Today we have a camera review of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM A320f. Even though the Galaxy A3's 13-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel front-facing camera don't look as cool as its big brothers the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7, that doesn't mean they take bad photos.
Yes, we agree that the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f doesn't have as many megapixels as the Galaxy A5 2017, but the smaller model's camera offers a similar f/1.9 aperture that helps take good photos in low-light conditions.
Also, the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f is not equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS), but the South Korean manufacturer managed to completely hide the camera in the body of the device. Now it doesn’t stick out, unlike last year’s version of the smartphone.
So, let's take a closer look at the cameras of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f black smartphone, as well as examples of photos and videos.
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f black: camera interface
The 2017 Galaxy A series devices are the first to receive a significantly updated camera interface from Samsung. The camera screen now offers video and shutter buttons, a gallery shortcut, flash controls, and a few other features.
The user also gets access to the Pro manual control mode, which allows you to adjust white balance, ISO and exposure, as well as HDR mode, night mode and a new food mode. You can also download new filters and modes from the Samsung Apps store, but the number is quite limited, and we only liked the sports mode and the animated GIF mode.
Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f: photo quality
As is often the case with cheaper smartphones, photos taken in natural light conditions are much better than indoors or at night. In good weather conditions, you can count on accurate colors and contrast with very fast autofocus and automatic contrast adjustment. However, the shutter takes a little longer to release than we'd like.
HDR mode is very useful for particularly high-contrast landscapes, as long as there is enough natural light present. We were also surprised to find that the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM A320f has excellent macro photography capabilities with a nice bokeh effect.
To get the best possible photos at night, it is recommended to turn on Night mode, which helps brighten and sharpen your photos. In normal mode, photos are quite grainy and dull. A single LED flash can help balance colors and contrast.
The front camera of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 sm a320f black smartphone also takes good photos in natural light. Plus, the beauty tools in the camera app allow you to beautify your selfie photos to the fullest.
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f: video quality
When shooting video, the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 sm a320f has a limited range of resolution options for both the front and rear cameras. Both allow you to shoot in VGA resolutions up to 720p HD and Full HD at 30fps with a 1:1 square aspect ratio.
When shooting still, the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM A320f smartphone handles colors well and has the ability to quickly adjust contrast. However, the lack of image stabilization means that even slight hand shake will be immediately visible in the video.
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM a320f camera review: summary
The Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM A320f is a case of software outperforming hardware, which is quite rare in the budget segment of the market, especially among Chinese devices.
The main competitor of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 SM A320f black can be called the Sony Xperia XA1. A Sony smartphone can easily beat a Samsung device when it comes to overall photo quality, but the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 sm a320f has a more simplified interface and a wide range of features that will be of great interest to new and experienced Android users.
The beginning of 2017 for Samsung fans was marked by the release of new smartphones in the A line, aimed at producing phones in the mid-price segment. From the very beginning of the release of A-line mobile phones at the beginning of 2015, it was represented by models A3, A5, and A7. In 2017, Samsung decided not to change its traditions and also released three phones with the same numbers.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the advantages and disadvantages of the youngest of the three brothers, the Samsung Galaxy A3, and analyze how it differs from the older ones, so that you can make your own conclusion: whether to buy it or not.
The equipment for this model is quite standard for more or less new Samsung phones. It includes:
- The phone itself;
- Charger with USB connector 1.5 Ampere;
- New generation Type-C cable for high-speed data transfer. It is used in almost all new devices. The cord length is standard and is 1.2 meters;
- Quite good wired in-ear headphones with a volume control button and an answer/reject call button on the wire;
- An interesting surprise was a small adapter from microUSB to Type-C, which can be useful if you have an old microUSB cable or charger that, thanks to this adapter, can still serve you.
Design and convenience
The diagonal of the screen, which, by the way, has a SuperAmoled matrix with HD resolution, is 4.7 inches; under the screen there is a proprietary Samsung mechanical HOME button, which is also a fingerprint scanner. To the left and right of it there are 2 touch buttons.
Above the screen there is a speaker, a proximity sensor, the one that goes out when you bring the phone to your ear, and a front camera. On the right, the manufacturer has placed buttons for adjusting the volume, while on the left there is a speaker and a power button. The speaker is not too loud, but the sound is clear and pleasant.
The connector for the dual SIM slot is located at the top of the phone. Since there is no separate slot for a microSD card, the user will have to choose between two SIM cards or a SIM card and a memory card. At the bottom there is a connector for a Type-C cable and a 3.5 mm headphone input.
The body itself is made of aluminum, and the front and back panels are protected by Gorilla glass 4. The phone is available in three colors: gold, blue and black. The most impressive of them is, perhaps, black, since due to the design feature, the switched-off screen seems to merge with the body and the transition border is almost invisible.
The device is also quite comfortable and fits well in the hand. It's just a little slippery due to the glass on the back. So if you are afraid that it might slip out of your hands, then you should purchase a case. The A3 weighs only 138 grams, making it the smallest in the entire line. A5 and A7 weigh 159 and 186 grams respectively.
Peculiarities
It's worth starting, perhaps, with the Always On Display function. It allows you to look at the clock, calendar, battery charge indicator and other useful information without unlocking the phone. In 2018, almost all phones already have this built-in function, but until 2017 it was implemented only in Samsung flagship models.
The phone also supports the Samsung pay service, with which you can pay for purchases with your phone instead of a plastic card. It can even simulate a magnetic stripe using MST technology. From the moment of their release until now, the 2017 A line has been the most budget phones that support this payment method.
The IP68 water and dust protection standard used makes the A3 quite reliable, like its brothers. You don’t have to worry too much if it falls into the water, since with its water resistance level it can lie under water up to 30 at a depth of 1.5 meters without any damage to performance. And there’s no need to even talk about dust and dirt inside the phone.
Main characteristics
Memory
The A3 has at its disposal only 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, which is quite a bit, and having only a combined slot for a SIM card and memory card, owners of two SIM cards will have to be content with only these 16 gigabytes. The A5 and A7 do not have such shortcomings, since in addition to 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, they also have an additional slot for a microSD card.
CPU
Models A5 and A7 have a completely new, at that time, 8-core Samsung Exynos 7880 processor operating at a frequency of 1.9 GHz, but the A3 was slightly deprived by installing a Samsung Exynos 7870 processor, the frequency of which is only 1.6 GHz. Therefore, the A3 is not as fast as its brothers from the same line, and produces only 45,000 in the AnTuTu test, while other models from the same series easily score about 60,000.
If we talk about games, it’s not a fact that such power will be enough for the new products of 2018, but for active games of 2017 it will be suitable. Although with difficulty. Take, for example, the rather demanding Asphalt Extreme. It works smoothly at maximum settings. However, really heavy games like Unkilled slow down even at medium graphics settings. With light two-dimensional or simply not very demanding games, problems should not arise at all. True, when recording video from the screen, almost any game, even not at all demanding, begins to slow down.
Another advantage of this processor is that its temperature almost does not rise, despite the absence of throttling (specific protection against overheating of the processor by skipping machine cycles (cycles) and the subsequent decrease in processor performance, but preventing further heating).
This became possible thanks to the modern FinFET process, which allows you to create processors with a thickness of only 14 nm
Camera
The rear camera is 13 megapixels with a good aperture – f/1.9 and autofocus. The camera's capabilities are small and will not provide much scope for shooting. Regular photos, HDR mode, panoramic shots, food, night photography, and basically everything. There is a PRO mode, but it doesn’t have too many settings. You can only change the white balance, adjust light sensitivity to increase sharpness and adjust exposure compensation.
The shots taken by the camera, however, turn out quite good, but you often have to wait 2-4 seconds for focusing before the camera takes a picture if you are photographing in non-ideal lighting conditions.
You can see how the camera takes pictures below:
And here is an example of how he takes photographs at night:
The front camera deserves special praise. Having a matrix resolution of 8 megapixels and the same aperture as the rear camera, selfies are highly detailed and with excellent color rendition. There is a built-in photo retouching program that allows you to whiten your skin, smooth out wrinkles, widen your eyes and some other little things. In general, selfie lovers should like it.
Example photo of the front camera:
You don't have to worry about the video camera at all. The phone can shoot video in FullHD at 30 fps. The sound and detail are at a high level. There is also autofocus. Some people complain, however, that it is too smooth, even slow, but this is completely uncritical. Shaking from walking when shooting is not compensated for, so you should shoot carefully.
Interface
Samsung galaxy A3 was released on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with a subsequent update to Nougat. The smartphone uses the standard Samsung shell. There is no particular point in describing it in detail. These are the same familiar desktops with widgets and icons.
You can take a screenshot by pressing the HOME key and the lock key, which is almost impossible to do with one hand. Unlocking by default is done by pressing the power button and swiping up on the screen.
Software
About 45 applications are initially installed on the phone, the vast majority of which cannot be deleted. (Except perhaps UBANK, Yandex and a couple of standard Samsung programs).
These include: a standard set of utilities used in all smartphones, redesigned by Samsung for its models. Such branded applications from Samsung as: S Voice, Samsung’s own “Siri”, Samsung Health, which is useful for those who need to monitor health indicators, Samsung technical support, Galaxy Apps, a kind of analogue of Google Play for Samsung phones, have not gone away.
Also installed by default are applications from Google, the Microsoft Office software package, Skype, Facebook, the One Drive cloud service, Samsung pay, which was mentioned above, and others.
The settings look quite compact due to the fact that a large number of parameters are collected in various sections, such as:
- "Optimization" - includes settings for RAM, ROM, battery and security settings
- “Sound and Vibration” - contains sound control parameters, as well as an equalizer and even things like reverberation, which may please people who are inclined to use a smartphone as a full-fledged audio player.
- “Display”, in addition to the standard screen settings, allows you to turn off the Always on Display function, but it does not consume a lot of battery, and the thing is quite convenient, so you can leave it.
- "Additional features" are mostly things like gesture control, eye tracking (the phone won't turn off until you look away) and practically useless screen reduction tools.
In general, the firmware seems to be a solid and complete shell, but perhaps too overloaded. The manufacturer stuffed a lot of things into it. Take at least 45 pre-installed applications. However, in such a large functionality you can find almost any function that you may need, so it’s up to you to choose whether it’s a plus or a minus.
Battery
The energy source for this model is a Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2350 mAh. It easily provides the phone with high autonomy, despite such a seemingly modest capacity. Fast charging is not implemented in this model, but with a charging speed of 1 hour 35 minutes with a standard charger, it is not needed.
Despite the small size of the battery, it lasts quite a long time. If you keep the screen on for 3-5 hours a day, with active data transfer in LTE and making calls, then the battery charge will easily last for 2 days
If you use the phone exclusively for calls, you can even count on 5-6 days of work, depending on the operator and the frequency of these calls, of course.
Watching a high-resolution video with the brightness turned up to maximum will drain the battery in about 17 hours, which is very, very good, especially considering such a small battery capacity.
With such indicators, operating time is definitely an advantage of this model. After all, even with active use and a heavy load on the processor, it is unlikely that you will be able to discharge this device in less than a day. And at such a charging speed, the problem of lack of energy goes away by itself.
Communication capabilities
There is no need to talk about the availability of Internet access, WI-FI and GPS for a long time, especially in 2017 models. Although it is worth noting that these functions are implemented just fine here.
GPS access speed takes only about 10 seconds. Navigation works perfectly and without failures, thanks to a competent approach to antenna design.
The device operates on almost all necessary LTE frequencies, which can also be considered a compliment to antenna manufacturers
There is also a built-in FM radio. Just like a nice bonus.
What is the price
As of August 2018, the average price for this device is:
- In Russia – 13,500 rubles;
- In Belarus – 500 denominated Belarusian rubles;
- In Ukraine – 6500-8000 hryvnia;
- In Kazakhstan – 75,000 tenge.
Here we have indicated the approximate cost in online stores in various countries. In order to better navigate the price and find where you can buy this model profitably, you should not limit yourself to the first store you come across in your region, but consider offers from several points of sale. You may be lucky enough to stumble upon discounts. However, you already know about this.
Samsung Galaxy A3
conclusions
Summing up, I would like to say that the phone turned out to be quite good, although there are controversial points, but first things first:
Advantages
- In the manufacture of the case, the manufacturer used good and high-quality materials, and the assembly itself is beyond praise;
- The advantage of the processor is its small size and manufacturability, as a result of which it almost does not overheat and at the same time ensures stable and smooth operation of the phone in operating mode;
- The biggest advantage of the phone is its battery, which simply holds a charge amazingly and does not run out for a long time;
- The high class of protection against water and dust IP 68 makes the phone quite durable and will protect it from unpleasant accidents if something happens;
- Availability of Samsung pay service;
- Always on Display function;
- An excellent speaker that produces good sound and is also well protected from water.
Flaws
- The disadvantage of the processor is that its performance is still not very high. If it is quite enough to work with applications, then problems arise with games;
- An overloaded shell that takes up about 10 GB of memory out of the standard 16, leaving the user with only 6;
- A small disadvantage is that the phone, due to its design, is quite slippery and purchasing a case is highly advisable;
- The camera on the phone, although not bad, lacks stabilization, which negatively affects the quality of images when shooting moving objects. Also, after reading the reviews, you can see that it’s not just us who are not happy with the focusing speed.
Samsung Galaxy A3 is a worthy smartphone from the Korean brand in the budget class.
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In October 2016, rumors began to surface regarding Samsung's upcoming A series of smartphones for 2017. The most impressive thing was that Galaxy A (2017) smartphones received water protection according to the IP68 standard, because previously only flagship models were protected from water. Even the most affordable Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 received protection from water and dust, and this is the most affordable waterproof smartphone from the Koreans. I will try to reveal all its capabilities, advantages and disadvantages in this material.
A-series is a high mid-price segment for Samsung. This line dates back to 2015 and is already in its third generation. Every year the Koreans try to introduce premium features into this series at more affordable prices. The body of smartphones is always made of modern materials with a modern design.
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 first appeared on sale in Russia at a price of 23,000 rubles, a little later it began to appear in Ukraine at a cost of 9,000 UAH. At the time of writing the review, at the current exchange rate, approximately 360 USD (in Russia) and 330 USD (in Ukraine).
The smartphone received a considerable price tag for its filling, in comparison with Chinese brands. However, the quality of execution in detail should not disappoint.
Appearance overview
Galaxy A3 (2017) is made of glass and metal. The back cover looks very plastic, but is actually glass. How protected it is from scratches is unknown and only time will tell, but the back glass of last year’s smartphones in this series was easily scratched. The smartphone has four color options: black, pale blue, pale purple (called rose gold) and, as in our review, gold. Blue appeared for the first time among Samsung smartphones in the A series, and it is still less common on sale.
The front panel is made of 2.5D glass and its cut resembles a piece of jewelry, associated with amber or pearls. This is not the same rounding of the glass as in the previous series, but more pronounced and gives off a mother-of-pearl edge. Below the display is a physical Home button with a fingerprint scanner. This year, it practically does not protrude from the body, not counting the metal edging, which can be felt with your finger. To the left and right of the key are two backlit touch buttons. When the backlight is inactive, they are absolutely invisible. Above the display is the company logo, above which there is a metal fingerprint grille, to the left of which there is a window under which two sensors are hidden: proximity and light. To the right of the speaker is the front camera.
Unlike the front part, I did not like the implementation of the rear panel; now there are more stylish and elegant solutions on the market. Maybe it's the color. The back has roundings not only on the two long edges, but on the top and bottom. Just above the center is another logo, above which is a camera with an iron edging that does not protrude from the body and a single-LED flash. 
The back cover is not completely fitted to the iron frame, which you can see in the close-up photos of the Galaxy A3 (2017). A corner of a piece of paper can easily fit there, and there is no guarantee that after a year the rubber gasket will not dry out and the panel will not begin to lag.
The end is made of metal. Samsung returns to a design with sharply rounded corners in the Galaxy A 2017. The sound speaker is conveniently located on the right side, closer to the top, and now you won’t cover the sound with your hand when holding the smartphone with the display in horizontal orientation. Below the speaker is the power button. 
On the left side there are two volume buttons. 
At the bottom end in the center there is a USB Type-C port, a conversational microphone, a headphone jack, and two plastic dividers for antennas. 
At the top end there is a microphone for noise reduction and sound recording. A tray for Nano format SIM cards, in which one cell is combined with a memory card of your choice. There are also two more dividers from the antenna. 
Dimensions of the smartphone: width 66.2 mm, height 135.4 mm, thickness 8 mm. Weight 138 g.
The kit includes a 5V and 1.55A power adapter, a USB Type-C cable, an adapter from Micro USB to USB Type-C and headphones. 
Chipset
The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) SM-A320F has its own Exynos 7 Octa (7870) chipset. It has 8 Cortex-A53 cores operating in the range of 546 - 1586 MHz. This chip is made according to modern 14 nm technological production standards. Today this is the smallest mobile chipset, due to this it is energy efficient, does not reduce frequencies under load and does not heat up.
The graphics in the chipset are processed by the ARM Mali-T830 graphics processor with a single core and a frequency range of 343 - 1001 MHz.
All this results in 45,700 points in the AnTuTu test. There is no throttling; in subsequent runs the result differed by a maximum of +/-200 points. The increase in performance, compared to the Galaxy A3 of last year, is about 10,000 points, but still does not reach the average level. It’s difficult to call a gaming smartphone, given the small display and low-power chip. In tanks at maximum settings, the number of frames per second drops to 5. With minimal graphics settings, a stable 60 frames per second is produced, so you can play comfortably if you wish.
Memory
At first glance, there is not very much RAM for the price category when compared with Chinese smartphones. However, due to good optimization, 2 GB of RAM is quite enough. Compared to last year’s model, an increase of 500 MB. The interface works quickly and no slowdowns are noticeable to the eye. Memory in LPDDR3 format. When completely clearing minimized applications, 625 MB are free.
But there is also 16 GB of permanent memory left, which can be expanded with a memory card, sacrificing a SIM card. Applications cannot be installed on the memory card.
Battery
The battery capacity in the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) has been increased by 50 mAh compared to its predecessor and has 2350 mAh. But if we take into account the more energy-efficient chip, the energy-efficient display matrix and the manufacturer’s constant work on optimizing the software, then autonomy has improved.
I tested the device in different modes and determined that playing at the maximum graphics setting (WoT Blitz) and maximum screen brightness dropped the smartphone from 100 to 0% in6.5 hours, which is a VERY good result for such a battery capacity. Video at maximum brightness, using Youtube playback while connected to the network via Wi-Fi, used up the full volume in13 hours! For comparison:
- LG Class (2050 mAh): games - 3 hours, video via Wi-Fi - 6 hours;
- LG K10 (2300 mAh): games 4 hours, video via Wi-Fi - 8 hours;
- Microsoft Lumia 550 (2100 mAh): games 4 hours, video 7 hours;
- Sony Xperia C4 (2600 mAh): games 4 hours, video 5 hours;
- Huawei Nova (3020 mAh): games 4.5 hours, video 8 hours;
- Huawei Y5 II (2200 mAh): video - 3 hours 30 minutes;
- Xiaomi Mi5s (3200 mAh): games 4 hours, video 9 hours;
- Xiaomi Mi4c (3080 mAh): games 5 hours, video 7.5 hours.
Of course, the diagonal of the display plays a big role, but this would not significantly affect the result. Samsung managed to make the Galaxy A3 (2017) very battery-powered without increasing the battery capacity. Of course, there are competitors in the form of Chinese brands, but they have a larger battery capacity and a thicker smartphone.
Cameras
The main camera of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 has a Sony IMX258 sensor. This matrix is 1/3 Vidicon inches in size. The pixel size is 1.12μm, it takes pictures in 13 megapixels. This matrix is found in OnePlus X, Sony Xperia XA, Meizu M3E and M3 Max, and one of the dual sensor Xiaomi Mi5s Plus.
The camera on the Galaxy A3 (2017) supports autofocus, which works automatically without touching the display. Not as fast as in flagships, but it works. The photos turned out too dark in cloudy weather, and the dynamic range of the camera was small.
I liked how the noise reduction works in poor lighting, with which the photos turn out a little blurry, but without noise.
Shot in low light
The camera shoots well in the dark, conveying correct white balance and good detail. The Galaxy A3 2017 pictured below beats out the Huawei Nova and Galaxy A5 2016. 
A few more shots on Samsung A3: 
The front camera has an 8 MP Sony IMX219 sensor. Size 1/4. This camera focuses on low power consumption and no lubrication. The pixel size is the same standard 1.12μm. The dynamic range is small; against the sky, objects will be illuminated, but you can photograph your face clearly. This sensor is the main sensor in the Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016). The Chinese brand Doogee likes to use it as the main camera using interpolation up to 13 MP (software stretching).
Selfie camera shot
The video is shot in FullHD resolution (on the main and front).
In my opinion, the camera does not claim to be the best, but it is superior to the budget segment.
Display
The display matrix in the Galaxy A3 (2017) has a diagonal of 4.7 inches and is made using Super Amoled technology. This matrix differs from other OLEDs in its pixel arrangement called PenTile, where each tri-color pixel has an additional green pixel, resulting in increased color brightness. The pixels themselves emit light in such a matrix and are organic light-emitting diodes, unlike LCDs, which require an additional backlit layer. Due to this, the display has excellent viewing angles.
There is no air gap between the sensor and the touchscreen. The touchscreen supports 5 simultaneous touches, however, it is responsive and there are no complaints about it. The 2017 A3 has maximum viewing angles and colors do not invert when tilted.
The display colors are closer to cool shades, but in the settings you can activate the reading mode. You can make sure that the reading mode is activated according to a schedule, or when it gets dark. It is also possible to adjust the mode with a slider, from a barely yellowish tint of the display (a yellow tint makes the eyes less tired) to a rich red one.
The screen frames are small, but there are some.
Communications and communications
The smartphone supports LTE networks. Wi-Fi 802.11 operates in the a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, mobile hotspot bands.
There is GPS support with A-GPS and GLONASS support. Navigation works great and in most cases flawlessly. Of course there is a compass. Bluetooth version 4.2.
Among the sensors, the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) finally has a gyroscope built in, now using a smartphone you can view 360-degree video or VR content, if there is a helmet for such a display.
Sound
The sound from the external speaker is quite clear. The set includes a good headset with earplugs. Nothing remarkable can be said about the sound; the manufacturer did not focus its attention on it.
There is an FM radio that works when you connect headphones. Sound recording during video recording is good.
operating system
The operating system version out of the box is Android 6.0.1 with proprietary firmware version A320FXXU1AQA1. Everyone usually calls the firmware TouchWiz, but there is no mention of it anywhere. In flagship models it is called GraceUX, but in more budget ones, individual software is “cut” for each model, for which you can applaud Samsung.
All Samsung smartphones at more affordable prices are kept up-to-date in terms of software; budget J-series smartphones receive operating system updates and the 2017 Galaxy A3 is no exception. An update to Android 7 is expected in the first half of 2017. Perhaps by the time you are reading this review, the smartphone has already received the latest system.
Among the software innovations in this Galaxy A3, I would like to note the built-in secure folder for storing personal files and accounts under a separate password. The camera application has also been slightly updated, in which you can move the shutter button to any convenient location on the display. The gallery has the ability to create 6-second GIFs from videos, automatically process photos, you can zoom the video you are watching while watching, as well as minimize and view the video in a small window, which will be active when you are going about your business in another smartphone application. While the video is playing, you can launch other third-party applications, and a small window with the video being played will be active in the foreground.
The 2017 Galaxy A3 carried over from the Always on Display flagships. When this mode is activated, the clock, incoming notifications and date are always active when the display is turned off. This feature does not drain the battery at all, I checked (overnight the smartphone only drained by 5%).
It is also possible to communicate with support directly from the Samsung Members smartphone application, find out information about the nearest service center, and even connect an operator to the control of your smartphone through the Smart Tutor application, so that he can suggest something and clearly show what and how to press. I made a separate video about this (look for it on my Youtube channel).
A proprietary Samsung Notes application has appeared, where you can draw with different tools and much more. The proprietary S Health app lets you track your walking, running, cycling, food, water, caffeine, weight, sleep and more.
Peculiarities
The main feature of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 is waterproof according to the IP68 standard, which means that the smartphone can be under water up to one and a half meters for at least 30 minutes.
The second feature for me is the Always on display feature that I described above. An equally significant feature is the excellent autonomy with a small battery capacity.
It is also noteworthy that the camera and button do not protrude from the body. By the way, the sensor in the button unlocks the smartphone without having to activate the lock screen. Unfortunately, the scanner does not work with wet fingers.
Alternatives
If we consider alternatives in terms of display size, the Apple iPhone 6S (4.7 inches) and Apple iPhone SE (4 inches) are close in terms of compactness, but also twice as expensive. At the same price as the smartphone under review - iPhone 5S, but the diagonal is much smaller, battery life is much worse, and there is no moisture protection. If it is very important for you that the “Apple” sparkles and the melody is “iPhone”, then the 5S is definitely your option, despite the fact that this once masterpiece was released as much as 4 years ago.
The Sony Xperia X Compact has a similar display, similar price and significantly better cameras. And in terms of performance and memory, the smartphone is more interesting. For some reason, the Japanese did not implement moisture protection in this model, which cannot be said about their flagship compact model of 2015, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. Same price as the Galaxy A3 2017, it has the flagship Snapdragon 810 chip (hot guy) and more internal memory. And again, the cameras are a cut above. The same cannot be said about Sony regarding their autonomy.
Well, competitors from China, where would we be without them? The closest 5-inch competitor officially presented on our market is Huawei Nova with an attractive design, about the same main camera, but much better than the front one. Huawei has more memory and a more powerful chipset. Of course, there is no such excellent autonomy, good software and moisture protection. Of course, there are other “animals” from China, but I don’t want to compare them with them, since there you will already have to make compromises in some areas.
Pros and cons of Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
pros
- amazing autonomy;
- moisture protection;
- reliable software with timely updates;
- compactness (if you need it);
- Always on Display and other software goodies;
- no heating;
- good main camera.
Minuses
- the sample in question has gaps between the back cover and the frame;
- there is little permanent memory, and the MicroSD slot is combined with a second SIM card;
- The display frequency is low, perhaps some people will get tired of their eyes quickly.
My review of the Galaxy A3 2017
This is a compact device with good software, acceptable cameras and a bright Super AMOLED display. Many will be attracted to purchase by moisture protection and interesting design. But most of all I liked the autonomy, this is not visible “on paper”, but the real results are pleasing.
Do you often go on business trips and don’t want to overpay for communications? There is no need to buy a new SIM card with an unknown number to your colleagues, now you can make/receive calls over Wi-Fi at the price of calls in Russia for both you and the caller.
Introducing the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) SM-A320F/DS (SM-A320FZKDSER), available in Black color with 16GB of built-in memory.
The updated A-series from Samsung received a premium design, similar to the flagship S7, with a glass body on both sides framed by a metal frame at the ends. For the first time, all smartphones in this series are dust and waterproof. IP68 protection standard. What else is new in the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)?
Updates Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) SM-A320F/DS
As noted above, the 2017 A3 received a more technologically advanced design. The front of the case is formed by a panel made of 2.5D glass, the back panel is made of 3D glass, and the edges are protected by a metal frame. Now the smartphone is protected from dust and moisture. The device feels good in the hand and is comfortable to use in any conditions, even in the rain. In addition to the design, the gadget received modern technical filling: a new, more powerful processor (eight-core versus four cores in the 2016 version), increased RAM, an improved selfie camera, changed wired and wireless connection parameters, increased maximum speed in LTE networks, improved information security and the phone itself, the ability to expand memory has been preserved and the maximum possible capacity of the memory card has been increased. The device itself has slightly increased in size - 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9 mm versus 134.5 x 65.2 x 7.3 mm for the 2016 A3, while the battery capacity has been increased and the power consumption of the device has been reduced. The manufacturer also promises many intuitive software features that will take the use of the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) to a new level.
Display
Perhaps the only thing that has not undergone changes in the device is its display. The smartphone screen has retained the size of 4.7 inches, which many consider optimal. You can reach any corner of the display with one hand and not be afraid that the device will slip out of your hands. The screen is made using Super AMOLED technology, which guarantees rich colors and wide viewing angles. The brightness reserve is enough for the image to be clearly visible, even in direct sunlight, plus there is a sensor for automatic backlight adjustment. The resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels with a density of 312 ppi. So, nothing prevents you from enjoying a high-quality and rich picture, under any conditions. And all this is protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 with an oleophobic coating, which will protect the display not only from scratches, but also from dirt and fingerprints. By the way, you will have to touch the smartphone screen less, because... it has an Always-on Display function, thanks to which all the necessary information is always on the screen.
Cameras
The main one has a resolution of 13 megapixels and is equipped with autofocus and a built-in flash. It supports HDR technology, which allows you to take high-quality images with vibrant colors, even in difficult conditions. It is possible to record video in Full HD format (1920 x 1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second and stereo sound. For the most successful shots, you can apply one of the 16 built-in filters or use the “Food” mode. Setting up the camera is completely simple and intuitive. Selfie lovers will be pleased with the updated 8MP front camera with the ability to install the shutter button anywhere on the display. The display itself acts as a flash. The selfie camera can also shoot Full HD videos at 30 frames per second.
Processor and memory
The new version of the smartphone is equipped with an eight-core Samsung Exynos 7870 processor with a core frequency of 1.6 GHz (the 2016 version had a quad-core Exynos 7578 - 1.5 GHz), and a Mali-T830 video controller is responsible for graphics. The device's RAM has been increased from 1.5 to 2 GB. The built-in memory can be expanded using a memory card with a maximum capacity of up to 256 GB. Hybrid memory card slot.
Connection
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) SM-A320F/DS is equipped with two Nano-sim slots that can work simultaneously. The device has increased the maximum possible Internet speed from 150 to 300 Mbit/s, thanks to LTE cat. 6. If there is no network, it is possible to connect via Wi-Fi. Communication between the smartphone and other devices and wearable electronics (smart watches, headphones, fitness bracelets, etc.) is ensured by Bluetooth 4.2. The following Bluetooth profiles are supported: A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HFP, HID, HOGP, HSP, MAP, OPP, PAN, PBAP. Built-in GPS and GLONASS modules will help you find a quick and accurate route. The wired connection in the 2017 A series is carried out via USB Type C. The manufacturer took care of users with accessories with a microUSB connector by including a USB Type C - microUSB adapter with the phone. 
Nutrition
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) has an increased battery of 2350 mAh compared to its predecessor. An increase of 50 mAh is only a little over 2%. But thanks to modern hardware and optimization, the autonomy figures are much more impressive. Talk time on a 3G network and video playback has been increased by 3 hours (from 2 to 5 p.m.), Internet surfing on 4G networks has been increased by 3 hours (from 1 to 4 p.m.), Internet surfing via Wi-Fi is possible 2 hours longer (from 15 to 17).
It's safe to say that the new Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) follows the modern trend in the development of wearable gadgets, when one device combines several and provides many possibilities. It has become more technologically advanced, autonomous, unpretentious to use, has acquired a fingerprint scanner, and has the ability to use Samsung Cloud and the Samsung Pay payment service.
A-series, positioned by the manufacturer as balanced and affordable mid-range devices.
We got to test the A3 - one of the few compact smartphones on the market with a 4.7-inch screen diagonal, which is doomed to popularity due to the lack of any decent analogues. A review of the younger model Samsung Galaxy A3 will show what new the company has offered to its users and whether it is worth buying the phone at that price.
Price and main characteristics
The cost of the A3 ranges around $320. Considering the small supply of RAM and built-in memory, the mark of 20,000 rubles can be considered slightly overpriced, however, Samsung and the adequate pricing that Chinese manufacturers have accustomed us to are incompatible concepts.
Specifications:
display: 4.7”, SuperAMOLED HD 1280*720 px, 312 ppi;
processor: Exynos 7870 (1.6 GHz) + Mali-T830 video accelerator;
RAM: 2 GB;
internal memory: 16 GB + microSD flash cards up to 256 GB;
camera: main – 13 MP, front – 8 MP;
communications: 4G FDD LTE, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, ANT+, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5 GHz;
battery: 2350 mAh;
Dimensions of the device – 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9 mm, weight – 138 grams.
The smartphone runs Android 6.0.1 OS with the proprietary Grace UX shell. Soon the phone will be updated to the new version of the operating system 7.0, the update has already been officially announced.
Equipment and appearance
The package includes:
Smartphone;
Charging unit;
USB Type C cable, microUSB adapter;
Headphones;
Master key for SIM card tray;
Documentation.
Externally, the A3 is practically no different from the older A-series models. The smartphone's display is covered with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4, and the back panel is also made of glass. All this is complemented by a metal frame, which gives the A3 the appearance of a very stylish and expensive gadget. Four body colors are available: gold, blue, black and grey.
The smartphone screen occupies approximately 67% of the entire front side area. Below it there is a hardware “Home” button (also a fingerprint scanner), as well as “Back” and “Tasks” touch pads, which are highlighted at the moment of touch.
At the top of the front panel there is a speaker, proximity and lighting sensors, as well as a 5-megapixel front camera. An innovation that not everyone will like is the absence of an LED event indicator.
The noise-canceling microphone and combo SIM slot are on top.
On the left side there are only two keys for adjusting the volume.
On the right is the screen power button and the main speaker. This arrangement was not chosen by chance: the sound of the speaker does not overlap if you place the phone with its front or back surface on the table.
At the bottom there is a 3.5 mm headset jack, microphone and USB Type-C port.
From the back, the smartphone looks a little empty. There is only a 13-megapixel camera, a flash and the company logo just below.
The greens on the back cover of the A3 are slightly rounded towards the metal frame. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the phone is very convenient to use; you can easily hold it with one hand even on the go. The gadget is practically not felt in your trouser pocket.
The A3 housing is IP68 certified. The smartphone is almost completely protected from moisture and dust. It can stay under water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for half an hour. Of course, it’s not worth testing the defense again without the need.
Samsung positions the junior A-series model as a gadget for active people who value compactness and convenience. The typical A3 buyer isn't looking for benchmarks or screen size. There are not many worthy devices left on the smartphone market with a 4.7-inch screen (not counting the iPhone SE). And if you are tired of “shovels” - A3 is definitely your choice.
Screen
Samsung Galaxy A3 is equipped with a Super AMOLED display with a diagonal of 4.7 inches and an HD resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. Pixel density – 312 ppi. You can distinguish the graininess of the picture; to do this you have to peer at the display from a distance of 5-6 centimeters. During normal use of the smartphone, the screen quality does not disappoint; it has good contrast, almost maximum viewing angles and slightly oversaturated color rendition, traditional for all Amoleds.
There is also no air gap between the touchscreen and the sensor. The first one supports only up to 5 touches. In the smartphone settings, you can select a display mode suitable for color temperature. There is a software blue filter that reduces eye strain when reading text on a white background for a long time. The display brightness is sufficient for comfortable use both at night and in direct sunlight.
The smartphone screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It is scratch-resistant and can withstand falls onto hard surfaces from a height of 1-1.5 meters without noticeable damage. An innovation appeared in the 2017 A-line - AlwaysOn Display. Now information about new events is displayed even when the screen is turned off. Special technology minimizes power consumption in standby mode, so that using AlwaysOn has almost no impact on battery life.
Performance
Inside the smartphone is an eight-core Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 chipset made using 14nm technology. The maximum frequency is 1.6 GHz. This processor has already been used before in the Samsung J7 model. The Mali-T830 video accelerator is responsible for the graphics.
The volume of built-in memory is 16 GB. Out of the box, about 9.7 GB is available to the user. The storage can be expanded via microSD up to 256 GB. 2 GB of RAM is enough for most everyday tasks.
The hardware component of the A3 corresponds to the average price category of smartphones. In Antutu and other benchmarks, the phone shows satisfactory results for similar devices. The performance of the A3 is definitely enough for the average user (web surfing, video, light games). At maximum Wot Blitz graphics settings, the smartphone produces about 35-45 frames per second, but there is a lack of performance reserve, so this smartphone is definitely not for gamers.
Camera
The front 8-megapixel camera is not equipped with autofocus, so you will have to independently find the appropriate distance to the object in the frame. Using the built-in application, you can slightly adjust the selfie.
The main 13-megapixel camera has autofocus, HDR and PRO mode (manual adjustment of white balance, ISO and exposure compensation).
The quality of images in normal lighting will please even experienced users. The frames delight with good dynamic range, detail, rich colors and accurate white balance.
At dusk there is a small amount of noise, but it does not affect the picture much. The noise reduction algorithm may blur fine details.
Working with HDR in an environment with a small difference in brightness does not bring the desired effect. But in the presence of a bright light source, HDR significantly improves image quality.
The maximum resolution for video recording is FullHD at 30 frames per second.
Speaker, sound quality
If the phone is in your pocket, an incoming call can easily be missed due to the low volume of the main speaker. Otherwise, its sound is quite clear, listening to music does not cause discomfort.
Standard headphones are included in the package. You shouldn't expect anything supernatural from them; their sound quality is average. There are no complaints about the work of the conversational speaker. The noise reduction system works at a high level, cutting out unnecessary noise from the surrounding environment. Thanks to it, you can understand the words of your interlocutor even in public transport.
Battery
Battery life depends on the non-removable 2350 mAh lithium-ion battery. Despite the small battery capacity, the Samsung “lasts” on one charge for about two days in normal mode. This is due to the presence of an energy-efficient Exynos 7870 Octa processor and Super AMOLED matrix.
In video playback mode with maximum screen brightness, the Galaxy A3 lasted about 17 hours. Under heavy load, the battery will run out in about 10 hours. The smartphone does not have a fast charging mode, but, in fact, it is not needed. The phone charges up to 100% in an hour and a half. There is a power saving mode that limits the display brightness and processor frequency.
Communication and Internet
The A3's navigation capabilities are beyond praise. A cold start lasts no longer than 10 seconds, GPS/GLONASS quickly finds and binds to the required satellites. 
All necessary LTE standards are supported. Cellular communications will work perfectly in almost any region of the CIS.
The new A-series supports Samsung Pay. For its operation, an NFC chip is built into the smartphone. Data exchange occurs via Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5 GHz. In Repeater mode, the smartphone can distribute Wi-Fi to other devices, working as an access point. It is also worth using the USB Type C interface, through which you can connect a variety of external devices to the A3.
Video review of Samsung Galaxy A3
Competitors, conclusion
What can you say about the Samsung Galaxy A3 after the test? First of all, this is a compact model for everyday tasks. There are not many smartphones on the market with a 4.7-inch screen diagonal. The A3 can offer complete protection from moisture and dust, good battery life and a high-quality camera. The smartphone is suitable for people with an active lifestyle who value compactness and simplicity.
But some buyers are outraged about the price of the device. In their opinion, the Galaxy A3 is significantly inferior in technical characteristics to Chinese smartphones, the cost of which is almost three times less. But you should understand that these are players in different weight categories, aimed at completely different audiences.
The main rivals of the model are the iPhone SE and Sony Xperia X Compact. The advantage of the first is a better camera. However, the iPhone costs significantly more, has a completely different design and does not have an AlwaysOn Display. X Compact is similar in technical specifications. Again, it is more expensive and not waterproof.
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