”. It was released in 2017, but has already sold out in quite large quantities among consumers. Perhaps the fact is that the gadget has taken a place in the middle price category. In order to compose full description devices, we will be based on customer reviews.
General inspection
In such a short period of time, the Samsung A5 phone was able to establish itself as a fairly powerful device for its price category. The operating system used is Android 6.0, in other words, Marshmallow. Moreover, the interface and menu of the phone look quite interesting and fresh. This is due to the fact that the manufacturer installed its own shell. The gadget works as quickly as possible due to the presence of 3 GB random access memory and an 8-core processor.
The screen has a diameter of 5 inches, resolution - 1080x1920 pixels. Consumers are completely satisfied with these characteristics. What else can the display boast? It does not fade in direct sunlight. Outdoor visibility is excellent in all weather conditions.
The Samsung Galaxy A5 smartphone received a module wireless internet, operates at frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz. The manufacturer has built in a fingerprint scanner, which works perfectly.
Even with such excellent characteristics, some nuances still caused a negative reaction among consumers. In Russia, the average cost of a device is 28 thousand rubles. This is much more expensive than all of its competitors. But of course, the latter are significantly inferior in quality.
The Samsung A5 phone has received distinctive characteristics. What is it about? About the presence of glass that covers the case, as well as the use of protective technology. The latter makes the smartphone resistant to dust and water. The device also received a unique design, which quite claims to be premium. The manufacturer also took care of fast charging. The 3 thousand mAh battery charges in only about 1 hour.
Pros and cons, according to consumers
Consumers immediately after purchase began to search for disadvantages and advantages. Let's first look at the positive characteristics of the phone.
- The screen is large and fits perfectly with the size of the case.
- There is a separate port for a memory card.
- The housing is protected from water and dust.
- The design is incredibly good.
- Charging is as fast as possible.
What disadvantages did the owners find? It’s worth noting right away that they don’t do much damage to the reputation of the Samsung A5 phone. A more detailed review is presented below, for now let’s briefly look at the shortcomings.
- Due to the dollar to ruble ratio, the cost is a little high. Although it is ideal for the American buyer.
- Some consumers note the disadvantages of using operating system"Marshmallow."
- Due to the presence of glass on the case, the device seems quite fragile, but no one has yet dared to test its strength.
Specifications
The phone went on sale in mid-January 2017. Around the same time, a case for the Samsung A5 also began to be sold. The average cost of a gadget, which has already been mentioned above, is 28 thousand rubles. Available body colors: blue, gold and black. The form factor is already clear: a smartphone. Dimensions of the gadget: length - 14.6 cm, width - 7.1 cm, thickness - 0.7 cm. Total weight of the phone - 160 g. The available touch functions include the following: barometer, accelerometer, fingerprint scanner, compass, light, proximity, and hall sensors. There are also regular mechanical buttons: power keys, volume keys. You can protect your device using a PIN code, password, graphic key or fingerprint.
These are the characteristics of the Samsung A5 phone. All that's missing is more detailed description each of the elements.
- CPU. The Exynos 7880 chipset was used. The processor received 8 cores for operation. Clock frequency falls slightly short of 2 GHz, limited to 1.9 GHz. Perhaps this is what “conquered” consumers with the Samsung A5 phone.
- Memory. Inner memory was 32 GB, and the RAM was 3 GB. The phone works with microSD. Its maximum volume can reach 256 GB.
- Display. Supports multi-touch. Diagonal - 5.2 inches. Color rendition is standard - 16.7 million. The Samsung A5 smartphone is not particularly distinguished by these characteristics.
- Camera. The main and front ones received a resolution of 16 megapixels. There is a flash that makes shooting in dark places easier. Where possible, geotagging is allowed. There is a video recording function. By using wireless module allowed to connect to TVs. Panorama shooting function available.
- Battery. Capacity - 3 thousand mAh. It is possible to quickly charge the phone, but the process is not wireless. In standby mode it can last up to 320 hours. When talking - no more than 12 hours. With continuous music playback - up to 30 hours, and video - up to 8 hours.
Separately, it is worth considering the equipment. The phone is sold with a special coupon from the service, user instructions, headphones, charger and battery.
Feedback on display and design
Most consumers call the thickness of the Samsung A5 device, the characteristics of which already make one think about buying it, normal. By today's standards, it cannot be declared too small, but it is optimal. I was also pleased with the weight of the device. Moreover, due to the use of protective technology, it was quite expected that the dimensions would become somewhat large. Consumers called the presence of a speakerphone on the right side a good move. An additional improvement is that the camera does not protrude from the body. Consumers liked it quite a lot. After all, when the device is lying on the table, it does not swing.
Buyers noted good screen. It is possible to display any applications on the active display in order to have quick access to them. Many reviews have focused on how amazing the screen-to-body ratio is. The phone is easy to hold and operate.
Reviews about the processor and memory
When it comes to the processor and memory, gaming enthusiasts immediately perk up. It must be said that the phone works great with fairly intensive programs, even when it comes to 3D graphics. So gamers should pay attention to the Samsung A5.
Reviews about RAM are also good. Users note that due to the built-in shell, which consumes few resources, the phone does not slow down and works as quickly as possible. Some were upset that out of all 32 GB, only 23 GB is available to the user. But the memory can be easily increased using external media.
Reviews about the camera
We continue our review of the Samsung A5. Reviews about the camera are only good. Consumers note some difference between the pictures of the front matrix and the main one. The first one lacks autofocus and flash, but the photos are still high-quality. Everyone admits that this option is considered almost the best.
I was also pleased with the ability to shoot video at 30 frames per second. The material is obtained in Full HD quality, which cannot but deserve praise.
Feedback about communication
Some Samsung A5 owners (reviews are 95% positive) were skeptical that the manufacturer made two ports for nano SIM cards. Two radio modules work at once, so both numbers are always active. The phone supports interaction with 4G networks, and the transfer speed also impressed many. The device has a built-in Bluetooth module that works flawlessly.
What impressed buyers the most? The phone has a built-in special port that allows you to connect a charger, synchronize with a computer, and also work with a mouse and keyboard.
A fingerprint sensor is included in the Home button. Buyers were divided in opinion: some liked this decision, others did not. It works using touch technology, so there is no need to “wake up” the phone again.
Samsung Galaxy A5– a new product from the company, representing the latest line of “Galaxy A” smartphones, which has excellent technical parameters combined with a stylish design and premium body materials. The company itself positions the Galaxy A5 as a youth gadget that should attract a young audience of geeks. It is expected that this particular smartphone will become the most popular in this line, as it is the most balanced device, combining the golden price-quality-performance ratio.
Design
At the first glance at a smartphone, even if you close the manufacturer’s logo, any user who is at least somehow familiar with the world mobile devices, will say that this is a device from Samsung: the classic forms of the Korean giant in accordance with the new design direction (straighter lines and less rounding) will give it away.
However, it is not without its uniqueness. The Galaxy A5, like its “brothers,” became the first phones that are made entirely of metal and do not have a removable back cover, which is completely unusual for the company’s smartphones. This phone fits comfortably in your hand, and you can feel the solidity of the design.
The slots for the memory card and SIM card are located on the side and are closed with plugs that can be opened with a paper clip. Despite the metal construction, the smartphone turned out to be very thin and light – its dimensions are 139.3 x 69.7 x 6.7 mm and weighs 123 grams. You can choose from 5 body color options: dark blue, white, grey, blue and pink.
Display
The entire front panel is occupied by a 5-inch Super AMOLED display resolution 1280 by 720 pixels, with a pixel density of 294 ppi. It is worth remembering that the phone is positioned in the upper range of the average price niche, therefore this parameter is quite justified. Moreover, such a resolution will be more than enough for such a display, and the pixel density is quite high for HD. Everything is great with viewing angles, color reproduction and shade depth - Samsung has perfected its OLED matrices.
Characteristics
The link to the upper range of the mid-price niche is also confirmed by specifications phone. The Samsung Galaxy A5 has a new 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 8916 processor with four Cortex-53 cores and an operating frequency of 1.2 GHz, and the video chip here is Adreno 306. This hardware will be enough for games, multimedia and work - you will not experience lack of productivity in everyday tasks. The amount of RAM is also not small - 2 GB.
As for the internal storage, it is 16 GB of space, of which 12 GB are honestly available to the user. Possible memory shortage can be compensated microSD card up to 64 GB. In such a light and thin case, the Koreans managed to fit a 2300 mAh battery and, judging by the excellent software optimization, this volume will provide sufficient autonomy.
There is support for working in LTE networks and a version of the model with support for working with two SIM cards will be available on the market. Out of the box, the Galaxy A5 comes pre-installed with Android 4.4.4, but the 64-bit chipset suggests an early update to Android Lollipop.
Camera
With cameras Samsung smartphones There have never been any problems and this device is no exception. The main camera is a 13-megapixel module that provides good quality pictures with accurate color reproduction. It can record video in Full HD 1080p at 30fps. The bias towards the younger consumer is evident when it comes to front camera– on the front there is a 5 Megapixel camera, which will provide high-quality selfies that everyone is simply obsessed with. Rich software content will provide various effects, automatic correction and other joys for lovers of self-portraits.
Video: Galaxy A5 VS Galaxy A3
Video: Galaxy review A5
For owners:
Similar models:
A mid-segment smartphone with excellent characteristics and design from the Korean manufacturer Samsung – Samsung Galaxy A5. The device was released in 2015 and has been updated twice since then. Thus, now you can find two versions of the A5 model on sale - 2016 and 2017.
A5 2016 (black, white, gold) – 8500 rub.
A5 2017 (black, gold) – 9500 rub.
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 (A510)
The 2016 Samsung Galaxy A 510 is no longer made of metal, like its predecessor, but of glass. The screen diagonal has increased slightly and is 5.2 inches, and the resolution is 1920 x 1080, 424 ppi. The weight of the device increased to 155g, and the size was 145 x 71 x 7.3 mm. The device's built-in memory is 16GB with a slot for a memory card and remains unchanged. RAM is also 2GB.
The device is equipped with an eight-core processor of its own production, Exynos 7580. The speed on it is much better than on last year’s model.
The main camera has not changed - 13 MP, the front one - 5 MP.
The battery capacity has increased to 2900 mAh. However, this is also enough for the device to operate for a day without recharging. However, the 2016 model has a fast charging function.
A fingerprint scanner also appeared.
Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 (A520)
The 2017 Samsung Galaxy A 520 has become much more solid and stylish in terms of design. The body material is still glass and metal, but now the smartphone has become smoother and more rounded. A new blue color appeared, which replaced white.
The built-in memory on the new device is 32GB, and it is now possible to use a memory card up to 256GB.
The chipset is more powerful and modern – Exynos 7880. And the amount of RAM has increased to 3GB.
The main and front cameras have increased to 16 megapixels, which allows you to take selfies excellent quality. The battery capacity has increased to 3000 mAh.
The new model is dust and waterproof.
You can buy Samsung Galaxy A 5 in our online store by placing an order through the website shopping cart or by calling us at. Delivery in Moscow is possible on the day of order. The cost of delivery within the Moscow Ring Road is 400 rubles. Delivery to the Moscow region is calculated individually. Pickup from a retail store two minutes from Savelovskaya metro station.
Functional, reliable, relatively fast - this is how you can characterize the Samsung A5 2015, which showed not only stable operation, but also ease of use. The device, first of all, is suitable for those people who do not want to chase new gadgets, but prefer to enjoy all the advantages of modern technologies. Regarding hardware, the smartphone has a 1200 MHz quad-core processor of its own production, and together with 2 GB of RAM, this configuration is enough for most not the most demanding applications and games. Also, we have good battery capacity, and the cameras take good pictures. Regarding the screen, everything is fine here too - high-quality color reproduction, as well as decent viewing angles. In general, we can recommend the Samsung A5 2015 for a more detailed and intimate acquaintance.
Samsung Galaxy A5 SM-A500F: specifications and price
Samsung Galaxy A5 SM-A500F: reviews
— Excellent matrix with decent viewing angles;
— Good design;
— Relatively good cameras;
— High-quality communication;
— The presence of a bright flash;
— A large number of branded chips from the manufacturer;
— Even by modern standards, not the weakest iron;
— Availability of fast charging;
— A large number of positive reviews;
— Does not collect fingerprints;
— Presence of a metal case;
— Suitable for most non-demanding games and applications;
— High impact resistance;
— Slim body;
— The smartphone is pleasant to hold in your hands;
— Operating system update;
— Own shell;
— Light weight;
— Among the minuses, it is worth highlighting the small amount of built-in memory;
— Built-in energy saving function;
— Excellent work with Wi-Fi networks;
— If desired, the device can be used as a navigator;
— Ideal screen size;
— Availability of fast charging;
— Autonomy as a plus;
— Pleasant sound in headphones;
— High-quality assembly;
- Looks more expensive than it actually costs;
— Impact-resistant case, which is typical, even if scratches appear they are invisible;
— The matrix is made using SUPER AMOLED technology;
— The cameras take relatively good pictures in different lighting conditions;
— Support for two SIM cards;
— Inconvenient speaker location;
Conclusion
It's safe to say that the Samsung A5 2015 is a very good smartphone that has pretty good functionality, decent cameras, positive reviews, and also good hardware. Separately, it is worth mentioning the shell, which is convenient to use. In general, we can recommend a smartphone for a more detailed and intimate acquaintance.
Pros:
- High-quality assembly;
- Matrix with excellent color rendering;
- Appearance;
- Not bad cameras;
Photos in the interior
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Specifications
- Android 6.0.1 with Clean UI, upgrade to Android 7
- Screen 5.2 inches, SuperAMOLED, FullHD, 424 ppi, automatic brightness adjustment, automatic brightness adjustment to suit your habits, color profiles, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, AlwaysOn Display
- Chipset Exynos 7880, 8 cores up to 1.9 GHz (Cortex A53), GPU Mali-T830MP3
- 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory (about 23 GB of memory is available to the user out of the box)
- Battery Li-Ion 3000 mAh, fast charging, operating time in mixed mode – 2 days (test result), in 3G/4G data transfer mode – 13/16 hours, video playback – up to 19 hours, talk time – up to 16 hours
- Installing two nanoSIM cards, as well as a microSD memory card (up to 256 GB)
- Front camera 16 megapixels, f/1.9, facial enhancements (eyes, skin color, face tone)
- Main camera 16 megapixels, f/1.9, LED flash, autofocus
- Two microphones, noise reduction system
- IP68 water protection, up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters
- FM radio
- Fingerprint sensor located on the front panel
- USB Type C 1.0
- 4G FDD LTE - B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B17(700), B20(800), B28 (700); 4G FDD TDD - B38(2600), B40(2300), B41(2500)
- GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
- ANT+, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5 GHz, NFC, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.2
- Sensors – accelerometer, barometer, fingerprint scanner, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor
- Samsung Pay
- Color options: black (Black Sky), gold (Gold Sand), blue (Blue Mist), pink (Peach Cloud)
- SAR value – 0.52 W/kg (head), 1.39 W/kg (body)
- Dimensions – 146.1x71.4x7.9 mm, weight – 159 grams
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- Charger with USB Type C cable
- Instructions
- Wired stereo headset
- "Paper clip" for removing the SIM tray
Positioning
Samsung decided that the A-series should offer models in the mid-price segment, and the model range is built based on the size of the phones: smaller screen - smaller index. From this logic it is clear that A3 is the smallest device, and A7 is the largest, while A5 is exactly in the middle. From sales of the A-series in 2016, it is known that the A5 and the 5-inch smartphone form factor became the most popular; this device sold significantly better than others.
A-series models have become iconic for the market and their price segments; during the transition from the first to the second generation, their sales in Russia increased noticeably.
But the most important thing is that these devices can be perceived as somewhat simplified versions of the company’s flagships in terms of filling, but not at all simplified in terms of materials. Not all buyers need the features of flagships; they are willing to spend 2-3 times less money, but get a decent, reliable device.
Considering that on Samsung market directly competes with Apple, to some extent the A-series is a response to the old iPhone models that are still on the market. So, the 2017 A5 is a clear competitor to the iPhone 6/6s, which also costs less. Comparing with the famous Chinese, we will get competitors from their line with similar positioning, for example, this could be Huawei Nova.
The 2017 A5 model was created for those who want to buy a smartphone from major manufacturer(read, brand), while getting a good set of characteristics, decent performance and quality materials. To some extent, the 2017 A5 can be considered a universal smartphone that can safely claim to be a business model. It is balanced in its capabilities, is not the most expensive, and, accordingly, it is not a flagship. This is a very smart choice for those who are used to counting money and buy a smartphone at long term. In my opinion, the 2017 A5 will become a bestseller in its price segment, as it offers a number of unique finds that other companies do not have. However, let's talk about this in detail.
Design, dimensions, control elements
In the A-series, the design is to some extent inherited from older models, the same body materials, no noticeable simplifications or savings. The A5 model looks expensive and stylish, regardless of what color you choose. There are four color options in total; there are no pink phones in Russia yet.
I have a black A5, it is classic and looks good. The mirror surface reflects the surrounding world, plays in the light, the device looks very interesting, and hand marks are practically invisible. I’ll add here that the screen with a splash screen can always work (AlwaysOn Display function), which none of the competitors have. In the end, we get an unusual device that has no analogues on the market; it can be distinguished from any other at first glance.
If we talk about which color is the best, then I like blue, it is a delicate shade, very unusual, perfect for girls, however, look for yourself.
Please note that the front and back panels are the same color, as is the side metal edging (6000 series aluminum). The device also looks good in pink, but it is definitely only for girls.
The gold phone is somewhat rustic, but everyone has their own tastes.
The fact that the device has a glass back and front does not hinder it at all, since Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is quite reliable and protected from accidental falls, although depending on your luck. This device is completely identical in mechanical protection to the Galaxy S6 EDGE, the quality is at the same level. I once recorded a video about how this phone survives collisions with sharp objects or asphalt, you can watch this video.
The innovation of the A-series in 2017 was water protection, which was taken from the S7/S7 EDGE, the implementation is exactly the same. The SIM card tray is protected by rubber gaskets, the microphones and speakers are protected by membranes, the protection level is IP68, which allows the phone to be kept at a depth of 1.5 meters for up to half an hour. This does not mean that the phone needs to be washed under water, much less with soap or something similar. But if you drop it in water, nothing will happen to it. There are practically no models with water protection in this price segment.
Now about the control elements. Under the screen there is a mechanical key, it contains a fingerprint sensor, it is simplified compared to the S7/S7 EDGE, it works a little slower, but there are no problems because of this. Good decision, which just works. On either side of it are two touch keys.
On the left side there are two volume keys, on right side– on/off button. There is a microphone at the bottom and top ends, there is a noise reduction system, it does its job perfectly: you can be heard well in any conditions, even when the wind blows strongly in your face.
At the bottom end there is also a 3.5 mm jack for a headset or headphones and a USB Type C connector for charger. On the upper end and left side you can see trays, in the upper one a nanoSIM card and a memory card are installed, in the lower one there is a second nanoSIM card. In the A3, for example, installing two SIM cards and a memory card is impossible; it has a combined slot.
The speaker is located on the right side surface, due to this it can overlap in the pocket, and it will not be heard very well. The speaker itself is average in volume, but very pleasant.
The phone dimensions are 146.1x71.4x7.9 mm, weight is 159 grams. Compact, fits perfectly in the hand due to the small roundness of the body at the back. Not slippery, although from the photographs many people think that it should slip out of their hands, but this does not happen. This size is one of the most popular on the market and is liked by most buyers.
Compared to Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
Display
The presence of a SuperAMOLED screen has always been an advantage of the A-series; the technical characteristics of this display are as follows: 5.2 inches, SuperAMOLED, FullHD, 424 ppi, automatic brightness adjustment, automatic brightness adjustment to suit your habits, color profiles, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, AlwaysOn Display.
For my taste, the screen quality is excellent for its class, it has a large brightness reserve automatic mode, the display is easily readable in the sun, just like the previous year’s model (in the S7 EDGE the screen has greater brightness, and as a result, it is even better in the sun).
The screen has an AlwaysOn Display option, that is, you can see application icons, clocks or pictures all the time, the screen operation does not drain the battery much, in 12 hours it’s a couple of percent. Until now, this function has not been widely available in the mid-price segment, which makes the 2017 A5 stand out and puts it on par with Samsung flagships.
In terms of all its characteristics, the screen in the 2017 A5 outperforms its competitors; there is nothing better in this segment. As a result, this is one of the strengths of the model. I also like the fact that they brought here automatic brightness adjustment to suit your preferences; in the first two weeks the phone “gets used to” you and is adjusted to your taste.
Battery
The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 3000 mAh, supports fast charging (1 hour 20 minutes). Built-in wireless charging, which the flagship models have, is not here.
In mixed mode, the device lives quietly for two days with 3-5 hours of screen operation, data transmission in LTE and two hours of calls.
Play unconverted video in HD quality in MX Player at maximum brightness - up to 19 hours! This is an excellent indicator considering the size of the battery; many Chinese show comparable results on a 5000 mAh battery.
The operating time of the 2017 A5 becomes its strong point; even with a heavy load, it will not be possible to discharge it faster than in a day; on average, this is two days. Those who use only calls can easily count on 5-6 days of work; of course, it all depends on the operator and the number of these calls. But in general, we can state the fact that operating time is the strong point of this model.
Traditionally, there is a power saving mode, when the screen backlight and processor frequency are limited. In this mode, many will not experience problems with the operation of the device, but the operating time will increase by at least 20 percent. In maximum energy saving mode, everything on the screen turns gray, and the device can provide hours of operation even with a small charge.
Communication capabilities
GPS/GLONASS works perfectly, a cold start takes about ten seconds, navigation works perfectly, there are no problems. By the way, this distinguishes A-brands from many Chinese companies, where the implementation of antennas is such that you can expect anything from typical functions.
Another strong point is the support of almost all necessary LTE frequencies, here the device also shows its strengths (analogues in this price segment cannot boast of this; as a rule, they save on antennas).
Finally, the device has NFC and ANT+ support, which will appeal to those who use sports sensors. Bluetooth version 4.2.
If we talk about Wi-Fi, then it uses 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5 GHz, there is a repeater mode (distributing a Wi-Fi signal to other devices as an access point).
The version is USB 2.0, but the USB Type C (1.0) connector is used, so fans of modern connectors will be happy; for the rest, it’s time to come to terms with the transition to the new standard.
Memory, RAM, performance
Samsung uses its own chipsets in A-series models, which can be considered a plus; they are improving year by year. For example, in 2016, chipsets in the A-series were made at 28 nm, now it is 14 nm, which gives an increase in performance and operating time. The chipset in the A5 2017 is Exynos 7880, 8 cores up to 1.9 GHz (Cortex A53), Mali-T830MP3 graphics processor.
In synthetic tests, this processor performed well. In real life, everything also works perfectly, you will not feel any shortcomings in performance, the model is at the same level, and the safety margin will last for at least a couple of years.
The device has 32 GB of internal memory (23.1 GB available), memory cards can be up to 256 GB. 3 GB of RAM, which is enough for most consumers. And given the screen resolution, everything becomes very good, this solution is balanced, and there are no noticeable compromises.
Camera
The front camera is 16 megapixels (f/1.9), as usual, there is no autofocus, so it’s worth finding the distance from which the pictures are best taken, this is about half a meter, that is, an outstretched arm. The quality of the front camera is good, but don't expect anything special from it; after all, the main camera is better. There is a traditional improvement in skin color and tone, you can enlarge your eyes, and at the same time make your face thinner. Girls will definitely like these “improvements”.
The main camera is 16-megapixel (f/1.9), of course, there is autofocus, as well as additional shooting modes, including PRO, but it differs from the flagships, since the camera is simpler. This camera is on par with the best Chinese manufacturers or a little better, that is, it gives good, rich pictures during the day and indoors; in the dark it is not so good, but this is generally typical for this segment. There is no 4K mode when recording video, but it is unlikely that consumers of this device need it so much, since recording regular FullHD video will completely satisfy them.
Look at the examples of pictures and videos, I think they will all tell you about the quality of the camera.
Software
The model was originally released on Android 6.0.1, but many interface elements are similar to what we see in Android 7 and Clean UI on S7/S7 EDGE. I advise you to read about what appeared in Android 7, since this model will soon receive this version OS.
I won’t describe the standard Android functions; you can read about them in a detailed review.
Unlike top models, there is a built-in FM radio, which looks like a nice bonus.
When using KNOX, you can install any program in duplicate, for example, install two WhatsApp messengers on one device and use them for each SIM card (two numbers, two messengers). You can even correspond with yourself. Exactly the same trick can be done with any software; not a single phone allows you to simultaneously work with two instant messengers on the same device with different numbers. Today, many Chinese manufacturers offer something similar in their smartphones, but the implementation is different everywhere.
Of course, this model supports the Samsung Pay service.
I will not dwell on standard software from Samsung, for example, S Health, you can find relevant articles on our website.
Impression
The vibration alert is average, the ringer volume is also average - perhaps I would like there to be more headroom, but the phone is still audible, and you can feel it in your pockets when it vibrates. Rather, there is no reserve in terms of volume, but how will anyone perceive this moment? The device cannot be called quiet.
I liked the 2017 A5, as well as this entire series, and the previous models. Strengths remained exactly the same - excellent materials and design of the case, bright and eye-catching design, which is complemented by AlwaysON Display; competitors have nothing like that. When choosing between models in this series, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the 2017 A3 is aimed at those who make more calls, spend less time online, and watch movies. An excellent compact phone with a long battery life, I’ll talk about it in a separate review.
You can choose the 2017 A7 for its screen size, 5.7 inches versus 5.2 in the A5. However, in other respects these devices are almost similar, everything is the same. In the table you can see how all A-series devices differ.
The price of the 2017 A5 in Russia is 27,990 rubles; for comparison, the previous year’s model costs 21,990 rubles. In my opinion, the advantage of the 2017 device is obvious, it is IP68 protection, AlwaysOn Display, updated Android and new operating modes, increased battery life, best performance. In a word, it’s worth finding the money and buying an updated model; it will definitely last longer.
Oddly enough, in model range Samsung has another competitor for this device, the Galaxy S6, a two-year-old flagship that today sells for 30,000 rubles. It doesn't have memory cards or water protection, but it does support Gear VR, which the 2017 A5 doesn't have. Usually, previous flagships act as stronger models than the current middle class, but when comparing these devices, everything is not so clear; I would still recommend the A5 2017.
In the Apple line there is an old iPhone 6, its 16 GB version costs 28,990 rubles (refurbished device) or more than 35,000 rubles. In my opinion, it does not have any advantages, it loses in terms of screen, memory, and service life; there is no protection from water even close. In a word, here you are only buying a brand name and quite old hardware with the worst prospects for updates in the short term. If you want an iPhone, look at the new models, but be prepared to pay more.
A good alternative is the Huawei Nova; this 5-inch model also has 3 GB of RAM, a fingerprint sensor, a similar battery, and comparable cameras. But the IPS screen is something to keep in mind, there is also no water resistance, and of course there is no Samsung Pay. The price of this device is 23,000 rubles, which is noticeably cheaper and quite justified, taking into account other characteristics. But the performance of the device is not bad and it looks good.
If you look at models with water protection, then nothing but Sony Xperia X Performance doesn't come to mind. But the price of this device in federal networks is 40 thousand rubles; it belongs to a completely different class of devices, as evidenced by the use of Snapdragon 820. At the same time, other characteristics are very similar to the A5 2017, so they can be compared. It is more profitable to purchase the A5, since Sony does not have any special advantages at a higher price. The model is already a year old, now it will be replaced by an updated version, it will be shown in the coming days. But the price will not be lower, and as a result, it will not be able to become a competitor.
With your permission, I will not take into consideration a huge bunch of Chinese models, after all, their positioning is completely different, these are C-brands with all the ensuing consequences. Samsung has come up with a very interesting, high-quality model that will become a bestseller in the mid-price segment. This device looks good, lasts a long time and offers a set of features that will satisfy anyone who is not ready to buy flagship products. The phone has its own face, moreover, it is easy to remember. You should definitely take a closer look at this device if you are looking for a 5-inch Android smartphone.
