Wireless charging for Samsung smartphones: which models support it, and what to do if not. Which Samsungs support wireless charging? Description of devices Wireless charging for galaxy a5

Wireless charging is a very convenient feature; it can be used to charge your smartphone’s battery without connecting any cables to the smartphone. Instead, you just need to place the smartphone on a special stand that is connected to the power supply, and. Of course, it’s like cable, but this is compensated by ease of use.

Unfortunately, wireless charging is still a very rare feature. Not even all flagship devices support it, and there’s nothing to say about mid- and budget-level smartphones. Therefore, you will have to pay a pretty penny for a smartphone with wireless charging.

In this article we will look at a number of smartphones with wireless charging that can be found on sale at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018. We hope this list will help you choose the right model.

Galaxy S8 is the flagship smartphone of 2017 from Samsung. Like previous models in the Galaxy S line, the Galaxy S8 smartphone supports wireless charging.

However, the appearance of the Galaxy S8 has changed a lot when compared with the previous Galaxy S. The body of the device is made of Gorilla Glass 5. The main feature of the smartphone is the screen. It takes up almost all the space on the front panel and has rounded edges. Thanks to this, the Galaxy S8 cannot be confused with previous generations of the Galaxy S. Another distinctive feature of the Galaxy S8 is the absence of a Home button below the screen. The “Back” and “Multitasking” touch buttons have also disappeared, now the functions are performed by on-screen buttons, as in most modern Android smartphones. The fingerprint sensor has moved to the back and is located to the right of the camera.

• OS version: Android 7.0;
• SIM card type: nano SIM;
• Number of SIM cards: 2;
• Diagonal: 5.8 inches;
• Image size: 2960×1440;
• Pixels per inch (PPI): 568;
• Rear camera: 12 MP;
• Front camera: 8 MP;
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998;
• Video processor: Adreno 540;
• Wireless charging: yes;

Note 8 is another flagship smartphone with wireless charging from Samsung. Despite the explosive failure with the previous generation of Galaxy Note, Samsung decided not to abandon this brand and again released a new model in 2017.

The main feature of Note 8 was the dual rear camera, which fits very organically into the design of the smartphone. Like the Galaxy S8, the Note 8 has removed the buttons on the front of the device and moved them onto the screen. The fingerprint scanner has also changed its location, now to the right of the camera.

Specifications of the smartphone include:

• OS version: Android 7.1;
• SIM card type: nano SIM;
• Number of SIM cards: 2;
• Diagonal: 6.3 inches;
• Pixels per inch (PPI): 522;
• Rear camera: dual 12/12 MP;
• RAM capacity: 6 GB;
• Battery capacity: 3300 mAh;
• Wireless charging: yes;

The Galaxy S7 is Sansung's flagship smartphone from 2016 and it also supports wireless battery charging. Galaxy S7 is made in the classic style of the Galaxy S line. The front and back sides of the device are covered with 2.5D glass. The side edge is metal. Below the screen is a Home button with a built-in fingerprint scanner.

Specifications of the smartphone include:

• OS version: Android 7.0;
• SIM card type: nano SIM;
• Number of SIM cards: 2;
• Diagonal: 5.1 inches. ;
• Pixels per inch (PPI): 576;
• Rear camera: 12 MP;
  
• Front camera: yes, 5 million pixels. ;
• Number of processor cores: 8;
• RAM capacity: 4 GB;
• Battery capacity: 3000 mAh;
• Wireless charging: yes;

Elite X3 is a smartphone with wireless charging from HP. Perhaps the main feature of this model is that it runs Windows 10 Mobile. The design is nothing special. The smartphone is made entirely of plastic, no premium materials or design flourishes.

Some HP Elite X3 configurations include a docking station. With its help, you can connect a screen and peripheral devices to your smartphone, thus turning it into some semblance of a desktop computer.

Specifications of the smartphone include:

• OS version: MS Windows 10 Mobile;
• SIM card type: nano SIM;
• Image size: 2560×1440;
• Pixels per inch (PPI): 493;
• Rear camera: 16 MP;
• Front camera: yes, 8 million pixels;
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996, 2150 MHz;
• Video processor: Adreno 530;
• RAM capacity: 4 GB;
• Battery capacity: 4150 mAh;
• Wireless charging: yes;

Do you want to know which Samsungs support wireless charging and whether your smartphone has this capability? Let's take a closer look at which phones from the Korean company support this wireless feature.

This company was the first to offer customers to charge their devices wirelessly, over the air. For the first time this technology from the Koreans appeared at various exhibitions a couple of years ago and Samsung has not betrayed itself to this day. However, not every device from the company can boast of an over-the-air battery recharge function. In this article you will learn about all the company’s models with the implemented technology for transmitting energy through the air.

Samsung wireless charging support: how does it work?

Having looked at the main competitors from Apple, Samsung engineers decided to implement their own Qi interface.

In total, the company’s smartphones support two standards – Qi and PMA. The first is newer and has a faster battery charge rate. However, it is found only in flagship devices, which are unaffordable for many users.

What other ones are there besides Samsung - you will find out in another article.

Samsung Wireless Charging: Supported Models

Let's highlight a list of phones that support wireless charging from Samsung:

• Qi support first appeared in the fifth generation of the Note phablet;
• Galaxy S6 generation;
• extended version of Galaxy S6 Plus;
• version with curved screen Galaxy S6 Edge;
• latest generation Galaxy S7;
• Galaxy S7 Edge version.

In the next section you can read material about how well Qi works and much more.

Mid-priced smartphones, or “uberflagships,” as Russian tech journalists called them, are perhaps the best thing that happened to the mobile industry in 2016. Rapid progress has led to the fact that mid-priced smartphones are now so good that they quite successfully satisfy the needs of even very demanding users.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)

CPU: Exynos 7880 Octa
RAM: 3 GB
Memory: 32 GB
Display: 5.2 inches, Super Amoled, 1080 x 1920
Camera: 16 MP, f/1.9 (main), 16 MP, f/1.9 (front)
Battery: 3000 mAh
Size and weight: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9 mm, 157 g

Roughly speaking, modern flagships are superior to mid-priced devices only in the level of the camera, as well as various innovations such as a fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor, detection of pressure on the screen, improved sound path, fast wireless charging and others. Such technologies first appear in flagship devices and only next year become available in mid-range devices.

In this regard, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) is made, as they say, according to classic patterns and is similar to the 2016 flagship Samsung Galaxy S7.

The case is made of shock-resistant Gorilla Glass with oleophobic coating. The smartphone has a curved back panel and slightly rounded edges (2.5D) screen glass.

Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru

Features of the Galaxy A5 include a Super Amoled display, protection against water and dust according to the IP68 standard (up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1.5 m).

The device also supports such fashionable features as Always-on display, Samsung Pay payment service, fast charging technology and others.

Design and screen

Externally, the Galaxy A5 (2017) is really similar to the Galaxy S7 and looks, as marketers would say, no less premium than last year’s Samsung flagship.

Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru

The display is made using Super Amoled technology, diagonal - 5.2 inches, resolution - Full HD (1080 x 1920). This is a bright and contrasting screen with wide viewing angles and deep blacks.

At the same time, the Galaxy S7 display had a higher resolution - QHD (1440 x 2560). Oddly enough, such a reduction turned out to be a completely successful decision. If you don’t insert the Galaxy A5 into a VR helmet, where QHD is simply the required minimum, then for a 5.2 diagonal Full HD resolution is quite enough.

Battery and processor

Importantly, a lower resolution screen is not only cheaper, but also consumes less power. In terms of battery life, the Galaxy A5 (2017) is clearly superior to the Galaxy S7. Although Samsung does not position the device as a special long-lasting device, moderate energy consumption is one of its strongest points.

And for at least a year you will be able to play the most graphically demanding games.
An additional bonus is support for fast charging.

Camera

Taking photos is where analogies with the Galaxy S7 are inappropriate. Last year's Samsung flagship has one of the best mobile cameras to date, and it's certainly a shame that it didn't make its way to the A5.

The smartphone has a completely different photo module: a 16 MP camera with an f/1.9 aperture. For comparison: the Galaxy S7 has a 12 megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture.

Do not think that a larger number of matrix pixels will provide better image quality. A lot of other parameters are also important, such as aperture ratio, pixel size, autofocus performance, stabilization, processing algorithms.

Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru

The Galaxy A5's camera especially suffers in low light conditions. If in photographs taken during the day and even at dusk, the difference in quality is not very noticeable, then when shooting at night it is still fatal.

Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru

Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru

Perhaps this is due to the algorithms for processing night images and the lack of optical stabilization (OIS). If the developers can still fix the software part in future firmware updates, then they will have to put up with the lack of OIS.

Note that

The Galaxy A5 (2016) had optical stabilization, but why it was abandoned is a mystery.

But the front camera with 16 megapixels is designed to please selfie lovers. Unlike the main one, there are no complaints about it.

Dmitry Bevza/Gazeta.Ru

"Tricks"

What is interesting about the Galaxy A5 that makes it stand out from its competitors?

Moisture and dust protection sets the Galaxy A5 (2017) apart from other competitors. Only Sony Xperia smartphones can boast of similar durability. Of course, we are talking about ordinary smartphones, and not about special devices for extreme sports and the military.

The fingerprint scanner can be configured to recognize three fingerprints. The technology works quite correctly, but is still slower than in the Galaxy S7. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the scanner is combined with the Home button.

For Android smartphones, this “iPhone” arrangement of the scanner is a rather rare option.

Samsung Pay is in a sense unique, although not the most popular option, which is only available in the new Galaxy S and Galaxy A smartphones.

Especially for the paranoid, there is a safe KNOX environment. That is, private information can be stored in a special encrypted folder.

Always On Display has finally appeared not only on Samsung flagships. The essence of the function is that the time, calendar and notifications are shown even when the screen is turned off. At the same time, the battery is consumed a little faster, but the Galaxy A5 (2017) still lasts its two days even with the Always On Display option activated.

And the last important detail is that the device does not have a hybrid slot for SIM cards and memory cards, but there are two separate full-fledged openings.

That is, you can insert two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time. Considering that the A5 has only 32 GB of main memory, this is a more than justified decision.

Bottom line

The obvious advantages of the Galaxy A5 (2017) are the spectacular design of the flagship S-series, high-quality screen, long battery life, 16 megapixel front camera, moisture and dust protection according to the IP68 standard.

Among the less noticeable ones are support for Samsung Pay, a well-developed proprietary graphical interface, simultaneous support for two SIM cards and a memory card, branded accessories, high-quality assembly, warranty, technical support and other things that stand behind big brands.

Disadvantages: the main camera operates in low light conditions, the lack of optical image stabilization in the camera, the lack of wireless charging, and still the rather high price of the device (28 thousand rubles), which is billed as a budget flagship.

Good day, dear readers. Samsung's wireless charging is what sets this company's smartphones apart from its competitors, and especially from the iPhone. This South Korean giant produces various equipment, but has achieved particular success in developing smartphones. Their devices are manufactured using the most advanced technologies, generating multi-million dollar revenues annually. It is not surprising that it was the Samsung Galaxy line of smartphones that was one of the first to offer the user to abandon the usual wired chargers. And, I must say, so far only a few companies have been able to compete in this regard with a company from South Korea.

Samsung – to be first everywhere

It seems that it is difficult to connect the wire of a regular charger, especially since today many smartphones are equipped with a USB Type -C port, which is symmetrical - you can connect the cable to the device on either side. And yet, manufacturers do not stand still, coming up with something new to simplify the user’s life. One of the latest features of branded devices is wireless charging. Of course, it was not ignored by specialists from Samsung, who did serious work on the technology. Of course, there were others before them, for example Nokia, which equipped the well-known Lumia line with wireless charging support.

However, Nokia left the ranks of the most advanced companies, and competitors adopted the most interesting features of its products. Samsung, among other interesting features, has begun to actively introduce wireless charging. She did this with a special approach, not just announcing a new “trick,” but providing the user with everything they needed for comfortable use. Thus, Samsung Galaxy s6 and s7, which received wireless charging, included a very stylish and high-quality charging stand. At that time, Apple, its main competitor, presented thick cases that were equipped with an additional battery.

Which Samsung models support wireless charging?

The South Korean company had the idea to introduce wireless charging even before the release of the Samsung Galaxy S 3, which joined the ranks of flagships in 2012. However, at that time the idea was just in its infancy, and a prototype mobile phone with contactless charging was presented by Palm OS. The Samsung Galaxy S 3 already had contacts for connecting a device using the Qi standard (located under the back cover). The next two models, S4 and S5, were equipped with contacts, but wireless charging was not integrated. Special accessories came to the rescue, making the technology fully functional.

But the Samsung Galaxy S 6 with all its modifications, which brought a lot to the smartphone market, has already received full wireless charging from the manufacturer. This model has an all-metal body, inside of which is hidden a coil that serves as an energy receiver. The delivery set is accompanied by a docking station in the form of a platform that transmits energy. That is, the user just needs to place his Samsung Galaxy S 6 or S6 Edge on it to start charging. An interesting feature is that the smartphone supports wireless charging according to two standards at once: Qi and PMA. This allows you to use docking stations for various purposes.

More recent solutions Samsung Galaxy S 7 and S 7 Edge did not abandon the innovative function, which is not surprising. Wireless charging is also integrated in these models, and the delivery package includes a pad. By the time the new product was released, many Chinese online stores were already inundated with original docking station solutions that are ideal for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Charging standards remain the same - Qi and PMA.

The shelves are about to be replenished with a new Samsung Galaxy model – S 8. Several modifications with various innovations are expected. Wireless charging in the Samsung Galaxy S8 is, of course, not new, but according to rumors it will be seriously improved. According to a number of sources, the future flagship will receive an integrated receiver of three coils, which will significantly expand the reception range, increasing efficiency. There's only a little time left to wait.

Operating principle

Without going too deep, the principle of wireless charging for Samsung Galaxy and other smartphones is the same. Two copper coils are used (transmitter - docking station; receiver - coil in the smartphone), which create a magnetic field. The receiver, receiving the waves, converts them into energy, charging the smartphone battery. Typically, the Qi standard (developed by the Wireless Power Consortium) is used, which supports the transmission of inductive energy at a distance of up to 4 centimeters.

The idea of ​​transmitting energy “through the air” appeared about 200 years ago, when Marie Ampere proved that electric current produces a magnetic field. Nikola Tesla also put in a lot of effort, managing to light an incandescent lamp without wires. Of course, this technology has become interesting to electronics manufacturers in our time. Several corporations have developed their own standards for the transmission of low and medium currents. And more recently, in 2015, a group of scientists found that energy can be transmitted via Wi-Fi. Apparently, the time is not far off when we will be able to completely forget about regularly recharging our devices.

Samsung wireless charging Galaxy – different models, different options

So, having talked a little about energy transmission standards, let’s return to the “guests” of our article. Considering that we are talking about wireless chargers, the entire Samsung Galaxy line can be divided into two groups according to this principle:

Models with built-in wireless charging. This group includes:

• Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 Duos
• S6 EDGE
• S6 EDGE Plus
• S7/S7 Edge
• Galaxy Note 5
• Galaxy Note 7
• Watch – Samsung Gear S2/Classic

Models for which a special receiver is produced (special contacts are provided under the back cover):

• Samsung Galaxy S3
• Galaxy S4
• Galaxy S5
• Note 2
• Note 3
• Note 4
• Note Edge

Some other models that do not support any of the options presented do support universal receivers. They can be purchased in online stores at low cost.

Built-in wireless charging Samsung Galaxy S 6, S 7

The lucky ones are the owners of the latest Samsung Galaxy models, which already have wireless charging provided by the manufacturer. As a rule, the package includes a proprietary docking station, which is suitable for charging other smartphones that have received this technology. By the way, the stand from Samsung is in great demand due to its versatility and high-quality build. If it suddenly breaks, you can buy a new one in almost any electronics store, as well as at a lower price in Chinese online stores.

Considering that the Samsung Galaxy S 6, S 7 and their modifications use wireless charging that supports several standards, you can buy another docking station with a more stylish design. Today there are hundreds of offers on the market that will definitely work with smartphones from the South Korean brand.

To recharge, just place the smartphone on the transmitter pad. Don't forget to connect it to the electrical network using an adapter. The original docking station has a backlight that will notify the user about the charging progress: blue color - the smartphone is charging; green – fully charged. The manufacturer has equipped the platform with an automatic shutdown function after the battery is fully charged. It plays a rather significant role, protecting the smartphone battery from destructive overcharging. The full charging time depends on the specific model (battery capacities vary) - on average, it takes 3 hours to charge a 3000 mAh battery.

Wireless charging Samsung Galaxy S 3, S 4, S 5 – you need to buy something extra

As mentioned above, a number of Samsung Galaxy models (S 3, S 4, S 5, etc.) received special contacts that are “hidden” under the back cover. For each of the models, special receivers are presented (corresponding to the contacts), which are sold in online stores. They are inexpensive (about 700 rubles for a set with a docking station), they are connected very simply, hiding under the lid. These receivers are made according to the Qi standard, which allows you to use almost any platform for wireless charging of Samsung (of course, also Qi).

The best place to buy such a receiver is in Chinese online stores. The main thing is to look at which Samsung model it is intended for. It’s better to look under the cover of your smartphone yourself to understand how the contacts are located. Unfortunately, wireless charging still doesn't work well through cases, especially metal ones, so either use thin ones or skip them altogether.

Universal wireless chargers

If someone remains faithful to their Samsung S 2, but wants to try wireless charging, then they will have to buy a universal receiver. The fact is that at the time when this smartphone model was released, priority was clearly not given to wireless charging. Samsung S2 does not have special contacts like its descendants, but friends from China have found a way out. The universal receiver (a thin plate and a connector) is connected to the charging port, and the main part is folded to the back cover. Covers are used for fixation. Soldering iron virtuosos manage to connect the receiver directly, hiding it under the back cover. Docking stations are usually included with the receiver. However, any model that supports the Qi standard can be used.

More expensive or cheaper

Of course, we all love to save money. However, it is better not to do this when purchasing wireless charging for Samsung smartphones. This is especially true for the latest models. Although the manufacturer has already provided an original docking station for them, and there is no need to worry about the receiver at all, many users want something new. Of course, no one is insured against site breakdown, which entails additional costs. Give preference to branded wireless chargers from Samsung, or proven models: DT-900 from Nokia, Belsis TECs TS1001, interesting solutions from Woodpuck. By overpaying a little, you will reduce the risk of undesirable consequences: overheating of the site, energy surges, overcharging, etc.

What should owners of older Samsung Galaxy models that did not receive wireless charging from the factory do? Yes, it’s practically the same thing – buy an original docking station. Of course, you will have to find a receiver from third-party manufacturers. If you decide to save money by ordering a cheap replica, then study user reviews that will help you establish the level of quality.

Bottom line

Wireless charging in Samsung smartphones is no longer just another feature that will interest only some users. Thanks to the responsible approach of manufacturers, the technology is becoming more popular day by day. Wireless charging points for smartphones from Samsung and other companies are appearing in airports, cafes, and cinemas. Yes, wireless charging is far from a perfectly polished technology that has no flaws. They exist, but every year the manufacturer solves them little by little, bringing users closer to giving up a bunch of wires in the house.

The Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 smartphone is another device in the rather successful Galaxy A series, the models of which belong to the middle price segment. They are beautiful, made of high-quality materials, although, surprisingly, they are inferior in many characteristics.

By the way, the Korean company is a shining example of what a mobile device manufacturer should be. For many, Samsung is associated with reliability and quality. At the same time, the company does not focus on producing only top-end phones. A user with not the highest level of income can choose a smartphone or tablet from this brand, knowing that a budget smartphone will not be inferior in quality and reliable operation to the latest flagships of the brand. All this fully applies to our today’s subject of review - the Samsung A5 2017 phone.

The smartphone was presented at the beginning of 2017 and immediately attracted attention with its pleasant appearance, good hardware and reasonable price.

Samsung Galaxy A5 2017: smartphone characteristics

Let's be honest - flagship smartphones are superior to many mid-range smartphones except for the latest generation chipsets, cameras and fashionable innovations, such as fast wireless charging, heart rate sensor and so on. Otherwise, the average ones can fully satisfy the needs of the most demanding user, but without excesses.

The characteristics of the Samsung A 5 2017 look impressive for a device in the mid-price segment:

Smartphone autonomy

One of the strengths of the smartphone is its excellent battery life. A screen with a small diagonal and not the highest resolution uses energy sparingly. The Samsung A5 2017 far outperforms its top-end sibling, the Galaxy S7, in terms of battery life. At the same time, the manufacturer does not position the device as a device with a long-lasting battery.

In normal mode (calls, messages, Internet surfing, etc.), with the screen active for 4-5 hours, the smartphone lives without recharging for two days. It can play continuous video in HD quality for about 19 hours. And this is truly an excellent indicator.

If you use the Samsung A 5 2017 exclusively for calls, it can easily last 4-5 days without recharging.

The 3000 mAh battery can be charged to 100% in about an hour thanks to the fast charging function.

Water and dust protection

Another feature of the smartphone is . The device can be lowered into fresh water to a depth of up to one and a half meters without damage. It can withstand immersion for 30 minutes. He is not afraid of falling into the sand either. The SIM card compartment is protected by rubber pads, and there are membranes on the speaker and microphone. Of course, you shouldn’t wash your smartphone with soap and water, but falling into water doesn’t scare it. By the way, in the price segment there are no analogues to the Galaxy A5 2017 with such protection.

Performance Samsung Galaxy A5 2017

As for the processor, it has become more productive compared to the previous model in the series, but is inferior to the company’s latest flagships. Despite this, it is more than enough for hardware-demanding games. No slowdowns or freezes were noticed. The processor performance is more than enough to work with applications. By the way, in the AnTuTu test the smartphone scores about 60,000 points.

The amount of built-in memory is average. It should be taken into account that of the 32 GB ROM, about 23 GB is available to the user. For those who actively use the camera and install a lot of games and applications, this volume will not be enough. In this case, the ability to expand memory up to 256 GB helps. By the way, there is a separate slot for microSD cards, which is good news. Now you don’t need to sacrifice a second SIM card to increase your phone memory.

Smartphone equipment

The device is delivered in a discreet white box, on which the name of the device is printed in large font. The equipment is quite modest:

1. smartphone,
2. charger,
3. special clip for removing SIM cards,
4. USB Type C cable
5. and instructions.

In addition, the user receives a proprietary wired headset.

Appearance of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy A5 2017, a review of which we present to our readers today, looks similar to last year’s flagship Galaxy S7. It looks no worse than its premium counterpart. The only things that give it away are the smaller size of the main camera (like the Galaxy S7, it does not protrude beyond the body) and the absence of a light indicator.

The front and back covers of the device are made of ultra-strong glass of the latest generation Gorilla Glass 4, resistant to falls on asphalt and concrete. The perimeter frame is aluminum. Antenna strips are located on the top and bottom of the body.

What Samsung always does flawlessly is the ergonomics of its devices. The smartphone fits comfortably in the palm of your hand thanks to its small diagonal, although the glass panels make the device quite slippery. The protected glass of the case allows you to use the smartphone without protective glass, but in this case you need to hold it in your hands with extreme caution.

The arrangement of connectors and buttons on the case is standard, with the exception of the speaker - it was moved to the right side.

The edges of the device's body are slightly curved. A successful combination of glass and metal gives the smartphone a stylish, but not flashy look. The design of the Samsung A 5 2017 can be described as premium. And don’t forget that we are not talking about the company’s flagship device, but about a mid-level smartphone, the quality of which once again indicates that Samsung is one of the best manufacturers of mobile devices.

The mechanical Home button has a traditional location - under the screen. It has a built-in fingerprint scanner. And here we are faced with one of the shortcomings of the smartphone. Since the button is quite narrow, the scanner does not always work correctly. There are no complaints about the recognition speed, but it is not always configured.

Screen

The smartphone, traditionally, is equipped with a bright Super Amoled display. The screen diagonal is 5.2 inches, which is quite a lot, but the device does not look bulky and is comfortable to hold in your hand. The picture is bright and juicy, viewing angles are wide, and the display is perfectly readable in the sun. The oleophobic coating does its job perfectly - there are no traces left on the display.

One of the nice features of the smartphone is support for the Always on display function, which has finally reached Samsung models in the mid-price segment. The user can now display the most current information on the screen: notifications, date, time and battery status. Is it more convenient than a traditional indicator light? Without a doubt, yes. To find out the time or check notifications, you no longer need to constantly turn on the screen. This useful feature does not consume much battery.

It should be noted that this function has not yet been widely used in smartphones in the mid-price segment, which makes the Samsung A 5 2017 similar to flagship devices.

For those who are concerned about eye health, it will be important that the Galaxy A5 2017 screen has a blue light filter.

The disadvantage of the display is that it supports not ten, but five simultaneous touches. Although, we personally don’t know people who often point at the screen of their mobile phone with both hands.

Smartphone cameras and photo quality

If in terms of battery life the Galaxy A5 2017 can give odds to many flagships, take the same Galaxy S7, then with the quality of photos the situation is worse. The smartphone received 16-megapixel main and front cameras, both with f/1.9 aperture. You need to remember that to obtain high-quality images, parameters such as:

1. aperture,
2. stabilization,
3. autofocus,
4. processing algorithms.

A large number of matrix pixels alone will not provide a decent level of shooting.

During the day, the main camera of the device copes well, and the photos are of acceptable quality: bright, clear and saturated. Night photography is simply disappointing. The lack of optical stabilization affects it. The algorithms for processing images taken in low light conditions may also be to blame.

The front camera, on the contrary, will delight selfie lovers with decent photo quality.

Samsung proprietary shell and pre-installed applications, Android version

Out of the box, the device runs under control, which can be upgraded to. On top of the operating system, as usual with Samsung smartphones, the proprietary Grace UI shell is installed, which replaced TouchWiz. It has a nice and easy-to-use interface with many proprietary software features, such as splitting the screen into two parts, quick camera launch, and one-handed control.

Among the pre-installed applications, it is worth noting the built-in theme manager, document editor, S Health, S Voice, office suite, Samsung KNOX, which allows you to restrict access to certain files, and Samsung Pay.

Cost and main competitors

The price of Samsung Galaxy A 5 2017 is one of the main reasons to buy a smartphone. A mobile phone with a premium design and almost flagship characteristics costs approximately 22,990 rubles in large electronics stores. If you search carefully, you can find more pleasant options and become the owner of one of the best smartphones of the current year for 17,000-18,000 rubles.

You can compare Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 in terms of characteristics, performance and cost with Meizu Pro 6, Huawei P9, Honor 8, Huawei Nova, OnePlus 3 and. While inferior to some of them in terms of hardware, it is definitely the leader in terms of battery life. Additionally, none of the competitors offer dust or moisture protection.

Samsung Galaxy A5 2017: reviews

In the vast majority of cases, user reviews of the smartphone are positive. Among the advantages of the device, its owners note high build quality without a single play, premium design, ideal screen diagonal that allows you to comfortably hold the smartphone in your hand, excellent battery life and an economical AMOLED display. Users highly appreciated the presence of IP68 dust and moisture protection, like flagship devices, the always-on display function, and the Samsung KNOX security system, with which you can be sure of the safety of your personal data.

Among the shortcomings, users note a problem when working with a fingerprint scanner, which does not always work correctly, the lack of optical stabilization and, as a result, not very good picture quality in low light conditions. Not everyone liked the glass case - it made the smartphone slippery.

Results

Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 is undoubtedly one of the best smartphones in the popular Galaxy A series. It has an impressive flagship design, a good screen, a 16-megapixel camera, excellent battery life and moisture and dust protection according to the IP68 standard. The price of Samsung A 5 2017 is pleasantly pleasing. Now on the market in terms of price, performance and quality, this is one of the best options. For just over 20 thousand rubles, the user receives a well-assembled, stylish device with almost flagship characteristics and branded accessories.

Disadvantages of the Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 smartphone: lack of stabilization and . But compared to the above advantages, the disadvantages of the smartphone do not seem critical.