Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 review: Galaxy S7-like features at half the price; Device impresses with battery, camera & display

Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 is hitting headlines as the South Korean tech giant recently refreshed the phone. It has incorporated a new design and Galaxy S7-like specs and features. The price is half of the latter.

According to Express, the Samsung smartphone looks great, offers a stunning Always On Display, has a significant battery and comes with an affordable price tag. Some reports have criticised the processor speed or the lack of it and also the fingerprint scanner, that at times seems frustrating. The new Galaxy A5 may not be a premium flagship, but it surely does not feel cheap. It looks premium in its glass and metal avatar. The smartphone has been designed aesthetically with all the buttons sitting at the right places.

The phone comes with a very colourful and bright 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display. The brilliant screen also offers an Always On option. It includes a screen adaptive technology and a blue light filter. However, the 1.9 Ghz Octa-core processor disappoints and the phone feels sluggish at times. The new Galaxy A5 camera packs a lot of power with two 16MP cameras taking some really great images. Samsung has included various new features such as Night and Pro modes. The selfie camera has a screen flash and a Beauty mode for a perfect touch-up.

The Galaxy Samsung A5 2017 charges via a USB Type-C port. The battery impresses with 70 percent charge remaining even after six hours of heavy-duty gaming. Users can also use the Low Power mode to save some juice. The smartphone is water-resistant. It has 32GB internal memory, expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. Users have had mixed experience with the fingerprint scanner though. While at times, it unlocks lightning fast, at other times, it just won’t unlock. The price is also affordable.

According to Gizmodo, the Galaxy A5 2017 costs $649 in Australia. Buyers will see discounted phones on monthly repayment options from telcos in the coming months. One can buy the device from Samsung Australia official website. The price doesn’t break the bank and is available at nearly half the price of the Galaxy S7 Edge. Even with the little hiccups here and there with the processor speed and fingerprint scanner, the smartphone is a great option for those who are looking to have some pretty cool Samsung specs in the mid-range segment.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab S3 is quite a rage now, and many are comparing to the still unannounced Google Nexus 7 2017. Stay tuned on IBT AU for more updates on the Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 and other devices from the South Korean tech giant.

READ MORE: Nexus 7 2017 vs Galaxy Tab S3: Samsung feels challenged as Google may not be over with Nexus yet