Samsung Galaxy A7 has been one of the best-selling A series phones since 2015. So now the company has launched Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 in the market. A7 has seen a lot of changes through all these years and we will discuss it. The Galaxy A series is one of the most popular smartphones from Samsung and it is a priority for them as well. Samsung said that the A series is meant for people who can’t afford a flagship but want the features and can wait.
At first, there was the Samsung Galaxy A7 2015 which came with a big screen, metal construction, and slimmest body ever. After that Galaxy A7 2016 came with a glass back faster charging and a fingerprint scanner. Now the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) has been launched globally and also in the Nepali market. So we took it for review. We are a fan of the A series because of its price-to-performance ratio. The Galaxy A series is evolving with each generation and it is getting better.
More people are choosing the Galaxy A series smartphones in the midrange segment and the J series in the budget to mid-range segment. You can learn more about these in our Galaxy J series vs. A series comparison article. Actually, people like the A series phones because they come with features of the latest flagship. For example, the Galaxy A7 2016 used some features from the Galaxy S6 while the Galaxy A7 (2017) is using features from the Galaxy S7. To know better let us start with the specifications.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 Specifications
Also Read: Samsung Mobiles Price in Nepal
Design and Build
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 has a metal frame with glass on both the front and back. The overall dimension is 156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm and the weight is 186g. On the front side, there is the big screen, home button with a fingerprint scanner, touch navigation button, earpiece, selfie camera, and sensors. The left side of the phone has volume rockers and a slot for SD cards. The right side has a power button and speaker grill. The top of the phone has a SIM card slot and microphone while the bottom has a USB port and headphone jack. The backside of the device has a main camera, LED flash, and Samsung logo.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 has solid construction due to the metal frame and glass on both sides. It feels heavy and strong so it feels much more premium. It is premium because it has an IP68 rating which means it is dust and water resistant. Unlike the Galaxy Note lineup which is boxier, the A7 is like the S Series and much curved. Both the back and covers are curved to provide better aesthetics and maneuverability. Samsung has curved the back of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 just like the Galaxy S7 which makes it easier to handle the phone with one hand.
Internal Hardware and Benchmark Results
This Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 is a phone that is powered by a 1.9 GHz Octa Core processor on Exynos 7880 SoC. Inside there is 3 GB RAM, Mali T830MP3 GPU, and 32 GB internal storage. The processor is Samsung’s own in-house product and it performs well. Samsung has been using Exynos in some of its products but we don’t know why they use Snapdragon in some products and Exynos in some products. However, we do know that, at this level, consumers expect better GPUs like the new Adreno GPU instead of Mali.
For battery Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 (2017) packs a 3600 mAh battery. It has 18W fast charging which is quite useful. This battery can easily power the phone through an entire day of use. It can also push the phone to 2 days with light usage. Just like other Samsung phones in the market, A7 2017 also uses Grace UI on top of Android.
In our 1 week of use, we did many tests. The benchmarks and gaming sessions showed that multitasking and gaming performance were good. There were no overheating issues during the use as well. Some of the benchmark results of Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 from Antutu and Geekbench are as follows.
In the market, OnePlus 3T is also available at the same price as the Galaxy A7 2017. However, OnePlus 3T packs 6GB RAM just like the slightly expensive Galaxy C9 Pro. So most customers might see those phones as an advantage over this phone. Yes, they are future ready but 3 GB is also quite sufficient for medium usage. Actually, 4G RAM is enough and the Galaxy S8 full review proves it clearly.
Display and Camera
This year, we have a 5.7” Super AMOLED display with a 1080×1920 full HD resolution screen on Samsung Galaxy A7 2017. On top of the screen, there is Gorilla Glass 4 protection. There is a 2D glass at the front which provides a better look and smoother experience. The screen size is a bit bigger than last year’s models because last year it was 5.5″.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 comes in a new range of colors this time which makes it noticeable. But the main eye-catching and important thing is non- protruding camera on the back. Cameras of earlier models had main back cameras protruding but the Galaxy A7 (2017) solves it all by making it the same level.
Actually, the camera is one of the most important pillars of the review. Camera quality is also one of the most demanded portions in any review. This is because smartphones have replaced point-and-shoot digital cameras. Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 comes with 16-megapixel f/1.9 cameras on both sides. This means both front and back cameras are 16 MP just like Galaxy C9 Pro. This is even better than the flagship Galaxy S7.
The resulting photos from the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 are very sharp. Both cameras take detailed resolution, vibrant and crispy photos in good lighting conditions. In terms of video, both cameras can only record FHD videos. We expected 4K videos and OIS but they are not here. In our camera use, we saw that the depth of field and blur effect are very good, and the best thing is software video stabilization. The camera produced great photos and selfies with some beauty touch-ups. Taking hyper-lapse videos was one of our favorite things to do with this device. Some of the camera samples are as follows.
Features and Experience
We are very much happy to see a 3600 mAh battery in Samsung Galaxy A7 2017. This smartphone is just like the Galaxy S7 Edge and surprisingly bigger than the Galaxy S8+. So it is a very fun device to use. This is a good thing because even the best flagship from them doesn’t have such a big battery. The battery life is truly awesome and can go up to 3 days on standby and 2 days with minimal use. So Galaxy A7 (2017) is true powerhouse to provide normal use, entertainment, and gaming experience.
In the case of software, it is still running Android Marshmallow but the Nougat update is coming soon. However, the company should have launched with Nougat. In the case of features, some of its best features include USB Type-C, barometer, gyrosensor, compass, and fingerprint scanner. As an engineer, a compass is very important to me. Well, many of our staff are engineers and we think, this feature must be included in all phones. A compass helps in finding directions and can be a great help in emergency situations. Other features like Always on Display (AOD), Blue-light filter, and Game Tools are also very much appreciated.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 also has dual SIM support and SD card support as well. In the original Galaxy A7, there was a hybrid system which was a bit problematic. However, it is good to see that Samsung ditched it and has a total of three slots. Two for SIM cards and one for memory cards. We love their application in the new model and urge them to not make hybrid SIM systems anymore.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 is a great phone in all the ways. It has done all the important revisions that need to be done from its predecessor. There is a faster processor, IP68 rating, bigger battery, a decent amount of RAM, big AMOLED screen, Gorilla Glass, biometric security, and better cameras. The feature set is also very good with 4G support, dual SIM, and SD card support. Therefore in an overall sense, Galaxy A7 2017 is a fantastic choice for new buyers at this budget.
Well if you upgrading from the original Galaxy A7 (2015), it is a great choice but if you are using the Galaxy A7 (2016) edition, then there are just a few new things. Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 price in Nepal is Rs 57,900 and this is $550 globally. Currently, Samsung has reduced the price of the Galaxy S7, which puts it near to the competition. Therefore, if you have a bit more money to invest, we suggest you buy the new discounted Galaxy S7. It is because a flagship is always a flagship and performs much better in every aspect.
The Review
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017
Mid range phone with flagship specs, premium design and solid hardware
PROS
- Large Screen
- Big Battery
- Premium Solid Design
- IP Rating
- High Megapixel Cameras
CONS
- Lack of 4K and OIS
- Lack of Notification LED
Review Breakdown
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Screen
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Battery
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Processor
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RAM
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Design
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Features
