(2017), and now we will add text about the younger model of the updated A-series to the site. It is simpler than the older brothers in terms of characteristics, but it costs less and differs in size.
Pretty small, compact and nice design phone of a famous brand. As usual, connoisseurs of Meizu or Xiaomi like to compare their purchases with Samsung or Sony, arguing that it makes no sense to overpay for the brand. But if you want Samsung, but don't want to buy products from other brands? Here we will figure out what's what.
Small and handy
Having spent a week with the Galaxy A3, I got used to its size, the phone is quite small, you can even call it compact by modern standards. The phone looks the same as the older Galaxy A-series: rounded 2.5D glass covers the screen matrix, the case is edged metal frame and glass back.
The contours and outlines are smooth, no sharp parts, the phone looks good, although some may say that the glass back is not practical. Here I will not argue, I did not conduct crash tests, but I suspect that a fall on the asphalt will lead to a web of cracks. Alternatively, you can put the phone in a case, or pay attention to devices with all-metal or plastic cases.
I liked the flat sides - the case is comfortable, and the small curves on the back panel follow the outlines of the palm. The phone is also slippery, like its older brothers in the A-series, but thanks to its small size it is more practical.
In summary, I will say that holding the Galaxy A3 is convenient, and given its small size, it is also comfortable to use it with one hand. Now these things are rare. True, there were blunders with the virtual keyboard - it seems like you are aiming at a button, but you get into the next one. Either the sensor is configured this way, or the habit affects, after a large display it is more difficult to switch to small ones.
It’s easy to manage - under the screen there is a large mechanical Home key, where a fingerprint scanner is built in, and to activate it, you just need to put your finger on it, but you don’t have to press it. It seems like a trifle, but a convenient thing that is not found in all Chinese phones. In addition, by double-clicking on this button, you can quickly launch the camera, which is also a handy feature.
The scanner works quickly, sometimes there are errors, but this is not the top level, so rare "typos" in the work are still forgivable. In addition, there are not so many phones with a fingerprint scanner on the front. Often, users complain when the sensor is located on the back: it is inconvenient when you want to check the status of the phone, whether there are new messages or missed calls. By the way, there is no indicator light here, its absence is compensated by the display of statistics in standby mode on the lock screen, the same Always On Display function, a proprietary feature of Samsung smartphones.
Another plus is water protection, as in more expensive Samsung models. It is better not to swim in the sea, the phone prefers fresh water, rather than very salty sea water. Pay attention to this, there are few phones with IP68 moisture protection on sale, if you do not consider specialized shock-resistant models.
Bright Super AMOLED
The bezels around the screen are not the narrowest, but not very thick either. With a diagonal of 4.7 inches, there is a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, there is a colorful Super AMOLED screen. Yes, it has a proprietary PenTile - if you look closely, you will notice small dots, but if you do not look for flaws in the phone, then you will not understand what it is all about. If you don’t like the default palette, choose calmer options in the settings menu.
Probably, at this point it would be worth adding that for the same money you can buy a Chinese analogue with a higher resolution screen. No doubt, before buying it is better to turn the phone in your hands to form your own opinion about it, I liked the screen with bright colors. Although if you plan to read from your phone, then your eyes get tired of AMOLED, this model is no exception, your eyes ache.
What is inside
Even the more expensive 2017 A-series is not the best for gaming, which is what you want from a younger model. Not everything is so bad here, you can cut into toys, but only simple ones: only 2 GB of RAM, Samsung Exynos 7870 processor and Mali-T830 graphics. Its memory is 16 GB, plus a slot for a microSD memory card is in place, if you decide to sacrifice a second SIM card.
The phone runs on an old Android 6.0, when there will be updates, no information. Yes, there is an ancient version of Android, sometimes you can see twitches in Google Play, or the gallery does not process pictures too quickly, what to do, the filling is without much power reserve. The only question is how you plan to use the phone, if you don’t buy it for gaming pleasures, then you won’t get problems with it.
The speaker of the phone was placed on the right side, the call is heard normally, but this is not the most resonant and not the loudest device on the market. Just normal, normal, I'll say the same about the sound quality. I usually listen to songs through the Spotify app, the phone plays clean and even has a little headroom for the subway.
Camera
The quality of the photos is good, Samsung is traditionally strong in terms of pictures, the camera will not let you down when shooting during the day. In the evenings or indoors, I would like more, noise and artifacts come out, the software kills small details in the pictures, but this is tolerable, given the status of the model in the corporate hierarchy. Nobody forbids buying an old flagship and enjoying life with a more advanced camera, where there will be optical stabilization. Data for statistics: front camera 8 megapixels, main camera 13 megapixels.
Working hours
The 2350 mAh battery seems to be not so much, but the filling is not voracious here, the charge is enough for a couple of days. The phone has a USB-C connector, so pay attention to this if you decide to buy accessories: charging in the car, for example.
Opinion
The price on Yandex.Market starts at 15 thousand rubles for the "gray" versions, and the growth test will cost all 20 thousand. Is it possible to find equivalent options? The Samsung Galaxy A3 will be called by some an overpriced model from a wealthy brand that sells the phone noticeably more than more modest Chinese rivals. Others will say: so what, more expensive and okay, but Samsung is a proven manufacturer. And here everyone will be right in their own way.
As usual, it's better to hold it in your hands before buying it - the Galaxy A3 (2017) turned out to be a nice model, outwardly it does not look like a budget phone, it does not look like a cheap model. But the filling is rather weak, the "Chinese" for the same money will be more powerful. If you set out to choose the most productive smartphone option in the category under 20,000 rubles, then here the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) is not at all the leader.
If you abandon the idea of buying a phone with water protection, then the choice becomes wider and richer, the Galaxy A3 (2017) has other characteristics at the level of classmates, in some ways even worse (performance, old OS, low screen resolution). For the same 20 thousand, you can buy Huawei Nova or Meizu MX6 - phones of a higher level.
So decide which parameters are more important to you, whether you are ready to overpay for the brand name. Or is it better to buy a smartphone from a Chinese manufacturer with more interesting characteristics.
Did not like
- slippery body - a matter of habit
- no indicator light
Liked
- good autonomy
- convenient sizes
- water protection
- bright screen
For the smartphone provided for testing, I thank the friendliest gadget storebiggeek . Wylsacom promo code has a special discount for customers.
Stylish and minimalist.
Comfortable and ergonomic.
Modern colors.
Expanding the boundaries.
Feel like a professional with Galaxy A3 (2017)...
The device works with Nano-SIM cards of all GSM operators.
Stylish and minimalist.
A modern, minimalistic 3D glass and metal body and a 4.7-inch HD sAMOLED screen are all hallmarks of the Galaxy A3 (2017).
Comfortable and ergonomic.
The smooth lines of the body...
The device works with Nano-SIM cards of all GSM operators.
Stylish and minimalist.
A modern, minimalistic 3D glass and metal body and a 4.7-inch HD sAMOLED screen are all hallmarks of the Galaxy A3 (2017).
Comfortable and ergonomic.
The smooth lines of the case, the absence of camera protrusions, the sophisticated and elegant finish make it a real pleasure to use a smartphone.
Modern colors.
Be a trendsetter, don't just follow them. Stylish color schemes are in perfect harmony with the glass and metal body, creating a dynamic and seamless look. Four trendy colors to choose from to perfectly complement your style.
Capture memorable moments.
Thanks to the high resolution of the main camera of 13 MP, photos will always be bright and colorful.
Expanding the boundaries.
With Galaxy A3 (2017), feel like a professional photographer. Having a wide selection of filters allows you to approach the shooting process more creatively. Now every photo will be special.
Bright selfies.
Thanks to the high resolution of the 8 MP front camera, photos will always be colorful and detailed. The new Smart Button makes shooting even easier - now you can choose the location of the shutter button yourself.
Protected from water and dust.
The IP68 water and dust resistance standard allows you to comfortably use Galaxy A3 (2017) smartphones in any conditions - whether it's rain or pool.
Large battery and fast charging.
Enjoy gaming or watching videos even longer with the extended battery.
Equipped to the max.
Separate work and personal life, delete old content because there is not enough memory? Choose what is convenient for you: a slot for a 2nd SIM card or a memory card up to 256 GB.
Always active screen.
With the Always On Display function, all relevant information is always on the screen. View the time, calendar events and unread notifications even when your smartphone is in sleep mode.
Protection and security.
Keep confidential information in a secure folder. Thanks to the secure KNOX environment, you can be sure that your personal information will not fall into the wrong hands.
Samsung cloud.
Samsung Cloud is a secure cloud service where you can store your contacts, photos, calendar, and even your home screen and settings backup. Galaxy A users get 15 GB as a gift.
Simple connection.
The symmetrical USB Type-C cable connector is convenient for use by either side.
Samsung Pay.
Make payments at absolutely all points of sale, thanks to the support of NFC and MST technologies. You can leave your wallet at home and buy goods simply by paying for them with your smartphone. You can be sure of the security of the payment, as all transactions are secured with a fingerprint.
