Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) specs and redesign: 7 new features to expect

Upcoming Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) pose for a family photo

Last year around this time, Samsung introduced the 2016 crop of its A-series phones, and, judging from the influx of leaks and rumors, the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) may be announced this month, too. The phones are in for a pretty major redesign, it seems, and Samsung will also be bringing features that will be ubiquitous for 2017, like the USB-C port, in order to futureproof the handsets at least until next Christmas. Let's run a quick primer what specs can we expect from each phone in the trio, based on the current leaks, and then we will list all the new features that they seemingly share.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)

This is the baby in the A family, which already got its Wi-Fi certification, and has been featured in benchmarks lately, so the launch date isn't far away. It is said to come __with a 4.7" HD panel, Exynos 7870 or a midrange Snapdragon processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 12 MP rear, and an 8 MP front-facing cameras - that's all we've heard so far, apart from a fresh tip for a 3000 mAh battery capacity.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) renders

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Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) renders

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Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)

The middle of the A road is usually a pretty well-rounded handset that scores a fine value for the money, and the rumored A5 (2017) isn't far away from that tradition, at least in terms of specs. The phone is expected to sport a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED full HD (1080p) display. On the inside, the smartphone might pack an Exynos 7880 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 32 gigs of storage, as well as 3300 mAh battery. This one is expected to launch in several colors, one of which seems to be the new and shinier Pearl Black of Samsung.

More Galaxy A5 (2017) images leak out

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Check out the alleged speaker grill right above that home button

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More Galaxy A5 (2017) images leak out

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6. Check out the alleged speaker grill right above that home button

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Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)

This is the leader of the A-pack, and it shows in the rumored specs chosen for the handset. The new A7 is expected to sport a 5.7" 1080p Super AMOLED display, which would make it larger than the 5.5-inch A7 (2016). That added bulk may have gone into the battery pack, as the A7 (2017) will apparently come with a 3500 mAh or 3600 mAh juicer now, depending on the rumor source. 

The phone is expected to be powered by an Exynos 7880, and have 3 GB RAM, as well as 32 GB/64 GB storage plus memory card slot for its expansion. Both the front and rear cameras were tipped to be with 16 MP resolution, though the main shooter would come with wide f/1.9 aperture.

A finger scanner and USB-C port are par for the course on a phone marked with 2017 in its name, but the most intriguing part of the whole setup, save for the high-res selfie snapper, is that the Galaxy A7 (2017) may sport IP68 certification, marking a first for the A-series of Samsung phones.

Galaxy A7 2017

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Galaxy A7 2017

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Prices and release date

with the purported specs out of the day, there are a couple of underlying design trends and common features that the 2017 edition of the A-series may feature, if we look at the image leaks and feature rumors, which you can preview in the slideshow below. Last year, the A3, A5 and A7 (2016), were announced on December 2, and released January 8, so we can reasonably expect Samsung to announce the 2017 crop by the end of this or next week, with a release by mid-January. As for the price tag, the eventual move from metal to a glass chassis might stick a premium, though historically the A7 has been hovering around the $499 at launch, followed by the A5 at $399, and the A3 at $329, so that might be the yardstick for next year's crop as well.

Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) expected new features and design changes

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Tapered back, curved screen cover glass - Samsung calls this design "symmetrical," as the glass backplate is sloping towards the metal frame with a similar curvature as the display at the front. This is what we will seemingly have in the new A-series as well, judging from the leaked renders. Unlike their metal predecessors, the phones will sport a glass sandwich chassis, with metal relegated to side rim duties only.

Symmetrical glass design

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Surprise, surprise - the major design change of the 2017 A-series crop includes moving the speaker to the right side, just above the power key. At least we think that is the speaker, as the grill is pretty telling, and there is no other grill to speak of all around the phones. Love it or leave it, we may have a very unorthodox speaker placement in the newest A3, A5 and A7, and we are certain that Samsung will explain why upon announcement.

Side speaker

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Not that it comes as a huge surprise, but the A crop will evidently sport Samsung's newest Always-on display iteration, with a richer collection of watch faces, calendars, and notification layouts to choose from.

Always-on display

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Samsung is apparently bringing the IP68 certification to its midrange devices, as a leaked slide shows that the new A-series can be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for at least half an hour. The waterproofing technologies used seem to be the same that Samsung touted during the S7/S7 edge unveiling - Gore-tex membranes for capless design of all ports and openings, short-circuit protection, and rubber seals for the modular parts like the SIM card tray.

IP68 certification for water- and dust-proof chassis

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While on the previous Galaxy A-series editions the cameras were protruding slightly from the back, on the new A3, A5 and A7 they seem to be completely flush with the rear glass surface, aiding the design aesthetics.

Cameras flush with the rear surface

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Reportedly, the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 will sport 3000 mAh, 3300 mAh, and 3500 mAh battery capacities, respectively, in contrast with the 2300 mAh, 2900 mAh and 3300 mAh juicers of their predecessors. Coupled with the newer processor generation, this should result in longer battery life even if the display consumption remains largely similar.

Generous battery capacity bumps

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Apart from the glass and metal redesign, the fresh A-class will finally anoint USB-C as the wired connectivity standard of the future, as so far with Samsung handsets it has been reserved for the now-deceased Note 7 flagship.

USB Type-C

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Don't laugh - while the 2016 Galaxy A-series was equipped with premium chassis, finger scanners and all other hallmarks of fine midrangers, they were sorely lacking an LED light for notification alerts. Now, don't quote us on that, but it seems that the A5 2017 that is in the middle here, has a white LED lit up by a notification alert. Unless it's just a reflection... a mystery... who knows... the suspense is excruciating - will they or won't they have notification lights, that is the question.

Bonus: is that an LED notification light?

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Tapered back, curved screen cover glass - Samsung calls this design "symmetrical," as the glass backplate is sloping towards the metal frame with a similar curvature as the display at the front. This is what we will seemingly have in the new A-series as well, judging from the leaked renders. Unlike their metal predecessors, the phones will sport a glass sandwich chassis, with metal relegated to side rim duties only.

View As One Page »

View As Slideshow »

Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 (2017) expected new features and design changes

1. Symmetrical glass design

Tapered back, curved screen cover glass - Samsung calls this design "symmetrical," as the glass backplate is sloping towards the metal frame with a similar curvature as the display at the front. This is what we will seemingly have in the new A-series as well, judging from the leaked renders. Unlike their metal predecessors, the phones will sport a glass sandwich chassis, with metal relegated to side rim duties only.

2. Side speaker

Surprise, surprise - the major design change of the 2017 A-series crop includes moving the speaker to the right side, just above the power key. At least we think that is the speaker, as the grill is pretty telling, and there is no other grill to speak of all around the phones. Love it or leave it, we may have a very unorthodox speaker placement in the newest A3, A5 and A7, and we are certain that Samsung will explain why upon announcement.

3. Always-on display

Not that it comes as a huge surprise, but the A crop will evidently sport Samsung's newest Always-on display iteration, with a richer collection of watch faces, calendars, and notification layouts to choose from.

4. IP68 certification for water- and dust-proof chassis

Samsung is apparently bringing the IP68 certification to its midrange devices, as a leaked slide shows that the new A-series can be submerged in up to 5 feet of water for at least half an hour. The waterproofing technologies used seem to be the same that Samsung touted during the S7/S7 edge unveiling - Gore-tex membranes for capless design of all ports and openings, short-circuit protection, and rubber seals for the modular parts like the SIM card tray.

5. Cameras flush with the rear surface

While on the previous Galaxy A-series editions the cameras were protruding slightly from the back, on the new A3, A5 and A7 they seem to be completely flush with the rear glass surface, aiding the design aesthetics.

6. Generous battery capacity bumps

Reportedly, the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A3, A5 and A7 will sport 3000 mAh, 3300 mAh, and 3500 mAh battery capacities, respectively, in contrast with the 2300 mAh, 2900 mAh and 3300 mAh juicers of their predecessors. Coupled with the newer processor generation, this should result in longer battery life even if the display consumption remains largely similar.

7. USB Type-C

Apart from the glass and metal redesign, the fresh A-class will finally anoint USB-C as the wired connectivity standard of the future, as so far with Samsung handsets it has been reserved for the now-deceased Note 7 flagship.

8. Bonus: is that an LED notification light?

Don't laugh - while the 2016 Galaxy A-series was equipped with premium chassis, finger scanners and all other hallmarks of fine midrangers, they were sorely lacking an LED light for notification alerts. Now, don't quote us on that, but it seems that the A5 2017 that is in the middle here, has a white LED lit up by a notification alert. Unless it's just a reflection... a mystery... who knows... the suspense is excruciating - will they or won't they have notification lights, that is the question.

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