Samsung Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017): which smartphone is better? Samsung Galaxy A5 – a beautiful smartphone with water protection Which smartphone is better: Samsung a5 or a7

Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017: Today we compare last year's flagship of the South Korean manufacturer Galaxy S7 and its more affordable version Galaxy A5 2017. We will determine the differences between smartphones in characteristics, cameras, battery life and other aspects.

Samsung has launched its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, which means you can buy two great Galaxy devices (last year's Galaxy S7 and the new Galaxy A5 2017) for a surprisingly low price.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 comparison of characteristics

Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 appearance comparison

Both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 have attractive designs. Smartphones are made of a combination of glass and metal. Additionally, both devices are more or less the same size and weight, despite the Galaxy S7 having a slightly smaller screen size (5.1 inches) compared to the A5 2017 (5.2 inches). In any case, both phones are comfortable to use with one hand.

Interestingly, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 are waterproof, so you don't have to worry about them if you get caught in heavy rain or accidentally drop them in the pool.

The fingerprint scanner on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 is located on the front panel under the home button.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 features comparison

The Galaxy S7 beats its rival when it comes to screen quality. Last year's flagship of the company has a Quad HD resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. For comparison, the Galaxy A5 2017 comes with a more familiar Full HD display resolution.

However, both phones have stunning screens and you won't notice much of a difference even if you compare them side-by-side. Since the displays feature Super AMOLED technology, you can expect vibrant visuals and very high brightness.

In terms of internal storage, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 offer a 32GB option. Additionally, the flagship Galaxy S series is available in a 64GB model. Fortunately, both smartphones have a slot for expanding the internal memory using a MicroSD card up to 256 GB.

As you know, most Samsung smartphones run on Android, and our heroes are no exception. The difference between the Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 is that the former device can already be updated to Android 7.0 Nougat, while the update for the latter smartphone is still pending.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 performance and battery comparison

When it comes to performance, the Galaxy S7 has the edge. Both smartphones run on Samsung's own Exynos processors. However, the Galaxy S7 comes with the more powerful Exynos 8890 chipset, while inside the Galaxy A5 2017 you'll find an Exynos 7880 chipset). The Galaxy S7 also offers an additional gigabyte of RAM, which will allow the smartphone to run smoother and faster.

However, this does not mean that the Galaxy A5 2017 has poor performance. This is an excellent smartphone that can handle the latest game without any problems.

When it comes to battery, the Galaxy A5 2017 definitely has the edge. Owners of this device can expect more than one working day of battery life, while the Galaxy S7 will need to be charged at the end of each day, perhaps even more often.

Additionally, the A5 2017 has a USB Type-C port, which means faster charging and data transfer.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017 camera comparison

If the camera is the main factor when choosing a smartphone, then the Galaxy S7 should be your choice. This phone has one of the best cameras of 2017. We don't think it's worth going into too much detail as you can find tons of photos and reviews of the camera on YouTube and the internet.

The Galaxy A5 2017 doesn't have as great a camera as the Galaxy S7, but you still won't be disappointed. The phone is capable of taking vivid, detailed photos. However, the Galaxy A5 loses out in Full HD video recording because the Galaxy S7 can shoot 4K Ultra HD video.

We conducted a detailed comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and A5 2017, and found out the main differences between the smartphones. The final decision is yours.

In this review, we compare the new Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) with last year's version to see what has changed. Thus, we will answer the question, is it worth replacing the 2016 Galaxy A5 with the 2017 model?

Let me remind you that the original models were released in 2015. A year later, Samsung introduced updated Galaxy A series phones, and now the company has launched three more new gadgets marked “2017”. Samsung Galaxy A5 is the most popular of them, so today we will talk about it.

Comparison of characteristics of Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A5 (2016)

To instantly get a picture of the differences between the new and its predecessor in your head, take a look at the list of their characteristics side by side. I’ll say right away that on paper the new mid-ranger is much more interesting than the 2016 model, but we still have to find out what it will actually be like.

	Galaxy A5 (2016)	Galaxy A5 (2017)
Screen	5.2-inch Full HD Super AMOLED, 424ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 4	5.2-inch Full HD Super AMOLED, 424ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, Always On Display
Main camera	13-megapixel CMOS, f/1.9, autofocus, optical stabilization, 1080p video recording	16 megapixel CMOS, f/1.9, autofocus, 1080p video recording
Front-camera	5 megapixel, f/1.9, 1080p video recording	16-megapixel, f/1.9, video recording at 1080p
CPU	Exynos 7580, 1.6 GHz, eight-core CPU and Mali-T720MP2 graphics	Exynos 7880, 1.9 GHz, eight-core CPU and Mali-T830MP3 graphics
RAM	2 GB	3 GB
Memory	16 GB of internal memory, microSD (up to 128 GB)	32 GB of internal memory, microSD (up to 256 GB)
Software	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, upgradable to Android 7.0	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, upgradable to Android 7.0
Battery	2,900 mAh, fast charging	3,000 mAh, fast charging
Connection	Dual SIM cards, LTE, FM radio, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS, microUSB v2.0 with OTG support	Dual SIM cards, LTE, FM radio, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, USB Type-C with OTG support
Other	Samsung KNOX, Fingerprint Scanner, Samsung Pay (NFC)	Samsung Pay (NFC and MST), KNOX, IP68 certified fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port

Appearance

Like last year, the Koreans used premium materials: metal and glass, but the 2017 model looks more solid. Perhaps the fact is that with its rounded corners it resembles the flagship Galaxy S7. The volume, power and Home buttons remain in their places. Naturally, there is also a fingerprint scanner.

Due to the presence of curved edges on the back cover, the handset fits almost perfectly in the hand. The surface may feel a little slippery, but this is not a problem at all. This year, Samsung introduced the Galaxy A5 (2017) in a new blue color, and the white variant is no longer available.

Specifications

The successor to last year's Galaxy A5 model received a next-generation 64-bit Exynos processor, faster RAM of 3 GB instead of 2 and 32 GB of permanent memory instead of 16. Inside the new product there is one radio module with support for two SIM cards. There is also a separate slot for a microSD memory card.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) surpasses its predecessor in performance, graphics capabilities and speed. Also, its clear advantage is the body, which is certified to the IP68 standard, which means only one thing - the smartphone is dust- and waterproof.

Screen

Both devices have the same 5.2-inch screens with Full HD resolution and a pixel density of 424 ppi. They even have almost the same screen-to-body ratio: 72.27% for the A5 (2017) and 72.39% for the Galaxy A5 (2016). Like its predecessor, the 2017 gadget's front part is protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

Battery

Samsung apparently listened to users of the Galaxy A5 2016, since the new product received a more capacious battery. Although its capacity has increased by only 100 mAh, the energy-efficient components of the newly-made phone will allow it to work offline for much longer. Probably because of this, he became a little thicker, taller and wider.

Charging on the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is noticeably faster than on the Samsung A5 (2016).

Cameras

Both cameras have improved significantly in the updated 2017 model. The sensor resolution of the main lens has increased from 13 MP to 16, but the aperture size has not changed - f/1.9.

Unfortunately, smartphones in this series still do not have the ability to record 4K video. The front camera has the same 16-megapixel sensor as the main one. A great improvement over the 5 MP on the Galaxy A5 (2016).

Software and Features

Hearing that the new mid-ranger runs on the Android 6.0.1 operating system will definitely upset you, but the situation is saved by the fact that Seoulians are using the latest version of their user interface. The system is faster and smoother, but the best part is that it has features from the company's flagship devices.

For example, this device has adopted the Always On Display function from its more expensive counterparts. That is, you get an always active screen with minimal battery consumption. On it you can see missed notifications, time, calendar and even player control buttons.

The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017), like other modern flagships of the company, comes pre-installed with the Samsung Cloud application. This, as you might have guessed, is similar to Google Drive. The company gives each owner of this smartphone 15 GB of space in the cloud, where you can upload photos, videos, documents and other data.

Like the 2016 model, the new A5 has support for the Samsung Pay mobile payment system.

conclusions

We think the main reason to buy the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is its waterproof design. You can immerse the device to a depth of up to 1.5 meters and it can stay there for up to half an hour. The new mid-ranger, unlike its predecessor, has a double-sided USB Type-C port (no matter which side you connect it to).

The device will definitely appeal to people who are crazy about selfie photography as the front camera has an impressive 16MP resolution. You will definitely be pleased with the improved version of the user interface and a more powerful hardware platform. You also get twice the internal memory and a separate memory card slot.

Is it worth buying the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) if you already have a Galaxy A5 (2016)? More likely no than yes. Still, the new device is not that much better than last year’s model. But if you have a 2015 A5, then you will definitely notice the difference.

Samsung Galaxy A5 vs iPhone 5s – is there any point in comparing? After all, 6 and 7 models of these popular devices have already appeared. Undoubtedly! In any case, many people are interested in what is better: Samsung A5 or iPhone 5s? The age-old confrontation bears fruit every year in the form of constant growth of both brands. And before you have time to properly enjoy the capabilities of one, the next model is already coming out.

Interesting, of course, but how to make sense of all this newness? Maybe this is all banal window dressing and there is no fundamental difference? Not at all - the differences are serious, and it is worth carefully understanding the features of the gadget before purchasing a similar toy for yourself.

It might be worthwhile to compare the iPhone 5s and the Samsung Galaxy S5, but in this case it is the Samsung Galaxy 5A that appears. To check, you need to examine both smartphones in detail - after all, a businessman will probably choose one model, and a student another. And price does not play a fundamental role here.

CPU

The iPhone 5s uses the Apple A7 processor, which is much more productive and energy-efficient than previous models. But, oddly enough, it was manufactured by Samsung. The technology used was the same as for the processor for the Samsung Galaxy S4. Therefore, logically, it should be somewhat inferior to the more advanced Samsung A5. But…

The Koreans used the Snapdragon 410 processor from Qualcomm in the A5. Both processors have a 64-bit architecture and a similar frequency, but in terms of overall performance the A7 is slightly superior to the “Korean”, although it has as many as 4 cores, while the “American” has only 2 cores. The L1 cache size of the A7 is larger, so here it is presented in a more favorable light compared to its competitor. Graphics performance is approximately the same, but in terms of games, you should probably still give preference to the A7.

But some features allow the Snapdragon 410 to work with 3G communications at higher speeds, which gives it a certain advantage.

operating system

The eternal struggle between Western iOS and Asian Android is already becoming the talk of the town, but it’s still worth comparing.

In terms of the availability of applications for both systems, you don’t have to worry - enough software has been created for them, however, the AppStore application store for iOS is very convenient, no doubt. But for Android, at your own peril and risk, of course, you can use any source, there are no restrictions, and this is a huge plus. It’s also easier to upload media through “Andryusha”.

In general, it was created for freedom lovers who believe that the user should be the master of his smartphone. And they are right.

In addition, in terms of communication, the use of cloud storage and navigation maps, Android is also superior to its Western competitor.

But iOS has higher security, which is not surprising, of course. In general, the choice here depends more on the owner’s personality type and his views on things.

Memory

But here the iPhone is clearly lagging behind - the fact that you can’t install a microflash drive is already enough. No, you can connect external media, but it is inconvenient.

True, the built-in memory, depending on the modification, of the iPhone 5s is much higher, from 16 gigs to 64 gigs. Samsung has only 16 gigs, but you can install a flash drive up to 64 gigs. But, in any case, this is 80 gigs in total, and the iPhone has a limit of 64 gigs.

The RAM in the iPhone 5s is 1 gig, and in the Samsung it is 2 times more. This often evens out their chances when running some games.

Battery

The battery of the Samsung A5 is more powerful and capacious - 2300 mAh and lasts for 15 hours of talk time, while the iPhone 5s has 1560 mAh and lasts only 10 hours, just like when surfing the web. Although both of these should be quite enough.

You can listen to music on a Samsung for 68 hours, and on an iPhone – 40 hours. Quite a lot too. In the video, the Korean lasts for 12 hours, and the American for 10 hours.

In standby mode, both last up to 10 days.

Both smartphones have non-removable batteries, which is, of course, a minus, but soon this will be the case in all modern models. It's worth getting used to.

But the above indicators are relevant for new batteries, and over time, the operating time naturally decreases. A lot also depends on the volume and brightness level.

Display

iPhone 5s is equipped with a 4-inch Retina display, with a resolution of 1136 x 640p, multi-touch support (simultaneous touching at several points) and an oleophobic coating that prevents fingerprints.

The Samsung A5 has a 5-inch Super AMOLED with a resolution of 1280x720p, which already gives it an advantage. In all other respects there are no big differences.

Camera

Here Samsung is again ahead of its competitor - the main camera is equipped with a 13 megapixel module, and the front camera is equipped with a 5 megapixel module. For comparison, the American has 8 megapixels on the main one and only 1.2 megapixels on the front camera. Not impressive at all...

No, the iPhone, in this regard, has additional features and shooting features, but the number of megapixels is still important.

Sensors

Here the iPhone is a more sophisticated thing, and in addition to the compass, accelerometer, proximity sensor, GLONASS, GPS and A-GPS systems that Samsung has, it has a built-in fingerprint scanner (Touch ID), a gyroscope and an ambient light sensor.

Life time

At the moment, the warranty for all Apple products is given for no more than 3 years, just like for Samsung. Therefore, this indicator is not so significant. But, popularly, Apple devices are considered more reliable in this regard.

Design

The Korean Galaxy is made in a metal case (for the first time), which at that time provoked a surge in sales. It looks really stylish and the color range is expanded: black, gold, white and blue.

The case is monolithic - you cannot remove the battery. Well, what’s the point anyway – if they’re not sold separately? Alas…

There is a carriage on the side - you can fit 2 SIM cards or a SIM card and a microflash drive there. It's a pity that there are only two slots.

The iPhone has an aluminum body and three possible colors: black-gray, white and gold. The size is slightly smaller than the Samsung, and it looks a little thicker.

But, to be honest, Samsung's elegance is achieved by rounding the edges, and the thickness itself is slightly less. Moreover, due to the cut edges, the Samsung often slips out, although a person with the “right” hands usually does not have such problems.

Price

The price of the iPhone 5s depends on the model, or more precisely, the size of the built-in memory:

• 16 GB – 20,000 rubles (average);
• 32 GB – 35,000 rubles (average);
• 64 GB – 40,000 rubles (average).

But prices for Samsung A5 range from 12,000 rubles to 20,000 rubles - which is much more profitable than Apple prices.

Conclusion

So, what did the comparison between the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy A5 lead to? Despite all the visible advantages of Samsung, the choice is not easy. After all, the iPhone, be that as it may, is considered a more reliable technology. This is a time-tested brand. He had no incidents similar to the summer explosions of Samsung. It prevents users from installing pirated software and media. Although anyone who really wants it will find an opportunity.

An iPhone is a good phone and a status that not everyone can afford. Many will say that these are just “show-offs”, but they cannot be called cheap...

But Samsung is more affordable and easy to use. No hacking required - just take it and install what you want. This is a free right of any user. No one will say that music and software must be downloaded from the official copyright holders. Broken? Drowned? Accidentally crashed? It’s not such a pity - the price is quite affordable, and the quality is almost as good as its more expensive opponent.

In which the annual update of A series smartphones became the third in a row. Galaxy A is the company's main stronghold in the mid-price segment, which has to compete with numerous gadgets from Xiaomi, Meizu and other Chinese manufacturers.

The line consists of 3 devices – Galaxy A3, A5 and A7, and this time Samsung tried to bring them as close as possible to their own flagships. Thus, the phones received an almost identical design, protection from moisture and support Samsung Pay, but the main trump card of the new generation should be an improved camera, the resolution of which is as much as 16 MP.

Flagship ambitions

What are the similarities between the Galaxy A and S series of smartphones? Previously, they had absolutely nothing in common, but the new devices received flagship IP68 water protection. Compliance with this standard indicates that the phone body is completely resistant to dust and can withstand a 30-minute stay in water at a depth of 1 meter without any consequences. This is undoubtedly a good move, since such a “feature” is rarely seen even in competitors’ flagships, while Samsung offers it in mid-range ones.

The pleasant innovations don’t end there. A separate slot for Micro SD was added to the A5 and A7 smartphones, now you don’t have to give up a memory card for a second SIM card, but in the younger version of the A3 they left a hybrid slot in which you can install one SIM card and Micro-SD.

The A3 is also slightly deprived of built-in memory; the storage size in it is 16 GB, while in the A5 and A7 it is 32 GB. In all three smartphones, the maximum supported card capacity is 256 GB.

The appearance of the A series smartphones is now very similar to the flagship S line; with a quick glance at the devices, it is quite possible to confuse them. The back cover of the gadgets is made of ceramic with rounded edges, the side edging is represented by a metal frame, and the front part is covered with Gorilla Glass.

Galaxy A3 is equipped with a 4.7-inch (HD) screen, A5 – 5.2-inch (FHD), A7 – 5.7-inch (FHD). In terms of ergonomics, the A5 seemed to us to be the most convenient solution; in the younger version, the screen already looks frankly small, and the smartphone itself is convenient, but it lags far behind other versions in terms of technical characteristics. Whereas the A7 is a large phablet, which not everyone will be comfortable using.

The quality of the screens in all smartphones is high; they are made on the basis of energy-efficient Super AMOLED matrices, which Samsung has traditionally done well. The Always ON function has migrated from the flagships to the A series, when turned on, the time, date and the most important notifications are displayed on the screen of a locked smartphone. In active mode, this function consumes about 15% of the battery charge per day.

Smartphones are equipped with an NFC chip and support the Samsung Play service. Gadgets can be used to make contactless payments - you simply link your bank card to your smartphone and get the opportunity to pay for purchases by touching your phone to the terminal.

The devices will be produced in 4 colors - black, gold, pink and blue. The latter look very gentle and elegant; they will definitely appeal to the fair sex. It is worth considering that the ceramic case tends to quickly become covered with fingerprints, and the lighter it is, the less traces will be visible.

Cameras as the main advantage

The engineers of the Korean corporation are convinced that the main target audience of the Galaxy A series is young people who regularly use a smartphone camera. Therefore, increased attention was paid to the photographic capabilities of the new products.

Let's immediately make a reservation that the A3 does not pretend to be a camera phone. The younger version was deprived of a new camera module, instead of which 13 and 8 MP matrices from the previous generation are used, which lack phase detection autofocus.

In the A5 and A7, both cameras – the main and the front – are represented by identical 16 MP matrices with an f/1.9 aperture and phase detection autofocus. The photos turn out great, the sharpness and detail are at a high level, and the color rendition is as close to reality as possible. The same applies to selfies taken with the front camera - they are very good.

Phase detection autofocus works instantly in 95% of cases, but when shooting colorful scenes with many contrasting objects, it can begin to hunt until it catches on the desired part of the scene. The only real complaint we can make is the lack of any stabilization, which is why the pictures often show movement due to shaking hands. This is especially noticeable when shooting in low light.

Performance as the main disadvantage

All 3 smartphones are powered by an 8-core Exynos 7880 processor, but in the A3 its clock frequency is 1.6 GHz, while in the A5 and A7 it is 1.9 GHz, and the older versions have more RAM installed - 3 GB versus 2 GB in A3.

Testing new products in benchmarks gave the following results:

Considering the cost of the devices, which we will talk about later, this is far from a record figure. However, the gadgets will cope with any everyday tasks without problems, even the younger model will not glitch when watching YouTube, surfing the Internet and using 99% of applications. But Galaxy A gamers will be disappointed; you won’t be able to play the most resource-intensive games on them at maximum graphics settings.

I am glad that Samsung has finally decided to abandon the obsolete Micro-USB and equipped smartphones with a USB-C connector, through which external peripherals can be connected to gadgets. The battery capacity in the A3, A5 and A7 is 2350, 3000 and 3600 mAh, respectively, which, paired with an energy-efficient AMOLED screen, allows you to count on decent battery life. The A5 and A7 smartphones also offer fast charging.

Everything would be fine, but the price...

The Galaxy A 2017 line has many advantages: it has cool cameras, flagship design, moisture protection, and much more. However, all the positive aspects and advantages can be outweighed by the price of smartphones, which we consider overpriced.

The official cost of gadgets that will appear on store shelves in January will be 33 thousand for the A7, 28 thousand for the A5 and 23 thousand rubles for the A3. New items will be forced to compete with such devices as (27-30 thousand), (25 thousand) and (25 thousand), which surpass them in literally all characteristics.

In addition, the gray Galaxy S7 can now be purchased for 35 thousand, and the new flagship with a similar processor will cost the same as the Galaxy A7. And there is no hope that the price of gadgets from Koreans will decrease after the start of sales. In general, the price of smartphones is definitely overpriced, and only Samsung fans or people who are poorly familiar with the smartphone market can decide to spend money on a device with weaker characteristics, instead of taking a competitive Chinese flagship.

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The Galaxy A series can be considered unique not only for Samsung, but also for the Android smartphone market in general. Typically, manufacturers try to cram more powerful hardware into mid-priced smartphones, and their design is made according to the residual principle. The first generation of Galaxy A devices had exactly the opposite: the appearance was interesting, but the hardware let us down. Technically weak smartphones made of metal and glass managed to receive a lot of negative reviews from the press, and yet these devices were popular. This is understandable and even expected: there are not many smartphones with an interesting design for 20-25 thousand rubles; “fashionistas” who don’t want to spend money on a flagship model don’t have much to choose from.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) in pink - official photo. White, black and gold colors will also be available for new products.

Now the Galaxy A family has been updated, and the leitmotif of this “update” was to improve the technical characteristics of the devices, since the capabilities of previous gadgets did not even reach the unspoken middle-class standards. The new generation has solved this problem - at least “on paper” the characteristics of the Galaxy A3 and A5 look very good. What are they like in practice? We will answer this question after thorough testing of both devices. It is noteworthy that the previous A3 and A5 remain on sale along with the new ones, while the older Galaxy A7 of 2016 pushed its parent off the shelves. We'll talk about it in detail another time.

⇡ Technical specifications

	Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)	Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)	Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
Touch screen	4.7 inches, 1280 × 720 pixels, pixel density 312.5 per inch; Super AMOLED matrix;	5.2 inches, 1920 × 1080 pixels, pixel density 423.6 per inch; Super AMOLED matrix; Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches	5.5 inches, 1920 × 1080 pixels, pixel density 400.5 per inch; Super AMOLED matrix; Capacitive, up to ten simultaneous touches
Protective glass		Corning Gorilla Glass 4 front and back	Corning Gorilla Glass 4 front and back
Air gap	No	No	No
Oleophobic coating	Eat	Eat	Eat
Polarizing filter	Eat	Eat	Eat
CPU	Samsung Exynos 7578: four ARM Cortex-A53 cores (ARMv8-A); frequency 1.5 GHz; 28 nm HKMG process technology; There is also a version with Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916*, but it is not officially supplied to Russia.	frequency 1.6 GHz; 28 nm HKMG process technology; support for 32-bit and 64-bit computing.	eight cores ARM Cortex-A53 (ARMv8-A); frequency 1.6 GHz; 28 nm HKMG process technology; support for 32-bit and 64-bit computing. There is also a version with Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939*, but it is not officially supplied to Russia.
Graphics controller	ARM Mali-T720MP2, 600 MHz * Qualcomm Adreno 306 @ 450 MHz	ARM Mali-T720MP2, 600 MHz	ARM Mali-T720MP2, 600 MHz * Qualcomm Adreno 405 @ 550 MHz
RAM, GB	1,5	2	3
Flash memory	16 GB + microSD	16 GB + microSD (memory card is installed instead of the second Nano-SIM)	16 GB + microSD (memory card is installed instead of the second Nano-SIM)
Connectors	1 × Micro-USB 2.0 (MHL) 1 × Nano-SIM	1 × Micro-USB 2.0 (MHL) 1 × 3.5mm headset jack 1 × Nano-SIM 1 × Nano-SIM/microSD (combined)	1 × Micro-USB 2.0 (MHL) 1 × 3.5mm headset jack 1 × Nano-SIM 1 × Nano-SIM/microSD (combined)
cellular	2G/3G/4G	2G/3G/4G One SIM card in Nano-SIM format, the second instead of microSD	2G/3G/4G One SIM card in Nano-SIM format, the second instead of microSD
Cellular connection 2G	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Cellular 3G	DC-HSPA (42.2/5.76 Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	DC-HSPA (42.2/5.76 Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100 MHz	DC-HSPA (42.2/5.76 Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
Cellular 4G	LTE Cat. 4 (150/50 Mbit/s) 2600/900/800/2300 MHz)	LTE Cat. 6 (300/50 Mbit/s) band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 (2100/1800/850/ 2600/900/800/2300 MHz)	LTE Cat. 6 (300/50 Mbit/s) band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40 (2100/1800/850/ 2600/900/800/2300 MHz)
WiFi	802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct	802.11a/b/g/n, 2.4 and 5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct	802.11a/b/g/n, 2.4 and 5 GHz + Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth	4.1 + A2DP + LE + EDR	4.1 + A2DP + LE + EDR	4.1 + A2DP + LE + EDR
NFC	Eat	Eat	Eat
IR port	No	No	No
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Sensors	Light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope,	magnetometer (digital compass)	Light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope/pedometer, magnetometer (digital compass)
Fingerprint's scanner	No	Eat	Eat
Main camera	ƒ/1.9; Autofocus, LED flash	13 MP, back-illuminated sensor, minimum relative aperture ƒ/1.9; Autofocus, LED flash	13 MP, back-illuminated sensor, minimum relative aperture ƒ/1.9; Optical stabilization system; Autofocus, LED flash
Front-camera	ƒ/1.9; No autofocus, no flash	5 MP, back-illuminated sensor, minimum relative aperture ƒ/1.9; No autofocus, no flash	5 MP, back-illuminated sensor, minimum relative aperture ƒ/1.9; No autofocus, no flash
Nutrition	Non-removable battery: 8.7 Wh (2300 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable battery: 11.02 Wh (2900 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable battery: 12.54 Wh (3300 mAh, 3.8 V)
Size, mm	134×65 Case thickness: 6.9	145×71 Case thickness 7.3	151×74 Case thickness 7.3
Weight, g	132	155	172
Housing protection	No	No	No
operating system	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Samsung's own TouchWiz shell	Android 5.1.1 Lollipop Samsung's own TouchWiz shell
Average retail price	About 20 thousand rubles	About 25 thousand rubles	About 28 thousand rubles

⇡ Appearance and ergonomics

Of course, Samsung fans will appreciate the fact that the current Galaxy A series smartphones are very similar to the flagship Galaxy S6. This was achieved through the use of similar body proportions, close corner radii and identical color schemes for both flagships and mid-rangers. Indeed, it’s easy to confuse the 2016 Galaxy A5 and the Galaxy S6 with each other, even from a short distance.

However, what the new product has in common with the flagship model is the use of tempered Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the rear panel. The previous generation Galaxy A had a metal back, while the new one has a glass back. This is, perhaps, more beautiful, and Gorilla Glass 4, as we know from experience with other smartphones, is resistant to minor damage and scratches: you can carry devices in the same pocket with keys and coins. But you shouldn’t drop them - the glass will most likely break after the first fall. This is perhaps the main and only disadvantage of using glass instead of metal. By the way, the front panel of the devices is also covered with the same glass - with an oleophobic coating and an anti-glare filter.

The Galaxy A3 and A5 themselves are very similar to each other. The main difference, of course, is the dimensions. The “Five” turned out to be larger: its display is half an inch larger, which could not but affect its weight - it weighs 155 grams, while the “three-ruble” weighs only 132 grams. To be honest, my hands don’t get tired of both smartphones - their weight is acceptable. The younger model turned out to be thinner - 6.9 versus 7.3 mm. In general, the Samsung Galaxy A3 is a compact smartphone that is convenient to use with one hand; To reach all four corners of the A5 display, you will have to hold the device in your hand, like most modern Android gadgets.