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On January 2, 2017, Samsung unveiled the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A series, comprising three models. This move marks Samsung's first product launch since the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 back in October 2016. Following the unveiling, Samsung announced that they would sell up to 20 million smartphones, targeting Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

General features

Newly improved features include 16-megapixel front and back cameras, an Exynos 7 Octa 7880 SoC, a 3D glass display (similar to Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7), barometer and gyroscope sensors and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance as well as support for Gear 360 (2017). The new design of the series are very similar to the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge, released in March 2016. This was the last Galaxy A series to use the TouchWiz user interface, before being superseded by Samsung Experience and One UI in later models.

Models

Galaxy A3

This series' Galaxy A3 runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with TouchWiz user interface right out-of-the-box. The smartphone features an Exynos 7870 SoC consisting an octa-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and Mali-T830 GPU and backed by 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage expandable to 256 GB via the MicroSD slot which can also be used for a second Nano-SIM.

The device retains a non-removable battery like its predecessor and its battery is rated at 2350mAh. Its extra features similar to the features found in Samsung's 2016 flagships include IP68 water resistance, Always On Display, and 3D glass backing with Gorilla Glass 4. A new "Always On Display" functionality displays a clock, calendar, and notifications on-screen when the device is in standby. It also features an FM radio.

This handset is currently the last in the A3 series, and also the last Samsung handset to feature a screen smaller than 5" (excluding the Japan-only Galaxy Feel).

Just like its predecessors, the Galaxy A3 (2017) was not made available in the United States, China, Malaysia and India.

Galaxy A5

This series' Galaxy A5 runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow right out of the box and runs on TouchWiz interface, but was updated during August 2017 to Android 7.0 Nougat and once again in February 2018 to run Android 8.0 Oreo. The smartphone features an Exynos 7880 SoC consisting of 8 ARM Cortex-A53 backed by the Mali-T830 GPU and sports 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB internal storage, expandable to 256 GB via a dedicated MicroSD slot that it has unlike the predecessors of the A5 (which it was placed in the second Nano-SIM slot). The device retains a non-removable battery like its predecessor, rated at 3000 mAh with fast-charging capabilities. Its extra features similar to Samsung's 2016 flagships include IP68 water resistance, Always On Display and 3D glass backing with Gorilla Glass 4. A new "Always On display" functionality displays a clock, calendar and notifications on screen when the device is in standby.

Unlike its predecessors, the Galaxy A5 (2017) was not released in the United States. However, the Galaxy A5 (2017) was going to be sold in Canada, unlike the 2016 edition.

Galaxy A7

This series' Galaxy A7 runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box and runs on Grace UX interface (and upgradable to Android 7.0 "Nougat" and Android 8.0 "Oreo" with Samsung Experience 8.1 and 9.0 respectively). The smartphone features an Exynos 7880 SoC consisting of 8 ARM Cortex-A53 backed by the Mali-T830MP3 GPU and sports 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, expandable to 256 GB via a MicroSD card slot. Unlike the previous version of the A7, it has a dedicated MicroSD card slot allowing both a second SIM Card in dual SIM models and MicroSD card to be used at the same time.

The device retains a non-removable battery like its predecessor, rated at 3600mAh with fast-charging capabilities. Its extra features, similar to Samsung's 2016 flagship's, include IP68 water resistance, Always-on Display, and 3D glass backing with Gorilla Glass 4. A new "Always On display" functionality displays a clock, calendar, and notifications on-screen when the device is in standby. The Galaxy A7 2017 received the latest and last Android 8.0 Oreo update in 2018.

Unlike its predecessors, the Galaxy A7 will not be coming to the United States, Western and Central Europe as well as Caucasus countries and China. While Samsung Galaxy A7 (2015) had broader availability in Europe, this model was never sold in that region because it was being deemed too expensive and also due to near-direct competition against Samsung Galaxy S7. Samsung will instead sell the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) and Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) to these countries instead.

Critical reception

Svet Kompjutera praised A3 and A5's build quality and performance, noting that the difference in speed between the two is not great in everyday usage. A5's camera was assessed as above-average in the market segment. The price of A5 was judged as reasonable, but A3's price was seen unfavorably.

References

1. Larson, Selena (January 2, 2017). "Samsung unveils first smartphones since Note 7 debacle". CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
2. "Samsung Galaxy A 2017 Series Set to Launch on January 5". December 29, 2016.
3. ^ "Samsung Introduces Stylish, Powerful and Practical Galaxy A (2017) with Enhanced Camera". news.samsung.com.
4. "Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
5. "Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
6. "Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) - Full phone specifications". www.gsmarena.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
7. "Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) Full Phone Specifications". gsmarena.com.
8. "Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) - Corning Gorilla Glass". Corning Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
9. "Samsung Introduces Stylish, Powerful and Practical Galaxy A (2017) with Enhanced Camera".
10. ^ "Shipment goals for new Samsung Galaxy A and J series revealed". PhoneArena. January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
11. "Canadian Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Receives FCC Approval | Androidheadlines.com". AndroidHeadlines.com |. February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
12. "Galaxy A5/A7 2017 - How to install the SIM or USIM card on Dual SIM model". Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
13. "User Manual" (PDF). downloadcenter.samsung.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
14. Samsung Introduces Stylish, Powerful and Practical Galaxy A (2017) with Enhanced Camera – Samsung Global Newsroom
15. Joksimović, Gradimir (March 2017). "Phone Zone - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) i A5 (2017)". www.sk.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved January 18, 2024.

v t e Samsung Galaxy A series
Smartphones	A0 A2 Core A01 Core A02 s A03 Core s A04 e s A05 s A06 A1 A10 e s A11 A12 A13 5G A14 5G A15 5G A16 5G A2 A20 e s A21 s A22 5G A23 5G A24 A25 5G A3 A3 2015 2016 2017 Core A30 s A31 A32 5G A33 5G A34 5G A35 5G A4 A40 A41 A42 5G A5 A5 2015 2016 2017 A50 s A51 5G 5G UW A52 5G s 5G A53 5G A54 5G A55 5G A6 A6 + s A60 A7 A7 2015 2016 2017 2018 A70 s A71 5G 5G UW A72 A73 5G A8 A8 2015 2016 2018 + Star s A80 A82 5G A9 A9 2016 Pro 2018/s Star Lite Pro Pro 2019 A90 5G
Tablets	Tab A 8.0 Tab A 9.7 Tab A 10.1 Tab A 10.5 Tab A6 Tab A7 Lite Tab A8 Tab A9 +
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