Samsung has considerably closed the design hole between its prime and mid-range telephones with the brand new Samsung Galaxy A3 2017. But it surely’s not the one producer making fascinating telephones for an reasonably priced worth.

In reality, the South Korean agency is not the entrance runner within the price range market with sturdy competitors from the likes of Motorola, Huawei, Honor, Oppo and Wileyfox (within the UK).

What Samsung has finished right here although is intelligent, it is taken the design language from its premium Galaxy S vary and introduced it to an entry-level handset – which suggests you do not really feel such as you’re fully lacking out if the likes of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are financially out of attain.

Samsung Galaxy A3 worth and launch date

• Launch worth: £279 ($250, round AU$455) SIM free
• Present worth: £225 ($250, round AU$375)
• Launch date: January 2017

The Samsung Galaxy A3 launch worth was £279 ($250, round AU$455) for this SIM free 2017 version, which is a bit more than half the value of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. 

Since its arrival although, the value has dropped if you happen to store round, and we have seen the Galaxy A3 as little as £217 on Amazon. – which represents a wholesome worth drop.

This worth level places it in direct competitors with a number of spectacular mid-rangers, such because the Moto G5 Plus, Wileyfox Swift 2 X and Honor 9 Lite.

The Galaxy A3 is extensively out there within the UK, with main networks and retailers and networks stocking the handset, whereas within the US it may be discovered on-line on the likes of Amazon.

Dressed to impress

• A premium design
• Water and mud resistance

Samsung’s largest achievement with the Galaxy A3 2017 has been to make a cellphone that appears and feels so much just like the Samsung Galaxy S7 for a few hundred kilos much less.

We’ll go into the specifics of the A3’s design within the following part. Suffice to say that it follows the design language of its premium brother to a fairly spectacular diploma.

It is received an all-metal rim, a well-known curved ‘3D Glass’ again, and even a barely shimmery impact to its entrance bezels. Anybody who’s used a Samsung Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S7 for an prolonged interval will have the ability to detect the variations, but it surely’s a creditable approximation regardless.

You even get IP68 certification, which implies that the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 is as immune to water and mud ingress as its large brother. That is not one thing we’re accustomed to seeing on cheaper telephones, so it’s a notable bragging level for the brand new A3.

Samsung appears decided that you just received’t simply spot the distinction by a cursory look of the Galaxy A3’s spec sheet both, with the presence of a customized Exynos 7870 CPU, a 13MP fundamental digital camera, and a front-mounted fingerprint sensor all suggestive of upper finish thrills.

Nearer scrutiny of these parts affirms their mid-range standing, however they are not discovered wanting at this worth level.

One forward-looking element the Samsung Galaxy S7 doesn’t have that the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 does is a USB-C port. It is not a large bragging level, but it surely’s actually the usual we’re anticipating to see all mid to high-end Android telephones adopting in 2017.

From a sensible perspective it is a lot simpler to plug in a charger or cable with out wanting, because of USB-C’s reversible nature.

Design and show

• Design mimics Galaxy S7 properly
• Vivid and vibrant four.7-inch AMOLED show
• 720p decision doesn’t appear enough

We have already acknowledged that the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 does a terrific job appropriating the design language of the Samsung Galaxy S7 with comparatively few compromises. However extra importantly, it merely feels nice within the hand.

At 7.9mm thick and weighing 138g, and mixed with that steel and glass construct, it has an analogous ‘just-so’ heft to the one you get with Apple’s iPhones. you are holding one thing of high quality, but it surely will not remind you of the actual fact when it is sat in your pocket.

In the meantime, that 3D Glass again is greater than only a visible flourish – it ensures that the cellphone sits properly within the curve of your hand.

We’re nonetheless not satisfied that an all-glass again is a very sensible concept in a cellphone, although. In reality, we’re fairly certain it is not.

It makes the cellphone really feel precariously slippery while you’re fishing it out of your pocket, and we suspect will probably be extra-prone to scuffing and cracking ought to that evasiveness ever present itself and it heads for the ground.

We’re not massively enamored with the Gold Sand shade our check unit got here in, however that is clearly a subjective matter. There are Black Sky and Blue Mist choices for many who like their telephones to be somewhat extra understated, and a Peach Cloud possibility for many who, effectively, like pink.

We’ve got decidedly blended emotions concerning the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017’s show. On paper, its four.7-inch Tremendous AMOLED display screen with 720p decision would possibly sound just like the type of compact display screen that can provide the iPhone 7 a run for its cash. But it surely simply would not.

OK, so it is received that super-saturated look that AMOLED panels are identified for. And also you additionally get Samsung’s typical show choices, so you may tweak it in response to your choice (tip: select Primary if you wish to tone issues down). However that 720p decision doesn’t appear to do that AMOLED panel any favours on the sharpness depend.

It’s miles from dangerous, however anybody who’s grown used to 1080p screens – as long-time Android customers little question have – will most likely discover the drop intimately, even with the smaller-than-usual display screen measurement.

We moved straight to the A3 from utilizing an iPhone 6S as our each day driver, which has precisely the identical sized display screen with an analogous variety of pixels, however even then the Samsung felt decidedly fuzzy and missing a sure readability.

We might really feel churlish complaining about this completely ample decision if it weren’t for the straightforward incontrovertible fact that many sub-£200/$250/AU$300 Android telephones include 1080p screens. 

The distinction in expertise could have a real impression if you happen to’re an avid cell media shopper, which we’ll talk about later.

One main benefit of the Galaxy A3’s AMOLED show is that Samsung has been in a position to implement its All the time On Show function. 

This implies you may have somewhat clock or calendar completely displayed in plain, dim lettering, full with small icons for incoming notifications. It’s nice for a surreptitious look while you’re in a gathering or watching a film.