Samsung has officially unwrapped its new Galaxy A5 and A3 smartphones. The two devices continue the sleek aesthetic of their pricier counterpart; the Galaxy Alpha, boasting full-metal bodies and the thinnest frames we’ve seen from the Korean manufacturer.
Despite the premium build, the new Android handsets have drastically cut back when it comes to specs. If you’re just interested in their looks (and we don’t blame you, if you are), then you’ll be please to hear that they will also get a price cut compared to their , with Samsung aiming the colourful devices at younger users.
The larger Samsung Galaxy A5 is the all-round better handset. The A5 packs a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera with wide-angle lens – yes, it will consequently be great for selfies, if that’s your thing. It also packs 1GB RAM, 16 GB storage, 1,900 mAh battery and 4G LTE connectivity. Overall, a rather standard mid-range device. However, it’s the build and price (which Samsung has not yet confirmed) that should attract buyers. Speaking of its design the 6.7 mm thin A5 is the slimmer of the two handsets and – along with the A3 – comes in a variety of colours, including black, silver, pink, light blue and champagne gold.
The Samsung Galaxy A3, on the other hand, is more of a mixed bag. The smaller 4.5 inch device comes with a meagre qHD screen, meaning it isn’t even HD. The handset has the same 5MP selfie snapper on the front (because that’s what the kids want, according to Samsung) and a downgraded – but nonetheless sturdy – 8MP camera on the back. Elsewhere, the specs are identically virtual to the A5. The only other, slight, difference is in terms of build as the A3 is slightly bulkier at 6.9 mm.
Samsung claim the devices will empower younger users to share their daily lives via social media, as if they weren’t doing that already. The last thing we need is more selfies congesting our social media feeds.
Nonetheless, if the new Samsung Galaxy A-series handsets appeal to you then you may have to wait a bit before they reach these shores. For now, Samsung has only announced an initial rollout in China. A UK release date is expected, we just don’t know when it will be.
