Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 Comprehensive Review of Features Pricing and More

Overview of Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)

The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) is part of Samsung's mid-range A series, which was launched in January 2017. Although it's been discontinued, the device offers a compelling suite of features for an affordable price, making it a noteworthy contender in the mid-range smartphone market at the time of its release.

Design and Build

The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) boasts a sleek design with dimensions of 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9 mm and weighs 138 grams. It features a glass front and back made from Gorilla Glass 4, offering substantial durability against scratches and minor impacts. The aluminum frame adds a premium touch, ensuring the device feels solid in hand.

Display

The phone is equipped with a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display, which is known for producing vivid colors and deep blacks. With a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, the display offers clear and sharp viewing experiences. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, which provides additional durability.

Performance

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) is powered by the Exynos 7870 Octa chipset with a 14nm process. The octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU, coupled with the Mali-T830 MP1 GPU, delivers sufficient power for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The device comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a microSDXC card, although it shares the SIM slot.

Software

Originally shipped with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, the Galaxy A3 (2017) is upgradable to Android 8.0 Oreo, allowing users to benefit from newer features and improved performance optimizations introduced in later Android versions.

Camera Quality

The main camera is a single 13 MP wide-angle shooter with an f/1.9 aperture, offering decent photography capabilities. It features an LED flash and supports panorama mode. The main camera can also record video at 1080p at 30fps. On the front, there's an 8 MP selfie camera capable of capturing video in the same 1080p resolution.

Battery and Power Efficiency

The device houses a non-removable Li-Ion 2350 mAh battery, which may seem modest by today's standards. However, with optimized software and efficient hardware, it manages to provide a talk time of up to 17 hours on a 3G network and up to 55 hours of music play.

Network and Connectivity

The Galaxy A3 (2017) supports a wide range of network bands including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, allowing it to offer reliable connectivity options globally. It also features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band and Wi-Fi Direct support, Bluetooth 4.2, and NFC for contactless payments and pairing. The presence of GPS and GLONASS ensures accurate location tracking.

Additional Features

This phone comes with several sensors, including a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, and barometer, enriching the user experience with enhanced security and functionality. Moreover, it includes an FM radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

Audio and Multimedia

Audio performance on the Galaxy A3 (2017) is competent, providing a decent loudspeaker output with an average volume of 66dB for voice and 75dB for ring. It also retains a 3.5mm audio jack, which is convenient for traditional wired earphones users. The audio quality encapsulates a noise level of -94.7dB and crosstalk at -92.3dB, indicating a clean and interference-free listening experience.

Design Variants and Pricing

At launch, the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) was available in four colors: Black Sky, Gold Sand, Blue Mist, and Peach Cloud. The phone was released at an approximate price of 220 EUR, making it an appealing option for budget-conscious consumers seeking a balanced feature set.

Conclusion

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) remains a solid option for those looking for a smartphone that delivers reliable performance, a durable build, and a crisp display in a compact form factor. Its capabilities in connectivity, multimedia, and everyday functionality underscore its worth as an affordable yet efficient device, despite newer models being available today.