Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) – advantages and disadvantages

In January 2017, the Korean company Samsung announced three new versions of smartphones: A3, A5 and A7. The name was not changed, leaving it the same as its predecessors, adding only the year of issue (2017). Each of these models is worthy of a detailed review, but today we will consider the pros and cons of the Galaxy A7.

Equipment

The smartphone is packaged in a white box with a minimalist design. Looks very stylish.
Package Included:

1. Cable;
2. Headphones;
3. Documentation;
4. Charger;
5. Type-c adapter.

Considering that in 2018, rarely any of the manufacturers puts a wired headset in the kit, then I would like to thank the creators of the A7. Plus, in USB Type-c, the convenience of which will definitely be appreciated by the user. Below is a little more about it.

USB Type-c

At first, the type-c connector format may seem useless and incomprehensible - all its advantages will open later.

For example, when there was no charger at hand, you no longer need to run around all the nearby stores in search of a charge - this connector will help out. You can also charge with a USB cable.

Design

The body of the device is made of metal along the perimeter, and the back cover is made of rounded glass. There is no oleophobic coating on the back of the smartphone. This is both a plus and a minus - fingerprints are collected strongly, but the smartphone is stronger in the hand, and it has fewer options to slip out.

The Galaxy A line is positioned as a fashion line, that is, more attention is paid to the design and appearance of the device than to the hardware platform and stuffing.

The external speaker is located at the top, on the right side of the phone case. The convenience of this solution is felt while watching a video - holding the phone with both hands does not block the sound.

The fingerprint scanner is built into the home button. This location is very convenient - it is almost impossible to miss.

Water and dust protection

The smartphone received protection against ingress of water and dust according to IP68 standards. This means that it can withstand immersion in fresh water to a depth of one and a half meters. The safe swimming time for the device is 30 minutes.

Screen

Since the A7 is the oldest model in the A-series, it has the largest display with Full HD resolution, and a diagonal of 5.7 inches.There are no complaints about the quality, the viewing angles are maximum, and the colors are saturated and bright. The pixel density is 386 ppi. Supports up to ten simultaneous touches to the screen, using multitouch technology.

In the screen settings there is an adjustment for the blue color mode. This feature allows the eyes to rest while watching content in the evening hours. You can move the slider and the screen color will take on a warm tone.

The display of white color is not satisfactory - the shade does not go into pink or blue. This is important, as some brands had such a disadvantage.

In the sun, the use of a smartphone will also be comfortable - due to a special anti-reflective coating. There are no problems with readability of the display. A high-quality matrix and good light filters have done their job.

always on display

The function of the active screen in rest mode has not disappeared anywhere. In the 2017 A7 model, the option is also present.

If the display is turned off, then you still won’t miss an important event. The screen displays information about missed notifications, calls, calendar events, date and time.
Always on Display will help out at a business meeting, or when you can’t pick up the phone, but you need to keep track of incoming calls.

Main characteristics

Processor and RAM

The smartphone boasts an octa-core Exynos 7880 processor clocked at 1.9 Ghz. The Mali-t 830 chip is responsible for the graphics.

In action, the A7 shows the capabilities of a machine you can trust. Quickly responds to assigned tasks, skillfully solving them.

The amount of RAM is three gigabytes. Given the model and price segment of the smartphone, this is optimal.

According to the result of synthetic tests, the smartphone cannot boast of high performance.But if you go beyond Antutu in real life, it copes with most modern toys. At the maximum settings, it slows down a little, but this does not reduce the pleasure of the game.

The device almost does not heat up even with long loads. The case remains cool, which pleases.

The amount of internal memory is 32 gigabytes. The system takes about 19 GB for itself, and the user is left with 13. Not much, but for memory expansion it is possible to insert a Micro SD card up to 256 GB - this will be useful.

Operating system

Out of the box, the Galaxy A7 received the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow operating system. Of course, it would be nicer to get Android 7 Nougat, but the manufacturers decided otherwise.

The latest version of the OS can be easily downloaded and installed by yourself. Fortunately, Samsung has everything quickly and debugged with the release of update packages for devices.

Interface

The standard interface is minimalistic and easy to understand. All the necessary shortcuts are easily placed on the desktop and collected in folders at the request of the user. Samsung's proprietary shell only looks minimalist, but when used, it becomes clear that it is simply "stuffed" with useful options.

A separate settings item is designed to optimize the operation of the device. The smartphone itself monitors usage parameters and advises how to improve them.

It is possible to run applications in different "windows" by dividing the screen in two. This is convenient if you are chatting with friends in the messenger and scrolling through the news feed at the same time. So both applications will be visible.

Useful functionality

To facilitate the use of the device and the comfort of the user, Samsung comes up with various useful features.
In A7 (2017), these include:

• Support for one-hand operation;
• Smart shutdown - this function does not turn off and lock the screen while you look at it;
  
• Palm Screenshot:
  

Yes, you can take a screenshot by simply swiping your hand across the display. Editing of the resulting image is available. You can write a note on it, cut it off and send it to the desired recipient, or to a third-party application.

S Health, Microsoft Office and Google Services

A built-in program from Samsung Apps to monitor the user's health. Helps control water and caffeine intake. Monitor blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Track your daily activity and adjust the loads. Enter your data into the application, and it will give you tips on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Applications from Microsoft come in handy when you need to save, print or edit documents. By logging into your account through One Drive, you can access all the files stored on other devices.

The built-in set of applications from google will also pleasantly surprise you. The Chrome browser is suitable for surfing the Internet; YouTube - to watch your favorite videos. Gmail helps you group all your mailboxes in one place so you don't miss an important email. Google Maps will not let you get lost, and Play Music will collect all your favorite songs in one library and help you find new genres and artists.

There is also a personalized Flipboard news feed. It collects and shows only those news and events that the user wished to see, having previously configured them for themselves.

The Samsung Themes app lets you download themes, wallpapers, and desktop icons to personalize and express your personal style.

autonomy

The smartphone has a 3600 mAh battery.With a good load - calls, social networks, using a GPS navigator and active data transfer - the A7 worked for 9 hours.

If desired, the phone can last a day and a half - it all depends on the activity of use. There are two levels of economy mode. Selecting the maximum energy saving will turn the device into a regular “dialer”, but it will save battery power. The function will be useful in the forest or on a fishing trip, when all the assortment of smartphone capabilities is not required.

Camera main and front

The main emphasis on the quality of cameras in the Korean company is done in flagship models. The A-series gets basic shooting capabilities because it is positioned as a mid-range price segment, taking its place between the flagships of the S-series and the budget-friendly J-series.

Rear camera 16 megapixels. With a focal length of 27 mm. f/1.9 aperture with autofocus and flash.

The front camera is also 16 MP and f/1.9 aperture. There is no optical stabilization. In the settings there are a number of modes (panorama, food, night).

The camera app is easy to use, so you don't need any advanced photography knowledge. You can start the camera even from the locked screen.

In the daytime, in good light, it takes decent photos. For an ordinary undemanding user, it will do well.

How to take pictures during the day:

Shooting in the dark also showed good image quality.

How to take pictures at night:

Video

Video recording is available in Full HD resolution. The model has not yet grown to 4K, but this is quite enough. The built-in video player can be found using the file manager. Most popular formats are supported and playable.

Volume and sound

The external speaker does not shine with a high volume level.Even the location on the top of the case did not save him. With an average noise level, it will not be possible to hear the phone ring immediately.

There is no built-in music player. You can listen and download songs through the Play Music application - it is preinstalled on the device by default.

Headphones

If you use a wired headset, A7 produces a pleasant sound, voluminous and elastic bass. The built-in equalizer is present in the model and contains many functions to improve the current sound.

The headphone jack was left at 3.5 mm, for which special thanks to the developers. Some manufacturers, such as Apple, are beginning to actively abandon the standard connector in favor of wireless headphones. At Samsung, the desires of consumers are still being listened to.

An interesting feature is hidden in the sound settings - adaptive sound. The user is offered three sets for people of different age categories - under 30 years old, from 30 to 60 years old and over 60. By selecting the appropriate profile, the device automatically adjusts the recommended sound level and volume.

The speaker clearly conveys the speech of the interlocutor - it is heard loudly and the opponent too.

Wireless interfaces and specifications

With the connection to networks without wires, the Galaxy A7 is all right. There is Wi-fi and wi-fi direct, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS. An NFC antenna and Samsung Pay will help you use mobile payment systems - you can pay for your purchase with a smartphone.

dual sim

The Korean company loves when consumers are happy, and therefore made a separate microSD card slot and two nano-sim slots in the A7.

Now the buyer does not have to make a painful choice between expanding the memory and using the second number. Thank you Samsung for this.

Price

According to data for 2018, the cost of the Galaxy A7 version of 2017 in Russia varies from 16,500 thousand rubles to 17,100 rubles, depending on the region.

Advantages vs. Flaws

Having taken a closer look at all the main functions of the smartphone, you can confidently highlight its pros and cons. Let's start.

1. Two separate slots for SIM cards + a slot for Micro SD;
2. Screen;
3. Protection against water and dust according to IP68 standards;
4. Design;
5. Build quality;
6. Lack of body heating;
7. NFC antenna.

1. Quiet external speaker;
2. The main camera could be better.

Outcome

Using the phone is pleasant, a large 5.7-inch screen, high-quality case materials. The performance is enough to work with the device without any problems.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) and in 2018 can be proud of the balance of modern design and decent performance.

For a mid-range model, it has optimized software, a processor that does not heat up under load.The cost is justified if you want to use a quality smartphone, and do not chase the latest innovations.

The prevailing number of pluses and the manufacturer, which won first place in the mobile phone market in 2018 in the Russian Federation, will help you make a decision on the purchase and make the right choice.