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Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) Smartphone Review

Striking Update. Samsung's latest reincarnation of its hip mid-range Galaxy A3 smartphone not only features an updated glass and metal unibody design but also significant improvements under the hood, for example increased processing power and improved camera performance. Will this be enough to show its competitors who's the boss?

For the original German review, see here.

Remake, round three: following its Galaxy A7 and Galaxy A5 Samsung has now also presented an updated 2017 model of its Galaxy A3. This latest reincarnation of the mid-range smartphone first introduced in 2015 is once again trying to woo us with its hip design, its high-quality build, and its decent performance. The Galaxy A3 (2017) features an octa-core Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 SOC and 16GB of storage. It comes with LTE Cat. 4, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, an AMOLED display, NFC, and two cameras with 13 and 8 megapixels, respectively, and it costs 329 Euros (~$351).

Like its predecessors, the Galaxy A3 (2017) once more features a 4.7-inch 1280x720 display and a form factor almost unique in its particular mid-range market segment. Still, we've managed to find a few competitors that we pitched it against: the BQ Aquaris X5 Plus, the HTC One A9s, the Huawei Nova, the Lenovo ZUK Z2, and the Wiko U Feel Prime. Of course, we're also comparing it to its older sibling, the Galaxy A3 (2016).

Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 (Galaxy Series)
Processor
Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa 8 x 1.6 GHz, A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
4.70 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel 312 PPI, capacitive, 16 Millionen Farben, Super AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 9.8 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm headphone jack, Card Reader: MicroSD up to 256 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Accelerometer, barometer, finger print reader, gyrosensor, geomagnetic Sensor, hall-effect sensor, proximity sensor, RGB light sensor, USB Typ C, Wi-Fi Direct, Smart Switch
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2, GSM-Quadband (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), UMTS-Quadband (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), LTE Cat.4 (800, 850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2300, 2600 MHz), Downloads at 150 MBit/s, Uploads at 50 MBit/s, Nano-SIM, head-SAR 0.349 w/kg, body-SAR 1.39 W/kg, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.9 x 135.4 x 66.2 ( = 0.31 x 5.33 x 2.61 in)
Battery
2350 mAh Lithium-Ion, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 17 h
Operating System
Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Camera
Primary Camera: 13 MPix f/1.9, auto focus, LED flash, video up to 1920x1080 pixels at 30 fps
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix f/1.9
Additional features
Speakers: Mono speaker, Keyboard: Virtual, Keyboard Light: yes, modular charger, USB Type-C cable, headphones, quick start guide, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
138 g ( = 4.87 oz / 0.3 pounds), Power Supply: 30 g ( = 1.06 oz / 0.07 pounds)
Price
329 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Our review unit comes in “gold sand”, which is one of four available colors; “blue mist”, “black sky”, and “peach cloud” are the other three. Thanks to its rounded corners and its edges merging seamlessly with the curved Gorilla Glass-protected AMOLED display each one of these looks classy in its own way.

This is further reinforced by the glass-covered back side which gives us a glimpse of the very rigid metal chassis. Unlike its predecessor, whose chassis was visually separated by a silver frame, the A3’s chassis is made of one piece and feels this way, too. On the one hand this choice of material makes it gentle to the touch, on the other it needs to be handled with care in order to avoid scratches. The fingerprint-reader is hidden inside the home button.

The camera and LED flash on the back side neither protrude from the case nor are there any noticeable gaps, which means the smartphone doesn’t wobble when placed on a flat surface. The IP68 rating means it can be submerged in 1.5 meters (5 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes without any damage to the device. This obviously requires the nano-SIM and MicroSD-card slot to be closed, and the phone displays a warning message in case the tray has been ejected, accordingly.

With its 4.7-inch display the Galaxy A3 (2017) is roughly the same size as its predecessor, the Galaxy A3 (2016), although it is 1 mm wider (66.2 vs. 65.2 mm) and 0.5 mm thicker (7.4 vs. 7.9 mm).  These minor differences are barely noticeable even when both phones are placed right next to each other. At 138 g it has also gotten a mere 7 g heavier, but it's still the lightest contestant in our test group. 

Color variant Black Sky
Color variant Blue Mist

Size comparison

146.5 mm / 5.77 inch 71.5 mm / 2.81 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 150 g0.3307 lbs145 mm / 5.71 inch 70 mm / 2.76 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs142.5 mm / 5.61 inch 69.9 mm / 2.75 inch 8.7 mm / 0.3425 inch 150 g0.3307 lbs141 mm / 5.55 inch 68.88 mm / 2.71 inch 8.45 mm / 0.3327 inch 149 g0.3285 lbs141.2 mm / 5.56 inch 69.1 mm / 2.72 inch 7.1 mm / 0.2795 inch 146 g0.3219 lbs135.4 mm / 5.33 inch 66.2 mm / 2.61 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 138 g0.3042 lbs134.5 mm / 5.3 inch 65.2 mm / 2.57 inch 7.4 mm / 0.2913 inch 131 g0.2888 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The Galaxy A3 (2017) is powered by the in-house 64-bit Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 with 2 GB of RAM and an ARM Mali-T830 MP2 GPU. Out of the box only 9.8 GB of its 16 GB storage space is available, and Samsung does not offer additional tiers. However, a MicroSD-card expansion of up to 256 GB is supported and apps can be saved to SD storage. While some apps do not support this we've had no issues with the likes of 3DMark, Asphalt 8: Airborne, or Dead Trigger 2, which when combined took up more than 2 GB of storage. Unfortunately, the MicroSD card slot cannot be used as a secondary SIM-card slot.

The reversible USB Type-C port only supports USB 2.0 speeds, but it does have OTG capabilities. Since Samsung had to cut corners here and there – this is after all a mid-range device – the Galaxy A3 doesn’t support MHL or Qi wireless charging, but it does have Wi-Fi Direct capabilities allowing wireless display sync. 

Left: volume rocker
Left: volume rocker
Right: power button, speaker
Right: power button, speaker
Top: nano-SIM / MicroSD slot
Top: nano-SIM / MicroSD slot
Bottom: USB 2.0 Type-C connector, audio jack
Bottom: USB 2.0 Type-C connector, audio jack

Software

With Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow as OS, the Galaxy A3 (2017) features Samsung’s custom user interface called “Grace UX”. An update to Android 7.0 Nougat has already been announced but had not yet been released at the time of writing (late March 2017).

The Grace UX user interface alters Android’s default GUI slightly. In addition to a news ticker located left of the home screen, a so-called “Background and Themes” setting allows customization thereof. Like its predecessor, the A3 (2017) supports “Smart Stay”, a feature that relies on the front-facing camera and which leaves the display powered on as long as the user is looking at the screen regardless of configured display timeouts.

Fortunately, the amount of pre-loaded bloatware is fairly low, and the preinstalled apps are limited to Google’s default software suite, some Microsoft apps such as OneDrive, Excel, or Skype, and Samsung’s own apps including S Health and S Voice. A Samsung app we liked is "Secure Folder", which allows moving apps and files into a securely locked environment thus preventing unauthorized access.

Communication and GPS

GPS: outdoors
GPS: outdoors
GPS: indoors
GPS: indoors

The Galaxy A3 (2017) supports quad-band GMS and UMTS and a total of eight frequency bands for LTE Cat. 4 connectivity. A nano-SIM is required, and with ample carrier support the device is capable of speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s (download) and 50 Mbit/s (upload), respectively.

Wi-Fi capabilities include 802.11 a, b, g, and ac in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges. It did very well during our tests and managed to send up to 225 Mbit/s and receive up to 305 Mbit/s. This means it beats its HTC, Huawei and Wiko competitors but it is bested slightly by the BQ Aquaris X5 Plus and the Lenovo ZUK Z2. Short distance communication via Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC is also supported.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo ZUK Z2
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 64 GB eMMC Flash
318 MBit/s +41%
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
Adreno 510, 652 MSM8976, 16 GB eMMC Flash
258 MBit/s +15%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
Mali-T830 MP2, 7870 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
225 MBit/s
HTC One A9s
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755, 32 GB eMMC Flash
109 MBit/s -52%
Wiko U Feel Prime
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
53.2 MBit/s -76%
Huawei Nova
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
50.9 MBit/s -77%
iperf3 receive AX12
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
Adreno 510, 652 MSM8976, 16 GB eMMC Flash
348 MBit/s +14%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
Mali-T830 MP2, 7870 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
305 MBit/s
Lenovo ZUK Z2
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 64 GB eMMC Flash
296 MBit/s -3%
HTC One A9s
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755, 32 GB eMMC Flash
102 MBit/s -67%
Wiko U Feel Prime
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
55.4 MBit/s -82%
Huawei Nova
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
20 MBit/s -93%

Location services include support for GPS and GLONASS, and the Galaxy A3 (2017) does very well. Indoors it was capable of determining its correct location within 6 meters (roughly 20 feet); outdoors it managed an accuracy of 5 meters (16 feet). Pitched against the professional Garmin Edge 500 GPS on our 12 km-long bicycle test track the Galaxy A3 (2017) held its ground fairly well. Even though it lacked the Garmin’s precision the accumulated difference in travel distance was only 300 meters (985 feet). This translates to more than adequate and sufficient precision for everyday use.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): overview
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): overview
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): junction
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): junction
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): riverbank
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017): riverbank
Garmin Edge 500: overview
Garmin Edge 500: overview
Garmin Edge 500: junction
Garmin Edge 500: junction
Garmin Edge 500: riverbank
Garmin Edge 500: riverbank

Telephone and Call Quality

Samsung’s custom Grace UX interface of the phone app offers the same features as Google’s stock Android phone app: favorites, a call log, and access to the contacts. The settings include additional features, such as caller management to block specific numbers. It also offers different choices of how one wants to answer the phone, e.g. by pressing the home button or even automatically after a pre-set configurable waiting period.

Call quality was good during our test calls in Vodafone’s 3G network regardless of whether we used the built-in microphone or the included headset. Using the hands-free speakerphone, voice transmission was rather quiet but not yet disruptively so. Background noise was cancelled very efficiently, and we did not experience any dropped calls during our tests.

Cameras

Front camera sample (click for original)
Front camera sample (click for original)
Front camera sample (click for original)
Front camera sample (click for original)

Just like its predecessor, the Galaxy A3’s main camera captures 13 megapixels (4128x3096), features an aperture of f/1.9, and it has an LED flash. The optional 16:9 aspect ratio reduces the resolution to 9.6 megapixels (4128x2322). Compared to the Galaxy A3 (2016) the front-facing camera was bumped from 5 to 8 megapixels. The rear camera now also sits flush with the back cover and does not protrude from it anymore, which prevents wobbling when placed on its back side.

The main camera did well in our tests. Photos taken in good lighting conditions were ever so slightly oversaturated but overall very well balanced in terms of dynamic range, sharpness, and details. Low-light images did show a noticeable amount of noise and lack of sharpness due to the lack of optical image stabilization but were overall still very usable. However, low-light conditions were a problem for the autofocus, and its troubles with focusing were somewhat alleviated by the activation of the LED flash.

In addition to Auto mode the camera menu also supports a Professional mode, which allows manual adjustments of ISO sensitivity, white balance, and shutter speed. It also supports preconfigured picture modes, such as panorama or HDR photography and – as a special feature – a food mode for showcasing one's food shots. The included predefined filters are self-explanatory and carry names such as Saturation, Cream, Woods, Grayscale, or Nostalgia. Videos are recorded at 30 frames per second with a resolution of up to 1920x1080, and video quality is very decent.

The 8-megapixel f/1.9 aperture front-facing camera features presets such as Selfie or Group-Selfie and is clearly optimized for self-portrayal, which works quite well under decent lighting conditions. Like the main camera, the front-facing camera captures video in Full HD at 30 frames per second.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

To determine the color accuracy of the Galaxy A3’s main camera we've used a photo of the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport taken under predefined lighting conditions, and we compared it to the actual reference colors. The photo was not post-processed at all, meaning there was no manual post-photography adjustment of white balance or other aspects.

The result is rather colorful – compared to the reference colors the Galaxy A3’s colors and grayscales tend to be a bit oversaturated and too bright.

Similarly, a photo of our reference card taken under predefined lighting conditions was used to determine the Galaxy A3’s main camera’s sharpness and clarity. The result is somewhat mixed: the bottom left corner is noticeably blurry; the center of the image is very sharp and clear.

Photographed ColorChecker reference: The lower half of each square contains the original color. (click for original)
Photographed ColorChecker reference: The lower half of each square contains the original color. (click for original)
Reference-card detail (click for original)
Reference-card detail (click for original)
Reference card (click for original)
Reference card (click for original)

Accessories and Warranty

Included with the Galaxy A3 (2017) are a modular charger (5V, 1.55A), a USB Type-C cable, a headset, a SIM-card removal tool, a quick-start guide, and a warranty card. In addition, accessories such as a flip cover, a clear cover, and a screen protector can be purchased separately.

The Galaxy A3 (2017) comes with a 24-month warranty on the phone itself, a 12-month warranty on wear and tear parts such as the charger, the headset, or the USB cable, and a 6-month warranty on the battery.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Handling

Thanks to its curved glass edges the Galaxy A3 (2017)’s touchscreen is not only very gentle to the touch but is also very accurate. Flipping through menus or rotating the screen is blazingly fast and the phone didn’t disappoint even with multiple apps open simultaneously. Occasionally, the UI did stutter, for example when switching between complex applications or during an update process running in the background. The stutter was never really disruptive, though.

The preinstalled Samsung touch keyboard offers a very good compromise between number of keys and the limited space inherent to small displays. By default, a row of numbers is displayed and the keyboard supports gestures and Google’s voice commands, makes suggestions, uses autocorrect, and it is adjustable in height. In landscape mode it uses roughly half of the available screen estate; in portrait mode it uses a bit more than a third.

The smartphone’s physical buttons – a volume rocker, a power button, and the home button – all have very precise actuation points and no noticeable play. The home button includes a solid and reliable fingerprint-reader. Both the back and menu button are soft-touch buttons that illuminate for a short time when activated.

Keyboard in landscape mode
Keyboard in landscape mode
Keyboard in portrait mode
Keyboard in portrait mode

Display

Subpixel
Subpixel

The Galaxy A3 (2017)’s Super AMOLED display measures 4.7-inches and features a 1280x720 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 312 ppi. While this equals its predecessor, the display of this year's model is noticeably brighter.

An average evenly distributed (94%) brightness of 576 nits with activated ambient light sensor is very impressive. It reaches even higher levels of up to 693 nits during the APL 50 tests (Average Picture Level) in which bright and dark segments are evenly distributed over the entire screen. Disabling the ambient light sensor caps the maximum brightness at a reasonable 345 nits.

Since AMOLED displays allow black levels of zero the contrast ratio is - in theory - infinite. Thus, colors pop and are very well saturated, and all things considered we found no issues with the Galaxy A3’s display. However, PWM-flickering might be noticeable to some users at brightness levels of 92% or less.

604
cd/m²
572
cd/m²
568
cd/m²
574
cd/m²
574
cd/m²
568
cd/m²
576
cd/m²
576
cd/m²
576
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
16 Millionen Farben tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 604 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 576.4 cd/m² Minimum: 1.65 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 574 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.09
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
Super AMOLED, 1280x720, 4.70
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.00
Huawei Nova
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.00
HTC One A9s
IPS, 1280x720, 5.00
Lenovo ZUK Z2
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.00
Wiko U Feel Prime
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.00
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
Super AMOLED, 1280x720, 4.70
Screen
-16%
-47%
-53%
-55%
-51%
4%
Brightness middle
574
640
11%
493
-14%
348
-39%
512
-11%
411
-28%
386
-33%
Brightness
576
609
6%
485
-16%
320
-44%
502
-13%
386
-33%
394
-32%
Brightness Distribution
94
85
-10%
94
0%
85
-10%
84
-11%
86
-9%
88
-6%
Black Level *
0.93
0.44
0.23
0.58
0.36
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.4
2.8
-17%
4.2
-75%
3.5
-46%
3.8
-58%
4.3
-79%
1.11
54%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.8
5.7
-50%
6.6
-74%
6.4
-68%
11.2
-195%
7.9
-108%
3.35
12%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.9
2.6
-37%
3.8
-100%
4
-111%
2.7
-42%
2.8
-47%
1.34
29%
Gamma
2.09 105%
2.35 94%
2.39 92%
2.3 96%
2.09 105%
2.53 87%
2.12 104%
CCT
6502 100%
6477 100%
7438 87%
6527 100%
6076 107%
6589 99%
6441 101%
Contrast
688
1120
1513
883
1142

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 250 Hz

The display backlight flickers at 250 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) .

The frequency of 250 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3 ms rise
↘ 3 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 13 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5 ms rise
↘ 4 ms fall
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 17 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Several color presets can be chosen from in the phone’s settings. With its grayscale accuracy of DeltaE 1.9 and its color accuracy of DeltaE 2.4 "Simple" is the most accurate sRGB preset. As such, it is well within the optimum of DeltaE < 3, and at the very top of its range. The only smartphone with an even more accurate out-of-the-box color presentation is its own predecessor, the Galaxy A3 (2016).

The two color modes called “AMOLED Photo” and “AMOLED Video” are significantly less accurate, with a color accuracy of DeltaE 4.7 and 4.1, respectively. This might be due to the fact that while we measured sRGB accuracy the “AMOLED Photo” mode uses AdobeRGB instead. Notwithstanding that, color temperature for both profiles and Gamma for all three profiles are near perfect. By default, the phone’s self-adjustable auto mode is enabled.

Mixed colors (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Mixed colors (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Mixed colors (Profile: Photo, sRGB target color space)
Mixed colors (Profile: Photo, sRGB target color space)
Mixed colors (Profile: Video, sRGB target color space)
Mixed colors (Profile: Video, sRGB target color space)
Saturation (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Saturation (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Saturation (Profile: Photo, sRGB target color space)
Saturation (Profile: Photo, sRGB target color space)
Saturation (Profile: Video, sRGB target color space)
Saturation (Profile: Video, sRGB target color space)
Grayscale (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Grayscale (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Grayscale (Profile: Photo, sRGB target color space)
Grayscale (Profile: Photo, sRGB target color space)
Grayscale (Profile: Video, sRGB target color space)
Grayscale (Profile: Video, sRGB target color space)
Color space (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Color space (Profile: Simple, sRGB target color space)
Color space (Profile: Photo, AdobeRGB target color space)
Color space (Profile: Photo, AdobeRGB target color space)
Color space (Profile: Video, P3 target color space)
Color space (Profile: Video, P3 target color space)

Thanks to the combination of ultra-bright display and AMOLED panel the Galaxy A3 (2017) is well-equipped to be used outdoors. Unlike smartphones with IPS panels even direct sunlight doesn’t render it useless, and display content is still recognizable.

Another benefit of the AMOLED panel is its superb viewing angles. Even when viewed from extreme angles, display brightness remains unchanged and only color temperature drops slightly, shifting the display slightly towards the blue end of the spectrum.

Outdoor visibility
Outdoor visibility
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

The Galaxy A3’s in-house octa-core Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 SOC is supported by the ARM Mali-T830 MP2 GPU and has access to 2 GB of RAM. While this mix doesn’t make for a top performer it isn’t half bad and the phone offers a decent overall performance. It’s certainly fast enough for everyday apps and a game or two. In synthetic benchmarks, our review unit beat its own Exynos 7578-equipped predecessor, the Galaxy A3 (2016), albeit the difference between the two is negligible. The HTC One A9s, the Huawei Nova, and the Wiko U Feel Prime were about as fast as the Galaxy A3 (2017) and all four had to bow to the significantly better-performing BQ Aquaris X5 Plus. However, none of these was fit to hold a candle to the Lenovo ZUK Z2

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
45549 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
75533 Points +66%
Huawei Nova
63206 Points +39%
HTC One A9s
51330 Points +13%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
122513 Points +169%
Wiko U Feel Prime
44420 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
35964 Points -21%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
682 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1204 Points +77%
Huawei Nova
840 Points +23%
HTC One A9s
711 Points +4%
Wiko U Feel Prime
644 Points -6%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
3292 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
2511 Points -24%
Huawei Nova
2984 Points -9%
HTC One A9s
2936 Points -11%
Wiko U Feel Prime
2085 Points -37%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
8550 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
18127 Points +112%
HTC One A9s
10766 Points +26%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
29241 Points +242%
Wiko U Feel Prime
9548 Points +12%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
7229 Points -15%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
7793 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
21668 Points +178%
HTC One A9s
10453 Points +34%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
32997 Points +323%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
6522 Points -16%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
12954 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
11532 Points -11%
HTC One A9s
12025 Points -7%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
20910 Points +61%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
11653 Points -10%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
490 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1342 Points +174%
Huawei Nova
849 Points +73%
HTC One A9s
603 Points +23%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
3302 Points +574%
Wiko U Feel Prime
584 Points +19%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
281 Points -43%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
407 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1252 Points +208%
Huawei Nova
737 Points +81%
HTC One A9s
524 Points +29%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
4506 Points +1007%
Wiko U Feel Prime
514 Points +26%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
235 Points -42%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
1699 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1793 Points +6%
Huawei Nova
1821 Points +7%
HTC One A9s
1269 Points -25%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
1706 Points 0%
Wiko U Feel Prime
1118 Points -34%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
916 Points -46%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
312 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
856 Points +174%
Huawei Nova
473 Points +52%
HTC One A9s
425 Points +36%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
2419 Points +675%
Wiko U Feel Prime
301 Points -4%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
253 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
745 Points +194%
Huawei Nova
391 Points +55%
HTC One A9s
359 Points +42%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
2792 Points +1004%
Wiko U Feel Prime
250 Points -1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
1670 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1800 Points +8%
Huawei Nova
1802 Points +8%
HTC One A9s
1175 Points -30%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
1648 Points -1%
Wiko U Feel Prime
1034 Points -38%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
19 fps
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
31 fps +63%
Huawei Nova
22 fps +16%
HTC One A9s
27 fps +42%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
60 fps +216%
Wiko U Feel Prime
16 fps -16%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
20 fps +5%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
12 fps
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
30 fps +150%
Huawei Nova
23 fps +92%
HTC One A9s
18 fps +50%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
91 fps +658%
Wiko U Feel Prime
17 fps +42%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
12 fps 0%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
9.8 fps
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
14 fps +43%
Huawei Nova
10 fps +2%
HTC One A9s
14 fps +43%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
43 fps +339%
Wiko U Feel Prime
7.5 fps -23%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
8.4 fps -14%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
5 fps
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
14 fps +180%
Huawei Nova
9.8 fps +96%
HTC One A9s
7.2 fps +44%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
44 fps +780%
Wiko U Feel Prime
7.1 fps +42%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
4.1 fps -18%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
7.3 fps
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
9.4 fps +29%
Huawei Nova
6.6 fps -10%
HTC One A9s
11 fps +51%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
29 fps +297%
Wiko U Feel Prime
4.8 fps -34%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
3.2 fps
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
9.6 fps +200%
Huawei Nova
6.2 fps +94%
HTC One A9s
2.6 fps -19%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
30 fps +838%
Wiko U Feel Prime
4.4 fps +38%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
5000 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
4964 Points -1%
Huawei Nova
4596 Points -8%
HTC One A9s
3350 Points -33%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
6969 Points +39%
Wiko U Feel Prime
3347 Points -33%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
4051 Points -19%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
1000 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1297 Points +30%
Huawei Nova
1264 Points +26%
HTC One A9s
Points -100%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
2290 Points +129%
Wiko U Feel Prime
290 Points -71%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
662 Points -34%
System (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
2185 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
2582 Points +18%
Huawei Nova
2280 Points +4%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
2986 Points +37%
Wiko U Feel Prime
1281 Points -41%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
1380 Points -37%
Memory (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
1296 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
798 Points -38%
Huawei Nova
1531 Points +18%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
1983 Points +53%
Wiko U Feel Prime
774 Points -40%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
443 Points -66%
Graphics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
529 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
1635 Points +209%
Huawei Nova
1006 Points +90%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
4335 Points +719%
Wiko U Feel Prime
740 Points +40%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
415 Points -22%
Web (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
666 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
843 Points +27%
Huawei Nova
727 Points +9%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
1071 Points +61%
Wiko U Feel Prime
10 Points -98%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
756 Points +14%

Legend

 
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa, ARM Mali-T830 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 MSM8976, Qualcomm Adreno 510, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Huawei Nova Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, Qualcomm Adreno 506, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
HTC One A9s Mediatek Helio P10 MT6755, ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Lenovo ZUK Z2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996, Qualcomm Adreno 530, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Wiko U Feel Prime Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 Samsung Exynos 7578, ARM Mali-T720 MP2, 16 GB eMMC Flash

The BQ Aquaris X5 Plus and the Lenovo ZUK Z2 spearhead the browser-benchmark results with the rest of the field, including the Galaxy A3 (2017), trailing behind. It was all but impossible to determine a clear-cut order since each benchmark run presented us with a different arrangement.

Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
3799 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
9138 Points +141%
Huawei Nova
4717 Points +24%
HTC One A9s
4395 Points +16%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
8436 Points +122%
Wiko U Feel Prime
3383 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
3566 Points -6%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
9669 ms *
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
3465 ms * +64%
Huawei Nova
8235 ms * +15%
HTC One A9s
9346 ms * +3%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
3290 ms * +66%
Wiko U Feel Prime
10826 ms * -12%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
11796 ms * -22%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
64 Points
Huawei Nova
60 Points -6%
HTC One A9s
69 Points +8%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
64 Points 0%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
23.28 Points
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
50.1 Points +115%
Huawei Nova
30.49 Points +31%
HTC One A9s
27.48 Points +18%
Lenovo ZUK Z2
51.7 Points +122%
Wiko U Feel Prime
21.4 Points -8%
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
22.1 Points -5%

* ... smaller is better

Even though it performed better than its own predecessor in the internal memory read and write benchmarks, the Galaxy A3 (2017) was only fast enough to make it to the bottom half of the list, with the Wiko U Feel Prime, the Huawei Nova, and the HTC One A9s utterly dismantling the competition. Accessing our reference SD card, a Toshiba Exceria Pro M401 with read and write speeds of up to 95 MB/s and 80 MB/s, respectively, paints a completely different picture though. While none of the contestants were able to max out the card, the BQ Aquaris X5 Plus, the Huawei Nova, and the Galaxy A3 (2017) at least came close.  

Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
Mali-T830 MP2, 7870 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
Adreno 510, 652 MSM8976, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Huawei Nova
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
HTC One A9s
Mali-T860 MP2, Helio P10 MT6755, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo ZUK Z2
Adreno 530, 820 MSM8996, 64 GB eMMC Flash
Wiko U Feel Prime
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
Mali-T720 MP2, 7578, 16 GB eMMC Flash
AndroBench 3-5
20%
87%
35%
-6%
51%
-13%
Sequential Read 256KB
199.7
228.4
14%
248.3
24%
210.2
5%
239.4
20%
270.9
36%
168.8
-15%
Sequential Write 256KB
45.96
47.03
2%
75
63%
68.6
49%
46.52
1%
137.3
199%
27.27
-41%
Random Read 4KB
22.32
36.85
65%
38.19
71%
21.3
-5%
21.27
-5%
55
146%
21.92
-2%
Random Write 4KB
9.62
12.44
29%
44.63
364%
34.6
260%
5.64
-41%
9.4
-2%
10.27
7%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
75.5
73.2
-3%
79.5
5%
39.6
-48%
41.98
-44%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
50.1
54.9
10%
47.69
-5%
25.6
-49%
35.21
-30%

Games

Given its fairly powerful mid-range ARM Mali-T830 MP2 GPU, the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) should perform very well in most current Android games. Occasionally it might be necessary to reduce details in order to improve performance and avoid stuttering. The rather demanding Dead Trigger 2 performed very well with 52 frames per second at its highest detail level. Asphalt 8: Airborne only managed to render 23 frames per second with its details maxed out, therefore stuttering slightly. Both the touchscreen and its acceleration sensors were very accurate and fast. 

Asphalt 8: Airborne
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
Asphalt 8: Airborne
 SettingsValue
 high23 fps
 very low29 fps
Dead Trigger 2
 SettingsValue
 high52 fps

Emissions

Temperature

After a full hour of stress testing the Galaxy A3 (2017) remained at acceptable temperature levels. We found it to reach a maximum temperature of 32 °C (90 °F) under load and a very low 27.7 °C (82 °F) when idle. As expected, the device does not throttle under load and frame rates remained stable even after 30 reruns of the GFXBench’s T-Rex benchmark.

GFXBench Performance
GFXBench Performance
GFXBench Battery
GFXBench Battery
GFXBench Frametimes
GFXBench Frametimes
Max. Load
 30.4 °C
87 F
31.3 °C
88 F
30.3 °C
87 F
 
 31.7 °C
89 F
31.7 °C
89 F
31.8 °C
89 F
 
 31.6 °C
89 F
31.8 °C
89 F
31.2 °C
88 F
 
Maximum: 31.8 °C = 89 F
Average: 31.3 °C = 88 F
28.9 °C
84 F
30.3 °C
87 F
30.8 °C
87 F
30 °C
86 F
31.9 °C
89 F
32 °C
90 F
30.6 °C
87 F
31.6 °C
89 F
31.8 °C
89 F
Maximum: 32 °C = 90 F
Average: 30.9 °C = 88 F
Power Supply (max.)  27.7 °C = 82 F | Room Temperature 21.3 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.3 °C / 88 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 31.8 °C / 89 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 32 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.3 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speaker

Speaker test: pink noise
Speaker test: pink noise

With each reiteration of the Galaxy A3, the speaker roams the device rather freely and ends up someplace else. While the 2015 Galaxy A3 featured a rear-mounted speaker, last year’s Galaxy A3 (2016) had it placed at the bottom next to the Micro USB port. This year, Samsung went with the left-hand side next to the power button. As with last year’s model this means the sound is not muffled when the phone is placed flat on a table.

Being a mono speaker, we didn’t expect it to be much good, yet it surprised us with its decent performance. Reaching a volume of almost 83 dB(A) it was acceptably loud and didn't produce any noticeable distortion even at maximum volume. If you listen very closely there’s even a hint of bass. The included headphones are even better. 

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.636.62525.431.53125.331.74032.931.15033.627.16331.631.58028.429.31002729.812520.832.61602240.820021.344.725020.85031521.254.440019.461.250019.564.663017.769.380017.972.7100017.875.5125017.372.8160017.472.4200016.771250017.272.1315018.272.8400017.969.1500017.663.7630017.760.5800017.856.71000017.959.71250018.1501600018.245.6SPL3082.6N1.351.2median 17.9median 61.2Delta1.41135.934.435.735.931.532.832.431.529.928.927.529.928.430.527.528.433.43735.433.432.133.629.732.130.229.129.230.224.625.725.324.624.822.824.124.826.723.12326.741.122.623.141.148.626.518.548.654.231.920.554.25735.118.7576540.918.16569.846.318.269.873.45219.173.470.753.21770.768.553.917.368.569.850.217.469.871.146.817.571.171.950.617.371.975.552.817.275.572.149.817.272.171.65017.271.675.952.617.675.976.152.217.776.169.245.717.869.261.336.31861.358.134.617.958.184.462.829.984.460.515.91.360.5median 69.2median 46.3median 17.9median 69.29.6111.69.627.628.827.626.626.426.625.726.325.727.725.127.727.924.827.922.825.422.824.223.224.227.123.527.136.930.936.935.12035.141.519.941.546.921.746.953.124.253.15521.25556.421.156.457.617.957.659.32059.362.520.462.567.918.167.968.414.868.470.51670.572.914.972.974.814.474.875.213.975.272.213.372.267.912.867.968.812.968.858.312.958.350.613.250.644.912.844.982.629.282.648.71.248.7median 58.3median 17.9median 58.310.83.710.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSamsung Galaxy A3 2017Samsung Galaxy A3 2016HTC One A9s
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.6% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (26.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 60% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 77% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 32.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 43% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 62% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

HTC One A9s audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 11.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (28.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 70% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 83% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 13% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram (checkboxes are selectable / deselectable)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Compared to last year’s model, the non-removable lithium-ion battery’s capacity has been increased moderately by 50 mAh to 2,350 mAh. Power consumption, however, has been lowered drastically, peaking at 2.75 watts during our tests. Not only is this significantly less than last year’s Galaxy A3 (2016) but it also literally pounds its competitors, that in some cases devour up to twice as much energy. Perfect conditions for a very good battery life.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.01 / 0.07 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.37 / 0.78 / 0.84 Watt
Load midlight 1.52 / 2.75 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
2350 mAh
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
3200 mAh
Huawei Nova
3020 mAh
HTC One A9s
2300 mAh
Lenovo ZUK Z2
3500 mAh
Wiko U Feel Prime
3000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
2300 mAh
Power Consumption
-137%
-111%
-185%
-193%
-94%
-82%
Idle Minimum *
0.37
0.87
-135%
0.61
-65%
1.29
-249%
1.31
-254%
0.66
-78%
0.96
-159%
Idle Average *
0.78
1.33
-71%
1.83
-135%
2.28
-192%
2.03
-160%
1.66
-113%
1.39
-78%
Idle Maximum *
0.84
1.35
-61%
1.86
-121%
2.52
-200%
2.08
-148%
1.76
-110%
1.45
-73%
Load Average *
1.52
5.44
-258%
3.71
-144%
4.06
-167%
5.45
-259%
2.85
-88%
2.65
-74%
Load Maximum *
2.75
7.11
-159%
5.19
-89%
5.91
-115%
6.75
-145%
5.01
-82%
3.51
-28%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The Galaxy A3 (2017) does not disappoint. It’s moderately increased capacity combined with its power efficiency turned this device into a beast. Only after 9 hours of continuous load did it finally run out of power, and it lasted a very good 11 hours in our Wi-Fi test. A Full HD video can be enjoyed for up to 16:28 hours before the phone runs out of juice. Neither its own predecessor nor any of its competitors - including the Huawei Nova and Lenovo ZUK Z2 - came even close: the gap it created is enormous.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
47h 42min
WiFi Websurfing
11h 08min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
16h 28min
Load (maximum brightness)
8h 52min
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017
2350 mAh
BQ Aquaris X5 Plus
3200 mAh
Huawei Nova
3020 mAh
HTC One A9s
2300 mAh
Lenovo ZUK Z2
3500 mAh
Wiko U Feel Prime
3000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
2300 mAh
Battery Runtime
-25%
-17%
-41%
-18%
-35%
-20%
Reader / Idle
2862
1870
-35%
1543
-46%
1254
-56%
1978
-31%
H.264
988
717
-27%
587
-41%
863
-13%
WiFi v1.3
668
504
-25%
873
31%
517
-23%
546
-18%
575
-14%
628
-6%
Load
532
328
-38%
245
-54%
376
-29%

Pros

+ high-quality workmanship
+ water and dustproof (IP68)
+ USB Type-C port with USB-OTG
+ LTE, NFC, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi
+ very bright well-adjusted AMOLED display
+ decent camera
+ decent performance
+ stays cool
+ good speaker
+ very good battery life

Cons

- smooth and slick back side
- only LTE Cat. 4
- no Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL)
- no dual SIM
- no optical image stabilization
- PWM-flicker

Verdict

In review: Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017). Review unit courtesy of Notebooksbilliger.de
In review: Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017). Review unit courtesy of Notebooksbilliger.de

There is little to no need for an upgrade for those who already own last year's Galaxy A3 (2016). With its similar build quality, this year's model does have a few advantages, though.

First of all the Galaxy A3 (2017) is now IP68 dust- and waterproof. In addition, it features a USB Type-C port, does not have its camera protruding from the back anymore, seems significantly sturdier thanks to the lack of aforementioned silver frame, and it's running a more recent Android 6.0.1 operating system.

Upgrading the processor to the faster Exynos 7870 did have the expected effect on overall performance. The battery life improvements are more important: due to its incredible power efficiency the Galaxy A3 (2017) is an extremely durable beast. Both cameras have been improved as well, and the latest reiteration fares much better under low-light conditions. The front-facing camera has been updated from 5 to 8 megapixels.

The Galaxy A3 (2017) is a far cry from reinventing the wheel; instead, its iterative improvements have been gentle and effective.

Despite its manageable and quite handy 4.7-inch form factor, the smooth back side may cause quite a stir with some users. The only thing you can really do is try for yourself whether or not the phone feels slippery. We for one did not mind the glassy back cover. Yet there is no way to sugarcoat the phone’s shortcomings: no MHL, no dual SIM-card support, and no optical image stabilization. Some users might also notice PWM-flickering at brightness levels below 92%. In spite of these limitations, the Galaxy A3 (2017) remains a very solid and respectable mid-range smartphone with little cause for complaint.

Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 - 09/03/2022 v7
Manuel Masiero

Chassis
88%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 92%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
48 / 70 → 69%
Weight
93%
Battery
89%
Display
91%
Games Performance
4 / 64 → 6%
Application Performance
38 / 86 → 44%
Temperature
94%
Noise
100%
Audio
70 / 90 → 78%
Camera
54%
Average
71%
78%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) Smartphone Review
Manuel Masiero, 2017-04- 4 (Update: 2019-04-13)