Introduction
A Samsung for every taste - that seems to be the main mantra of the Korean giant as of late, as evident by its sprawling and ever-expanding smartphone lineup. We guess its always good to have more options, but we just cant shake the feeling that some of Samsungs recent creations are beginning to overlap and thread in each others territory - at least from the global perspective we have.
Heres what we mean - the Galaxy A line and the Galaxy C line are way to close specs-wise to clearly distinguish them from a consumer point of view.
The Galaxy A7 (2017) packs a 5.7-inch display, an efficient 14nm Exynos 7880 Octa SoC, a body made out of a glass/metal combo, IP68 certification, 16MP f/1.9 cameras front and back.
Offerings like the Galaxy C7 and its C7 Pro sibling come pretty close to the Galaxy A7 formula and the 6-inch C9 Pro t akes things even further size-wise.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) at a glance:
- Body: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 4 display protection
- Screen: 5.7" 1080p Super AMOLED screen (386ppi); Always On Display
- OS: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow; Samsung Grace UX; Nougat update in the works
- Chipset: Exynos 7880, 14nm process
- Memory: 3GB of RAM; 32GB storage, dedicated microSD slot for expansion
- Camera: Primary 16MP, f/1.9, 27mm; Secondary 16MP, f/1.9
- Video: 1080p
- Connectivity: nano SIM (dual SIM version available); LTE (Cat. 6); dual-band Wi-Fi ac; Bluetooth 4.2; FM Radio; USB Type-C; 3.5mm jack
- Battery: 3,600mAh
- Misc: Fingerprint reader, IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, Samsung Pay
Main shortcomings
- Somewhat expensive - the Galaxy S7 goes for about as much and might drop in price even more once the S8 comes.
- Not the most recent Android version though an update will surely come
- Lack of 4K video recording is unusual at this price point.
- No OIS, even though the previous generation had it.
If you want a well-equipped Samsung offering with current hardware features like a metal exterior, a snappy processor, and the coveted Super AMOLED panel, then you can look for it within the "A" family. The fresh Galaxy C line, however, fits that bill just as well.
Now with the waterproofing, the refreshed 2017 Galaxy A line easily stands out.
Then there is also the still current S7 flagship, which might be smaller in size, but is packed to the brim with tech and has been coming down in price rapidly.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) in official photos
Deciding between any of these appears to be a daunting task and might require some careful consideration to identify your perfect Samsung mix - if they are all even available where you live, of course. Samsung is still keeping the A7 (2017) away from European markets for some reason and until that changes, gray imports are your only bet on the Old Continent.
With that in mind, follow along on th e next page, as we start to pick apart the Galaxy A7 (2017) and what it has to offer.
Unboxing
The Galaxy A7 (2017) comes with a pretty standard package, not deviating from the Samsung norm in terms of presentation. You get a simple two-piece box with only gray writing, no colors to be found.
The phone cradle on the inside is made of plastic and has a pair of pretty deep compartments to house the additional accessories. Samsung has packaged in one of its Adaptive Fast chargers, rated at 5V at 2A or 9V at 1.67A. Pretty standard so far.
What is less standard, however, is the included USB cable or at least now how you expect it to be. Most markets seem to be getting an old-school micro USB one, which is why there is also a micro USB to Type-C adapter in the box. Our unit did, however, come with a native Type-C cable as standard.
There is also a pair of Samsung-made 3.5mm earbuds in the box. Nothing too fancy, but they do have a microphone and get the job done.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) 360-degree spin
Samsung cut no corners when it comes to the aluminum and glass shell of the Galaxy A7 (2017). You can actually mistake it pretty easily with the Galaxy S7 flagship and the resemblance isnt just skin-deep.
The list of materials appears to be identical between the pair - aluminum around the frame, softly sloping back and a mostly flat front side, complete with Gorilla Glass 4 protection. Even the shapes appear to be identical.
Aside from a few differently shaped or placed controls here and there, the only difference seems to be in scale. This year, the Galaxy A7 has grown in size and now houses a 5.7-inch display inside its 156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm body, weighing in at 186 grams. This puts it squarely in phablet territory - probably not a bad thing, consider ing the recent dismay within the Galaxy Note ranks.
Hardware overview
Its no wonder Samsung went with the S7 look for the A7 (2017) - the style simply works, the shapes and proportions are well thought out and when executed with top-shelf materials, it really makes for a no-compromise experience.
Starting from the front of the A7 (2017), we find, well, the S7 really - that somehow unmistakable Samsung look, comprising of a screen, distinctly rounded home button, with a fingerprint reader and a pair of capacitive controls in a somewhat retro arrangement. Enjoy it while it lasts, since the S8 will probably bring about the retirement of this design language.
AMOLED display • Always on, too • Home button with fingerprint sensor • The usual stuff, minus LED
Speaking of the fingerprint reader, it works just as on the Galaxy S7, which is another way of saying - its good but its not the fastest one around. One thing that is missing from the clean front panel is a notification LED. The A7 (2017) does, however, have an always-on display feature, which kind of fills the void.
Still, this is admittedly a small omission. The A7 (2016) has at least a few other flagship-grade feature to make up for it. The IP68 rating is definitely one of them. This is the first time it appears as part of the A-series formula and we really hope it sticks around.
Continuing our hardware tour with the sides and the rest of the devices controls, one thing instantly stands out - the speaker grill. It sits right above the power button. For ringtones thats as good as any other position and in a way its better for video viewing when holding the display in landscape orientation than the prevalent bottom placement. There are no stereo speakers, but there arent any on Samsung flagships either. Not yet, at least.
Right-hand side
On the opposite bezel, we find a pair of volume controls and a SIM tray. Yes, you read that right, the tray houses a single card and nothing else. And in case you are wondering where the microSD card goes or the s econd SIM, provided you have the dual version - that would be on the top side of the phone.
Left-hand side
That is something you dont see every day, but just like the A5 (2017), which we recently reviewed, its bigger sibling has a dedicated second tray. It houses the other potential SIM slot and also has a dedicated space for the microSD card. Its a dedicated solution and not a hybrid one and we cant stress enough just how much we prefer it this way as only like that you can enjoy both Dual SIM functionality and have a microSD card inside the phone simultaneously.
The only other hardware on the t op side seems to be a secondary microphone.
Top side • Second card cradle
The bottom of the A7 (2017) houses two connectors with a very different story - one still pretty new, while the other potentially headed towards retirement. The former is the USB Type-C port. Since the Galaxy S7 still relies on the traditional microUSB connector, the new A line is currently a bit ahead of the curve in Samsung terms. This will likely change with the S8, but besides updating the connector, the flagship might also use the opportunity to drop the older 3.5mm audio connector. If you are among the many who dont exactly fancy this new trend, you will be happy to learn that it is still present on the A7 (2017).
Bottom side
Moving on to the back, there isnt much in the way of hardware here either. A camera and a single LED flash. Thats it. No fancy collection of sensors, like on the Galaxy S models.
Clean back side
We already mentioned the round slope on the back on the A7 (2017), which does make it a joy to hold. Still, the glass finish does have its shortcomings. For one, it is a fingerprint magnet. Then there is the question of traction. However, this s eems to vary from person to person and we have handled more slippery aluminum-finished phones as well.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) in the hand
Display
As previously mentioned, the Galaxy A7 has grown since last year. Now with a 5.7-inch display diagonal, it sits squarely in Note territory. With all the trouble Samsungs coveted productivity series has been going through lately, having a close alternative isnt really a bad thing. The same is true if you dont particularly care for new curvy display designs. Then again, the A7 (2017) isnt alone in this category - theres the also excellent Galaxy C7 and the even bigger C9 Pro to possibly go for. But, more on that later.
Just like most of its siblings, especially in the higher price register, the A7 (2017) sports a Super AMOLED panel. Just like the smaller A5 (2017) sibling, it offers a resolution of 1080p, which does add up to a lower pixel density of 386 ppi. The Diamond Pixel arrangement within the panel helps with the screen sharpness to an extent but its still Pentile and that leaves the A7 (2017) at a slight disadvantage compared to a competing LCD with the same size and resolution. However, this is nothing new and the A7 (2017) is still plenty sharp in our opinion.
AMOLED panels have become synonymous with punchy colors and the A7 (2017) doesnt disappoint in this department. If you are into that kind of color pallette, then the Adaptive color mode should be perfect for you. Of course, the reds, the greens and cyans are way off. Whites are also a bit bluish, but images just seem to pop off the screen, as usual - pretty eye-catching if nothing else.
You can also improve accuracy by switching to the Basic mode, which results in a pretty calibrated panel. In this case, it brings deltaE below 2 for almost every color. You do get a washed out look too so perhaps AmoledPHOTO represents a nice balance between color accuracy and punchiness.
The maximum screen brightness is excellent on the A7 (2017) at around 425 nits in normal mode and a hefty 533 through Auto boost. These results actually match last years A7 (2016) almost number for number - impressive, when you consider the bigger panel size.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, cd/m2 | Whit e, cd/m2 | ||
| 0.00 | 349 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 425 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 536 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 425 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 533 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 398 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 421 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 601 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 413 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 559 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 470 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 408 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 518 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 422 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 625 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 391 | ∞ | |
| < strong> | 0.00 | 563 | ∞ |
| 0.00 | 363 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 619 | ∞ | |
| 0.416 | 592 | 1423 | |
| 0.00 | 433 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 447 | ∞ | |
Combine the nice max brightness level with the effectively infinite contrast of the AMOLED panel and you end up with excellent sunlight legibility. You wont have any trouble working with the A7 (2017) outdoors even in the brightest of days.
Sunlight contrast ratio
- Sams ung Galaxy S6 edge+
4.615 - Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439 - OnePlus 3
4.424 - Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376 - HTC One A9
4.274 - Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247 - Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241 - OnePlus 3T
4.232 - Google Pixel XL
4.164 - ZTE Axon 7
4.154 - Samsung Galax y S6
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
4.124 - Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09 - Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019 - OnePlus X
3.983 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
3.983 - Oppo R7s
3.964 - Apple iPhone 7
3.964 - Huawei P9 Plus
3.956 - Meizu Pro 6 Plus
3.935 - Lenovo Moto Z
3.931 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
3.918 - Samsung Galaxy C5
3.911 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.896 - Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895 - Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
3.879 - Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
3.873 - Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859 - Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817 - Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
3.804 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802 - Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798 - LG V20 Max auto
3.798 - Sony Xperia XZ
3.795 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789 - Apple iPhone 6s
3.783 - Meizu Pro 5
3.781 - Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756 - Oppo F1 Plus
3.709 - Vivo X5Pro
3.706 - Sony Xperia X Compact
3.694 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.688 - Apple iPhone SE
3.681 - Huawei Mate 9
3.68 - Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679 - Meizu PRO 6
3.659 - BlackBerry Priv
3.645 - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588 - Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.526 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523 - Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523 - Acer Jade Primo
3.521 - Microsoft L umia 950
3.512 - Oppo R7 Plus
3.499 - nubia Z11
3.466 - Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422 - Meizu MX5
3.416 - LG V20
3.402 - Huawei P10
3.379 - Oppo R9s
3.352 - Oppo R7
3.32 - Lenovo P2
3.316 - Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276 - Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235 - Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
3.228 - Motorola Moto X Play
3.222 - Huawei Mate 9 Pro
3.206 - Huawei P9
3.195 - Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113 - Motorola Moto X Force
3.105 - LG Nexus 5X
3.092 - Huawei Mate S
3.073 - Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065 - Sony Xperia X
2.989 - Huawei Mate 8
2.949 - Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913 - Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906 - LG G5
2.905 - HTC One S
2.901 - Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
2.893 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884 - Sony Xperia Z5
2.876 - Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851 - Lenovo Moto M
2.813 - Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803 - Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784 - Meizu MX6
2.751 - LG V10
2.744 - Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735 - Meizu M5
2.71 - Sony Xperia M5
2.69 - Huawei P9 Lite
2.679 - Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
2.679 - Vivo V3Max
2.659 - Xiaomi Mi Mix
2.658 - Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641 - Sony Xperia XA
2.609 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus
2.582 - Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
2.582 - Meizu M5s
2.58 - Xiaomi Mi 4c
2.574 - LeEco Le Max 2
2.567 - Microsoft Lumia 640
2.563 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
2.563 - Lenovo Moto G4
2.544 - Lenovo K6 Note
2.544 - Oppo F1
2.528 - Sony X peria Z5 Premium
2.525 - Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
2.506 - Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503 - Oppo F1s
2.481 - Motorola Moto G
2.477 - Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
2.473 - Huawei G8
2.471 - Huawei nova
2.467 - Sony Xperia Z
2.462 - Lenovo Vibe K5
2.459 - Meizu m3 max
2.447 - HTC 10 evo
2.407 - Huawei Honor 7
2.406 - Sony Xperia E5
2.386 - ZUK Z1 by Lenovo
2.382 - HTC 10
2.378 - Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
2.378 - vivo V5 Plus
2.371 - Meizu m1 note
2.362 - Huawei nova plus
2.329 - HTC One E9+
2.305 - Alcatel One Touch Hero
2.272 - Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
2.254 - Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
2.253 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
2.249 - Sony Xperia C4 Dual
2.235 - Xiaomi Mi Note
2.234 - Motorola Moto G (2014)
2.233 - Huawei P8
2.196 - Meizu M5 Note
2.189 - Huawei Honor 6
2.169 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
2.166 - OnePlus Two
2.165 - HTC One X
2.158 - LG Aka
2.145 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
2.145 - Archos 50 Diamond
2.134 Xiaomi Redmi Note
2.119- Acer Liquid X2
2.084 - Huawei P8lite
2.078 - vivo V5
2.059 - Moto G 3rd gen max manual
2.026 - Xiaomi Mi Max
1.996 - Sony Xperia E4g
1.972 - OnePlus One
1.961 - Meizu m3 note
1.923 - BlackBerry Lea p
1.892 - Meizu m2 note
1.892 - ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
1.759 - Sony Xperia U
1.758 - Asus Zenfone Selfie
1.68 - Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
1.675 - ZTE Nubia Z9
1.659 - Jolla Jolla
1.605 - Motorola Moto E
1.545 - Sony Xperia M
1.473 - Xiaomi Redmi 2
1.311 - HTC Desire C
1.3 - Sony Xperia C
1.283 - Meizu MX
1.221 - Sony Xperia E
1.215
Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is pretty well equipped with connectivity options - quite natural for a device, positioned right below the flagship line. Just like its little brother, the A5 (2017), the A7 is based on the companys own Exynos 7880. On paper, the chip is capable of Cat.7 LTE speeds, however, Samsung only rates the A7 (2016) for Cat.6. That is up to 300 Mbps downlink and 50Mbps up, depending on your reg ional version and network.
We already touched upon Samsungs dual tray approach in the hardware overview section. It is a really elegant solution that works well and leaves you with two SIM slots and a dedicated microSD one - no hybrid compromises. It is interesting to note that both the Single and Dual SIM models get two trays. On the former, there is no cutout for a second SIM next to the microSD. Presumably, that means no contacts and internal hardware either.
In terms of local connectivity, the A7 package includes dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v4.2, as well as a USB Type-C connector. Since the S7 came out with a micro USB one, the refreshed A series is actually a bit ahead of the curve in this aspect. USB OTG is part of the package, but there is no video output, MHL or otherwise.
NFC and Samsungs proprietary MST tech for emulating magnet ic cards are also on board the A7 (2017) and a potent mix for using Samsung Pay in supported markets.
The phone has an FM radio too, great for tuning in to free live broadcasts that require no data connection.
Battery Life
The new Galaxy A7 (2017) also boasts a bump in battery capacity to go along with the bigger screen. Samsung has managed to cram 3,600mAh inside the 7.9mm thin body. This is actually a whole 600 mAh more than the A5 (2017) and we already know the latter makes pretty efficient use of its juice thanks to Samsungs Exynos 7880 Octa chipset. Combined with a Super AMOLED panel, the 14nm fabrication process of the chipset means some impressive battery numbers.
Naturally, the A7 (2017) outshines both of its smaller sibling in this department as well as the flagship Galaxy S7. Sure, the latter definitely packs a stronger punch performance-wise, but its 80 hours of total endurance rating seem almost inadequate compared to the whopping 115 hours the A7 (2017) scored.
The improvements over the A5 (2017), as well as the older A7 (2016) are across the board. 28 and a half hours of talk time is no joke and neither is 15 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing - a task which brings the S7 down to its knees in under 10.
As far as standby goes, we employed our typical two test approach to see how much of a difference the Always On Display feature has. And once again, the answer is: A lot! However, it is worth noting that our testing procedure does not allow the automatic dimming or display switching off to take place, which would be the case with normal pocket or night use (two scenarios where the AOD turns off automatically). So with that said, your mileage will vary on AOD - consider our score the worst case scenario.
The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case youre intere sted in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones weve tested will compare under your own typical use.
Grace UX
If you can remember back to the unveiling of the Galaxy Note7, before the unfortunate events that led to its demise were set into motion, there was a lot to get excited about, both hardware and software-wise. That marked the beginning of Grace UX, Samsungs re-invented UI that stuck and is still being backed by the company, despite the Note7 fiasco.
The new Galaxy A family is currently tasked with a tough ambassador role for the redone interface. At least, out of the box, that is, since many devices, like the Galaxy S7, have already received the new launcher in updates. It is important to note that just like its li ttle sibling, the Galaxy A7 (2017) still runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow under the hood. A Nougat update should be in the works as well.
The Always On Display (AOD) feature is a little hint that sort of gives away the new UI even before you unlock the handset.This 2017 generation of the A-series in the first to include the feature and its fits right in with the large 5.7-inch, AMOLED panel on the A7.
It is also the most recent iteration of the feature. It can display notifications from third-party apps, which wasnt the case with the early implementation on the Galaxy S7. There are three visualization to choose from. Clock and Calendar are pretty self-explanatory, but there is also an Image mode for some extra AMOLED style points, although minus the added functionality.
Despite being easy on the juice in general, AOD will also dim itself accordingly to match light conditions and turn the display off entirely when the phone is pocketed. You can also set a schedule for even more control.
Always On Display
If you prefer to wake your phone with a button or simply dont like fingerprint readers, Grace UX has a pretty standard lockscreen for you to land on. It features swipe unlock by default, a couple of quick unlock shortcuts and a notification area. Of course, you can still use the fingerprint reader in the home button, if you want.
Lockscreen: plain • with notifications • Setting up a fingerprint • Reader options
It is pretty comparable to the one on the Galaxy S7 - that is to say reliable, albeit a bit slow in modern terms. Besides unlocking your phone, the reader can be used for all sorts of authentication, like Web sign-in and Samsung Pay. But, more on that later.
The Homescreen is a pretty typical Samsung endeavor as well. You get Widget and Folder support out of the box, as well as a customizable number of screens to the right. To the left, there is a Briefing page, but you can disable it if its not up your alley. One notable new addition is the contextual icon menu. It is sort of like a 3D Touch feature, not unlike the one found on the Google Pixel phones - you tap and hold on an app and a menu appears. However, it offers just basic app handling actions and is not tied to the actual functionality of app.
Homescreen • Homescreen settings • Folder view • Contextual menu
The notification area should be quite familiar as well. A line of quick toggles is available above the notificatio ns. Pulling the shade further down reveals all toggles, a brightness slider and a handy search field (Google prefers to put the search field on the homescreen instead).
We like the idea of the Block notifications button, it allows you to quickly mute notifications from pushy apps (games are often guilty of crying for attention when you havent played them in a while). Still, the aesthetics of the new menu are an acquired taste. We cant say we like them a lot and were not alone.
Notification area • Expanded view • Editing toggles
The app switcher is what you would expect as well - a colorful rol odex. The A3 (2017) might have skipped on the multi-window feature, as the smallest of the bunch, but both the A5 (2017) and A7 (2017) have it. Since both handsets are still running Marshmallow and not Nougat, where the feature is standard, it is a custom Samsung implementation. Some apps arent supported, but those that are (as signified by an icon next to the X) resize and fit great. Furthermore, Samsung has added a few powerful features to crop out and transfer things between the split-screen windows. These are accessible by clicking the circle on the divider.
App switcher • Multi-window multi-tasking
Moving on the app drawer, everything is still as expected - neat and orderly. You get support for folders here as well. Also, two sorting options, free edition and a convenient search bar that even pulls suggestions from the app store.
App drawer • Organizing apps • Searching • Sorting
Breaking away, at least a bit, from the mundane, the A7 (2017) does have a few interesting bake d-in tricks to boast. Some of them are housed in the "Advanced features" menu. There are a few interesting gestures to play around with, as well as a one-handed operation mode, which does make a lot of sense on a 5.7-inch device. Smart Stay never really managed to work correctly in our experience, so you might be better off skipping over it.
App switcher • One-handed operation
Secure folder has been Samsungs pride an joy for some time now. It relies on the companys acclaimed KNOX securit y platform and creates a separate zone so sensitive files (photos, documents, etc.) and apps can be locked away from prying eyes. Once you enter the Secure folder, taking a photo with the camera or snapping a screenshot places the file in the Secure folder. To access those from the regular gallery, youll first have to move them.
Secure folder • Fingerprint authentication • 2 apps, 1 phone
The reason you want to secure your Samsung account with your fingerprint is that you get 15GB of cloud storage for free. Everything from contacts to photos can be synced and you get to choose which files a re synced over LTE and which are left for when Wi-Fi is available (contacts, calendar and notes dont use much data, but photos do).
Selecting what to sync to Samsung Cloud
Samsung also has a couple of nifty features aimed especially at mobile gamers. These are the Game Launcher and Game Tools. Both have to be toggled on in the setting menu. One that is done, you can find a special game folder on the A7 (2017). Adding any app to it, game or otherwise and then launching it results in some automatic, behind the scenes optimizations for better performance. If you opt for the Game Tools, you can adjust some resolution and quality aspects manually as well. There are also options for recording and sharing gameplay.
Game Launcher and Game Tools
Synthetic benchmarks
Beating inside the Galaxy A7 (2017) is Samsungs own Exynos 7880. It is the updated version of last years 7870 - one of the pioneers of mid-range efficiency of a 14nm manufacturing process. The updated version keeps the overall formula intact only introducing a small clock rate bump in the Cortex-A53 cores (1.9GHz vs. 1.6GHz). RAM speeds have also been boosted thanks to LPDDR4 support, as opposed to the 7870s LPDDR3.
Upgrades are actually more significant in the GPU department. The Mali-T830 now has a third core and a higher clock r ate of 950MHz, versus 700MHz. This is great for keeping up with rendering on the 1080p screen.
Despite all the improvements to the new Exynos 7880 SoC, it is still a mid-range chip by design. While it does offer plenty of performance for most users, paired with the A7 (2017)s premium exterior, it makes for a rather confusing combination in value to performance terms. In hardware terms, it is much better suited to compete with its Exynos 7870 siblings, like the Galaxy J7 (2016) or A3 (2017). Over at camp Quaclomm, a nice performance peer would be the Snapdragon 625 - made on a equally efficient 14nm process. This brings to mind handsets like the Galaxy C7, Moto Z Play, Lenovo P2 or the extremely popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. The thing is, all of these are priced well below the EUR 400 mark.
In terms of pure price competitors, the truth is EUR 450 can buy y ou proper flagship-grade hardware and the performance to match. Some good examples include the OnePlus 3T, Xperia Z5 Premium or the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus and its sibling - the Mi Note 2. So, in the name of fairness, we decided to include all of them in the performance charts.
Kicking things off with GeekBench 4 and single core performance, we see a couple of predictable patterns. For one, the Cortex-A53 cores inside the Exynos 7880 perform noticeably better than their 7870 counterparts, the bump in clock speed has paid off. On the other hand, the Snapdragon 625 takes things even further with a bump in core speed up to 2GHz. That seems to equate to about 10% better performance of average.
GeekBench 4 (single-core)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
1890 - Samsung Galaxy S7
1854 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
1824 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
1815 - ZTE Axon 7
1702 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
1694 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
1546 - vivo V5 Plus
846 - Oppo R9s
845 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
843 - Lenovo P2
840 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
839 - Motorola Moto Z Play
795 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
776 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
764 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
681
Multi-threaded performance is a whole different story. Just like its Snapdragon 625 counterpart from the Qualcomm realm, the Exynos 7880 can utilize all of its eight Cortex-A53 cores at the same time. This results in massive performance increases, putting the A7 (2017) a mere 200 or so points away from something like the OnePlus 3T and its top-of-the-line Snapdragon 821 chipset. Sadly, however, these numbers dont really translate to real world performance in the same way.
This definitely starts to shine trough in a test like BaseMark OS II. It is a lot more compound and extensive and doesnt limit itself to CPU alone. It is good to see that the Galaxy A7 (2017) holds its own very well, effectively leading the pack of 14nm mid-ranges. That is a good sign for the performance levels the phones internals in general - storage is pretty snappy and the new LPDDR4 RAM is definitely faster than its predecessor.
Basemark OS II
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
3328 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
2814 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
2698 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2677 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
2603 - Huawei P9 Plus
2155 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2073 - Huawei Mate 8
2033 - Samsung Galaxy S7
2004 - ZTE Axon 7
1889 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
1619 - Lenovo P2
1400 - Samsung Galaxy C7
1368 - vivo V5 Plus
1325 - Motorola Moto Z Play
1226 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
999
The same goes for AnTuTu. The A7 (2017) does loose some ground this time around, but still manages to perform respectively and in a predictable manner, pacing it right alongside its scaled-down A5 (2017) brother.
AnTuTu 6
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
165097 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
155185 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
151619 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
140871 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
140324 - Samsung Galaxy S7
132084 - ZTE Axon 7
129926 - Huawei P9 Plus
97392 - Huawei Mate 8
91609 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
85162 - Xiaomi Mi Max
74488 - Oppo R9s
66081 - vivo V5 Plus
63812 - Lenovo P2
63493 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
63358 - Samsung Galaxy C7
62818 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
62454 - Motorola Moto Z Play
62217 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
61020 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
60767 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
49094 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
45742 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
35689 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
35134
It appears an extra GPU core and a clock boost can really go far in terms of pixel-pushing power. The Mali-T830MP3 appears to outperform the Adreno 506, inside the Snapdragon 625 without even breaking a sweat.
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
49 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
49 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
47 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
44 - Xiaomi Mi Not e 2
40 - Samsung Galaxy S7
38 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
26 - Huawei Mate 8
18 - Huawei P9 Plus
18 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
15 - ZTE Axon 7
15 - Xiaomi Mi Max
15 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
15 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
14 - Oppo R9s
10 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
9.9 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
9.9 - vivo V5 Plus
9.9 - Samsung Galaxy C7
9.8 - Lenovo P2
9.8 - Motorola Moto Z Play
9.8 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
5.7 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
5.7 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
5.1 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
4.9
GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
48 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
47 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
41 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
31 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
27 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
27 - Samsung Galaxy S7
27 - Huawei P9 Plus
19 - Huawei Mate 8
18 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
15 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
15 - Xiaomi Mi Max
15 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
15 - ZTE Axon 7
12 - Lenovo P2
10 - Motorola Moto Z Play
10 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
9.9 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
9.7 - vivo V5 Plus
9.7 - Oppo R9s
9.7 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
9.6 - Samsung Galaxy C7
9.6 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
9.5 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
5.7 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
5.7
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
33 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
32 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
31 - ZTE Axon 7
31 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
30 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
30 - Samsung Galaxy S7
28 - Sony Xperi a Z5 Premium
18 - Huawei Mate 8
10 - Huawei P9 Plus
10 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
9.5 - Xiaomi Mi Max
9.4 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
9.1 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
9.1 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
7.2 - Samsung Galaxy C7
6.2 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
6.2 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
6.2 - vivo V5 Plus
6.2 - Lenovo P2
6.2 - Motorola Moto Z Play
6.2 - Oppo R9s
6.2 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.2
GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
33 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
32 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
30 - Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
19 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
18 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
15 - Samsung Galaxy S7
15 - ZTE Axon 7
15 - Huawei Mate 8
11 - Huawei P9 Plus
11 - Xiaomi Mi Max
9.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
9.4 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
9 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
9 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
7.3 - Lenovo P2
6.7 - Motorola Moto Z Play
6.7 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
6.2 - Samsung Galaxy C7
6.1 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
6.1 - vivo V5 Plus
6.1 - Oppo R9s
6.1 - Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.2
Cranking the heat up, however does punish the Mali-T830MP3 quite a bit, 3 cores, or not. A frame rate of 5.2 fps is hardly enjoyable or even playable, by any standard. However, real-life gaming on the A7 (2017) is still a blast. It not only has ample room on its 5.7-inch screen for two-handed controls, but most games scale bask so gracefully nowadays, that you might not ev en notice. Plus, Samsungs Game Launcher and Game Tools give an extra layer of control over fine details, so you can really customize your experience.
GFX 3.1 Car scene (offscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
20 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
20 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
19 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
18 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
18 - Samsung Galaxy S7
15 - ZTE Axon 7
15 - Huawei P9 Plus
6.2 - Xiaomi Mi Max
5.5 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)
5.4 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
5.2 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
5.2 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.4 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
3.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
3.4 - vivo V5 Plus
3.4 - Lenovo P2
3.4 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.4 - Oppo R9s
3.4 - Samsung Galax y A3 (2017)
1.9
GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)
Higher is better
- OnePlus 3T
20 - Xiaomi Mi Note 2
20 - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
19 - ZTE Axon 7
16 - Lenovo Moto Z Droid
12 - Vivo Xplay5 Elite
9.8 - Samsung Galaxy S7
7.9 - Huawei P9 Plus
6.8 - Xiaomi Mi Max
5.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)< /span>
5.4 - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
5.2 - Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
5.2 - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.9 - Lenovo P2
3.7 - Motorola Moto Z Play
3.7 - Samsung Galaxy C7
3.4 - Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
3.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
3.4 - vivo V5 Plus
3.4 - Oppo R9s
3.4
Overall, the Galaxy A 7 (2017) with its Exynos 7880 puts out quite good performance numbers for its hardware and its on par with Qualcomms energy efficiency champion - the Snapdragon 625.
All things considered, we couldnt really ask much more out of such a frugal chip. It easily chews through all everyday tasks and even split-window use is no trouble whatsoever. We really feel like this particular approach to making efficient mid-range chips is the perfect way of bringing true value to the average user.
That being said, however, if you are looking to get the most performance for your dollar in this price range, the new Galaxy A series isnt really the way to go.
Telephony
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is available in both a single-SIM and dual-SIM version. Our unit had two SIM trays. However, that becomes apparent from the dialer and messenger only if you fill both.
Dialer • Call log • All contacts • Contact info
Theres native support for blocking incoming calls - you can block specific numbers and all anonymous calls.
Blocking unwanted calls • More call settings
We dont really comment on call quality anymore, since modern hardware has thankfully, mostly er adicated the issue. Naturally, the Galaxy A7 (2017) gave us no trouble in this department.
Loudspeaker
This years A-series have their loudspeakers in a novel position - on the right side of the phone. Just like its two smaller siblings, the A7 earned a Good mark in our standardized test. However, it is worth noting that bigger size seems to bring about better acoustics, which shows in the raw number scores. Its a noticeable improvement over the 2016 model, and puts the A5 (2017) on par with most of its competition. Output quality is quite good, too.
| Speakerphone test | Voice, dB | Ringing | Overall score | |
| 57.9 | 60.7 | 66.6 | Below Average | |
| 61.3 | 61.1 | 65.7 | Below Average | |
| 66.2 | 64.8 | 66.8 | Below Average | |
| 65.8 | 66.0 | 66.5 | Below Average | |
| 65.9 | 66.3 | 70.7 | Average | |
| 64.8 | 66.3 | 73.5 | Average | |
| 65.2 | 66.3 | 76.0 | Average | |
| 67.3 | 67.8 | 72.8 | Average | |
| 68.1 | 66.3 | 73.7 | Good | |
| 66.1 | 66.9 | 75.5 | Good | |
| 61.0 | 69.3 | 78.3 | Good | |
| 69.5 | 69.3 | 71.1 | Good | |
| 66.4 | 66.2 | 78.0 | Good | |
| 64.3 | 71.5 | 76.1 | Good | |
| 66.6 | 66.1 | 81.5 | Good | |
| 67.1 | 66.2 | 82.6 | Good | |
| 74.0 | 68.3 | 78.0 | Very Good | |
| 67.7 | 70.0 | 83.6< /td> | Very Good |
Messaging and text input
Samsung preloaded its own Messaging app to handle SMS/MMS instead of using Googles Allo (which isnt even available out of the box). The app has a clean but powerful interface, much of its functionality hides behind a slide-out menu on the right.
This menu lets you view all photos (or even general attachments) in a conversation, sort of like a two-person gallery. You can also insert canned responses, block numbers (or just mute notifications for the contact) as well as pin the conversation thread so its always on top.
You can insert smiles and photos, similar to popular chat apps (except that files are sent over MMS).
Messages
The Samsung Keyboard handles text input. It can be heavily customized - you can resize it (in height and width), hide the number row and add additional symbols (punctuation on long key press).
Swipe input can be tasked with one of two tasks - move the cursor or text input. A High contrast mode is available for people with poor eyesight.
Samsung keyboard
Other apps
Samsungs S Health is available and it can track your walks/runs and your sleep. With help from the right accessory, it can track a lot more - it works with Samsungs activity trackers, of course, but you can connect heart rate monitors, bike sensors, smart scales, even blood pressure and glucose monitors. Both Bluetooth 4.0 LE and ANT+ accessories are available. If it were a flagship, youd have a heart rate sensor built in, but not here.
For those who need motivation, you can challenge a friend and compete to win virtual crowns. You also get a global leaderboard so you know where you stand. S Health can cooperate with a number of third-party apps (from Withings and others).
S Health
The File manager shows the most recent files by default and supports basic folder operations as well as compression.
File browser
As previously mentioned, the Galaxy A7 (2017) is fully equipped to handle contactless payments with both NFC and Samsungs own MST. Hence, it is only natural that Samsung Pay is part of the package. Adding your debit or credit card is really straight-forwar d. You even get the benefit of some built-in OCR for the number. However, support for the service is still pretty limited both by country and banks, so you have to double-check before you get excited for the feature.
Samsung Pay
The Samsung Members app is also part of the default package. It is part news reader, part user manual and guide for better using and utilizing your phone. However, the best part is probably the automated scans and fixes the app can apply to certain settings.
< img src="http://ift.tt/2mtRdKF" height="200" alt="Samsung Members app - Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) review" />
Samsung Members app
Of course, Samsungs S Voice assistant is always present and ready to help as well, if you can count it as an app. It has gotten a lot more visually appealing since the old days, but is likely on its way out with Bixby right around the corner.
S voice
Finally, theres Galaxy Apps, an alternative (or, rather, parallel) source of apps. A number of Samsung apps are available here, including ones not pre-installed on the Galaxy A7 (2017). You can also find freebies and exclusives here.
Galaxy Apps
Gallery
Samsungs Gallery app has maintained a fairly consistent and clean look over the years. The same goes for the one on the Galaxy A7 (2017) as well. One additional feature you are getting out of the box is Samsung cloud sync. In terms of local photo storage, your shots are split into three categories - Pictures, Albums and Stories. Pictures is just a timeline view, while Albums is the folder-based view.
Stories are collaborative online projects - you can invite people to add their own photos and videos to the Story gallery and create a cool slideshow.
Gallery
The built-in editor is fairly powerful, going from basic tools to straighten photos through image correction to downloadable image effects.
The built-in image editor is surprisingly powerful
Video player
In contrast, the built-in video player doesnt really go out of its way to pamper with added functionality. Despite being a separate app, it doesnt have a shortcut anywhere in the menu. This is understandable, since it doesnt really feature a file browser of its own. You just have to navigate to the video file and then pass it to the player.
Video gallery • Player • Settings • Subtitles
To be fair though, you do get a couple of nifty tricks. Subtitle support is one of them and it goes into surprising depth in terms of font and styling adjustments.
Music player
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) comes with Google Play Music out of the box. It is just one of those parts of Googles Android app suite that has spread to a point where it is almost part of the OS itself. Although not really much of a looker, it will power throu gh both local music playback and online streaming. The latter is particularly convenient, since you can either pay for a subscription to Googles service or upload you own MP3 files to the clod, free of charge. Then you can stream them and even make use of Googles advanced transportation, compression and caching algorithms.
Google Play Music
You get comprehensive control over the listening experience thanks to the SoundAlive equalizer, a manual 7-band equalizer, an automatic equalizer (Adapt so und) and even a UHQ upscaler.
Sound customization
Samsungs own Music app can be downloaded from the companys own app store too. It may look a bit sleeker than the utilitarian Google app, but its limited to offline content only.
FM Radio
Yes, there is an FM radio on board as well. This is another area in which the A-series seems to surpass its flagship S cousins in terms of functionality. There is no RDS, so you do have to enter the radio station names manually. However, there is a recorder included.
FM radio
Audio output is good
When plugged into an active external amplifier, the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) posted excellent scores top to bottom and had high volume levels to start this test on a high note.
Adding in a pair of headphones causes moderate damage to the stereo quality and introduces a tiny amount of extra distortion. The overall output is still nicely clear, though, and with the volume remaining well above average we have little reason to be unhappy.
And now here go the results so you can make your own comparisons.
| Test | Frequency response | Noise level | Dynamic range | THD | Stereo crosstalk | |
| +0.05, -0.28 | -91.9 | 92.2 | 0.0037 | 0.051 | -90.3 | |
| +0.18, -0.05 | -91.0 | 91.6 | 0.019 | 0.230 | -57.9 | |
| +0.03, -0.01 | -94.3 | 94.3 | 0.0034 | 0.0063 | -93.4 | |
| +0.53, -0.30 | -92.9 | 93.0 | 0.017 | 0.434 | -49.7 | |
| +0.01, -0.03 | -94.0 | 94.0 | 0.0033 | 0.0066 | -92.9 | |
| +0.17, -0.04 | -92.0 | 92.7 | 0.0067 | 0.125 | -62.0 | |
| +0.10, -0.04 | -93.1 | 93.1 | 0.0015 | 0.0098 | -80.5 | |
| +0.10, -0.03 | -93.1 | 93.0 | 0.0013 | 0.015 | -76.8 | |
| LG V20 | +0.01, -0.03 | -93.0 | 93.1 | 0.0036 | 0.0075 | -93.7 |
| LG V20 (headphones attached) | +0.04, -0.09 | -92.4 | 92.4 | 0.051 | 0.105 | -57.5 |
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.
16MP duo
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is equipped with a pair of 16MP sensors. However, resolution aside, the pair dont really stack fairly against each other. The main shooter on the back sports a 27mm-equiv. lens with an f/1.9 aperture. OIS used to be part of the A-series package, but it is sadly missing in this generation. Autofocus is also limited to contrast-detect only, or at least thats what official specs lead us to believe. Theres also nothing fancy about the flash setup - just a single, one tone LED.
Grace UX did bring about a few changes in the camera interface, but nothing really substantial. The traditional Samsung quick-launch, home button double-tap is still present and is now complemented in the usability department by new swipe gestures.
Swiping down will switch between the front and back camera. Left brings up a panel with filters, which you can even download more of. Right lands you on a shooting mode selector. All pretty convenient, at first glance, as least.
There is an issue worth noting here and it has to do with HDR. For one, it can only be turned ON or OFF manually. An auto HDR mode would have been greatly appreciated. Even worse, toggling its state requires a swipe and a tap, since the main camera interface only has a flash shortcut.
Camera interface
A Pro mode is present too, though thats clearly a huge overstatement - you get control over exposure compensation, ISO and white balance presents, plus a metering mode selector, but no manual focus and no manual shutter speed. Not really the "Pro" we were hoping for.
Basic Pro mode
A dedicated video mode and viewfinder would have been a nice touch.
In terms of quality, the Galaxy A7 (2017)s camera can probably be described best as being "moderate". Samples came out nice and sharp, with plenty of resolve detail and very few traced of both noise and suppression. Colors are just about what you would call moderate - not too vivid, but still pleasant. Dynamic range is not spectacular, but still fairly good.
Camera samples
This moderate quality is very much applicable to HDR as well. It does what it promises without much drama - shadows get a modest boost, and some detail in the highlights is salvaged, adding up to a very natural-looking image. Some might prefer a little less subtlety here. In high-contrast scenarios you might be wise to take a shot in normal and HDR mode, just in case.
HDR: off • on • HDR: off • on
Panorama samples also turned out pretty good, but nothing really spectacular. They could use some extra detail. Other than that, however, stitching is practically perfect. We ll, except when you have moving objects, of course, but there is little that can be done about that in general.
Panorama samples in both orientations
You can also do some pixel-peeping in out photo compare tool and see how the A7 (2017) stacks up against competition.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) in our Photo compare tool
Selfie shooter
The Galaxy A7 (2017) has a pretty impressive 16MP selfie shooter up on offer, on paper at least. It is another f/1.9 unit, which does look deceptively similar to the rear one in numbers alone. However, as you can imagine, that is not the case. For one, the front-facer lacks autofocus. This is quite normal and typically a non-issue on most devices, since they are intended to focus at roughly an arms length.
However, like its smaller A5 (2017) sibling, the A7 (2017) does appear to be exhibiting some weird focusing issues. It is almost as if it is locked at a much shorter distance than normal. However, we cant really say for sure that this is the problem. The A5 seemed to be suffering more from the strange behavior when we tested it. Things appear to have gotten better on the A7, which we can only imagine is thanks to a software fix, since both front snappers appear identical.
Also, some A7 users have been reporting similar issues and some claim they can be circumvented by using a third-party camera app. We didnt really manage to confirm t his one way or the other either and, frankly, the samples we took with the factory app arent even all that bad.
Selfie sample • No filters • All filters to max
Video camera
The Galaxy A7 (2017) maxes out its video capture at 1080p and 30 fps. There is no 4K video recording and circling back to the lack of OIS, it really seems like Samsung decided to implement all its market segmentation techniques on the camera.
4K is definitely within reach in this price range. However, the A7 (2017) does do a pretty good job with the cards it is dealt. Videos are encoded with a 17Mbps bitrate, the usual number, while audio gets a generous 256Kbps, stereo.
The FullHD video output is good, with nice levels of detail and low noise. Colors are rendered quite well too, though once again youre better off looking at the Video compare tool to get a better idea. Audio, by the way, is surprisingly clear, and it cant be down to just the bitrate.
You can also download an unedited sample (10s, 22MB) to avoid any possible YouTube compression.
The A7 (2017) also makes quite decent timelapse videos. Sorry for the short sample, but it was really freezing out there. Still, you can probably get a feel for it form this other untouched sample.
Last, but not least, here are a few links to the A7 (2017) in out video compare tool. Feel free to pit it against any other device we have in our database.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) in our Video compare tool
Final words
With all said and done, we have to admit Samsung isnt making our job any easier with the new A-series. The 2017 iteration comes so close to flagship territory that it almost seems unnatural, even a bit illogical. As if, Samsung really wants to see you having a hard time deciding between two Galaxies. Then again, a more thorough look at the bigger picture, swiftly brings common sense back into the matter and grand marketing schemes start shining trough.
You see, the thing is, the A7 (2017) wont get a European release. At least not initially, that is. Come to thing about it, the new Galaxy C family is still primarily enjoying an Eastern market scene a s well, keeping its distance from the flagship-conditioned Western world. This will likely be Samsungs way of making the decision for you in most markets.
But putting corporate policy and market schemes aside for a bit - What if your local carrier isnt trying to push you some S7 stock for a next-to-nothing subsidized price and you actually have the option and desire to potentially expand your horizon. There is no denying the A7 (2017) is a compelling offer and one big enough to take on phablet buyer needs, slip into the sore gap the Note7 left and the S8 pair is still not here to patch up.
Refined style and excellent build quality, IP68 certification, spacious and sharp Super AMOLED panel, a chipset powerful enough for you multitasking needs, yet extremely efficient, an astonishing battery endurance - all things the Galaxy A7 (2017) ticks off the list wi th ease. Frankly, the camera department seems to be the only weak point in an otherwise great formula. And it almost looks intentional. Like Samsung started really strong, then suddenly realized it had to leave its flagships some breathing room and decided to take it all out on the unsuspecting 16MP shooter. 4K is a painful omission, but OIS stings even more since it used to be part of the Galaxy A mix. The selfie cam has some odd focusing quirks of its own as well.
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) key test findings
- Build quality is immaculate and materials are flagship-grade. There is even IP68 protection. The glass back is a fingerprint magnet.
- The 5.7-inch Super AMOLED panel is superb. It has excellent brightness, infinite contrast and offers a choice between punchy or pretty accurate colors. Sunlight legibility is also top-notch.
- Battery live is amazing at 115 hours. Samsung appears to be leveraging 14nm technology even better than Qualcomm. Just shy away from AOD if you want good battery life.
- Samsungs Grace UX is functional and feature-rich, now also sleeker. We dont particularly enjoy some of the aesthetics. It is still based on Marshmallow, but Nougat is coming.
- The Exynos 7880 performs great and is more than capable of multi-tasking. It is still a mid-range SoC, but an amazingly efficient one at that. Game launcher helps deliver a smooth gaming experience.
- The loudspeaker posts a Good rating for loudness, its nice and clear at maximum volume too. The speaker positioning grows on you quickly.
- Image quality from the main camera is good - theres sufficient detail, colors are nicely saturated, and dynamic range is pretty wide.
- The lack of 4K video recording is a bummer, but 1080p comes out quite nice and with quality audio to match.
- The 16MP selfie shooter has plenty of detail and can prod uce impressive results. However, it does suffer from some odd focus issues.
So, if youre not big on mobile photography anyway and wouldnt mind skipping on a few bells and whistles in the name of savings the Galaxy A7 (2017) is the perfect choice then, right? Well, while it might be a perfect choice for many, it is not necessarily the perfect choice around. In the sprawling and of so hectic 2017 mobile realm EUR 450 actually leaves you with a plenty of options to explore. Who knows, your perfect value formula might be hiding away under a different roof.
Then again, it just seems natural to kick the search off with the A7 (2017)s own back yard. We already mentioned this on several occasions throughout the review, but it is worth stating again - the Galaxy S7, which is still the current flagship offer is just a bit pricier than the A7 (2017). In a month or two, once the S8 duo drops, legacy device prices will, as well. Still, we do get that the S7 is far from the 5.7- inch phablet mark, powerful as it may be and the S7 edge demands a bit of a premium. However, the Galaxy C7 fits the bill just right. You will be sacrificing the water and dust protection. But other than that, you get comparable quality on the exterior and Qualcomms closest alternative to the efficient Exynos 7880 - the Snapdragon 625.
If you have a few extra dollars to spare and wide pockets, you can also venture even further into phablet territory with the 6-inch Galaxy C9 Pro. It pretty much covers all the A7 (2017) perks, as well and does come with a more potent Snapdragon 653, plus 6GB of RAM combination. Sadly, a quick dip in the pool is a no go.
While on the topic of waterproofing, the truth is, you dont really get many good choices in the A7 (2017) price range. This is undoubtedly a strong selling point for people that need it. If you want to stick to the same budget and not sacrifice too much on display size, then the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium might be an alternative. It has the same IP68 certification and an industry-first 4K, 5.5-inch panel. However, it is over a year old at this point. Plus, its Snapdragon 810 does suffer from some significant thermal issues.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
If, however, you dont really plan on washing your phone and would much rather see your hard-earned money go forth a better specs sheet, there are still options to explore. OnePlus and ZTEs Axon series instantly spring to mind. The pair have been fighting in a rather unique value category originally carved out by OnePlus. Priced at around the EUR 400 mark or a little bit over, the OnePlus 3T and ZTE Axon 7 deliver top-shelf components and performance.
You cant go wrong with either, but there are still some things to consider. While the Axon 7 undoubtedly shines in the audio department, worldwide availability and customer service are potential points of concern. After generation upon generation of combating yield problems with invitation systems, OnePlus can now finally boast a convenient online order and delivery system. Plus, there is a strong argument to be made for the community.
ZTE Axon 7 • OnePlus 3T
Huawei also has a couple of good options in the A7 (2017) price range. The Huawei P9 Plus offers a well-rounded package, including a Super AMOLED panel and a snappy Kirin 955 chipset. Now that the P10 is officially here, we can only expect prices to drop even further.
On the phablet side of things, the Mate 9 is unfortunately out of the price range, but its Mate 8 predecessor fits the bill perfectly. Again, it is over an year old at this point, but it is a solid device through and through and surprisingly usable for its 6-inch display diagonal.
Huawei P9 Plus • Huawei Mate 8
Some other interesting handset worth looking into include the Moto Z by Lenovo. Its Snapdragon 820 chipset not only outshines the Galaxy A7 (2017)s mid-range solution, but there is also the added bonus of the Moto Mods syst em.
Then there is the Zenfone 3 line. If you manage to navigate the model numbering hell, there is a lot of value to be had there. Out first choice would probably be the Zenfone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL. You can probably differentiate it from its 5.5-inch sibling by the larger 5.7-inch, Super AMOLED panel. Just be advised that even after you manage to hunt down the exact one, you still have an option between a Snapdragon 820 and 821 chip, as well as a few RAM and storage variants.
Motorola Moto Z • Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe ZS570KL
Last, but not least, we cant pretend Xiaomi doesnt exist. The Chinese manufacturer has you spoiled for choice at Galaxy A7 (2017) prices. However, as usual, we will offer our typical availability and support warning. If that is not an issue where you live, or you are prepared for some logistics and duty hurdles that will inevitably hike the price, you should definitely look into Xiaomi.
The closest possible A7 (2017) counterpart seems to be the Mi 5S Plus. The 5.7-inch flagship comes with few, if any compromises, including a dual camera setup and Snapdragon 821 SoC. Its Mi Note 2 sibling mixes up the formula a little bit. You get a single camera form this one, but then there is the dual-curved, 5.7-inch, AMOLED display.
And if size is what you are after, there is the Mi Max - a solid mid-ranger that still outperforms the Galaxy A7 (2017). Better yet, it costs a whole lot less that it as well. But if savings is your game, you can do even better in camp Xiaomi. You can get a Redmi phone for under EUR 100 and not a bad one at that. If that is the route you want to pursue, the extremely popular Redmi Note 4 is a good choice.
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus • Xiaomi Mi Note 2 • Xiaomi Mi Max • Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
There seems to be a definite trend with Samsungs new Galaxy A series. We said it in the A5 (2017) review and well say it here again - the formula is just unique. Sure, EUR 450 is a bit pricey for a mid-ranger with no 4K recording. Sure, you can probably get more power for the buck. But an elegant, well-built phablet, with a Super AMOLED panel, amazing battery life, Samsung-brewed OS features and best of all, one that will survive an occasional dip in water - you cant really find that combo elsewhere. If it just clicks for you, dont hesitate in picking up the A7 (2017). You wont be disappointed.
! ( hope useful)
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