2017 edition of the Samsung Galaxy A series

Samsung Galaxy A (2017)

Company type	Product line
Industry	Consumer electronics
Predecessor	Galaxy Note 7
Founded	January 2, 2017 (2017-01-02)
Headquarters	Seoul , South Korea
Area served	Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, Middle East, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine
Products	Smartphones (Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5, Galaxy A7)
Owner	Samsung Electronics
Website	www.samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy A7

On January 2, 2017, Samsung introduced the 2017 lineup of the Galaxy A series, which included three distinct models. This launch represented Samsung's first release following the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7 in October 2016. After the announcement, Samsung revealed plans to distribute up to 20 million units, focusing on markets in Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.Template:Fix/category

General features

The updated Galaxy A series boasts enhancements such as 16-megapixel cameras on both front and rear, powered by the Exynos 7 Octa 7880 processor. The devices feature a curved 3D glass display reminiscent of the Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note 5, and Galaxy S7. Additionally, they include sensors like a barometer and gyroscope, carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and support compatibility with the Gear 360 (2017). The design closely mirrors that of the Galaxy S7 and the S7 Edge, which debuted in March 2016. This generation was the final Galaxy A series to utilize the TouchWiz interface before transitioning to Samsung Experience and later to One UI in subsequent releases.

Specification summary

Model		A3	A5	A7
Support status		No longer supported
Dates	Announced	January 2017
	Released
Operating System	Initial	TouchWiz 6 Android 6
	Latest	Experience 9.0 Android 8
Dimensions mm (in)	Height	135.4 (5.33)	146.1 (5.75)	156.8 (6.17)
	Width	66.2 (2.61)	71.4 (2.81)	77.6 (3.06)
	Depth	7.9 (0.31)
Weight g (lb)		138 (0.304)	157 (0.346)	186 (0.410)
Available colors

! rowspan="4" | Display ! Size | 4.7 | | |} |- ! Resolution | 720 x 1280 | colspan="2"|1080 x 1920 |} |- ! Refresh rate | colspan="3"|60 Hz |} |- ! Type | colspan="3"|Super AMOLED |} |- ! colspan="2"|Front camera | 8 MP | colspan="2" rowspan="2"|16 MP |} |- ! colspan="2"|Rear camera(s) | 13 MP |} |- ! colspan="2"|RAM | 2 GB | colspan="2"|3 GB |} |- ! colspan="2"|Storage options | 16 GB | 32 GB / 64 GB | 32 GB |} |- ! colspan="2"|Processor | "Samsung"
Exynos 7870 Octa-core | colspan="2"|"Samsung"
Exynos 7880 Octa-core |} |- ! rowspan="3"|Battery details ! Capacity (mAh) | 2350 | 3000 | 3600 |} |- ! Removable? | colspan="3"|No |} |- ! Fast charging support? | No | colspan="2"|18 W fast charging |} |- ! colspan="2"|NFC capability | colspan="3"|Yes |} |- ! colspan="2"|IP certification rating | colspan="3"|IP68 dust and water resistance |}

Galaxy A3

The Galaxy A3 in this lineup initially operates on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow paired with the TouchWiz interface upon release. It received an upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat in August 2017, followed by another update in February 2018 to Android 8.0 Oreo. Powered by the Exynos 7870 SoC, it incorporates an octa-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor along with a Mali-T830 graphics unit. The device is supported by 2 GB of RAM and offers 16 GB of built-in storage, which can be expanded up to 256 GB through a MicroSD slot that also accommodates a secondary Nano-SIM.

Similar to its forerunner, this model includes a fixed battery rated at 2350mAh. It boasts features reminiscent of Samsung's 2016 flagship phones, such as IP68 certification for water resistance, an Always On Display capability, and a rear panel crafted from 3D glass reinforced with Gorilla Glass 4. The Always On Display function allows users to view the clock, calendar, and notifications even when the phone is in standby mode. Additionally, the handset supports an FM radio.

This particular model marks the final entry in the A3 lineup and is also Samsung’s last smartphone offering with a screen size under 5 inches, excluding the Japan-exclusive Galaxy Feel.

Consistent with earlier versions, the Galaxy A3 (2017) was not launched in markets including the United States, China, Malaysia, and India.

Variants

Model	Processor	SIM	Region
SM-A320FL	Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870	Single	Europe
SM-A320F			Asia, Africa, Oceania, Middle East, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine
SM-A320F/DS		Dual
SM-A320Y		Single	Mexico, New Zealand
SM-A320Y/DS		Dual	Latin America, Indonesia, Thailand

Galaxy A5

Rear view showcasing the camera

The Galaxy A5 in this lineup is equipped with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box, utilizing the TouchWiz user interface. It was subsequently upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat in August 2017 and later to Android 8.0 Oreo in February 2018. Powered by the Exynos 7880 SoC, it features eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores paired with the Mali-T830 GPU. The device includes 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in storage, which can be expanded up to 256 GB through a dedicated MicroSD card slot—unlike earlier A5 models where the slot doubled as a second Nano-SIM slot. The battery is non-removable, consistent with its predecessor, and rated at 3000 mAh with support for fast charging. Additional premium features, mirroring Samsung’s 2016 flagship offerings, include IP68 water resistance, an Always On Display function, and a 3D glass back reinforced with Gorilla Glass 4. The Always On Display presents a clock, calendar, and notifications even when the phone is in standby mode.

Distinct from previous models, the Galaxy A5 (2017) was not launched in the United States. Nevertheless, it was available for purchase in Canada, which was a departure from the availability pattern of the 2016 version.

Variants

Model	Processor	SIM	Region
SM-A520F	Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7880	Single	Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, Middle East
SM-A520F/DS		Dual	Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, UAE
SM-A520W		Single	Canada

Galaxy A7

The Galaxy A7 in this series ships with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow pre-installed and operates on the Grace UX interface. It supports upgrades to both Android 7.0 "Nougat" and Android 8.0 "Oreo", accompanied by Samsung Experience versions 8.1 and 9.0 respectively. Its hardware includes the same Exynos 7880 SoC with eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores and a Mali-T830MP3 GPU. The device offers 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage expandable via MicroSD card up to 256 GB. Unlike its predecessor, this model provides a dedicated MicroSD card slot enabling simultaneous use of a second SIM card alongside the memory expansion on dual SIM variants.

Retaining a non-removable battery like its forerunner, it is equipped with a 3600mAh capacity and supports fast charging technology. Additional features parallel to Samsung’s flagship devices from 2016 include water resistance rated at IP68, an Always On Display feature, and a rear panel constructed from Gorilla Glass 4 with a curved design. The Always On Display allows users to view a clock, calendar entries, and notifications while the phone remains in standby. The final major software update delivered to the Galaxy A7 (2017) was Android 8.0 Oreo in 2018.

Contrary to earlier generations, this Galaxy A7 model willTemplate:Update inline not be released in markets including the United States, Western and Central Europe, Caucasus nations, or China. While its predecessor from 2015 enjoyed wider European distribution, this iteration was withheld due to pricing considerations and direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S7. Instead, Samsung opted to market the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) and Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) models within those territories.

Variants

Model	Processor	SIM	Region
SM-A720F	Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7880	Single	Asia, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, Middle East
SM-A720F/DS		Dual	Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine
SM-A720Sp		Single	South Korea (SK Telecom)

Critical reception

Svet Kompjutera highlighted the solid construction and reliable performance of both the A3 and A5 models, emphasizing that their speed difference is minimal during typical daily activities. The A5's camera received recognition for being superior compared to others in its category. While the A5 was considered to offer good value for its price, the cost of the A3 was viewed less favorably.