For Samsung, 2016 promises to be another year of testing and competition for profit and market share for smartphones. 2015 went well, although it does not reach the “fat” 2013. The South Korean manufacturer even decided on a certain change in strategy, which, among other things, was expressed in the release of metal smartphones. The first sign was the Galaxy Alpha, but there was only a border made of metal. Samsung has gone further with the Galaxy A series.
All Galaxy A smartphones are made of metal. Completely and completely, including the back cover. Three models A3, A5 and A7, differing in characteristics and screen diagonal, began to be positioned as fashion products, which means not the lowest cost. However, their sales were higher than expected. Unsurprisingly, in 2016 Samsung decided to continue its successful lineup.
Galaxy A of the second generation was named simply and unpretentiously - they added the postscript "(2016)". Yes, just like that and in parentheses. New items also received three modifications, and at the same time their design has undergone changes. In this review, we are getting acquainted with the middle representative of the series - Galaxy A5 (2016), also known as SM-A510F.
Galaxy A5 (2016) video review
As always, we'll start with a video review. The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is a very interesting phone, and therefore worth a look at the video.
Design
It was the design that Samsung made in the Galaxy A series. Although it would seem, where is Samsung and where is design - its smartphones for a long time were simply “none” in this parameter. Not scary, but boring and uninteresting. Although they all used and is applying a certain single design concept, which is why the devices have become well recognizable.
The first Galaxy A looked like a typical Samsung, but with pointed edges and was made of metal. Moreover, the body has become non-separable. In the hand, these pipes are felt perfectly, the metal, as always, pleasantly cools the hand. What about the 2016 models? Well, at least the metal hasn't gone anywhere.
True, the metal has become noticeably less - it is now located only on the side ends. However, do not panic ahead of time - a glass plate was installed at the back, as on pipes. The designers clearly drew ideas from the flagship products of 2015.
It turned out really interesting, even quite. Someone reproached the Galaxy S6 for its resemblance to the iPhone 6, but such thoughts simply do not arise about the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016). It would seem that it has a lot in common with the Galaxy S6: the sides are chopped, the lower end with the speaker, 2.5D glass protruding from the body. But the device still has its own individuality, which is absent in all other Samsungs. The novelty has a thinner round screen frame and it is decorated more strictly.
At the back, under the glass, the Galaxy A5 (2016) does not have metal iridescent in different colors, as was done in all the flagships of the Galaxy S6 and. The color is solid, without any frills. In our case, it is black, but the phone is available in at least four different versions: Galaxy A5 (2016) black (black), Galaxy A5 (2016) white (white), Galaxy A5 (2016) pink (pink - hello iPhone 6s!) and Galaxy A5 (2016) gold.
Another noteworthy increase in the dimensions and weight of the Galaxy A5 (2016) relative to its predecessor. This is partly due to the growth of the screen diagonal (from 5.0 "to 5.2"), and partly with the installation of a larger battery (2900 mAh instead of 2300 mAh). As a result, the thickness of the device has increased from 6.7 to 7.3 mm, and the weight has grown from 123 to 155 grams. In principle, nothing critical, but if you take two pipes at once, the difference between them will be visible. However, I am glad that the width and height have grown literally by a couple of millimeters, so nothing has changed in terms of usability.
And, ending the section on design, we add that the build of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is excellent. However, it is easier to achieve this result with a non-separable body. On the other hand, we are talking about an expensive fashion series, so we did not expect otherwise.
Connectors and controls
Despite the design update, the ergonomics of Samsung smartphones remain unchanged, which is an additional plus for fans of these products.
Above the screen is a speaker, front camera, light and proximity sensors.
At the bottom, under the screen, are the task manager and back touch buttons, as well as the traditional mechanical home button. The latter this time is located close enough to the screen, so that, sometimes pressing on it, the finger touched the sensor on the display. And so it now has a built-in fingerprint scanner - this is another difference compared to the previous generation Galaxy A.
The parameters of the fingerprint sensor are set in the settings in the "Lock screen and protection" section. As always, the fingerprint is added with a few touches, and then it can be set to unlock the smartphone. In case of impossibility to use it, you are prompted to enter a spare password.
And Samsung also offers to use fingerprints for authorization on sites and in the Samsung account. How it all looks in practice, our short video will show:
The touch buttons are backlit. Without it, they are not visible at all.
At the back, all elements are grouped at the top. In particular, this is the manufacturer's logo, a slightly protruding camera lens and an LED flash.
The volume control buttons were placed on the left side. They are also metal.
On the right is the power button and compartment for SIM cards and microSD cards. We dealt with the Galaxy A5 (2016) Duos.
The card holder is removed with an ejector or a thin paper clip. Two important details should be noted here: only nanoSIM cards are supported and a memory card is installed instead of one SIM card. That is, you can choose one of two options: SIM + microSD or SIM + SIM. Here's a short video on how to properly install SIM and microSD cards in Galaxy A5 (2016):
The top end is almost empty. Here are the antenna inserts and a noise canceling microphone.
At the bottom there is a second pair of antenna inserts, and an external speaker, a conversational microphone, a microUSB port and a 3.5 mm mini-jack for headphones and a headset are also moved here. Note that placing the audio jack on the bottom is a very good solution - it's much more convenient.
In total, the ergonomics of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) are completely satisfactory to us. All the buttons are in their usual places, the connectors are located as conveniently as possible, and the manufacturer did not refuse from the memory card slot. The only pity is that the body is not collapsible.
Case for Galaxy A5 (2016)
At the time of preparation of the cover article for the Galaxy A5 (2016), few were released, which is logical - the device is quite new.
Immediately on sale there is such a case-book for the Galaxy A5 (2016), which can be bought for about 900 rubles.
We are sure that over time, covers will appear decently, including from Samsung itself.
Screen
Galaxy A is a series of fashion smartphones, that is, not cheap ones. Of course, the emphasis is on design and materials, but equipping the handsets with a bad screen would not be comme il faut, especially for Samsung. So even the first generation of the A line is equipped with Super AMOLED screens, but different versions of the phones differed in resolution. And in this parameter, the Galaxy A5 (2016) has grown significantly.
The point is that the resolution has grown from 1280x720 for the first Galaxy A5 to 1920x1080 pixels for the current one. At the same time, the diagonal has grown from 5.0 "to 5.2", but the screen frame has become thinner, so the dimensions of the devices are extremely similar. The display provides a total pixel density of 424 ppi (versus 294 ppi in its predecessor), which, if not the maximum by modern standards, is still a very decent indicator.
The screen on the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is very cool. This is subjective. It may well be comparable to the matrices used in the company's flagships like the Galaxy S6. Undoubtedly, the latter has a better display, but if you do not put both smartphones side by side, then you will hardly notice the difference. So the new Galaxy A5 is great in the sun, has a decent headroom of brightness, deep blacks and wide viewing angles.
More specifically, we measured the screen brightness at 374.35 cd / m2, which is quite good. The brightness of the black point, due to the peculiarity of the OLED technology, is meaningless to measure - it can be said to be zero. In other words, black looks truly black and contrast tends to infinity.
The color gamut of an AMOLED display may vary depending on the profile selected in the settings. By default, Samsung phones are set to "Adaptive". As you can see, in this case, its coverage significantly exceeds the sRGB color space and approaches professional AdobeRGB. The image in this case is very bright and saturated. If you are attracted by the quieter shades inherent in IPS-matrices, then it is better to choose the "Basic" profile. Let the color gamut narrows to sRGB, but you still won't see the difference.
Another advantage of the "Main" profile is the color temperature closer to the optimal value. Let us remind you that the value of 6500K is considered comfortable, while in the "Main" profile it varies in the range of 6400-6900K. That is, the picture looks warmer and more natural. The "adaptive" profile, in turn, provides a higher color temperature at the level of 7800-8000K, that is, the image turns out to be colder.
The gamma curves of the screen look good. They almost merge with the reference curve 2.2, only the “Main” profile curve barely protrudes in the middle. That is, image fragments with an average brightness (gray and the like) are displayed a little lighter than necessary. On the eye it is still not noticeable.
The screen recognizes up to five simultaneous touches, which is strange - usually AMOLED displays have support for a dozen touches. It is possible that this limitation is programmatic.
The screen settings, and in particular the profile change, takes place in the "Display" section of the system settings. Then you need to go to the "Screen Mode" subsection. There are also profiles "AMOLED Movie" and "AMOLED Photo". By their name, it is clear which one is intended for what.
As you can imagine, we liked the screen of the Galaxy A5 (2016). It has good resolution, excellent color rendering, wide viewing angles, it is protected by Gorilla Glass 4, and it also has the ability to change the color profile.
Camera
The camera resolution of the Galaxy A5 (2016) has not increased compared to the first model - it is 13 MP. However, this did not prevent the installation of a more advanced sensor and lens. In particular, the new smartphone has a camera equipped with an image stabilizer.
The camera application is standard for Samsung phones. However, compared to the flagships, it is lighter in the Galaxy A5 (2016). But the most basic effects and features are there, including the popular HDR mode.
But there are clearly fewer shooting modes than top-end products. And in Pro mode, you can only adjust white balance, ISO sensitivity and exposure compensation. The "full" version also allows you to adjust the color palette, focusing distance and exposure duration.
The resolution is changed in the settings. Another noticeable difference from the flagships is that the maximum picture resolution is achieved when the aspect ratio of the screen is 4: 3, and not 16: 9.
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The shots from the camera of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) look pretty decent. At times she has misses with focus, but from more everything is decent to the rating "above average". Everything looks especially good in daylight, but this is not surprising. In poor lighting conditions, if you try not to move your hands, the shots are more than successful.
Video resolution, unfortunately, is also artificially limited to Full HD, while 4K is still left to the flagships.
The video looks decent, with good white balance, not blown out, pretty clear.
The front camera has its own shooting modes, although there are even fewer of them. But "Group Selfie" will obviously not be superfluous.
The front-facing sensor has a 5MP resolution and is also achieved with a 4: 3 aspect ratio.
The shooting quality of the front camera is very decent. Photos are sharp enough, not overexposed, without disturbing the white balance. Only night shots are blurry and noisy.
The video resolution is the same as the rear camera - Full HD. For a front sensor, this is a very good option.
You know, it's not so easy to distinguish the video from the front camera from the video from the main, rear one. On the whole, it looks no worse.
Overall, we liked the Galaxy A5 (2016) cameras. They shoot well, even in poor lighting conditions. Photos and videos are sharp, with the correct white balance, and the stabilizer is visible.
Specifications Galaxy A5 (2016)
The Galaxy A lineup for 2016 as a whole consists of the previous main models: A3, A5 and A7. At the same time, there are also A8 and A9 for individual local markets. They are not yet delivered to us and it is not clear whether they will be. At the same time, Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is available both in versions with one SIM-card and two (Galaxy A5 (2016) Duos). The model we received was the SM-A510F / DS.
The Galaxy A5 (2016) has a lot of changes compared to its predecessor. This is an improved processor, and a new video card, a high-resolution screen, and at the same time a battery with increased capacity. Add a completely different design to this list. In general, the new product has a lot of arguments to switch to it from the older model.
The processor in the Galaxy A5 for 2016 is a relatively new Samsung Exynos 7580. We first met it in the summer of 2015. It is a mid-range smartphone chipset powered by eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.6GHz. In principle, a fairly productive solution for a wide range of products. It will certainly be faster than the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 found in the 2015 Galaxy A5.
The only complaint about the Exynos 7580 is its graphics card. Mali-T720 MP2 is a modern accelerator, but based on architecture for inexpensive chipsets. In addition, only two executive units are installed there. Competing solutions from MediaTek to eight similar Cortex-A53 cores usually add a Mali-T760 graphics chip, which is noticeably faster. No, we do not want to say that the proposed option is slow, but for the balance of power it still had to be made faster.
There is 2 GB of RAM - no progress has happened here. However, it is not yet required here, since 3 GB is still the actual volume for flagships, which the Galaxy A5 (2016), despite its parameters, is not. Exactly the same can be said about the amount of built-in memory, of which there is 16 GB. It is too early to install 32 GB in a mid-range smartphone, albeit a fashion one. But, unlike the 2015 Samsung flagships, the memory in our phone can be expanded with microSD cards.
Otherwise, the capabilities of the Galaxy A5 (2016) are quite consistent with the positioning. In terms of communication, everything you need is supported: Bluetooth 4.1, 802.11n, LTE category 6 and NFC. Also, recall, there is a fingerprint scanner, which the first generation A5 does not have. So what we have in front of us is a modern smartphone with good characteristics, decent design and excellent performance. But how fast is he after all?
Performance testing
Unfortunately, we were not able to get acquainted with the first Galaxy A5 at one time, and therefore we will give the test results in comparison with. In terms of its characteristics, this smartphone largely coincides with the A5 - they only have different amounts of memory, which does not fundamentally affect the performance during testing.
The old Smartbench 2012 benchmark showed parity in system-wide tasks, obviously not knowing how to efficiently use many processor cores, and the Galaxy A5 won in games. Apparently, the Mali-T720 is not such a slow video card.
Another benchmark of the "old school" Quadrant Standard was able to distribute the load more efficiently and unambiguously showed the victory of Galaxy A5 (2016) - the difference is almost twofold.
But Basemark II, on the contrary, somehow failed to "cope" with all the cores of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) and showed its significant lag.
However, the SunSpider browser test shows that the new Galaxy A5 is still faster.
The old gaming test Nenamark2, despite its relative "simplicity", was still able to identify the winner in the face of the "fresh" smartphone Galaxy A5 (2015).
The new and up-to-date 3DMark shows another superiority of the current phone. In general, although the Galaxy A5 (2016) and its Mali-T720 MP2 video card are not the best, their speed will be sufficient for most use cases.
At one time, the Galaxy J5 and especially the Galaxy J7 surprised us with their autonomy. In the Galaxy A5 (2016), it should also be decent, given the capacious 2900 mAh battery - this is noticeably more than the 2300 mAh of its predecessor. And so it happened - the autonomy of the new smartphone is at a very decent level. It is not as good as the J5, but on average it is better than most of its counterparts.
So much for the "weak" video card. As you can see from the diagram, it is 3D games that consume the most power. Further, in terms of gluttony, there is surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi or a cellular network, as well as two-dimensional games. Video and reading consume about the same, no matter how strange it may sound.
In the settings, you can see statistics on battery usage. There is also an extreme power saving mode, which allows you to get several hours of operation with a low battery charge. True, in this case, everything will become black and white - the feature of AMOLED screens is used, in which energy is consumed only by that part of the display that is active, that is, it is different from black.
Overall, the Galaxy A5 (2016) is a smartphone with good performance and decent battery life.
Games on Galaxy A5 (2016)
In theory, games on the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) should not slow down. However, do not forget that the video card of the smartphone is not top-end, and the screen resolution is high, Full HD.
- Riptide GP2: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Asphalt 7: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Asphalt 8: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Modern Combat 5: Blackout: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- N.O.V.A. 3: some delays are visible;
- Dead trigger: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Real Racing 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Need For Speed: Most Wanted: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Shadowgun: Dead Zone: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Frontline Commando: Normandy: did not start;
- Frontline commando 2: did not start;
- Eternity warriors 2: did not start;
- Eternity warriors 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Eternity warriors 4: some delays are visible;
- Trial Xtreme 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Trial Xtreme 4: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Plants vs Zombies 2: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Iron Man 3: excellent, the game does not slow down;
- Dead target: did not start.
Minor "delays" happened in N.O.V.A. games. 3 and Eternity Warriors 4. But these games are pretty heavy in terms of graphics, so no surprise. And do not pay attention to a few games marked "did not start" - our smartphone was not the final version of the firmware, which is why they did not want to start. The retail version should be free of this flaw.
ON
The Galaxy A5 (2015) comes with a fresh one that is almost guaranteed to be updated to - Samsung is doing very well in this regard, especially when dealing with expensive smartphones.
Above the system from Google, as always, the TouchWIZ shell is installed. Samsung has one for all smartphones, but its content differs in pre-installed applications.
There is even a dedicated Galaxy Essentials section in the Galaxy Apps store. There are links to download S Translator, Optical Reader, Kid Mode, Soundcamp audio editor. It should be noted that Samsung's flagships have even more applications, and at the same time there is a Galaxy Gifts section with a complex of subscriptions to various services.
And so the set of pre-installed applications has something from the flagships.
In particular, this is the S Health sports activity diary application. True, you can still measure the heart rate on top-end Samsung products, while the Galaxy A5 (2016) lacks a built-in heart rate monitor.
There is also a voice assistant S Voice, which the South Korean company continues to develop, despite Google Now and the release of Microsoft Cortana on Android. Moreover, according to the latest information, Samsung does not intend to wind down this development yet.
Smart Manager is no longer "exclusive" - it is the norm for all Samsung devices. Recall that this application allows you to monitor the use of RAM, built-in flash drive, battery consumption, and at the same time includes the Knox application, which allows you to increase the security of the device.
Microsoft's apps on Samsung smartphones and tablets aren't anything special either - they're here by agreement between the companies. Moreover, Word, Excel and PowerPoint will have to be downloaded separately, for which special thanks - they take up a lot of space! Also pleases 100 GB of space in the cloud OneDrive.
A set of standard applications, consisting of a file manager, calculator, clock, calendar, voice recorder, FM radio and so on, is also present. In a specially redesigned version from Samsung.
The notification panel has been significantly changed compared to Android 5.x. More precisely, the quick settings panel was replaced - it does not slide out by pulling down, but scrolls horizontally. The notifications are displayed as usual.
There is also the traditional MultiWindow mode, which allows you to launch two applications on the screen at once. Moreover, you can drag and drop data between them. Something like this has long been expected as a standard feature in Android, but it will definitely not appear there before Android 6.1.
The settings have been redrawn and offer their own version of the interface. In particular, a customizable list of quick parameters is displayed at the top, and then their full set follows.
In terms of software, Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is a slightly "simplified" version of the company's flagship. There is a proprietary shell, some proprietary software, and in the future you can expect the release of Android 6.0 for the Galaxy A5 (2016).
Conclusion
We like the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016). Just like a good smartphone - it attracts attention immediately, you want to pick it up, touch it yourself, see what is installed, and so on. From a design point of view, everything is good here: metal and glass, everything is stylish and beautiful, so the effect is appropriate. The handset is really nice to hold - it feels like a solid metal bar.
At the same time, the smartphone turned out to be more than practical. For the sake of looks, the designers did not compromise on usability. The only complaint here is the non-separable body and the impossibility of self-changing the battery. And so, compared to the 2015 Samsung flagships, even memory cards are supported!
In terms of speed, the Galaxy A5 (2016) is not a record holder, but its performance is strong thanks to Samsung's 8-core processor. Even if its characteristics are not maximum, they are enough for games and smooth interface animation. The phone is great for everyday use from all points of view, including in terms of autonomy - everything is fine here. But how much does the Galaxy A5 (2016) cost?
Price Galaxy A5 (2016)
It was not possible to buy the Galaxy A5 (2016) at the time of the article publication. However, you can still estimate its cost - it will be somewhere between the Galaxy A7 and Galaxy S6, that is, about 25-28 thousand rubles. Quite a lot, but this is to some extent a simplified version of the flagship. What are the alternatives for this amount?
Samsung's flagship from 2014 may well compete with the Galaxy A5 (2016). We remind you that it has a very productive 8-core processor, an excellent AMOLED-screen with Full HD resolution and 5.1 "diagonal, an excellent camera, heart rate monitor, a fingerprint scanner and even moisture protection. A good device, and not very expensive for the price - in the region of 23-25 thousand.
This 2015 flagship from Huawei looks decent too. The P8 has a metal body, a good 5.2-inch Full HD screen, a decent 13MP camera, a fast 8-core processor and 3GB of RAM. But it costs more - so far in the region of 30 thousand.
The Sony Xperia M5 is no longer quite a flagship, but slightly lower in positioning, like the Galaxy A5 (2016). The device is based on the top-end 8-core processor MediaTek Helio X10, has 3 GB of RAM, 21 MP camera, 5-inch Full HD screen. But the screen, believe me, the Samsung smartphone is noticeably better. And the Xperia M5 costs decently - in the region of 27-28 thousand.
Pros:
- interesting design;
- glass and metal body;
- excellent build;
- fingerprint scanner;
- good cameras;
- high performance;
- excellent SuperAMOLED screen;
- good autonomy;
- conveniently located underneath audio jack.
Minuses:
- non-separable body;
- the video card could be more powerful.
After the launch of a new line of affordable smartphones, Galaxy A is not going to stop and sets a release date for the already familiar but updated models -, A5 and - for the first quarter of 2016. Perhaps it is the average smartphone, the A5, that is most interesting - it combines good hardware and an optimal display size for most users.
Specifications
| Display | Screen diagonal: 5.2 Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 Matrix type: Super AMOLED |
| Manufacturer | Samsung |
| Model | Galaxy A5 2016 |
| Date of announcement | January 2016 |
| Dimensions (edit) | 144.8 x 71 x 7.3 mm Weight: 155g |
| SIM card | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM) |
| Operating system | Android |
| Communication standard | 4G (LTE) 3G (WCDMA / UMTS) 2G (EDGE) Gsm |
| Memory | OP: 2GB; VP: 16GB; Memory card support: microSD up to 128GB |
| Camera | Primary: 13MP Flash / Autofocus: Yes / Yes Front: 5MP Flash / Autofocus: No / No |
| CPU | Name: Samsung Exynos 7580 Video core: ARM Mali-T720MP2 Number of cores: 8 Frequency: 1.6GHz |
| Wireless technology | Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Battery | Battery capacity: 2900mAh |
| Connectors | Charger connector: micro-USB Headphone jack: 3.5mm |
| Navigation | GPS: Yes A-GPS: Yes GLONASS: Yes |
Completion and packaging
Complete set Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
The box in which the smartphone falls into the hands of the buyer is no different from other Samsung boxes. The same white cardboard and light inscriptions on the lid are the name of the model. In order not to confuse the model of which year in front of the user, the designers added the number 6 to the name (2016). On the back of the package, the main technical specifications and legal information are briefly indicated.
Inside, along with the smartphone, components are put. The first thing that catches the eye is the documentation - an instruction with a warranty card. The instruction, by the way, is made in Russian. Additionally, there is a charger and a USB cable for charging or synchronizing with a computer.
Samsung developers, along with a smartphone, have provided their fans with branded headphones.
All accessories are packed in protective films.
Video
Appearance and design
The design of the smartphone can be described as stylish and modern. The corners are nicely rounded, and the back is made entirely of glass. As a result, the smartphone lies pleasantly in the hand, although the same back cover is noticeably soiled.
Will be useful
The smartphone is available in three colors: black, gold and pink. The last two are, apparently, focused on the beautiful half of humanity - in such colors a smartphone (in combination with an already elegant design) looks expensive and stylish.
The back panel of new items from Samsung
The display occupies almost the entire front panel of the smartphone. It is noteworthy that the frames around the screen are so thin that a smartphone even with a diagonal of 5.2 inches looks compact and elegant. Home button combined with built-in. It works quickly, although in terms of speed it is still inferior to some top-end devices. On the sides of the scanner there are classic, familiar buttons "Back", "Frequently used applications".
The rear surface looks rather empty: on the top half of the panel there is a camera peephole slightly protruding above the surface. The solution is undoubtedly interesting, but when the smartphone lies on the table, it rises somewhat precisely because of the protruding module. There is an autoflash next to the camera, and under them is the brand name.
All slots are located on the right side of the smartphone. The user is offered a choice - you can insert a Nano-SIM card and a memory card, or you can connect a second SIM card instead of microSD. In addition to the slot, only the device power button remains on the right side. On the left side there are metal volume buttons.
Fingerprint scanner built into the home button
Display
Compared to the previous version of the A5, the new product has changed the size of the display and its resolution. In the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016, the display has increased to 5.2 inches (compared to the five-inch screen of the previous A5), and the resolution has become FullHD. Of course, these are not all updates.
The smartphone display is covered with an oleophobic coating. This means that fingerprints will appear less frequently and will be easier to remove.
note
When displaying an absolutely white picture, the range of manually adjustable brightness will be from 1.8 to 395 cd / m2. Perhaps this is not the highest result on the modern market, but working with a smartphone at any level of illumination is comfortable.
Super AMOLED display with excellent color reproduction
When installed, for example, at 50%, the brightness values are reduced to 7.9 and 125 cd / m2 in a dark and artificially lit room.
The screen has excellent viewing angles. Black always remains black, but white at different viewing angles can acquire a slight pinkish or blue-green tint. In color images, the brightness and hue are pretty good.
Excellent viewing angles and richness of the display
Will be useful
If desired, the user can experiment with the settings and independently set the parameter for brightness, gray balance or color saturation. The super AMOLED display allows you to select multiple profiles with different preset settings.
Software
The smartphone is based on the operating system Google Android 5.1.1, although if necessary, you can update your smartphone to the latest version of Android. Superimposed on top of the classic, familiar Samsung shell - TouchWiz. The interface looks clear and recognizable.
note
There is one main desktop (home page) and several additional ones. On the home page there is a place for a widget (initially installed a quick voice search in Google), a weather application and a date with time. At the bottom are the icons of the five most essential applications. They can be grouped by creating folders right on the desktops.
In the settings menu, you can change the interface design - you can use standard themes or buy your favorite in the theme store.
Android 5.0 Lollipop
The smartphone has built-in:
- Several office programs from Microsoft.
- A package of applications from Google, including mail, YouTube, browser.
- Gift catalog where you can find subscriptions to popular resources, in-game currency and more.
There are several applications for working with multimedia files: audio player, e-book reader.
There was also room for standard "small" applications: alarm clock, timer, calculator.
In general, the smartphone allows you to quickly perform basic daily tasks, from adding photos with descriptions on social networks to playing 3D games.
Sound
Sounds good both from the spoken and from the music speaker. Of course, in terms of sound quality, the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 smartphone cannot be called a leader, but still the audio playback is quite clear: no wheezing, hissing or whistling.
Decent sound from a music speaker as for a non-top smartphone in the Samsung lineup
It was a good decision of the developers to place the multimedia speaker on the bottom end. It is rarely overlapped with a hand or turns out to be closed, lying on the table surface.
It's important to know
When playing music through a headset, the sound of a smartphone largely depends on the quality of the headphones. The smartphone is bundled with stereo headphones, but they cannot be called ideal - the bass is almost not felt.
Traditionally, the smartphone is pre-installed with an FM player, which, however, only works with connected headphones.
Performance
The smartphone is based on the SoC Exynos 7580 Octa, which includes 8 Cortex-A53 cores, which operate at a frequency of 1.6 Hz. The graphics accelerator Mali-T720MP2 is responsible for video playback.
It should be noted that the same model is also available in Qualcomm Snapdragon 615. But this option is not found everywhere.
The smartphone can please fans with a good amount of memory: it is equal to 2 GB, and the built-in memory for storing media files is 16 GB. In fact, by the way, 11 GB is available to the user, but this volume can be increased by connecting a microSD memory card. This smartphone supports memory cards up to 128GB.
Absolutely all tests characterize the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 smartphone as a potentially powerful device. For example, browser tests:
- SunSpider 1.0.2 result - 772.6 ms (analogues have not been tested).
- Octane 2.0 - 3716 points, behind only the Google Nexus.
- Kraken Benchmark 1.1 - 11882.9ms
- JetStream - 22.032 points.
Already from these results, it is clear that the smartphone is outperforming not only its competitors, but also its previous version.
In the comprehensive benchmarks AnTuTu 6 and Geekbench 3, the results also made it clear that the main competitor of the smartphone is the Nexus 6. The processor, due to the simultaneous use of all the built-in cores, was able to get ahead, leaving behind several more competitors. In testing, the hero of the review scored 40,500 points and 702/3204 points, respectively.
A group of tests demonstrating the quality of work with a video accelerator:
- GFXBenchmark - The test results are 4.8 / 14 fps.
- Epic Citade - 28.9 fps.
- 3DMark - 7819 points.
- Bonsai Benchmark - 38.4 fps.
note
Compared to the previous model, there is, of course, progress in performance. But taking into account new technologies and new smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 still remains at an average level, slightly falling short of the top. In practice, this means that the work of a smartphone is quite enough for solving everyday tasks, but there may be problems with heavy 3D games that have appeared on the entertainment market quite recently.
Testing for video playback showed good results - the smartphone quietly plays all video files, except for video with a high frame rate (50 or 60 r).
Camera
The smartphone is equipped with two cameras. The front one has a 5 megapixel module and is great for selfies or video calls.
The main camera is much more interesting. It has a resolution of 13 megapixels with an aperture of f / 1.9, video is available in 1080p quality at 30 fps.
Shooting at night with the main camera of the smartphone
Battery
Compared to other smartphones in this category Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 has a large enough battery with a capacity of 2900 mAh. This is the average; for example, the S6 of the same line boasts 2880 mAh, while the Google Nexus 6 has 3300 mAh.
In practice, this means that:
- The mode of reading a book in the FBReader program at a comfortable brightness will completely discharge the smartphone in 13 hours.
- Continuous viewing of videos on YouTube will allow you to use your smartphone for 10.5 hours.
- The 3D games mode will drain the battery in 3.5 hours.
All indicators remain in the middle range.
You can fully charge your smartphone in 4 hours.
Pros and cons
The Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 smartphone, although it is a controversial device, will definitely find its buyer. If the Galaxy S line in the same brand was created for connoisseurs of IT technologies or people who prefer to be in trend, then the hero of the review combines a well-thought-out design and good hardware stuffing. In other words, it is suitable for those for whom the quality of work is important first and foremost, and only secondarily compliance with fashion trends.
- Competent speaker placement.
- Stylish body.
- Good storage - 2GB RAM and 16GB built-in
- Support for two SIM-cards.
- Good main camera.
- Indicator of autonomy.
- Selective support for 3D games.
- No protection against moisture and dust.
Last year, Samsung launched an all-new A-Series, a line of mid-range smartphones that resembled the flagship Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Alpha. The metal cases and the general balance of characteristics were to the taste of ordinary users, the line became popular. Today we are going to get acquainted with the update of one of the most popular models - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016).
Appearance and usability
There have been many changes in the appearance of the new generation Galaxy A5. If we compare the first generation Galaxy A5 and the second, we see two different devices. There are no borrowed design solutions, everything is done based on the new design solutions of the 2015 Samsung flagships.
The front side is covered by a protective glass, which has a rounding, the so-called 2.5D. The glass is very similar to that found in the iPhone 6 / 6s.
At the top of the front panel there are proximity and lighting sensors, an earpiece, a front camera and the manufacturer's logo. There is no missed event LED. Under the screen is a traditional Samsung bundle of two touch buttons and a home key combined with a fingerprint scanner.
A metal frame covers the side. Externally, it is the same as in the Galaxy S6. On the left side there are volume keys. On the right is the power button and a tray for a nanoSIM format SIM card and microSD memory card. Above is located only an additional microphone. Bottom - 3.5 mm audio jack, microUSB port, multimedia speaker and microphone.
The back side is covered by glass. The phone case is non-separable. The camera module protrudes approximately 1 mm above the body. The flash consists of one LED.
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) can be made in several color options - black, gold, rose gold and white. At the same time, the metal frame is also painted in the color of the back side of the case. In all variants except white, the front side is black. The gold version came to our test.
In terms of usability, the 5.2-inch display is a very good move. After all, it is this screen size that can be called optimal. The smartphone is moderately large, but it is comfortable to use with one hand. The use of glass and metal makes the Galaxy A5 (2016) feel like an expensive device. Using a smartphone on the street during frost is uncomfortable because of the metal frame, which is very cold for the hand, but this is more of a nitpick. But the fact that the phone is slippery and often tries to slip out of the hands is a problem. During use, I almost dropped it several times for this very reason, so I recommend that future owners think about buying a cover.
The fingerprint scanner performed well. It feels like it works the same as on the Samsung Galaxy S6. Unlocking is very fast.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A5 features a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display that has Full HD (1080 × 1920) resolution. The PPI is 424. PenTile is invisible to the naked eye. The physical dimensions of the screen are 116x65 mm. The screen is covered with a protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 4 with rounded edges.
The display behavior on the street is expectedly good. Even in bright sun, information on it is discernible, and colors do not fade. I would like to note the timely operation of the brightness control sensor, which quickly and smoothly changes the brightness.
For smartphones, the presence of screen settings has become a sign of good form, so our hero has them. They are nothing new, all this can be found on many Samsung devices, but thanks to them, you can get rid of the acidity of colors, which is very striking. In further measurements, we used the AMOLED Photo mode.
The maximum screen brightness is 392 cd / m² (white fill), and the minimum brightness is 1.8 cd / m². The contrast is maximum. 200 cd / m² equals 59% brightness. The color gamut is much wider than the sRGB triangle. The color temperature is almost 7000K and is very close to the reference, which tells us that the colors look only slightly colder than necessary. The gamma curve over the entire brightness segment is 2.2, which is the reference value. To summarize, the screen calibration is excellent. Colors are rendered correctly, but they are still a little oversaturated.
Hardware platform
Samsung Galaxy A5 is equipped with an eight-core Exynos 7 Octa (7580) processor with a Mali-T720 MP2 video adapter. All eight Cortex-A53 cores operate at 1.6 GHz.
The amount of RAM is 2 GB, and the built-in 16 GB expandable with microSD memory cards. There is support for Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n (dual band), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC and GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS). But there is no infrared port.
In terms of performance, it is higher than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, but slightly lower than the MediaTek Helio X10. Games like MortalKombat X and Need for Speed No Limits start quickly and show high fps at maximum graphics settings. And the benchmarks say that the video accelerator is not very productive and in the future there may be problems in this regard (mainly with demanding games).
Unfortunately, we have a smartphone on the test with not the final version of the firmware. It is for this reason that such a popular benchmark as AnTuTu Benchmark does not give the results correctly.
There are no problems with signal reception. The speaker is of good quality, the microphone is also pleasing. Everything was done at a high level. The multimedia speaker did not hit the dirt on the face. It's loud and sounds relatively good.
It is worth considering that the new Samsung Galaxy A5 will have a modification with two SIM cards. As stated above, we are testing a version with one SIM card.
Operating system and shell
The smartphone is running the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system with the proprietary TouchWiz Nature UX 5.0 shell. She is well known from such smartphones as Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge + and Galaxy Note 5. There are no changes in the system.
If we talk about the speed of a smartphone in everyday tasks, then it works very fast, but not lightning fast. The first launch of the "dialer" lasts a couple of seconds. After exiting a resource-intensive game, the smartphone restarts the desktop and does not do it very quickly. Perhaps this is a problem with the test firmware of the device, but the fact remains.
Camera
The smartphone is equipped with 13MP and 5MP cameras. They both have an f / 1.9 aperture. The main camera has received optical image stabilization, which should help combat image blur. The maximum video recording resolution is Full HD at 30 frames per second.
The camera interface is familiar to all Samsung smartphone users. There is HDR, continuous shooting, night and even manual mode. However, the latter has very few settings. You can change ISO, exposure and setting the type of lighting.
Photos look very attractive on a phone screen, but if you look at photos from a laptop, then there are still some remarks in them. In most cases, the white balance is determined correctly. But there are problems with focusing, especially during macro shooting. Autofocus is not determined the first time. The camera does a good job of shooting at night.
Video recording example:
Autonomy
The Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is equipped with a 2900mAh battery. This is 600 mAh more than its predecessor, but it is worth considering the increased level of performance. The smartphone now supports fast charging. The device came to us without a charger, so there was no way to check the charging speed using standard charging.
With normal use, you can count on 1.5-2 days of work, taking into account the always-on 3G, Wi-Fi, synchronization on, automatic screen brightness. PCMark ran 9 hours 21 minutes at 200 cd / m2 (59% brightness). This is a very good indicator. In practice, I managed to achieve 5 hours of active screen, which in turn is also very good.
Outcomes
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is a significant update to the popular model. The smartphone began to be perceived differently. Now it is a device that breathes right into the back of flagship devices. It has a high-quality display, an excellent camera, a nice and beautiful body, and also works fast. Those who are tired of charging the device twice a day will appreciate the battery life, because the smartphone, even under heavy load, easily lasts a day, and if you temper the ardor, then two. It is in terms of battery life that the hero of the review can put the flagship Samsung Galaxy on the shoulder blades.
It's hard to believe that the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) will be priced at less than $ 400. But if the price turns out to be not much higher, then it will be a balanced device for reasonable money. Date of appearance and price in Ukraine are still unknown.
Liked:
Display
Autonomy
The fingerprint scanner
Did not like:
The Galaxy A5 is one of the most requested models from Samsung. The reason for its popularity is the premium materials of the case and attractive design, rather powerful hardware, and a solid set of communication capabilities. The price tag is not the most democratic, but the consumer for the most part is inclined to trust the promoted brand, and pays for this. To get the right to own the device, you will have to leave the store from 346 to 390 dollars (relevant at the time of writing the review). Sales started in early 2016.
The frame of the Galaxy A5 is made of metal, covered with protective glass on both sides. A fingerprint scanner is installed in the Home button. Several body colors are available: black, white, pink, and gold. Device dimensions: 71 x 144.8 x 7.3 mm. Weight: 155 g.
Characteristics Samsung Galaxy A5 SM-A510F (2016) Duos
The technical filling corresponds to the average level as of 2015, early 2016. Although the device itself is perceived by many as a less expensive alternative to flagship models.
CPU
Samsung wants to squeeze out Qualcomm in the microchip market, so the new Galaxy A5 received the Exynos 7580: 8 cores with ARMv8 architecture, clocked at 1.6 GHz. Graphics system - Mali-T720.
Processor performance on par with Snapdragon 615 and MediaTek MT6752 - even better. The device copes with any task, everything works smoothly and quickly. In AnTuTu, the smartphone scores 41,292 thousand points, in tests the video chip falls short of the flagships S6 / Edge, but at medium settings it can cope with any 3D game.
Memory
The A5 has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage (about 5 GB is occupied by the system). The microSD slot will help increase the amount of free space up to a maximum of 128 GB, but then you cannot install a second SIM card.
Autonomous work
The battery capacity is 2900 mAh. Despite the fact that this is not a very outstanding indicator for such hardware, the power consumption has been perfectly optimized. A5 is enough for a day of active use at medium brightness, and for two days in moderate mode. The manufacturer promises 14 hours of video viewing. Fast charging is supported: in 1.6 hours the device will fully "recuperate".
Display
The A5 (2016) has a FullHD screen with wide viewing angles - the traditional Galaxy SuperAMOLED matrix. Diagonal 5.2 inches. If the colors seem too saturated, you can adjust their temperature and contrast in different modes.
The density of pixels per inch is 424, individual dots cannot be seen. Multi-touch supports five touches at the same time. The display is protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4. The display is one of the greatest strengths of a smartphone, and it is very difficult to find fault with it.
Camera
The main photomodule shoots with a resolution of 13 megapixels, an aperture of f / 1.9. In the settings you will find features such as burst, HDR, night mode, panorama, and an option for manual ISO, exposure and white balance corrections. In automatic mode, the device sometimes does not focus correctly, but in daylight it takes pictures no worse than the top-end Xperia. The light-sensitive matrix allows you to get an acceptable result even at night.
Sample shot in good lighting
Taking a picture with the camera at dusk (auto mode)
Macro photography
Front camera sensor resolution - 5 megapixels. For beautiful self-portraits, there are sliders for retouching skin, enlarging eyes, and narrowing the jaw. The front camera with an outstretched arm is capable of capturing you in full growth.
An example of a shot on the front camera
The maximum resolution of the recorded video is Full HD.
Networking capabilities
The first Galaxy A was scolded for poor reception. The rejection of the all-metal case solved the problem - the back panel of the new representatives of the line is covered with glass. A5 (2016) supports communication standards 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD, 4G LTE TDD. There are two slots for nano-SIM - one of them is hybrid, for a memory card. NFC supported. GPS navigation works correctly and quickly.
Sound
The main speaker was taken out to the bottom end: this way the sound is not distorted when the smartphone lies on the table with the screen facing up. Spoken - a neat mesh above the logo on the front side. Both are of high quality: when making a call, it is better to use a third of the volume, so as not to devote others to the conversation. There is a second noise canceling microphone on top of the smartphone.
Software part
The Galaxy A5 (2016) runs on TouchWiz Nature UX 5.0 - based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. There will be an upgrade to Marshmallow: support for the A-line is not inferior to the premium S, although the company has not named the exact dates.
You can open two applications on the screen and drag content between windows - previously the mode worked only on Note flagships and phablets. 
Samsung has partnered with Microsoft, so the device comes preinstalled with Office and OneDrive with 100GB of storage as a gift.
Differences between Galaxy A5 SM-A510F and Galaxy A5 A500H
Basically, the A5 SM-A510F is an improved A5 A500H. Let's see how much the new version has changed compared to the previous one. The main innovations in the A5 2016:
- In comparison with the 2014 model, the resolution was increased from HD to FullHD, and the diagonal was increased from 5 to 5.2 inches.
- The 4-core Snapdragon 410 was replaced by the more efficient 8-core Exynos 7580 processor.
- An optical image stabilization system was added to the camera module, the aperture increased to f / 1.9, but the functionality of the interface was cut.
- The battery capacity has grown by 600 mAh, the ability to quickly charge has been added.
- A fingerprint sensor has appeared.
- Initially, the A5 A500H ran on Android 4.4, then it received an update to version 5.0.2. The A5 SM-A510F has Android 5.1.1 installed out of the box, and the TouchWiz shell is installed the same as in the top Samsung models.
- The new model looks more solid, glass has been added to the case materials. Also, the smartphone is heavier by 32 grams.
As a result, the Samsung Galaxy A5 SM-A510F (2016) Duos outperforms its predecessor in many ways. Considering that some stores are still selling the older version for $ 352, the A5 SM-A510F is definitely ahead.
Pros and cons of Samsung Galaxy A5 SM-A510F
Advantages:
- display;
- good design, premium body materials;
- good camera, with some reservations;
- the battery can withstand a day at a moderately active load (fast charging);
- relatively powerful iron, which is enough in 2016 with the head.
Flaws:
- problems with autofocus in the camera;
- the fingerprint sensor may not work the first time if the finger is wet;
- slippery at first, easy to drop;
- I managed to scratch the rear window a little with a table knife.
Our Review Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
Contrary to the deep convictions of fans of the Samsung brand, the cost of this device is by no means low. There are at least a few manufacturers that manufacture smartphones with a similar or even cooler hardware, and at the same time their products are cheaper, and the quality is at the level. And if we close our eyes to the cost - yes, a very decent device with the previously described pluses and minuses.
More details about the smartphone after 10 months of use:
South Korean flagships literally catch the eye of a person entering a retail store selling smartphones. However, not everyone will dare to buy such a device - they ask too much money for it. Fortunately, Samsung has decided to please those people who agree to pay only about half of this amount. For them, the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) was released, a review of which will acquaint you with all the advantages and disadvantages of the device.
The South Koreans provided their creation with a metal case and well-implemented protective glass. In this regard, the device is very much like the company's flagship. It is noticeable that this is exactly what the manufacturer wanted. At the same time, he did not increase the price tag too much - you can buy a Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) in Russia for 24,000 rubles - a lot of money, but not by the standards of South Korean devices.
All this made the smartphone very successful. It is in noticeable demand in almost every store where this model is present. If the Galaxy A7 (2016) seems to people already too large, and the Galaxy A3 (2016) is not functional enough, then the Galaxy A5 (2016) is a kind of ideal. Usually, South Koreans gradually reduce the price of their products - this happens 4-5 months after the start of sales. But the decrease in the cost of the smartphone under consideration today did not happen - it is already being actively disassembled.
Appearance, dimensions and weight
If you previously used a push-button cell phone or some tiny smartphone, then the South Korean device will seem large enough to you. Its dimensions are 71 x 144.8 x 7.3 mm. But gradually you get used to using such a large enough gadget. Many people can easily reach any point on the screen, almost without connecting their other hand to the controls. Only a few people have certain difficulties. But this is not due to the size or diagonal of the screen, but to the materials from which the case is created.
As with the flagship Galaxy S7, the insides of the device are packed in metal and glass. Plastic blotches can be found only on the top and bottom ends - antennas are located under these strips. The glass back makes it a little more difficult to use if you have small palms. It becomes almost impossible to reach the top of the screen with your thumb - you are already beginning to be afraid of dropping your smartphone, because it is quite slippery. But visually, glass and metal are only a plus. Also, such materials are distinguished by good heat transfer, and therefore the device heats up very much only in the summer heat. The rest of the time, its body pleasantly cools the palm of your hand. By the way, the device weighs 155 grams.
As expected, most of the front panel is occupied by the display. Below it is the Home button, and which is a built-in fingerprint scanner. The key has a silver frame. It is known that the screen is covered with a protective glass Gorilla Glass 4, while the Home button has ordinary glass. But this does not cause any particular problems - after a couple of months of using the smartphone, scratches did not appear either there or there. But opposite reviews can be found on the net, so you should be warned.
Above the display, traditionally for Samsung, there is a speaker, a front camera, as well as light and proximity sensors. The silvery logo of the manufacturer stands out here as well. Well, the back wall here, as mentioned above, is covered with glass. Under it is another logo of the South Korean company, as well as a corporate emblem indicating the possibility of using two SIM-cards. Here you can also find a protruding lens of the main camera - it has a metal frame. There is an LED flash next to the optics.
Speaking about the rear panel, we didn't mention the speaker at all. And all because it is located at the bottom end - this contributes to the fact that the sound is not muffled at the moment when the smartphone is placed on the table with its back down. The bottom edge also houses a microUSB port and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The top end does not bear any elements. Except for the second microphone - it is needed to implement the noise canceling function.
The side ends are not capable of surprising here. They contain the power button and volume keys, as well as a slot for a memory card and a SIM card (using the nano-SIM format).
Processor and graphics accelerator
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) is built on the basis of the eight-core Exynos 7580 processor. This is its own South Korean solution, which is practically not supplied to other smartphone manufacturers. The maximum chipset frequency is 1.6 GHz. This is more than enough for even the most demanding applications.
The processor is supplemented with a graphics accelerator Mali-T720. Its power is enough for displaying modern games. But in some cases, you will have to lower the graphics settings from maximum to medium. This is evidenced by the Epic Citadel test, where at ultra settings the FPS drops to 30 frames / s. And this is also a gentle benchmark. For example, 3DMark makes you think that this device is not intended for games at all - there the average frequency is 4-5 frames / s.
In AnTuTu Benchmark, the device is gaining about 44 thousand points. This is quite a decent result, which is shown by the powerful chipset and fast memory. But you need to understand that some Chinese competitors from the same price category are able to boast an even higher performance rating. What does it mean? Absolutely nothing. Much more important than any assessment is the fact that the Galaxy A5 (2016) works quickly and without any lags. And one cannot fail to notice that this processor is not only powerful, but also energy efficient, which benefits the battery life.
Memory
If the South Korean flagships are most often released in several versions - with different amounts of internal memory, then the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) does not have such a variety. Here the user is waiting for 16 GB of permanent memory, of which about 11 GB will be available to him. This volume can be increased by using a microSD memory card. It is interesting that absolutely any cards are supported, even 128 GB.
It should be remembered that the second slot is combined here. If you insert a memory card into it, then you will have to forget about the second SIM-card. This is a common occurrence for many modern smartphones from major manufacturers. It should also be noted that the memory used here is fast and reliable. Samsung manufactures it and some other components on its own.
As for the RAM, its volume is approximately 2 GB. This is enough for most everyday tasks. The lack of RAM is not felt either when playing games, or when using social network clients, or when launching any other applications.
Battery
There is a non-removable battery inside this model. Its capacity is 2900 mAh. This parameter may seem insufficient to you. But think about the energy efficient processor! Also note that the smartphone has a Super AMOLED screen. And the proprietary shell installed here is complemented by thoughtful modes of reducing power consumption.
All of the above allows you to stably use the device for two and a half days. Only if you get distracted by games from time to time, the battery life can drop to one or one and a half days. If you try, you can even squeeze out three and a half days of operation from a smartphone, but this will be a completely extreme use case, when the owner forgets about all kinds of entertainment.
The smartphone supports fast charging technology. A corresponding power adapter is supplied with it. The charging time from 0% to 100% is approximately 105 minutes.
Sensors
Oddly enough, such an expensive device does not include a gyroscope. This does not allow recommending the new Galaxy A5 for purchase if you want to then purchase an additional accessory in the form of a VR headset. By the way, this sensor cannot be found in any South Korean smartphone belonging to the A- or J-series.
But on the other hand, there are stably working proximity and illumination sensors. Also, the digital compass and some other not so important sensors are not forgotten. And the navigation module supports not only GPS, but also GLONASS satellites. Well, the "Home" button has a built-in fingerprint scanner. It works quickly, up to three fingers can be memorized.
Camera
The rear panel of the device houses a 13-megapixel camera lens. The aperture here is open to f / 1.9. And this is very well felt in the pictures - they turn out quite well even in the dark. The camera has excellent dynamic range, so even when shooting in cloudy weather, you get a photo in which the sky is not a solid white veil. And if you are still afraid to get such a frame, then you can use the mode.
You can also download several add-ons specifically for the camera in the corporate online store. One of them deals with face retouching, the second makes it easier to take selfies, and the third allows you to create GIF animations. It should be noted the presence of optical image stabilization here, which allows you to make the shutter speed not too short. By the way, automatic control is engaged in its adjustment - even in manual mode it is impossible to change the shutter speed, like many other parameters. In this regard, the Galaxy A5 (2016) is inferior to the flagships. As for the quality of the photos, you cannot find fault with it. Despite the relatively low resolution, the images are crisp - often you can see even the smallest details. But you better see for yourself.
Everything is in order with the built-in camera and with video filming. The picture is written in 1080p resolution, the average frequency is 30 frames / s. Autofocus is fast, there are almost no special failures. The richness of colors will make an outside viewer think that the shooting took place using a DSLR or any other device with a CMOS matrix.
The front camera of this smartphone does not deserve such a serious description. It has 5 megapixel resolution. At this price, I would like to get something more. You can see an example of photography below.
Screen
The display is the main advantage of any South Korean smartphone belonging to the A-series. It is because of him that it is worth overpaying without even looking at the cheaper Chinese devices. The fact is that the screen installed here is created using Super AMOLED technology, which implies the absence of a separate backlight layer. As a result, power consumption is noticeably reduced and blacks become truly black. And this cannot be conveyed in photographs if you look at them on a standard monitor or a smartphone with an IPS matrix.
The resolution built into the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) screen is 1080 x 1920 pixels. With a 5.2-inch diagonal, this is more than enough - if pixelation can be noticed, it is only under a magnifying glass. The viewing angles are maximum here - with any deviations in color, the screen is practically not distorted. But the device should be praised even more for the brightness of the display - the picture is clearly visible even on the street, under midday sunlight.
Nothing bad can be said about the sensor layer either. Presses and other gestures are recognized with a bang - almost instantly. If we compare a smartphone with some budget models, then the difference in gesture recognition speed is obvious even to the naked eye.
In the settings of this model, you can find many items related to the display. In particular, the smartphone allows you to select a color temperature. This will delight those to whom the colors on such a screen seem oversaturated.
Connection
As mentioned, the Galaxy A5 (2016) can accommodate up to two SIM cards. However, there is only one radio module, and therefore, when talking on one SIM card, the second one will be busy. Data transfer here is carried out via 2G, 3G, LTE and even LTE-A of the sixth category! Downloading files can take minimal time. For example, a 100-megabyte add-on for the game is downloaded in about 10 seconds - the measurements were made using the services of the MTS operator.
Other wireless modules include Bluetooth 4.1 and are a good pair that is never superfluous. Only the Wi-Fi standard can unpleasantly surprise the buyer - it uses 802.11n technology. If you have a router with 802.11ac support, then you won't be able to squeeze all the speed out of it with this smartphone.
Oddly enough, when creating the Galaxy A5 (2016), the South Koreans did not forget about FM radio. It functions only when headphones are connected. The reception quality is quite acceptable.
Sound
The smartphone has a loud enough earpiece and music speaker. However, do not expect miracles - this is not some flagship from HTC with stereo speakers and support for special technology. The speaker does not emit wheezing, hissing and whistling - that's good.
The device shows itself best of all when the headset is connected. If it is of good quality, then you will get great sound. Unfortunately, the bundled headset cannot be called high-quality - the bass is barely felt in it, and some complaints can be made about the high frequencies. But she copes well with sound recording. And this means that the interlocutors will hear you well even if you are somewhere in the subway.
Operating system
Now the device is running Android 6.0.1 - it was updated about two months ago. The operating system works very stable - the brakes of the proprietary South Korean shell are a thing of the past. There is support here for a simple mode - when the interface shrinks, approaching the left or right corner. In some moments it helps to operate with one hand.
In general, there are no special settings here. You cannot even display two applications on one screen. All this is given to the flagships - Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy Note 7. Someone may be pleased with the presence of Smart Manager. This section of settings allows you to free up RAM, as well as enable antivirus. In short, it immediately makes it unnecessary to install a separate optimizer application.
Main impressions of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
A smartphone is worth its money - that's for sure. The screen alone is capable of arousing admiration for at least a month, if you have not previously used expensive South Korean products. The operating time is also delightful - you will have to charge the device every evening only in case of extremely active use. The third reason to buy is charming designs. Everything is in order with the device and with the power of the components, although it is still impossible to call a gaming smartphone.
What can not please the buyer? Perhaps only a couple of things. Firstly, the device is not suitable for use with VR-glasses, since there is no gyroscope here. Secondly, it is slippery - if you drop your phone regularly, you will have to worry about buying a case. Thirdly, the device includes only 16 GB of permanent memory. This is not critical, but the question of installing a memory card will still arise quite quickly.
Smartphone advantages:
- Long battery life;
- Fast charging;
- Excellent Super AMOLED screen
- Nice looking design;
- NFC and fingerprint sensor;
- The latest version of the operating system;
- Support for two SIM-cards;
- A large number of wireless modules and all kinds of sensors;
- Very good rear camera
- LTE-A support.
Disadvantages of a smartphone:
- High price;
- Not the largest amount of permanent memory;
- Glass makes the device slippery;
- No gyroscope;
- Wi-Fi 802.11n standard.
