Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos distinguishes itself with an elegant design and robust build quality. Measuring 158 x 76.8 x 5.9 mm and weighing 151 grams, the phone is exceptionally slim and lightweight. The entirely metal edges and the high-quality glass add to its premium feel. With a height-to-width ratio indicative of its slim design, the Galaxy A8 Duos is both attractive and ergonomic, offering a comfortable grip.

Available in colors like Pearl White, Midnight Black, and Champagne Gold, the aesthetics of the Galaxy A8 Duos cater to different tastes. The front features a super AMOLED display with thin bezels, which ensures a rich and immersive viewing experience.

Display

The phone sports a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, renowned for delivering vibrant and punchy colors. The display resolution stands at 1080 x 1920 pixels, with a screen-to-body ratio of about 73.8% and a pixel density of ~386 ppi, providing sharp and clear images.

The Super AMOLED technology ensures deep blacks and great viewing angles, making it ideal for media consumption. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, the screen is resistant to scratches and minor abrasions.

Network and Connectivity

Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos supports multiple network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, making it a versatile device for global communication. It is equipped with a hybrid dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) slot, allowing users to benefit from multiple carriers.

The device offers a wide coverage of 2G, 3G, and 4G bands, ensuring that users can remain connected seamlessly in different regions. Additionally, high-speed data access is supported with LTE Cat6 technology, offering download speeds up to 300 Mbps and upload speeds up to 50 Mbps.

Performance

The Galaxy A8 Duos is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset for the A800Y model and the Exynos 5430 Octa chipset for the A800F model. Both versions offer octa-core CPUs that include a combination of Cortex-A53 and Cortex-A15 processors, ensuring efficient multitasking and smooth performance.

The GPU, an Adreno 405 for the Snapdragon variant and Mali-T628 MP6 for the Exynos variant, handles graphic-intensive tasks effectively. With 2GB of RAM, the device is capable of running most applications smoothly, although it might struggle with the most demanding games or extreme multitasking scenarios.

Camera Capabilities

The main camera setup features a 16 MP sensor with an aperture of f/1.9 and a 31mm standard lens. Promising excellent photography capabilities, it comes equipped with an LED flash, panorama, and HDR features, enabling high-quality shots in various light conditions. The camera is capable of recording 1080p videos at 30fps, providing users with solid video recording performance.

On the front, the 5 MP selfie camera also comes with an f/1.9 aperture and offers wide-angle shots ideal for group photos. It supports full HD video at 30fps, making it suitable for crisp and clear video calls.

Battery Life and Features

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 3050 mAh battery. It's capable of offering up to 17 hours of talk time on 3G networks and up to 51 hours of music playback. The endurance rating of 98 hours highlights its capability to last through a full day of typical usage.

Additional features include a front-mounted fingerprint sensor providing security alongside sensors like accelerometer, proximity, and compass. It maintains a balanced audio quality through its 3.5mm jack and loudspeaker configuration, with adequate performance across various volume levels.

Software and User Interface

The Galaxy A8 Duos was initially released with Android 5.1 Lollipop but is upgradable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which brought enhancements in performance, battery optimization, and user interface. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI overlaid on top of the OS offers additional features and customizations unique to Samsung devices.

Storage and Expandability

It provides 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card using the shared SIM slot, allowing users to store more apps, photos, and media files. While the 2GB of RAM is somewhat standard for its time of release, it limits the phone's potential to run newer apps with high memory demands smoothly.

Pricing and Availability

At launch, the Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos was priced at approximately 280 EUR, offering a competitive choice within the mid-range market. However, since its release in 2015, the model has been discontinued, making it a rare find new, though it may still be available from third-party sellers or as refurbished units.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A8 Duos offers a balanced combination of features that catered to the mid-range market segment at the time of its release. With its sturdy design, vibrant display, capable camera, and reasonable performance, it was a suitable option for users seeking a reliable and attractive smartphone. Although it has been discontinued, its features and build are still appreciated and may suit users exploring the second-hand market for a sound device at a reasonable price.