Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) review: The Galaxy S7 on the back burner
A TEST REPORT from David Wurm 
on November 09, 2017, 14:21 p.m. | 1 comment
Samsung's current top model in the mid-range is the Galaxy A5 (2017). In terms of equipment and appearance, it is very similar to the Galaxy S7 - but can it keep up with this one? We'll clarify that review.
The mid-range bargain came out in February this year and is still selling very well. The A5 also regularly receives the latest software updates. It is currently available on Amazon for a bargain price of just under 300 euros. I was able to test the smartphone for a month - that's my conclusion.
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S7-Like: design and workmanship
As with the Galaxy S7, Samsung uses a design made entirely of glass and metal for the Galaxy A5. Therefore, the back is also made of glass and is really smooth in the hand. Similar to the Galaxy S7, all edges are slightly rounded for an even better feeling. The earpiece, front camera and an AMOLED display can be found on the front. The home button, which also serves as a fingerprint sensor, and the capacitive touch buttons are located under the display.
If you look at the smartphone from behind, you will also find the usual Samsung camera in the central position. Unlike some smartphones, however, the camera doesn't protrude - very good. This is new: the speaker on the Galaxy A5 is located on the right edge above the power button for the first time. The loudspeaker is typical for Samsung and does not offer the best sound. It's okay for watching videos, but for streaming music at full volume, the volume on my test device is quite overdriven. Otherwise unfamiliar but well chosen position.
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- The back is very similar to that of the Galaxy S7 and is made entirely of glass. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- At the bottom you can find the usual USB-C connection - there is also a headphone jack. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- The speaker is on the top right. A somewhat unusual position. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- The slot for the micro SD card can be found on the top. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
The memory of the Galaxy A5 (2017) can also be expanded. The corresponding micro-SD slot can be found on the top. The nano-SIM is inserted on the left under the volume buttons. Also worth mentioning: the 3,5mm jack for headphones is located on the underside next to the USB-C port and the microphone. In addition, the A5 is waterproof to a depth of 68 meters for up to 30 minutes in accordance with IP1,5.
Display: 5,2-inch and always-on
The Galaxy A5 (2017) comes with a 5,2-inch Super AMOLED display, which has a full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels). Despite the latest Gorilla Glass 5, my test device had numerous small scratches after just a few days of normal everyday use. Another exciting feature is the always-on function. With this you always have the time, today's date, the current charge level and notification symbols in view. The activated always-on didn't seem to affect the battery much review anyway. Colors look very strong and the display was always easy to read even in full sunlight.
Clearly recognizable: the scratch in the middle of the display, despite Gorilla Glass 5 and careful use. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
Camera: 16 megapixels are available twice
Both cameras, the main camera and the front camera, snap photos with 16 megapixels. The camera of the mid-range smartphone couldn't quite impress me review. While the main camera delivers images with strong colors and sufficient sharpness in good lighting conditions, a lot of image noise is visible in darker illumination. With the HDR mode, you can get even better results from the subject in the evening. However, some details are often still lost in HDR mode. The front camera doesn't take bad selfies, but the pictures seemed a bit blurry review.
Use the following test images to get an impression of the camera for yourself.
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- In good daylight and sun, the camera takes very good and above all colorful pictures. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- The A5 also captured this image very well. This is without HDR, ... (Image: TechnikNewsnet)
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- ... with this HDR is activated and looks a bit overexposed. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- Photographing in direct sunlight does not create any lines or traces on the image. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- Lots of details and good colors, in the close-up ... (Image: TechnikNewsnet)
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- ... the autofocus sometimes has it Protrouble. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- Second close-up. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
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- In dark light conditions, details can still be seen reasonably well, but clear image noise is noticeable. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
The interior: equipment
Under the hood, expect one of the Exynos 7880-Proprocessor, an 8-core processor with 1,9 gigahertz each. Almost 3 gigabytes of RAM are available for this. In my opinion, a somewhat weak equipment. In everyday life I could not open more than 5 apps in multitasking until the last one was reloaded. With apps like Snapchat and Asphalt 8, the A5 (2017) sometimes needed a small pause for thought before the applications were loaded. There is 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using a micro SD card. In the Antutu benchmark, my test device achieved a value of 61070 points, with which the device ranks behind the Galaxy S7.
I was disappointed with the fingerprint sensor. If you compare this with the Huawei P10, Mate 9 or Galaxy S7 is very slow and unreliable. Unlocking often only worked after a few attempts – sometimes not at all. It kept telling me to wipe the home button and wipe it again probeer Sometimes all this was unsuccessful, which made me resort to entering the PIN and thereby had to unlock it.
Software: Android 7.0 and Samsung Experience-OS
My A5 (2017) is currently running on Android 7.0 Nougat, whether an update to Android 8.0 Oreo will follow has not yet been officially confirmed. In addition, Samsung has added its own interface, ExperienceOS, version 8.1. The device receives improvements in the software and security updates at regular intervals, including the recently released security update for October.
Android 8 will take some time, but there is currently Android 7.0 with the latest Samsung UI. (Picture: TechnikNewsnet)
Battery: juice for the whole day
The battery with a capacity of 3000mAh was always sufficient for the whole day. In addition, the A5 (2017) offers very good battery management - with mediocre use and a last charge at 07 a.m., I often had 22% battery at 25 p.m. Using fast charging technology, which can also be deactivated, the smartphone was fully charged in just under 1,5 hours. Together with the software, you are also advised of apps that consume a lot of electricity and should be closed.
Conclusion: The poorer S7 with little price difference
Overall, the Galaxy A5 (2017) is a successful mid-range smartphone. It convinces with a great design, very good workmanship and very good battery management. The fact that the display had many small scratches after a few days, even though I had really taken care of them, surprised me. This has never happened to me with other smartphones. However, the practical always-on feature is a big plus, as it is really practical to always see the time at first glance. In terms of software, I'm sure that the A5 could perform much better without the overloaded Experience OS. The fingerprint sensor is annoying and works really badly. Too bad.
The camera is not necessarily the best for photo fans and frequent photographers, but the A5 does not take bad pictures if the surroundings are sufficiently illuminated. The overall package is a cheap, and for the middle class, a good smartphone, which is currently available for just under 300 euros. If you can put a little more money on the table, however, you should reach for the S7. The OnePlus 3 (T) and the P10 Lite also offer a good alternative and are in the same price range.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) on Amazon
We would like to thank Samsung for providing the Samsung A5 (2017).
