Samsung India has launched new versions of the Galaxy A5 and A7 smartphones. Priced at Rs. 28,990 and Rs. 33,490 respectively, the two new A-series devices are going up against devices like the OnePlus 3T, Honor 8 and more. So, what’s new? Here is a first look.
The Galaxy A5 is smaller and retains the same screen size as its predecessor, although the phone is now a hair thicker and heavier by about 2 grams. The phone feels light enough, though, and is extremely easy to hold. Here are some key specifications of the device.
Display: 5.2-inch, 1080p
SoC: 1.9 GHz octa-core Exynos 7880
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 16MP, 16MP
Battery: 3000mAh
OS: Android 6.0.1
The bigger Galaxy A7 shares similar hardware and design. The larger display also makes way for a larger battery. Here are the key specifications of the device.
Display: 5.7-inch, 1080p
SoC: Exynos 7880
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 16MP, 16MP
Battery: 3600mAH
OS: Android 6.0.1
Both phones share a similar look and feel. Built out of metal and glass, the design is reminiscent of Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S7. This gives it a very premium look, but having a glass back also means that both phones are fingerprint magnets.
The single speaker on the phones have been moved to the right side, just above the power button. This position of the speaker is a little odd, although it shouldn't be easily muffled this way.
That being said, we would have liked a stereo speaker setup at this price.
Both phones have USB Type-C ports and support fast charging. In addition, both the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 now come with IP68 certification, making them dust and waterproof.
The volume controls are on the right. Both phones support dual SIMs and feature a dedicated microSD card slot.
The rear camera has been bumped to a 16MP sensor. Both phones have a similar setup, using a BSI sensor with a f/1.9 aperture. The front facing camera has also been upgraded to a 16MP sensor, with the same aperture.
Nothing much has changed on the display front as both devices use Samsung’s signature Super AMOLED displays. The Galaxy A5 has a 5.2-inch screen, while the Galaxy A7 has a 5.7-inch display. Samsung's Always-On feature comes to the A-series this year.
Like the display, the position and functionality of the fingerprint scanner remains pretty much unchanged.