Samsung Galaxy A Series is out! Yesterday, I was invited to check out the newly launched Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 smartphones in London. These are Samsung Electronics’ latest upper mid-range smartphones that are now available to purchase in the UK. The two variants available are the new A3 and A5 devices which combine style with an enhanced camera and other innovative features to make consumers’ everyday lives more convenient.
The Samsung Galaxy A Series feature enhanced front and rear cameras to enable users to capture moments in brilliant clarity on the go. The advanced camera technology now offers super-accurate autofocus, resulting in vibrant and clear photos; even ones that are captured in low-light conditions. Offering a stylish design as well as the latest technology, the Galaxy A3 and A5 devices feature a metal frame and 3D glass back that draws on Samsung’s premium design heritage.
Perfect for staying connected on the go, the Galaxy A series offers a long lasting battery life and Fast Charging (A5 only), enabling users to get their device back to full power faster than ever before. What’s more, for the first time, the Galaxy A series offers IP68 water and dust resistance, allowing it to withstand elements including rain, sweat, sand and dust so that users can take it with them almost anywhere.
UK consumers can buy the new Galaxy A3 and A5 through Samsung’s online store (priced £369 for A5, and £279 for A3), as well as selected carrier and retail partners. The A Series models are available to buy in four colours including Black Sky, Gold Sand, Blue Mist and Peach Cloud. Personally I love the Peach Cloud. It’s quite a girly and sweet colour.
I had a little play with both smartphones and love the style and of course, the features on the phone. Personally, if I had a big budget to buy a phone, I would go for the A5 as both front and rear cameras are 16-megapixel f/1.9. Nowadays, people use their phone as their main camera as it is always with you so having a great camera is an important consideration.
The next feature on the phone is the flutter shutter camera that allows you to position your button to any corner of the screen. This makes taking selfies so much easier. Lastly, like the Galaxy S7, the Galaxy A3/5 is IP68 water resistant. If you accidentally drop it in the water, you need not worry. You will be able to submerge the phone in 1.5m of water for about 30 minutes without suffering any lasting damage.
| Galaxy A3 | Galaxy A5 | |
| Network | LTE Cat.6 * May differ by markets and mobile operators | LTE Cat.6 * May differ by markets and mobile operators |
| Display | 4.7” FHD Super AMOLED | 5.2” FHD Super AMOLED |
| AP | 1.6GHz Octa Core | 1.9GHz Octa Core |
| OS | Android 6.0.16 (Marshmallow) | Android 6.0.16 (Marshmallow) |
| Camera | Rear : 13MP (F1.9), Front : 8MP (F1.9) | Rear : 16MP (F1.9), Front : 16MP (F1.9) |
| Video | MPEG4, H.265(HEVC), H.264(AVC), H.263, VC-1, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8, VP9 | MPEG4, H.265(HEVC), H.264(AVC), H.263, VC-1, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8, VP9 |
| Audio | MP3, AAC LC/AAC+/eAAC+,AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WMA, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus | MP3, AAC LC/AAC+/eAAC+,AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WMA, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus |
| Additional Features | MST technology(Samsung Pay), Samsung KNOX, S-Voice, Dual SIM option
* Samsung Pay launches may vary by market-readiness |
MST technology(Samsung Pay), Samsung KNOX, S-Voice, Dual SIM option
* Samsung Pay launches may vary by market-readiness |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth® v 4.2, ANT+,
USB Type-C, NFC (UICC) |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth® v 4.2, ANT+,
USB Type-C, NFC (UICC, eSE) |
| Sensor | Accelerometer, Proximity, Geomagnetic, RGB Light, Hall
Fingerprint scanner, Barometer |
Accelerometer, Proximity, Geomagnetic, RGB Light, Hall
Fingerprint scanner, Barometer |
| IP Code | IP68 | IP68 |
| Memory | 2GB RAM + 16GB Storage
Micro SD slot (up to 256GB) |
3GB RAM + 32GB Storage
Micro SD slot (up to 256GB) |
| Dimension | 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9mm | 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm |
| Battery | 2,350mAh | 3,000mAh, Fast Charging |
So what do you think about these new Samsung Galaxy upper mid-range phones? For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/uk.
Disclosure: I was invited to the event but was not asked to write about it. Image used with permission.