Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) struggles to be like flagship Galaxy S7 edge, and he does it. The smartphone is surrounded by a thick metal frame around the perimeter, and the glass curved on the sides covers the back side.
It is comfortable to hold and operate the phone with one hand, but the materials are slippery. You need to be especially careful if you need to get a gadget out of your pocket in the cold, and you are wearing knitted gloves. Glass is fragile, even a small drop can lead to a web of cracks on both the screen and the back panel.
Galaxy A5 (2016)
Galaxy A5 (2017)
Move the slider to compare appearance Galaxy A5 (2016) and A5 (2017).A5 (2016) was square, A5 (2017), on the contrary, became very rounded. Judging by the first reviews on the web, not everyone likes it. Some even tease the word "remnant". Nothing terrible in my opinion though rear panel looks a little empty. The main thing is that the build quality is still fine. The camera lens, by the way, no longer sticks out.
The speaker has moved to the top of the right side of the smartphone. Convenient solution. Now it is not covered by hands either horizontally or vertically. The sound from it is a little dull, but in general everything is within the bounds of decency.
Galaxy A5 (2017) is IP68 rated. The case is dustproof, the smartphone can be kept under water for half an hour at a depth of 1.5 meters.
The main feature of the entire Samsung A-series of 2017 is protection according to the IP68 standard. Those. the devices are dustproof and can be submerged under water to a depth of 1.5 meters and kept there for 30 minutes.
The built-in mechanical home button has a fingerprint scanner that miraculously works much more accurately than the A3 (2017). Well, the reading speed is equally good in both models. You don't need to press a key to unlock, which is great - it's more convenient this way.
One of the best Full HD screens
A cool display is one of the keys Samsung advantages Galaxy A5 (2017). The Super AMOLED matrix used here has many strengths: high brightness, deep blacks, very wide viewing angles. Plus, the most important thing is the reduced power consumption.
Many people like saturated AMOLED paints (Koreans have not been brute-force with this for a long time). If this is not your case, then in the settings you can choose a more discreet profile or adjust the color balance manually.
The Galaxy A5 (2017) has a gorgeous Full HD AMOLED screen.
Unlike A3 (2017), on the A5 (2017) screen, the picture does not fall apart into individual pixels. The point is the resolution - for AMOLED panels you need at least Full HD, and here it is 1920 × 1080. Density - 424 dots per inch. Reading texts, viewing pictures, texting in instant messengers and by mail is comfortable.
The front panel LED indicator for incoming messages has disappeared. Instead, there is now an Always On function. When the smartphone is locked, a black screen displays a clock, calendar, information about the remaining charge and notifications about SMS, calls and other events. Convenient but not economical. For an hour, Always On, which is on, eats from 1.5 to 3% of the battery charge, and on average we lose a quarter of the capacity per day.
Not all games go to the "maximum", but it does not matter
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) - the toy is not cheap, and the filling is mediocre. Although maybe it's just budget and powerful chinese smartphones we were spoiled. Games start all, but at high graphics settings it will be possible to play not every one. For example, in World of Tanks Blitz, during the hottest moments of battles, even at medium settings, the frame rate drops below the comfortable 30 fps - the image jerks.
Average performance is confirmed by the numbers from synthetic tests. However, 60,000 points in AnTuTu (A5 (2017) is gaining just that much) is exactly the line from which smartphones begin to cope with the vast majority of tasks without delays and glitches.
The performance of the A5 (2017) versus competitors and the Samsung flagship. The more points the better.
Well, you will drive "tanks" without beautifully swaying grass and shoot zombies without special effects from explosions, and so what? Another question is that many competitors offer much more for the same money. But more on that later.
Powered by A5 (2017) with an eight-core chipset Samsung Exynos 7880 @ 1.9 GHz. Random access memory 3 gigabytes. From them, the beautiful but greedy Grace UX shell installed on top of Android 6.0 usually leaves no more than half. However, for normal operation in multitasking mode is enough.
In the A5 (2016), the Koreans offered users only a measly 16 GB of internal memory, but the "five" from 2017 is already equipped with 32 GB, and it is quite possible to live with it.
Now one more "cherry". The gods heard the prayers of users, gave a strong kick to the developers, and they finally did separate slot for microSD up to 256 GB. So the A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) are full-fledged dual-SIM smartphones with memory expansion. Hurray, comrades!
The A5 (2017) has three full-fledged card slots: two for nanoSIM and one more for microSD with a capacity of up to 256 GB inclusive.
The front-end was a success, and the main module was deprived of stabilization
The main disappointment with the A5 (2017) camera is that the optical stabilization that was in the A5 (2016) is no longer there. And this greatly spoils the positive impressions of the new 16-megapixel main module.
During the day, the automatic system perfectly copes with determining the sensitivity, white balance and accurately sets the exposure the first time. The detail is high. However, you will only feel this if you hold the smartphone firmly and confidently in your hands. This is the only way to compensate for the lack of stabilization.
If you take pictures on the A5 (2017) inaccurately, then getting a blur is easier than ever, even in good lighting. One more nuance follows from this: it is very difficult to photograph moving objects (children and cats, for example).
HDR is the strong point of all 2017 Samsung A-series smartphones. Works very neatly without burning out the colors. See for yourself:
No HDR
With HDR
At dusk and in normal artificial light, shooting is still more or less comfortable, but just in case it is worth doing a few takes - at least half of it will almost certainly be smeared.
The night is the hardest. Here the automation starts to malfunction, overestimating the sensitivity (noise) and exposure (overexposure), although autofocus and white balance are still in order. There is only one way to partially compensate for the shortcomings: setting the desired ISO and EV values in manual mode yourself. The matter is quite simple, because in this mode only three parameters can be changed, but at first it can frighten beginners.
The selfie camera has the same resolution as the main one - 16 megapixels. And she is beautiful. In daylight, very sharp self-portraits with excellent detail are obtained, and in the dark, a soft virtual "flash" comes to the rescue. The screen turns bright white and neatly illuminates the user's face.
photos
photos
photos
The maximum video resolution is Full HD at 30 frames per second. The frequency could obviously have been made higher, but there is no need to be sad about the lack of 4K - a weak processor would still hardly pull such a function. During the day, the quality is quite decent, provided that you move the camera smoothly and do not shoot on the go. There is a "hyperlapse" mode: we put the camera on the window, it itself takes one frame every few seconds, and then combines it into an accelerated video.
Fast charging and battery life slightly above average
The Galaxy A5 (2017) has a 3,000mAh battery. On average, the gadget works a full day, although it may be discharged earlier if you are fond of mobile games. If the main scenarios of use are mail, the Internet, instant messengers, reading books and a little video, like mine, then in the evening from 10 to 25% of the charge remains.
Operating time of A5 (2017) in cyclic mono tests in comparison with competitors and standards. Specified in minutes.
In mono tests, the indicators are quite outstanding. Watching Full HD videos at maximum brightness will drain your battery in 17 hours. Fans of serials and long flights - this is for you to note. A simple arcade game Subway Surfers (also at maximum brightness) discharged the A5 6 hours and 15 minutes after the start.
The USB Type-C port instead of the outdated microUSB is correct and progressive, I fully approve. Supported fast charging... There was no native adapter, but from someone else's with an output voltage of 5 Volts / 3 Amperes, the gadget was charged in just 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Meizu Pro 6
The old flagship has fallen in price Moto x force with an unbreakable screen. One of mobile operators sells it even cheaper than the A5 (2017) - for 27,000 rubles.
Well, if the official guarantee for you is not an argument in favor of overpayment, then for 29-30 thousand rubles, gray suppliers offer Samsung Galaxy S7, which is better than A5 (2017) in the overwhelming majority of the main parameters.
This is an item for those who choose a smartphone not by price and characteristics, but by brand. It is logical that with this approach Samsung has only one competitor - Apple. With a budget of 30,000, the iPhone 7 will not be enough even in the case of a purchase from unofficials. And here iPhone 6S with 16 GB of memory from gray suppliers can be obtained for 32,000 rubles.
But is it worth it? In my opinion, no. The last year's flagship Apple is more powerful, but it has a worse screen, absolutely no selfie camera, a slot for only one SIM and there is no possibility of expanding memory. With the built-in 16 GB, you oh, how tormented - this is very little.
There is also a 4-inch iPhone SE for the official 33,000 rubles, but it is appropriate to compare it rather with A3 (2017) than with A5 (2017).
Opinion site
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is a very controversial gadget. On the one hand, 28,000 rubles is expensive. On the other hand, the smartphone has pluses that are too tough for competitors: a cool screen, protection from water, support Samsung Pay, great selfie camera.
In my personal opinion, the last three points are good things, but secondary, and IPS-displays of competitors lose more in autonomy than in picture quality. I would stop at OnePlus 3 or Honor 8. However, there are many buyers who are looking for exactly such "chips" as in the A5 (2017), tightly "sit" on Samsung Pay or choose a Korean company solely because of the brand.
Replacing the A5 (2016) with the A5 (2017) is also a controversial issue, because optical stabilization was removed from the smartphone, although a bunch of other "goodies" were added. If you are a frequent photographer, then it is worth thinking carefully. If not, then you can safely go to the store for a new model.
Pros:
- Dust and water resistant (IP68)
- Convenient body
- High build quality
- AMOLED screen with Full HD
- Excellent selfie camera
- USB Type-C and fast charging
- Separate slots for dual SIM and microSD
- Upgrade to Android 7.0
- Samsung Pay support
- Commendable battery life
Minuses:
- Very high price
- Mediocre hardware
- Slippery body
- No optical stabilization
- No notification light
12-12-2019
11 hours 58 minutes
Message:
Why is there no such section on the Samsung Galaxy A7? Idiocy:((((
12-11-2019
17 hours 12 minutes
Message:
I really wanted to download it
10-09-2019
23 hours 42 minutes
Message:
Thank you so much. Helped
30-08-2019
09 hours 15 minutes.
Message:
Thank you very much for this article. I've been racking my head for a month how to find a journal about missed calls, I just don't understand! and here your article is just right.
02-08-2019
16 hours 39 minutes
Message:
This feature is not suitable for Samsung Galaxy J4
31-05-2019
13 hours 21 minutes
Message:
On the Samsung Galaxy A6 2018, the menu is the same, but the setting itself is not much elsewhere.
19-05-2019
18 hours 53 minutes
Message:
There is no such thing on the Samsung Galaxy a40.
27-02-2019
16 hours 13 minutes
Message:
Thanks, everything turns out to be easy and simple
17-01-2019
21 hours 41 minutes
Message:
Finally! I turned off all the settings, but I could not find it. Thank you)
10-01-2019
17 hours 30 minutes.
Message:
Thank you! Helped turn off the flash of notifications
26-08-2018
18 hours 39 minutes
Message:
How to turn on the ringer on the Samsung Gelexi 3 phone? Now only vibration is "heard" during the conversation itself, everything is heard
11-08-2018
03 hours 38 minutes
Message:
Thank you very much! I was very annoyed by the Samsung Gelexi J3
20-05-2018
02 h. 01 minutes
Message:
Thank you so much helped
15-05-2018
11 hours 22 minutes
Message:
Thanks, helped
29-03-2018
12 hours 35 minutes
Message:
Thank you
10-02-2018
23 hours 10 min.
Message:
Spasibo bolwoe
09-02-2018
20 hours 34 minutes
Message:
Thank you very much, I wanted to end this for a long time
03-02-2018
09 hours 22 minutes
Message:
Thank you
12-01-2018
22 hours 16 minutes
Message:
Thank you)
08-01-2018
09 hours 16 minutes
Message:
Thank you. Tel. Samsung a7 17 years old. Helped
08-12-2017
05 hours 32 minutes
Message:
Thank you very much for the information helped a lot
07-12-2017
09 hours 25 minutes
Message:
Save a lot for the information helped a lot, I could not find the catfish where the flash function for notifications is turned off. and then when an SMS comes at night or an alarm clock rings, the flash is so bright that it blinds, it's not nice.
12-11-2017
00 hours 46 minutes
Message:
My Samsung Galaxy J5 phone does not work, the flash tried in all ways, nothing helps
16-10-2017
23 hours 18 minutes
Message:
Thank you, well done, too lazy to look for yourself
05-10-2017
20 hours 30 minutes.
Message:
Super!!! Thank you!!!
30-09-2017
18 hours 54 minutes
Message:
Thank you! Helped)
24-08-2017
11 hours 01 minutes
Message:
Hello, Tell me please, I have a Samsung Galaxy j7 (2016) phone. Sounds not working I press the sound button the screen rises (Disable in special features"mute all sounds") I now do that.
16-08-2017
06 hours 41 minutes
Message:
This article helped me. Phone Samsung Galaxy A5 2016. Thank you! :-)
26-07-2017
23 hours 39 minutes
Message:
The article helped, I have a gelaxi a5 2017
22-07-2017
10 hours 54 minutes
Message:
Thank you so much. Helped
22-06-2017
02 h. 55 minutes
Message:
Updated android now there is no such function
15-06-2017
23 hours 16 minutes
Message:
Thank you, it helped, but I'm really tired of this flash !!!
30-05-2017
03 hours 56 minutes
Message:
Guys, when you are in a watsap, the flash does not fire, enter from the watsap and everything will work right away, and even the flash fires only in normal mode, if you set it to a soundless mode, it will not work for me as extreme measure
30-05-2017
03 hours 51 minutes
Message:
Please tell me how incoming call increase flash flicker to blink a little faster
30-05-2017
03 hours 17 minutes
Message:
Thank you very much for your advice. I did it as it was written. It remains only to check whether it will work or not.
14-05-2017
08 h. 53 minutes
Message:
why does the flash not work for phone messages, but for calls it works
10-05-2017
14 hours 02 minutes
Message:
where is the indicator on the Samsung A5 2015
21-04-2017
22 hours 04 minutes
Message:
How do I turn on the indicator on J3?
13-04-2017
02 h. 46 minutes
Message:
Thanks, all worked well!
27-03-2017
05 hours 59 minutes
Message:
Did not work out...
16-03-2017
23 hours 30 minutes.
Message:
And why does not the flash flash when the message comes from the watsap? Samsung galaxy j1 2016
02-03-2017
10 hours 43 minutes
Message:
Say how you set it up and how it was added to the display, otherwise the TV screens were displayed and displayed immediately. Dyakuyu
23-02-2017
10 hours 54 minutes
Message:
Great article.
05-02-2017
00 hours 31 minutes
Message:
Thank you HUGE, it helped !!
01-02-2017
17 hours 18 minutes
Message:
I did everything as written, called my number, but there is no notification yet. Maybe after a while. I'm waiting. Received a notification. but not a flash, but in general a flash and not a lot of melody. Thanks, useful information.
31-01-2017
11 hours 00 minutes
Message:
Thank you so much for the information !!! This feature is enabled differently on all phones, and this article is very helpful!
25-01-2017
19 hours 54 minutes
Message:
Thanks the article helped.
06-01-2017
15 hours 47 minutes
Message:
Super. Your article helped. Switched over. Urrraaaa.
28-12-2016
14 hours 30 minutes.
Message:
It helped a lot! I recently had this phone and had not yet had time to explore all its possibilities! The article helped
17-12-2016
14 hours 38 minutes
Message:
Thank you very much for the help
13-12-2016
20 hours 18 minutes
Message:
Samsung galaxy J510, the flash works for SMS calls and alarms, and on third party applications type viber does not respond. Yes, and I would like to be able to activate the front flash.
06-12-2016
19 hours 41 minutes
Message:
Cool! Thanks for the flash cool! Couldn't find it myself) Samsung galaxy J5
24-11-2016
12 hours 03 minutes
Message:
Good day! He is really kind :))). I myself somehow turned on this function, and then forgot where to turn it off. Thank you, you helped a lot !!! Samsung j5 smartphone
20-11-2016
14 hours 27 minutes
Message:
On Samsung Galaxy ace 4 neo duos flash notification works too. Thanks to the author!
20-11-2016
12 hours 15 minutes.
Message:
Thank you so much!!! I am very grateful to you for the information provided.
19-11-2016
17 hours 55 minutes
Message:
Thanks for the help. I got it right. They explained everything very simply and easily.
13-11-2016
13 hours 25 minutes
Message:
Thanks, helped
29-10-2016
23 hours 40 minutes
Message:
Yes, it helped. Thank you
09-10-2016
12 hours 06 minutes
Message:
Galaxy s5 This mode is disabled. The flash still fires on the timer
04-10-2016
18 hours 05 minutes
Message:
yes, it helped
24-09-2016
18 hours 41 minutes
Message:
Thank you. It helped.
12-09-2016
20 hours 04 minutes
Message:
Thanks, it helped! Samsyng Galaxsi phone -i9082
15-07-2016
13 hours 33 minutes
Message:
good day. I have a Samsung S5. according to the instructions, I did everything, but the flash does not turn off. Why?
Newer smartphones are getting bigger and smaller components. Nano-type SIM cards are now used. If you have a new large SIM card issued after 2011, you can cut it with a special device. It is better to reissue old cards because they stop working after trimming.
To install the SIM card into the phone, we will use the supplied pin to slide out the compartment for the SIM card and flash drive. Next, insert the card and push it back into the phone. The compartment on the left side is intended for card # 1. The upper compartment is for card # 2. For clarity, I suggest watching the video:
How to take a screenshot on Samsung A5?
You can get a screen on the Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 by holding down the power button on the right side and the bottom button on the left side. After about three seconds, you will hear a sound similar to a camera shutter release. A beep means the screen has been photographed. What happened can be found in the gallery.
How to install a ringtone on Samsung A5 2017?
To set the ringtone, go to the settings tab and from there to the "Sounds and Vibration" item. We choose where to put a melody or sound - a notification or SMS on the call. A tab with music will open, where we select the desired track. If you need a melody for a specific contact, then click "Phone" - "Contacts". Find the required subscriber from the list. Go to "Details" - "Change" - "More". At the very end of the list with parameters there is a "Ringtone" item. Click "Allow access to media data" (if not already allowed) and at the very bottom, in addition to standard melodies, the "Add from phone" button will appear. Next, select the track you like and you're done. To place the melody in the general list, use any file manager place it in the sdcard / Notifications folder.
As a last resort, use hard reset, which is described below.
How to factory reset Samsung A5?
To reset all settings to factory defaults, do the following:
- A fully charged device must be turned off.
- Press three buttons simultaneously: "Volume +", "Home", "Power on"
- Release all buttons when the logo appears.
- After 5-10 seconds, the “Recovery menu” will be entered and the robot's logo will appear. Press "Power on" and at the same time "Volume +". Release both buttons.
- We go to the item "Wipe data / factory reset". The cursor is moved by "Volume", you need to confirm by "Switching on".
- Select "Yes - delete all user data" when prompted and then click "Enable" once to reboot.
If you misunderstand, watch the Galaxy A5 2017 reset video:
How to record a conversation on Samsung A5?
If you do not consider the legal and legal aspects of recording a telephone conversation, to enable this function, use third party programs of Play Market... For example, "Call Recorder - Automatic Call Recorder", "C Mobile", "lovekara" "CallX - Call / Conversation Recording". I was helped by the first program that records automatically. Its only drawback is the abundance of various advertisements.
Samsung has again released new versions of the A3 and A5 models - this is already becoming an annual event.
With the help of these devices, the company indicates its true intentions - to consolidate its position in the middle price segment, presenting users with smartphones with a good set of useful functions.
As with any smartphone, these two have several hidden functions worthy of your attention. Here are some of the most successful, in our opinion:
Add / Disable Game Launcher and Game Tools
Every mobile gamer knows what Game Launcher and Game Tools are for. These apps allow you to turn off notifications while playing, and you can also take a screenshot of the game or even take a video with them. You can activate or deactivate them with just a couple of clicks.
All you need to do is go to Settings, find Advanced Features and go to the Games menu. Here you will find the options you need.
Game Launcher is very easy to enable or disable Take photos with ease
On most smartphones, you can take photos by pressing the volume keys. Some people prefer a button on the screen. Samsung has tried to accommodate the personal preferences of each and every one.
You can add a virtual key for your camera, this key can be placed anywhere on the screen when the viewfinder is on. Press this button and the photo is ready.
To activate access to this function, simply go to the Camera application, and from there to Settings (the gear in the upper right corner of the screen). Scroll down the menu and find the Floating Camera Button feature. Activate it and this button will appear in the Camera app.
Reminder: you can launch the camera by double-clicking the "Camera" button, you do not need to look for the camera icon on the desktop.
The floating camera button can be activated in the settings Change the look of the interface
Some people (myself included) think that the TouchWiz interface is extremely ugly, which cannot be said about the "bare" Android. So, now you know that the appearance of the interface can be changed using different themes. And although this will not solve all the problems, at least it will make you more enjoyable to use your phone. You can also download wallpapers and icon packs.
The main drawback is the price. Ready to spend 120 rubles on an icon set?
Fortunately, some themes / wallpapers / icons are available completely free of charge, and some of them look really good. You will find them in the settings under Wallpapers & Themes. You can also access this section by pressing the background of your screen for a few seconds, then click on the Wallpaper and themes button that appears in the lower left corner of the display.
Use "protected" files
And while many loudly proclaim that they have nothing to hide, what can be found on their phone or elsewhere, a feature that allows you to hide some things is useful.
When you hand the phone to your mom, you may not want her to see your party photos. Or maybe you don't want your girlfriend to see pictures of you dancing with other girls. Even if you haven't done anything wrong, making excuses is always unpleasant.
To avoid such troubles, Samsung added an option to protect files, first it appeared on the Note 7. You can put everything you want to keep in a certain folder, and you can restrict access to this folder with a password or fingerprint.
The only condition for using this feature is that you have to use a Samsung code. Just go to the Applications menu, then in Samsung Apps and open Secure File. The rest is up to you.
Place your sensitive information in a secure folder Receive notification reminders
Has it ever happened: you receive a message on WhatsApp during an important meeting, and after its end, half an hour later, you completely forgot to read the message?
Samsung has carefully thought out and introduced the notification reminder function: if you forget to read the notification, the phone will remind you of this.
Of course, you can choose the types of notifications, and also choose which app can send you reminders.
Go to the Access menu in the settings, and then to the Notification reminders section. Here you will also find other interesting functions such as the "magnifying glass".
This is a very useful feature for the forgetful. Activate "simplified" mode
While advanced users will appreciate the customizable welcome screen, some of us lean towards simpler menus and larger font sizes.
You can activate this feature in the settings. But be careful - the icons will grow to huge sizes, even the notification menu will be changed!
To activate this mode, go to Settings and then select the Simple Mode function and activate it.
Simple Mode lives up to its name Some of the tricks that are already on other smartphones from Samsung can be used on the 2017 A3 / A5 models.
Send SOS signal
You can send an SOS signal if you suddenly find yourself in trouble: go to Settings> Advanced> SOS signal, as soon as the option is activated, you can add a recipient. Now all you need to do to send the SOS signal is to press the power off key three times.
Split screen function
The A5 has a split screen function. To get to it, click on the multitasking symbol, but remember that not all applications are compatible with this mode. But Google applications (Gmail, Play Store, etc.) have no problems with this mode.
Disable Upday
Samsung has decided to equip its devices with its own information system called Upday. New Galaxy A3 and A5 are no exception to the rule, so all you need to do is swipe right to access the Upday widget.
Don't panic in advance - if you're more used to Google Now, or just want to remove an extra widget from your home screen, Upday can be turned off.
To do this, you need to press and hold the screen for a couple of seconds. At the bottom, you will see three keys (Wallpaper, Widgets and Layout). Scroll right to access the screen located to the left of the center one. You will then be able to turn it off with the click of a button.
Fixing applications
In some cases, it may be convenient to lock the screen in one specific application. Notifications from all other apps will be blocked, you won't be able to open other apps, so your privacy will not become public.
Then press the multitasking key to see a list of running applications. At the top right of the most recent app, you'll find a pin. Click on it and the screen in this application will be locked.
The picture on the left shows how to deactivate Upday; on the right - how to block the app screen from receiving notifications
Did any of our tips help you get the most (or the least) out of your Galaxy A3 or A5? Have you found any other useful tricks for using these smartphones? Share with us in the comments.
Series Samsung smartphones Last year's Galaxy A was very successful in terms of design. They looked beautiful, although they were inferior in characteristics to numerous Chinese counterparts. Yes, chinese phones are becoming more and more popular, but Samsung is not a bastard. Great materials, high-quality cameras, a functional shell, and the brand also means a lot. I know people who believe in Samsung and their phones are only of this brand. I think you will find such acquaintances as well.
Those who surf the Internet are aware of the eternal agony of choice: what to buy, the creation of an eminent brand or an almost top Chinese, promising brand? Judging by the successful sales of various Galaxy A in the past year, fans of this series were not stopped by the price, there were many who wanted to. And people still go to stores, try devices, twirl them in their hands to get an impression of purchases, not all "Chinese" can be checked out live.
Slippery but won't get wet
The design surprised me, Samsung abandoned the angular forms and returned to the remnant lines again. Remember old Samsung flagship Galaxy S3? The new A5 is very similar to it in shape, and the back panel looks very modest, I would add a drawing or pattern to it for a change, it would look better, but it looks like a state employee.
Here is a photo of the A5 and S7 edge, compare the sizes and see the difference in appearance.
The case is very slippery, you can walk with the phone without a case, but you need to use it carefully, otherwise you will drop it.
Glass front and back, glossy surface matched with durable aluminum rim. You can't get used to the assembly, to the ergonomics too, all the buttons are in their places.
If you can't manage the phone with one hand, then turn on the special mode, then the menu will shrink in size. The camera can be started by double-clicking the button below the screen, which is very convenient.
But the protection against water at the IP68 level, like the top-end Galaxy S7, is good and practical. The phone is not afraid of swimming in fresh water, withstanding being at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Screen with a twist
The phone, as usual for Samsung, with a bright Super AMOLED, now the Always On Display feature works, when additional data is visible on the screen in standby mode, and the backlight does not work at this time. To some extent, it compensates for the absence of a light indicator, although nothing has yet been invented more simply and more efficiently than a flashing diode.
The diagonal is 5.2 inches, the resolution is 1080x1920 - the picture is bright, everything is clearly visible on the street, there are no traces on the display, an excellent oleophobic coating. It is strange that in the phone for almost 30 thousand rubles, the multitouch detects only 5 simultaneous touches.
Samsung Pay is not working yet
The phone helps to pay for purchases through Samsung Pay, but I could not bind the card to it, during testing the service did not work and advised me to wait more. Well, OK. Note that the phone has an NFC chip, but it does not work with the Troika card, I tried several applications, but the smartphone does not show travel data through the applications.
The camera is very good during the day
The camera on the back of the case does not stick out at all, it goes flush with the surface. Convenient: when you put your phone on the table, it lies and does not wobble.
Resolution main and front camera matches, both at 16 megapixels. Galaxy A5 (2017) shoots great in automatic mode, in the settings, start manual mode or additional scene profiles. Here are a few examples, and you can evaluate the rest in Google Drive. On the Samsung website, I did not find the characteristics of the model, but as I understood from the description in other sources, there is no optical stabilization of the camera, it was in last year's Galaxy A5.
Take a look at how HDR works (on the left - with it, on the right - the effect is off).
The quality of video recording is limited to Full HD, the phone writes videos well, but the strobe is strong. Here's an example of shooting at an ice rink.
Not the most powerful, but works fast
If you look at performance, this is a typical middle class. 61 thousand points in AnTuTu, Exynos 7880 processor, 3/32 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card. New processor 14nm process technology has lower power consumption
Samsung's operating system is still gluttonous and consumes large amounts of RAM, 1.3 GB of 3 gigs remains for work, and when you also use applications, about 500 MB are free. You can live, but they don't want to hear about the optimization of processes at Samsung.
If you play WoT: Blitz at maximum graphics settings, the phone produces 30-35 fps, the performance margin is enough for modern games. The phone does not overheat and does not turn into a heating pad, which is good.
The phone has 2 SIM-cards, with a separate memory card compartment, you don't have to sacrifice a second SIM, if you put a microSD here, it's very practical.
Samsung pleased with the sound quality in the headphones, it plays cleanly, although the volume margin is not very large. The sound through the speaker is clear, but not loud. In the old fashioned way, you can listen to FM radio if you plug in headphones, although now more and more people are listening to Google Music or similar services.
Works one day like everyone else
The Galaxy A5 has a 3000 mAh battery, fast charging works, the phone works for a day and a half days with my load with the Internet and other activities. In the menu, you can find functions to optimize the operation of the system, the device itself determines which applications do not allow it to sleep peacefully and disrupt the operating mode. USB-C is used for charging, it's good that Samsung finally began to transfer equipment to a new port. True, finding a cable in the nearest stall is another problem, USB-C is still not held in high esteem with us, but in vain.
How much is?
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is on sale for 27,990 rubles. Considering that by adding 3 thousand rubles, you can buy last year's flagship Galaxy S6, will you think about taking an old, but more sophisticated phone? Yes, there will be no protection from water and a slot for a memory card, but it better camera, more interesting appearance. Want to save money, but buy Samsung? Then look at the Galaxy A5 (2016), it is still relevant, the filling is simpler, but it costs around 20 thousand.
Of the options for other brands, I can recommend Honor 8 (), it stands like A5, it's more a question of personal attitude to brands, they are similar in characteristics, but Honor has a nicer design for my taste. Another competitor is glass-metal ASUS Zenfone 3 () in a similar style.
Opinion
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) pleased with a rare feature, there are few phones with water protection on sale. How else to surprise? Appearance, in my opinion, has become worse than that of the old generation, last year Galaxy line A3 / A5 / A7 looked more interesting. Although in terms of materials and assembly, everything is still worthy, and the filling has become even more powerful. I think that when prices go down in a few months, the phone will “go to the people”.
Summing up, I will say that new samsung I liked the Galaxy A5 (2017) for its specs, but not for its design. Based on past experience, Samsung is capable of more. The rest of the model turned out to be good, and if you look at the analogs from Huawei or ASUS, you will see comparable price tags, I cannot say that the overpayment for the brand will be too high, Samsung has an adequate pricing policy.
Did not like
- Slippery body
- Shaped design
- No indicator light
- Limited NFC capabilities
- Old Android 6.0
Liked
- Good camera
- Autonomy
- Water resistant
- Functional shell
- Bright screen
For the smartphone provided for testing, I thank the friendliest gadget store Biggeek... By promo code Wylsacom there is a special discount for buyers.