Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 Is a top-end representative of the popular line of South Korean electronics manufacturer. Samsung's A series itself is very successful. And all because the manufacturer managed to convince users that good smartphone- this is not about gigahertz and megapixels. The main thing is that it should be of high quality, pleasant to use and not buggy. In the 2017 lineup, we added moisture protection, perfected the design, in general, it became very good.

Equipment

I got the device for the test without a kit. In general, without everything - just a pipe. However, I have unearthed information on the internet (thanks official video store DNS) and this is what awaits domestic users in the box:

• cable USB Type-C
• adapter from USB Type-C to Micro USB
• charger with 2A output current with support for proprietary fast charging Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging
• wired headset
• Supporting documentation

An adapter is needed for one function. To connect a new device to an old one (possibly just with Micro connector USB) and painlessly transfer all information via cable. The device allows you to do this at the initial setup stage.

Design

The body of the novelty has become completely streamlined. There is not a single sharp corner, everywhere there are smooth, rounded lines and transitions. This is neither good nor bad. Just a fact. Each new generation should have some kind of its own design zest, as it happened this time.

On the ends we have a metal rim, in front there is a tempered glass Corning Gorilla Glass 4, on the back there is also glass, however, it is not known for certain which one.

I especially liked that the 2.5D glass is strongly rounded and rests immediately on metal case... There is no plastic rim, everything is perfectly matched to each other and it feels great when you take the smartphone in your hand.

The surface is oleophobic, but still very quickly collects all the grease marks of the fingers. This is especially critical for the back side. Such is the price to pay for the glossy case, playing with sunbeams.

Before wiping

I liked that the camera lens was rolled up flush with the main surface, now it doesn't stick out a bit. On the contrary, it is even slightly concave inward.

In general, we have a desert behind us - a small camera peephole, next to a single-tone flash and a little the name of the manufacturer. Perhaps it is stylish and concise, but, as for me, it looks rustic. The $ 500 device lacks some zest.

In general, the smartphone looks much better from the front. And by the way, if you take it, then only the black version. In this color, the smartphone looks simply gorgeous. It is especially pleasant that the inscription "Samsung" on the front panel is practically invisible, and besides, in the off state, the borders of the frequency screen merge with the body and, together with the Always On Display function, it all looks just fiery!

Other colors available are light blue and gold. Let's see how it looks, agree with me about the black color.

There is also a pink version in nature, but we do not plan to sell it.

In the design, I am personally a little confused by two points: the weight and thickness of the case. The smartphone seems to be thin, but if you compare it with competitors (I had the iPhone 6 Plus and), then it feels like there is such an impressive coffin in my hands.

In addition, the device is quite heavy. Not to say that this is critical. You quickly get used to it and do not notice any weightiness, however, if you start comparing, then ... well, you get the idea.

On the other hand, A7 buyers know where they are going. They need a smartphone with a large screen, and this is fraught with an increase in size and no compactness is out of the question. Sorry!

	Length	Width	Thickness	The weight
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017, 5.7 '' screen)	156,8	77,6
iPhone 6S Plus (5.5 '')	158,2	77,9
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra (6 '')
Huawei P10 Plus (5.5 '')	153,5	74,2	6,98

On the other hand, look at the dimensions of the direct competitor in the face of the iPhone 6S Plus. Here the screen is smaller (5.5 inches), and the body size is larger (longer, wider, heavier). So we draw conclusions.

Volume buttons are located on the left side. Right-handers will feel a little strange at first.

Interestingly enough, the SIM card slot is divided into two independent parts. One tray for a Nano SIM card and a memory card is on top, the second (only for Nano SIM-cards) has won a place on the left side.

The design is original, but the user does not have to choose between a second SIM card and an increase in the built-in memory. This is a great blessing!

The external speaker is located here in an even more original place. It is located on the right edge above the power button.

And if the smartphone is on the table or you hold it vertically with one hand, then no problem. However, you wanted to watch a movie directly from your phone, turned the device over and hold it with both hands. So the index finger fits exactly on the speaker holes, thereby muffling the sound. We have to look for a less comfortable grip option.

The speaker is average in terms of playback quality - there are quite a few devices on the market that play better than the A7, but there are even more lower-quality speakers. In terms of loudness, there is also no revelation. I would even say that the speaker is weak, the volume level is below the average "in the hospital". On a noisy street, it costs nothing to miss a call.

The touch-sensitive keys are located on the body next to the physical Home button and have a clear, bright moonlight backlight. It is impossible to adjust its time or intensity, which is a pity, because it is very short. It is also forbidden to hang additional functionality or change keys, however, as well as activate vibration feedback when you press them. We get used to what is, or install additional, third-party software.

There is a one-handed control mode. It turns on in the menu, you need to press the "Home" button three times. Not very convenient, but you will get used to it.

I liked that you can quickly launch the camera at any time - just press the Home button twice and the viewfinder is ready to shoot in a second. This is important because street scenes evaporate very quickly.

One of the key features of the updated A line is the presence of protection against moisture and dust according to the IP68 standard. It involves swimming with a smartphone in fresh water at a depth of 1.5 meters and for 30 minutes.

Despite the fact that the connectors are not externally protected in any way, they are still not afraid of moisture. However, I would still not recommend using headphones or plugging in the USB-C cable right after your bathing session. It is better to wait a couple of hours until the smartphone is completely dry.

The fingerprint scanner

The sensor is built right into the Home button. It is hardware here (you need to press). Nevertheless, to unlock the device, you just need to touch your finger - the sensor is always on line and ready to read the fingerprint.

I have an extremely negative attitude towards devices that require pressing a button, not just touching, to unlock them. After all, this is inconvenient! Why don't manufacturers understand this?

For me, the reference fingerprint sensor is set to /. The speed of reading the fingerprint and unlocking the smartphone is off the charts. Something in the region of 0.2 or even 0.1 seconds. In addition, the finger can be applied with absolutely any side, carelessly and not accurately - everything is recognized correctly.

The Galaxy A7's sensor is not as fast and accurate. Yes, it is not badly read, but quite often the system reports the impossibility of recognizing the fingerprint. You need to put your finger on again, more accurately and as centrally as possible. Smartphone does not forgive negligence. However, if you switched to the A7 from the same iPhone 6, then the scanner will seem fantastic to you. Everything is relative.

Of course, the scanner has additional functionality as well. For example, you can set up payment for Samsung Pay (I'll tell you about it separately) or set up authorization to sites using a fingerprint. In the required forms, bunches of logins and passwords will immediately be entered, all you need to do is put your finger on the scanner. This is very convenient, but it only works through the built-in browser. Chrome does not support this function, I use it (cross-platform rules!), So this functionality was not useful to me.

Blocking individual applications with a fingerprint is only possible with a PIN and Secure Folder. I'll tell you about this in the section of software chips.

Display

Gorgeous, large, juicy Super AMOLED screen. Basically, this is all you need to know about this rather important smartphone node.

Unless it is worth mentioning the Always On Display function. This is a really useful feature that other manufacturers should adopt. The bottom line is that you can customize so that the necessary information is always lit on the screen: time, date, notification icons, calendar, and even some pretty picture in the background.

In this case, the screen never goes out, consumes negligible energy. After all, we are dealing with an AMOLED matrix, the pixels of which do not display black. If you install a black and white font, then the power consumption will be even less.

Most of the "amoledov" sin with overstated contrast and oversaturation of colors. So it was almost always and really high-quality screens (without these "childhood" diseases) began to appear in Samsung devices starting with Galaxy S6. Now the colors have calmed down, the "green" has practically disappeared, the screen at extreme viewing angles has ceased to shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Let's see how it looks in the example of comparison with (in the photo it is below or on the right).

As you can see, we have two excellent screens. However, in my opinion, 1 + 3T is a little ahead due to slightly more pleasing color rendering of faces. It is not possible to notice this immediately, and only with a direct comparison.

There is also an oleophobic coating of high quality, befitting a flagship device. The margin of brightness is such that in the dark with the backlight turned to maximum, I think you can go blind. From here we can see the excellent behavior of the screen in the sun.

In general, everything is just fine with the display! Samsung here gave even more than I expected. After all, we are not analyzing the flagship, you never know what.

Specifications Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) model SM-A720F

It so happens that a certain manufacturer releases an updated model of its popular smartphone adding / improving two or three functions. Everything else remains unchanged, and the end user is confused - take an updated device or save money and get about the same in the old "body".

So in the case of the 2017 Galaxy A7, everything is completely different. There are a lot of changes and, I think, the question of choice is simply not worth it. We look at all the technical characteristics of the updated device in comparison with its predecessor.

	Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 (SM-A710F)	Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 (SM-A720F)
CPU	Samsung Exynos processor (model 7580) with 8 Cortex A53 cores and 1.6 GHz peak frequency	Samsung Exynos 7 processor (Model 7880) with 8 Cortex A53 cores and 1.9 GHz peak frequency
Graphics	Mali-T720 MP2	Mali-T830 MP3
RAM	3 GB (for the 2017 model, 1560 MB are free)
Built-in storage	16 GB	32 GB (22.64 GB available)
Micro SD card support	Yes, up to 128 GB (slot combined with SIM cards)	Yes, up to 256 GB (separate slot with SIM cards)
Display	Super AMOLED display 5.5-inch diagonal with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (401 ppi density), Gorilla Glass 4	Super AMOLED display with a diagonal of 5.7 inches and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (density 386 ppi), Gorilla Glass 4
Front-camera	5 MP (aperture f / 1.9)	16 MP (aperture f / 1.9)
Main camera	13 MP (f / 1.9, focal length 28 mm, Full HD video recording)	16 MP (f / 1.9, Full HD video recording)
Battery	3 300 mAh	3 600 mAh
OS at the time of release	Android 5.1 (there is an update to 6.0)	Android 6.0.1 (update to 7.0 will be)
Connectors	Micro USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio port	USB Type-C (standard 2.0, OTG supported), 3.5 mm audio output
Sensors	accelerometer, light and distance sensor, digital compass, Hall sensor, fingerprint scanner	accelerometer, light and distance sensor, digital compass, gyroscope, barometer, Hall sensor, fingerprint scanner
Connection	2G, 3G, 4G (LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 40)	2G, 3G, 4G (LTE bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41)
SIM card support	Two Nano
Wireless standards	Wi-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n, Dual Band), Wi-Fi Direct, no MHL support, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, FM radio	Wi-Fi (802.11 ac, Dual Band), Wi-Fi Direct, no MHL support, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, FM radio
Navigation	GPS, Glonass	GPS, Glonass, Beidou
Dimensions (edit)	151.5 x 74.1 x 7.3 mm	156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm
The weight	172 grams	186 grams
IP68 support	No	There is

And the battery is larger, and the processor is faster, and the display is more interesting - there are so many improvements that, if you are wondering about the choice, then buying, and therefore overpaying, is worth it.

A little more details about the brand new Exynos 7 7880 processor. In the manufacturer's internal lineup, this "stone" is in third place after the top-end Exynos 9 (8895), which will be installed in the Galaxy S8, as well as after the Exynos 8 (8890), which is used in the current more flagships of the company (and S7 Edge).

This chipset was built on a 14nm process technology (the previous one was 28nm) and consumes 36 percent less power than the previous generation, while maintaining the same level of performance.

In addition, the system-on-a-chip includes a new LTA Cat. 7, therefore, we can expect data transfer rates for downloads within 300 Mbps, and for uploads up to 100 Mbps. And the updated modem supports much more frequencies, therefore, in roaming with a fast connection there will be no problems.

The new "stone" also implies an updated graphic component. Mali-T830 MP3 video accelerator supports H.265 codec decoding (4K video @ 30fps), huge image processing (up to 21.7MP) and so on.

Performance

Testing Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017), I caught myself thinking that I was completely uninterested in what the smartphone had under the hood. What kind of processor he has there, what video accelerator and how much RAM is installed.

The experience with this device is similar to how we use and select the iPhone. A purely consumer attitude of the type "For everything to work as it should, without stress and brakes." Let me explain with an example.

Most smartphone owners know what chipset is inside, how much "RAM" and what generation it is. Moreover, all these people chose this device solely because of the top-end, productive hardware.

And here's the contrast. 90 percent of iPhone 6 / 6S / 7 owners have no idea what frequency the internal processor is running at. No, someone once heard that they installed a powerful chipset inside, one of the last seems to be, but this is where all the knowledge ends. People use and don’t think how much "RAM" is free at the moment.

So, everything is the same with our South Korean guest. The smartphone works great, copes with all tasks one hundred percent, does not bug, does not slow down and does not give any reason to doubt its relevance at the moment.

You bought it, set it up and forgot about all the nuances for a year and a half, until the release of the Galaxy A7 2018 revision or even the 2019th year. This is how you need to perceive this smartphone.

However, I can't help but run some standard tests. After all, we make the most capacious and detailed reviews so that the future owner knows and is warned about all the nuances. Therefore, we drove to play, test AnTuTu, and so on.

Assassin`s Creed Identity does not lag, occasionally, in heavy scenes and with fast camera turns, slowdowns are visible, but for the most part they are not.

In World of Tanks Blitz, the situation is as follows. On maximum settings graphics are not too rosy. The frame rate jumps within 18-25 FPS, no more. We set the parameters to average values, restart the game and play calmly at a frequency of 50-60 frames per second.

Now for 4K video playback. And here everything is more than fine. Even the announced H.265 smartphone took it, saw through and didn't even blink an eye.

Photo and video capabilities

Another parameter by which the current year A7 is a cut above its predecessor. The front camera had 5, and now it is 16 megapixels! Normal change, what do you think?

The pictures are of a very decent quality: detailed, without exposure errors, without any tricks with skin tones and other crime. Of course, nowhere without the "beauty" mode. On the left is a photo taken with skin leveling (level 2 of 8), on the right is the original frame.

Since we are dealing with an Asian manufacturer, there is additional functionality: you can narrow your face and make your eyes bigger. Oh…

The resolution of the rear photosensor has not grown so much - from 13 to 16 megapixels. Still not bad.

However, what do we get in terms of image quality? One of the best middle peasants in this regard (yes, the A7 is considered a model of the middle price segment, closer to the top one). Another characteristic is that the photo quality is at the level of the flagships of 2014-2015. And this, in my opinion, is a very worthy result.

Of course, if you need the most sophisticated camera in a smartphone, then this is not for the A7. Look to the side or even S6 /. These characters in terms of photos are still wow! Xiaomi, despite all its successes, still cannot reach them - to the tops of 2015, for a minute.

Regular photo

Food mode

However, from the point of view of a modern mid-range smartphone with all the latest bells and whistles migrated from flagships, the camera offers good, confident quality.

HDR enabled

Finally, Samsung abandoned a million preset modes and left only the most necessary: ​​HDR (without Auto mode), panoramas, delicious food (really spied on Huawei ?!), night and manual. You can download another GIF-maker, but this is optional.

One simple but very useful feature was provided in the settings - a floating shutter button. The user decides for himself where on the screen to place an additional button for shooting. No need to reach for one single, closer to the bottom edge. And it's convenient!

In terms of video shooting, we have nothing unusual - Full HD video recording at a frequency of 30 fps. The quality is completely ordinary, with no explicit emphasis on this function.

I am sure that the device could easily record Ultra HD videos, but, apparently, the developers deliberately cut this function.

Video from the front camera, by the way, is more impressive. Same recording options, but it's still a sensor designed for slightly different things than the rear camera.

Software chips

Every year the Samsung software shell is getting better, more functional, but at the same time more logical and minimalistic. I'll tell you what I liked.

First, the look can be customized to your liking. There is an online catalog of topics from where you can download covers for your interface for every taste. The community is global, there are a lot of options, and, moreover, there are enough big choice of good, stylish options.

Secondly, the system is very smart. She herself monitors the activity of all applications and processes in the background. From the settings, go to the "Optimization" item, where you can tweak the whole thing in detail, customize the work of programs, and so on. Many shells have such an opportunity, but in our case this case is presented somehow more clearly. Almost as good as Huawei's EMUI.

And yet the system isn't smart enough to work and optimize on its own. From time to time I have to climb the menu and delete unnecessary cache of files, and even in a couple of weeks I have accumulated it decently.

Third and coolest! Have Samsung smartphones one of the most advanced security systems. The Knox platform is responsible for this matter. It is a mixture of hardware and software that sensitively monitors the state of the hardware and the operating system, and also has physical storage where you can put personal information. Access to it is limited even by the operating system itself - the user is logged in only by entering a PIN code through the same Knox platform.

There is another useful feature - "Protected Folder". Here you can put all sorts of different applications, images and files, and access to them will be only through entering the PIN. Even a print will not work here. Screenshots will not be here, because they cannot be taken in this mode.

In general, "Protected Folder" is like a device in a device. It has its own Google Play market, where you can log in with another Gmail account and install separate applications from under it. Thus, you can get in one smartphone, for example, two WhatsApp: one will be available in normal mode, the other only in secure mode.

There is another way - just copy the application from the main memory of the phone. Both copies will retain the same account, however, if you delete the utility from the main memory, the copy that was previously transferred to the "Protected folder" will remain. I hope the principle is clear.

I also liked the fact that there is practically no software garbage, as it were, "as a gift" from the manufacturer. There is a complete package office applications from Microsoft, but these utilities certainly won't be superfluous.

I can't say anything negative in terms of software. And not because I somehow PR a shell from Samsung, I just didn't find anything criminal or something like that.

Samsung Pay

I am absolutely delighted with this feature. While testing the device, I paid for everything and everywhere using my phone.

Moreover, you can pay even where cards with wireless payment are not accepted (Visa PayWave and MasterCard PayPass) and all thanks to MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technology, which in a clever way emulates a magnetic field, and the payment terminal recognizes this case as a magnetic stripe of a physical cards.

None of the competitors have this yet, so Samsung is ahead of the rest here.

registration bank card passes very quickly and easily. I set up the card while walking from the car to the grocery store, which was a distance of about 100 meters. For successful verification, it is necessary for the bank to work with Samsung system Pay, and the card supported this feature. I have a "Sberovskaya" card from the Stone Age (not wireless), and therefore did not get hooked by the system. But with "Alpha" everything went smoothly.

Before paying, you need to pull out a protruding piece of your virtual plastic from the bottom edge of the screen and touch the fingerprint scanner. Then we bring the smartphone to the terminal and voila - here it is magic!

The thing is very contagious, you want to pay and use it anytime, anywhere!

Battery life

The device received a 3,600 mAh battery. This is not a very large battery, given the thickness (7.9 mm) and the huge screen (the larger the physical area of ​​the device, the more space inside). However, Samsung developers are paid for a reason. Optimization of energy consumption is at the highest level here.

Hence the result - a smartphone can easily work for two full days with one SIM card installed and fairly moderate use (constant background notifications, synchronization, surfing sites, social networks, 2-3 hours of screen glow).

If you drive your smartphone into the tail and into the mane, constantly surf the Internet, download something, watch online videos, then the reserve capacity will be enough for one full day - from early morning until late at night. And the operating time of the screen will be selected right next to 5 o'clock.

I want to note that I have not used any power saving modes. There are a lot of them here, with correct setting Surely the lifespan of the device can be extended.

In general, the device did not disappoint in terms of autonomy. You don't even have to carry a portable battery with you.

I can't say anything about fast charging, since I didn't have a complete one on testing. charger, no power cable. I charged the smartphone with a regular charger. Nevertheless, after recalling the Internet, a full fast charging cycle (Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging) takes about an hour and a half. When you turn it off from the settings, the smartphone charges in 2.5 hours.

Sound quality

Unfortunately, the smartphone lacks a normal music player. There is only a utility from Google with an obsessive subscription to their music. She, of course, also knows how to play audio, but not all the required formats, does not have any at least some detailed settings playback. Sadness.

However, this arrangement with Google can be easily circumvented. We open the proprietary catalog of applications (Galaxy Apps) and among the recommended utilities we are almost the first to meet Samsung Music... it standard application to play songs.

However, MP3 files can be played without problems. The sound quality through headphones does not boggle the imagination, is at the level of most modern smartphones, no matter how much they cost: from $ 100 to $ 600. Even with the proprietary UHQ upscaler, I did not notice any tangible changes. In general, most users will be satisfied with this, music lovers, I think, not very much.

Outcome

Actual Samsung price Galaxy A7 (2017) now it is 32,990 rubles. It's a little expensive for my taste. That would be 29,990 rubles - a completely different matter. However, this is just my opinion.

On the other hand, the gadget is quite fresh. From a well-known brand. All of itself is so high-quality, beautiful, modern and with full support for Samsung Pay. How do you want? Buy a quality item for three kopecks? In this case, there is a good English (English, right?) Saying: "We are not rich enough to buy cheap things." That's for sure about the Samsung Galaxy A7 this year's revision.

I would definitely recommend the device to the residents of the megalopolis who are not aware of the difference between the Helio X27 and the Snapdragon 653, why the "constant" of the UFS 2.1 standard and other game is preferable. Those who are tired of the endless dominance of "iPhones" want to get a high-quality, modern gadget here and now, so that with a guarantee that everything will be without problems. Well, and of course, in order to change it not earlier than in a year and a half.

An additional bonus will be protection against water according to the IP68 standard. This is really great, because with a smartphone you can calmly lie down in the bath after a hard day at work. Well, isn't it lovely ?!

“The more, the better!” - this is the approach used by smartphone manufacturers, releasing devices with the maximum screen diagonal. Today we have the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 - a mid-range tablet with a 5.7-inch screen, powerful hardware, large memory, dust and water resistance, and high quality camera... The model is the oldest in the entire Galaxy A line. lineup 2017. Well, let's see what this device might be interested in.

Sales of smartphones with large diagonal screens (over 5.2 inches) are growing from year to year. Interest in them is only growing. More and more new models appear. At the same time, in addition to a large and high-quality display, consumers want to receive devices with a capacious battery, a fast interface, a high-quality camera, an unbreakable body and a low price. Actually, these trends are what Samsung specialists tried to unite. They released the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 smartphone.

Among the characteristics of the novelty, it is worth noting a large 5.7-inch SuperAMOLED screen, an eight-core Exynos 7880 processor, Mali-T830 graphics, 3 GB of RAM. The built-in memory is 32 GB, it can be supplemented with microSD memory cards. The smartphone has support for all wireless communications - LTE Cat.7, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, Samsung Pay. Cameras (front and main) received a 16 megapixel sensor. You can use the built-in fingerprint scanner to unlock your smartphone. The device comes pre-installed operating system Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Clean UI. In April, users will be able to update to Android 7.0.

It is also important that the novelty has received a very interesting appearance. From a distance, the device looks like a Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone. The decoration uses metal and tempered glass.

Technical parameters Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) SM-A720F

id = "sub0">

Characteristic	Description
Body materials:	Aluminum (6000 series), Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Hull protection:	according to the IP68 class from water up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1.5 meters
Screen:	SuperAMOLED, diagonal 5.7 inches, resolution 1080x1920 pixels, automatic brightness control, light sensor, color profiles, AlwaysOn Display
CPU:	Exynos 7880 (Cortex A53 8 cores @ 1.9 GHz) 14 nm
GPU:	Mali-T830MP3
RAM:	3 GB
Flash memory:	32 GB (23.7 GB available to the user) + slot for microSD memory cards (up to 256 GB)
Mobile connection:	2G (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), 4G (including LTE 800, 1800, 2600)
SIM card type:	Two nanoSIM cards
Communications and ports:	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 and 5 GHz), NFC, USB Type C, Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5 mm headset, ANT +, Samsung Pay
Navigation:	GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU
Sensors:	light sensor, proximity, accelerometer / gyroscope, barometer, digital compass, fingerprint scanner, vibration sensor
Main camera:	16 MP, f / 1.9, autofocus, LED flash, FullHD video recording at 30fps
Front-camera:	16 megapixel, no autofocus, f / 1.9
Battery:	non-removable, 3600 mAh, fast charging
Dimensions, weight:	156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm, 186 grams
Body colors:	black (Black Sky), gold (Gold Sand), blue (Blue Mist), pink (Peach Cloud)
Operating system:	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Clean UI, upgradeable to Android 7

Widget from SocialMart

Package contents and first impressions

id = "sub1">

Samsung Galaxy A7 (SM-A720F) 2017 lineup comes in a white thick cardboard box. The model name is printed on the front part, the main technical parameters on the back. There is no image of the gadget.

In the box you can see the device itself, as well as:

USB charger adapter
Sync cable computer USB- USB Type C
MicroUSB to USB Type-C adapter
Stereo headset with 3.5mm miniJack jack
SIM card tray clip
Instruction, warranty card

On sale you can find four body colors: black, gold, pink and blue. All colors look great. In the rays of the sun or in the light, the body begins to shimmer. The color becomes heterogeneous. It looks impressive.

Despite the fact that the Galaxy A7 of the 2017 model line belongs to the class of tablets, it has quite comfortable dimensions - 156.8 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm. The thickness here, by the way, is the same as that of the more compact devices of the Galaxy A line. The weight of 186 grams is evenly distributed throughout the volume.

You cannot reach the edges of the display with one hand. The problem can be partially solved. In the settings there is a special mode that reduces the picture by 30%, allowing you to reach with your thumb to the corners of the display. Useful function, I recommend activating it.

You can wear the device in the pockets of tight clothes, but before sitting down, you have to adjust the gadget or take it out of your pocket. Also note that the device does not fit completely into the back pocket of jeans. Moreover, he strives to slip out and fall. Users should be careful.

Design and appearance

id = "sub2">

The appearance of the Galaxy A7 (2017) largely copies the flagship model of the Galaxy S7. There is also a metal frame around the perimeter of the case. The glass on the back is slightly curved at the edges, and the manufacturer calls this design solution "3D glass". At the front, the device is covered with the usual 2.5D glass, Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is used. The manufacturer claims that it is not afraid of cuts and proximity to metal keys and various fittings. Nevertheless, there is no protection against falls, it is quite possible to break the glass of the screen or the back surface. Just in case, I would recommend that the owners of the device take care of protection in advance and buy a cover, bumper or protective casing. He will definitely not be superfluous.

The body itself is monolithic, it looks solid and reliable, of course, if you do not drop it on stones or asphalt. The assembly is of high quality.

The glossy surfaces of the smartphone have an oleophobic coating that does their job well. For example, fingerprints, dust and dirt on the black case are hardly visible. They are removed quickly and easily. On models in blue, pink and gold, prints are generally difficult to see.

At the front is a 5.7-inch screen. Above it is a speaker, light sensors, a front 16 Mpix camera, and the manufacturer's logo. There is a mechanical key under the screen with a built-in fingerprint scanner. On both sides it is surrounded by invisibles until you press them, touch buttons Back and Application Switching.

Biometric identification when unlocking or paying for Samsung Pay is fast and accurate. I did not find any problems with the operation of the button.

On the right side of the Galaxy A7 2017, there is a power button and a screen lock. In addition, here you can see the speaker slots for playing external sounds. This layout stands out from the background of existing phone models. The speaker itself is average in terms of volume, but the sound in it is quite pleasant and voluminous. In the course of testing, an interesting pattern emerged. If you put the smartphone with the speaker down in a bag, the ringtone will not be heard (although it all depends on the contents of the bag! =)). In the case of winter clothing, there is no problem.

The volume keys are located on the left side. On the bottom there is a 3.5 mm jack for a headset and headphones, as well as USB port Type C for charger and computer connection. At the top there is a tray for one SIM card and a memory card. The compartment for the second sim card is located on the left side. Thus, the slots are separate, you can use two SIM cards and a memory card up to 256 GB at once.

At the bottom and top end - on the microphone, there is a noise reduction system, it does its job perfectly. The interlocutor can hear your voice well in any conditions, even in noisy transport or during strong winds outside.

On the back you can see a 16 Mpix camera lens with autofocus and LED flash. The lens does not protrude from the plane of the smartphone itself.

The battery is located inside the case. Capacity 3600 mAh. It is not removable.

During the test, I could not find any external defects or poor-quality assembly. The impressions are extremely positive. The device looks like a real flagship. The panels play interestingly in the light. The smartphone is assembled at a Samsung plant in Vietnam.

Screen. Graphic capabilities

id = "sub3">

The Galaxy A7 2017 features a high-quality 5.7-inch SuperAMOLED screen. The resolution is 10800x1920 pixels. It is bright, contrasting, images and fonts are rendered very smoothly, without roughness, the black color is very deep. The viewing angles are maximum, the colors do not change when tilted.

The display covers safety glass Corning Gorilla Glass 4 with 2.5D effect and oleophobic coating. Medium width side frames.

Thanks to the "Adaptive" option, the user can significantly reduce the strain on their eyes. The device analyzes the level of illumination around and, depending on the conditions, sets the contrast, brightness, plus adjusts the colors on the screen. In addition, there is an opportunity to use the color settings "Movie AMOLED", "Photo AMOLED", "main". There is a gamma correction and a night mode with a blue filter.

The screen looks great in the sun. I did not notice any problems with reading the information. There is no glare or discoloration of the picture.

The sensitivity of the display is 10 points out of 10. All clicks are processed correctly and clearly. The 2017 Samsung Galaxy A7 supports gloved operation.

As a pleasant bonus, I can attribute the presence of the AlwaysOn Display option, which allows you to display icons of individual applications, date, time or pictures on the locked and inactive screen. You can customize the display time when the display is on, and the appearance of notification icons on the screen compensates for the absence of the traditional indicator of missed events. The indication is black and white, the operation of this function does not drain the battery much: for a day of use, the consumption is 4%. Previously, this function worked exclusively in flagship devices, since 2017 it comes to the middle price segment.

Hardware platform: processor, memory, speed

id = "sub4">

The smartphone is powered by a system based on the Exynos 7880 chip, which includes 8 Cortex-A53 cores, clocked at up to 1.9 GHz and Mali-830 MP3 graphics. The platform is made according to the 14 nm process technology, which has a positive effect on energy consumption and the absence of heating under load.

RAM 3 GB. The built-in memory in the device is 32 GB (23.7 GB is available to the user), removable media microSD up to 256 GB are supported.

The performance of the smartphone is high. The interface is smooth, the browser works without brakes even when opening heavy pages. All this is confirmed by synthetic tests. The model is at the level, and the safety margin will last for a couple of years at least. The processor does not heat up when loaded with productive games.

The advantages include the low power consumption of the Samsung chip. The smartphone lasts longer than its competitors.

Summarizing, I can say that the characteristics are fully consistent with the positioning. Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is a mid-range product with great multimedia capabilities. Social media, video, music, games - it all works without flaws and limitations. For young people who love beautiful gadgets, but are not ready to pay a lot, the device will be to their liking. Another category of people who will appreciate this apparatus are rationalists.

Communication capabilities

id = "sub5">

Smartphone supports everything modern networks communications: 2G / 3G and LTE cat. 7 on Russian frequencies, confidently receives the signal and does not lose it for no apparent reason. The quality of signal reception raises no objections, the device confidently maintains communication in rooms and does not lose signal in areas of poor reception (tested on MegaFon, MTS networks). Talking on the phone is comfortable. The speaker has a good volume reserve, and the interlocutors during testing on poor audibility did not complain.

Supported Wi-Fi networks 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 + 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, there is an FM radio. The presence of NFC and MST allows you to use your smartphone for contactless payments Samsung Pay. Connection to a computer is carried out by USB standard 2.0 via balanced Type-C connector.

Additional communication means include GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS (standard Google Maps is built into the smartphone). The radius of navigation error during testing is about 3 meters, which is very small. The gadget does an excellent job of being a navigator.

Battery. Duration of work

id = "sub6">

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) has a 3600mAh Li-Ion battery. In testing conditions, with the number of calls 35-40 minutes a day, browsing the Internet for about 2 hours via 4G, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 2 hours a day, the device worked for two days. When watching a video, the smartphone worked for 19 hours, in navigator mode - about 6 hours.

If we take averaged data with a mixed mode of use, we get two days. autonomous work... Those who use only calls can safely count on 5 days of work. In terms of autonomy, the device differs for the better from the vast majority of Android smartphones. For me personally, battery life is of great importance, the Galaxy A7 SM-A720F was a pleasant surprise.

In addition, there is a power saving mode, when the backlight of the screen is limited, the frequency of the processor. In this scenario, the operating time will increase by at least 20%. There is an extreme (maximum) power saving mode. In this case, the screen displays only white and gray colors, all applications except telephone connection, SMS, calendar and alarms are turned off.

The phone received a fast charging function. The battery is fully charged in 1 hour and 20 minutes. But the built-in wireless charging there is no.

User interface and operating system

id = "sub7">

At present Samsung time Galaxy A7 (2017) comes with Android 6.0.1 firmware with Clean UI. The same skin is used in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. Software can be "updated over the air". From March 2017, the model will receive an update to Android 7.

Smartphone owners have access to all branded Samsung programs including S Health to monitor physical activity and health, voice assistant S Voice, gesture support, KNOX - to separate data into personal and work, etc. Missing programs can be downloaded from Samsung App Store and Google play... Model supports Samsung service Pay.

Unlike the Galaxy S models, it has a built-in FM radio, which is a plus. The non-removable Office and Skype package is also preinstalled, but Kaspersky can be removed.

The smartphone has a dozen useful chips that can make it easier and more convenient everyday use... So, there is support for one-handed control and gestures. Pressing the center button three times activates the one-handed control mode, in which the image on the screen is reduced in size and moved to the right or left corner so that you can reach with your thumb to any interface element.

Smart Capture allows you to take a screenshot of even hidden areas of the screen, which is useful when you need to capture an entire web page or if text does not fit on one screen.

With the Game Launcher and Game Tools apps, you can turn off touch control buttons during gameplay, which will prevent accidental taps, quickly respond to a message without minimizing the game, or completely block any notifications.

Camera. Photo and video capabilities

id = "sub8">

Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 received a main 16 megapixel camera with f / 1.9, autofocus and LED flash. The equivalent focal length of the lens is 27 mm. The camera takes very decent quality pictures in daylight, outdoors and indoors, in the dark it is no longer so good, but this is a problem with all mid-range cameras. In the settings you can find additional modes shooting, including PRO.

The camera interface is made in the traditional Samsung style. You can run it double tap center button below the screen. There are many settings and preset modes, including self-portrait, panorama, night, continuous shooting, HDR, and GIF creation. Video capabilities are limited to 1080p 30fps. Compared to Galaxy A7 (2016), the camera has lost optical stabilization, the device also formally loses to some competitors due to the lack of the ability to shoot 4K video. But who really needs to shoot 4K? Nobody. For this reason, the function was removed. FullHD is enough.

Manual ISO settings are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800. The following shooting modes are available: single shot, smile detection, continuous, panorama, vintage, portrait, landscape, night mode, sports, indoor, beach / snow, sunset, dawn, autumn colors, fireworks, text, dusk, against the light.

The front camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels. It is quite light-sensitive (f / 1.9), but lacks autofocus. When taking selfies, it is possible to correct skin tone, facial contours and eye size. There is also a panoramic selfie function, although the optics are already wide-angle - you can capture a small company without special modes.

Outcomes

id = "sub9">

Fans of large smartphones Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) will definitely like it. The device has slim body, good 5.7-inch screen and long battery life. In addition, the device looks great, has sufficient hardware for fast work user interface. There is simultaneous support for two SIM cards and microSD memory.

A big plus is that the Galaxy A7 2017 has received IP68 dust and water protection. This allows the smartphone to be at a depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. This, of course, does not mean that the phone can be washed under water and, moreover, water resistance can be tested in washing machine... But if you drop it into water, then nothing will happen to it. Convenient features include gesture control, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, Samsung Pay.

By default, users have access to the S Health application to monitor their physical activity, KNOXX to create a protected data area. The main camera also turned out to be at a good level. For its class, it shoots well, although the lack of image stabilization was upsetting.

Among the disadvantages, one can note the high risk of breaking the smartphone from the very first fall on the asphalt or stones. It is likely that this will not harm the performance of the gadget, but walking with cracked glass is not a pleasant thing. It is worth recommending protection in the form of covers, bumpers and stickers. It is also worth noting the low volume of the main speaker, especially when the smartphone is in the bag.

As for potential competitors of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017, there are a lot of them. First of all, it is worth noting the models Chinese brands - Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and Meizu M3 Note. They have a little modest characteristics, but at the same time they cost 10-12 thousand cheaper. A good alternative might be ASUS ZenFone 3 Max ZC553KL, remanufactured Apple iPhone 6 Plus and ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ZE553KL.

Advantages

High-quality assembly and stylish appearance

Good screen

LTE cat support. 7

Water and dust resistant

Support for two SIM cards

Long battery life

disadvantages

High risk of breaking glass body parts if dropped

Not the loudest sound from an external speaker

The camera does not have optical image stabilization

Widget from SocialMart

On the day of publication of this test review, you could buy Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 (SM-A720F) at a price of 28 990 rubles.

Live photos

Specifications

• Android 6.0.1 with Clean UI, update to Android 7
• 5.7-inch screen, SuperAMOLED, FullHD, 386 ppi, automatic brightness adjustment, automatic brightness adjustment to suit your habits, color profiles, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, AlwaysOn Display
• Exynos 7880 chipset, 8 cores up to 1.9 GHz (Cortex A53), Mali-T830MP3 GPU
• 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory (about 23 GB of memory is available to the user out of the box)
• Battery Li-Ion 3600 mAh, fast charging, working time in mixed mode - 2 days (test result), in 3G / 4G data transfer mode - 13/16 hours, video playback - up to 19 hours, talk time - up to 23 hours
• Installation of two nanoSIM cards, as well as a microSD memory card (up to 256 GB)
• Front camera 16 megapixels, f / 1.9, face enhancers (eyes, skin color, face tone)
• Main camera 16 megapixels, f / 1.9, LED flash, autofocus
• Two microphones, noise cancellation system
• IP68 water resistant, up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters
• FM radio
• Fingerprint sensor located on the front panel
• USB Type C 1.0
• 4G FDD LTE - B1 (2100), B2 (1900), B3 (1800), B4 (AWS), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B17 (700), B20 (800), B28 (700); 4G FDD TDD - B38 (2600), B40 (2300), B41 (2500)
• GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
• ANT +, 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac 2.4 + 5GHz, NFC, USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.2
• Sensors - Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Scanner, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor
• Samsung Pay
• Colors: Black Sky, Gold Sand, Blue Mist, Pink Peach Cloud
• SAR value - 0.21 W / kg (head), 1.33 W / kg (body)
• Dimensions - 156.8x77.6x7.9 mm, weight - 186 grams

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone
• Charger with USB Type C cable
• Instructions
• Wired stereo headset
• "Paperclip" for removing the SIM tray

Positioning

In the A-series, phablets have always been demanded in smaller volumes than the younger models with the index 3 and 5. The most popular and demanded form factor is devices with a diagonal of 5 inches, hence the maximum sales for the A5, which is confirmed annually. At the same time, Samsung A7 remains in demand, but it has much higher competition with Chinese flagships, of which there are a huge number in the market in a similar form factor.

Given the position and weight of Samsung in the market, the A7 can be considered as a competitor to the iPhone 6 Plus, they are sold at the same price and occupy about the same position in the eyes of consumers. In Russia, the iPhone 6 Plus is sold as new (refurbished devices, that is, used), they have the same price as the 2017 A7. But these three-year-old devices have a plus in the form of an image component and a cart and a small cart of functions that are absent at the hardware level. Let's talk about this in the conclusions, for now I will focus on the fact that in the eyes of consumers these are equivalent devices.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

At the same time, Chinese brands in this price group are chosen not for the brand, but rather for the opportunities they provide. And believe me, there is plenty to choose from, but often such models are comparable and offer plus or minus the same functions, somewhere there are chips, somewhere they are inferior to the A7 2017. But the model from Samsung has definitely turned out to be successful for everyone who chooses a device from the A-brand for quality and reliability, as well as clear and intelligible service. The sales of this model have already proved that it has taken place, in its segment it overtakes all competitors. Technically, the A7 is almost a complete cast from the 2017 A5, the battery and operating time, the size of the case and the diagonal of the screen differ, but otherwise it is one and the same good device.

Design, dimensions, controls

In the A-series, the design is to some extent inherited from the older models, the same body materials, no noticeable simplifications and savings. The A7 models look expensive and stylish, no matter what color you choose. There are four color solutions in total, there are no pink phones in Russia yet.

The mirror surface of the phone reflects the world around it, plays in the light, the device looks very interesting, and handprints are practically invisible. I will add here that the screen with a splash screen can always work (the AlwaysOn Display function), which almost none of the competitors have. In the end, we get an unusual device that has no analogues on the market, it can be distinguished from any other at first glance.

If we talk about what color is the best, then I like blue, it is a delicate shade, very unusual, perfect for girls, however, see for yourself.

Please note that the front and rear panel in one color, as well as the side metal edging (aluminum 6000 series). The device looks good in pink too, but it is definitely only for girls.

The gold-colored phone is somewhat simple-minded, but everyone has their own tastes here.

The fact that the device has a glass back and front part does not interfere with it at all, since Corning Gorilla Glass 4 is quite reliable and protected from accidental drops, although here someone is as lucky. In terms of mechanical protection, this device is completely identical to the Galaxy S6 EDGE, the quality is on par. I once recorded a video about how this phone survives when hitting sharp objects or asphalt, you can watch this video.

The innovation of the 2017 A-series was the protection against water, which was taken from the S7 / S7 EDGE, the implementation is exactly the same. The SIM card tray is protected by rubber gaskets, on the microphones and membrane speaker, the level of protection is IP68, which allows the phone to be at a depth of 1.5 meters for up to half an hour. This does not mean that the phone needs to be washed under water and even more so with soap or something similar. But if you drop it into water, then nothing will happen to it. There are practically no models with water protection in this price segment.

Now about the controls. There is a mechanical key under the screen, a fingerprint sensor is inscribed in it, it is simplified compared to S7 / S7 EDGE, it works a little slower, but there are no problems because of this. Good decision that just works. On the sides of it are two touch-sensitive keys.

On the left side there are two volume keys, on the right side there is an on / off button. At the bottom and top end - on the microphone, there is a noise reduction system, it does its job perfectly, you can be heard well in any conditions, even when the wind blows strongly into your face.

At the bottom there is a 3.5 mm jack for a headset or headphones, as well as a USB Type C connector for a charger. On the upper end and the left side you can see the trays, in the upper one a nanoSIM card and a memory card are installed, in the lower one there is a second nanoSIM card. In A3, for example, the installation of two SIM-cards and a memory card is impossible, there is a combined slot.

The loudspeaker was placed on the right side surface, due to this it can overlap in a pocket, it will not be very well heard. The speaker itself is average in volume, but very pleasant.

The phone measures 156.8x77.6x7.9 mm and weighs 186 grams. Like any phablet, it is large enough, fits well only in a wide male hand, but compared to its classmates, it is quite compact, the roundness of the body plays a role. The device is not slippery, it is not necessary to use a cover, but if you know the habit of letting the phone out of your hands, it is better to buy a cover after all.

Display

The presence of a SuperAMOLED screen has always been an advantage of the A-series, the technical characteristics of this display are as follows: 5.7 inches, SuperAMOLED, FullHD, 386 ppi, automatic brightness control, automatic brightness adjustment to suit your habits, color profiles, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, AlwaysOn Display.

To my taste, the quality of the screen is excellent for its class, it has a large margin of brightness in automatic mode, the display is readable in the sun, as well as in the model of the previous year (in the S7 EDGE, the screen has a higher brightness, as a result, in the sun it is even better) ...

The screen has the AlwaysOn Display option, that is, you can see application icons, clocks or pictures all the time, the screen does not drain the battery much, for 12 hours it is a couple of percent. Until now, this function has not been massively in the middle price segment, which noticeably distinguishes the 2017 A7 and puts it on a par with Samsung's flagships.

In terms of the totality of characteristics, the screen in the 2017 A7 outperforms its competitors, there is nothing better in this segment. As a result, this is one of the strengths of the model. I also like the fact that they brought here an automatic adjustment of brightness to suit your preferences, for the first two weeks the phone “gets used to” you and adjusts to your taste.

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 3600 mAh, fast charging is supported (1 hour 35 minutes). The built-in wireless charging that flagship models have is not here.

In mixed mode, the device lives quietly for two days with 3-5 hours of screen operation, data transfer in LTE and two hours of calls.

Play unconverted HD video in MX Player at maximum brightness - up to 19 hours! This is an excellent figure considering the size of the battery, many Chinese people show comparable results with a 5000 mAh battery.

The operating time of the 2017 A7 becomes its strong point, even with a heavy load, it will not be possible to discharge it faster than in a day, on average it is two days. Those who use only calls can safely count on 5-6 days of work, of course, it all depends on the operator and the number of these calls. But in general, we can state the fact that the operating time is the strong point of this model.

Traditionally, there is a power saving mode, when the backlight of the screen, the frequency of the processor are limited, in this mode many will not experience problems with the operation of the device, but the operating time will increase by at least 20 percent. In the maximum power saving mode, everything turns gray on the screen, and the device can provide hours of operation even with a small charge.

Communication capabilities

The work of GPS / GLONASS is excellently implemented, a cold start takes about ten seconds, navigation works well, there are no problems. By the way, this distinguishes A-brands from many Chinese companies, where the implementation of antennas is such that you can expect anything from typical functions.

Another strong point is the support of almost all the necessary LTE frequencies, here the device also manifests itself with strong side(analogs in this price segment cannot boast of this, as a rule, there are savings on antennas).

Finally, the device has NFC, ANT + support, which will appeal to those who use sports sensors. Bluetooth version 4.2.

If we talk about Wi-Fi, then 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac 2.4 + 5GHz is used here, there is a repeater mode (distribution of a Wi-Fi signal to other devices as an access point).

The version is USB 2.0, but the USB Type C (1.0) connector is used, so lovers of modern connectors will be happy, the rest should come to terms with the transition to the new standard.

Memory, RAM, performance

Samsung uses its own chipsets in the A-series models, which can be considered a plus, they are improving from year to year. For example, in 2016 the chipsets in the A-series were made at 28 nm, now it is 14 nm, which gives an increase in performance and operating time. The chipset in the 2017 A7 is an Exynos 7880, 8 cores up to 1.9 GHz (Cortex A53), a Mali-T830MP3 GPU.

In synthetic tests, this processor performed well. In real life, everything also works perfectly well, you will not experience any shortcomings in performance, the model is on a level, and the safety margin will last for a couple of years at least.

The built-in memory of the device is 32 GB (23.1 GB is available), memory cards can be up to 256 GB. RAM 3 GB, which is enough for most consumers for the eyes. And considering the screen resolution, everything becomes quite good, this solution is balanced, and there are no noticeable compromises here.

Camera

The front camera is 16 megapixels (f / 1.9), as usual, there is no autofocus, so it is worth finding the distance from which the pictures are best taken, this is about half a meter, that is, an outstretched arm. The quality of the front camera is good, but don't expect anything special from it, the main camera is still better. There is a traditional improvement in skin color and tone, you can enlarge your eyes, and at the same time make your face thinner. The girls will definitely like these “uluchshaki”.

The main camera is 16-megapixel (f / 1.9), of course, there is autofocus, as well as additional shooting modes, including PRO, but it differs from the flagships, since the camera is simpler. This camera is on a par with the best Chinese manufacturers or slightly better, that is, it gives good, saturated images during the day and indoors, in the dark it is no longer so good, but this is generally typical for this segment. When recording video, there is no 4K mode, but it is unlikely that consumers of this device need it so much, since recording a regular FullHD video will completely satisfy them.

Look at the examples of pictures and videos, I think that they themselves will tell you everything about the quality of the camera.

Software

The model originally came out on Android 6.0.1, but many of the interface elements are similar to what we see in Android 7 and Clean UI on the S7 / S7 EDGE. I advise you to read about what has appeared in Android 7, as soon this model will receive this version OS.

Describe standard Android functions I will not, you can read about them in a detailed review.

Unlike the top models, there is a built-in FM radio here, which looks like a nice bonus.

When using KNOX, you can install any program in duplicate, for example, install two messenger whatsapp and use them for each SIM-card (two numbers, two messengers). You can even correspond with yourself. Exactly the same trick can be done with any software, no phone allows you to simultaneously work with two messengers on one device with different numbers... Today many Chinese manufacturers offer something similar in their smartphones, but the implementation is different everywhere.

Of course, this model supports Samsung Pay service.

I will not dwell on the standard software from Samsung, for example, S Health, you can find the corresponding articles on our website.

Impressions

The vibration alert is average, the ring volume is also average - perhaps, I would like to have more headroom, but you can still hear the phone and feel it in your pockets when vibrating. Rather, there is no volume reserve, but here who will perceive this moment, the device cannot be called quiet.

In the 2017 lineup, the A7 stands a little apart, since it is a phablet and is bought primarily for the screen size. That is, those who are used to watching videos on a smartphone, playing games buy, while a person needs a long time from a single charge. Of the advantages that competitors do not have, of course, AlwaysOn Display, excellent battery life. But we cannot say that this model has no competitors at all.

As already mentioned at the beginning, such a competitor can be the three-year-old iPhone 6 Plus (and it is the restored one), its price is 29,990 rubles for the 64 GB version. Good storage, but no IP68 protection, no memory cards, no FM radio and a lower resolution screen. Moreover, Apple fans themselves discourage buying this model, since they consider its processor to be rather weak for the current moment and say that the iPhone 6 Plus was frankly unsuccessful (it took three years to admit the obvious). On the other hand, for those who choose the brand, this iPhone can be a good purchase for a relatively reasonable price.

A very strong competitor is Meizu Pro 6 Plus, this device does not have memory cards (64 or 128 GB of memory), it has no water protection, but otherwise it is very interesting, since with the same diagonal it has a SuperAMOLED screen from Samsung, Exynos 8890, that is, more powerful processor, 4 GB of RAM. It has a separate DSP for handling audio and sounds very, very good. And it looks pretty good, all this at a price of 35,000 rubles for the base model (you can easily find it for 5-7 thousand rubles cheaper, when ordering in China it is even cheaper). As for me, this is a device of a slightly different class in terms of filling, it is worth paying close attention to it.

For about the same 34,990 rubles (versus 29,990 rubles for the 2017 A7), you can purchase the Xiaomi Mi Note 2. It has a design reminiscent of Samsung's flagships, with a curved glass front panel, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

If you simplify the characteristics, then on the market you can find many models of phablets in the segment from 20 to 25 thousand rubles, they will be conditionally comparable to the A7 2017, but if you go into details, it will begin to turn out that they often do not have a fingerprint sensor, protection from water, easier screens and so on.

You can choose the 2017 A7 for the screen size, 5.7 inches versus 5.2 in the A5. However, the rest of these devices are practically similar, everything is the same. On the plate you can see how all A-series devices differ.

The price of the 2017 A7 in Russia is 29,990 rubles, for comparison, the model of the previous year costs 23,990 rubles. In my opinion, the advantage of the 2017 device is obvious, it is IP68 protection, AlwaysOn Display, updated Android and new operating modes, increased battery life, better performance. In short, it is worth finding the money and buying an updated model, it will definitely last longer.

In the end, I will say that the 2017 A7 is a very pleasant device, it, of course, has support for Samsung Pay, if you are concerned about this issue. For those who are accustomed to buying A-brands, believes that it is justified, and is not looking for any additional benefit, this device will be welcome and will not disappoint. It has no serious drawbacks, which has already been verified over several months of sales.

Introduced a long-awaited novelty - Galaxy A7 F720, which in terms of characteristics resembles a simplified "galaxy" S7. Together with her, the younger versions, A5 and A3 (2017), were presented, but we will not be talking about them. As the past years have shown, the A7 is less in demand, the public prefers more compact smartphones... Together with other technical improvements, the "seven" received another larger screen... Let's see if it gets more interesting.

Design and ergonomics

Due to the 5.7-inch screen, our hero moved to the category of phablets, so outwardly it is least of all similar to the S7. It looks nice, because the device has the same materials. Remained 2.5D glass, on both sides Gorilla Glass 4. To fit comfortably in the hand, the edges are curved. The device has received protection from water according to the IP68 standard, thanks to which the thickness has increased to 7.9 mm. Weight - 180 g. The color palette of the case has become more diverse, the buyer is available: black, pink, gold and blue.

The location of the controls for the Galaxy A7 2017 is the same. The tactile sensations from the mechanical buttons are pleasant. Touchscreens are not highlighted for a long time; to adjust them, you will have to install the Boot Light application. There is a place for a memory card. This slot is located on the upper end, and Sim 2 is placed in it. The Sim 1 slot is located at the left end. On the bottom is a 3.5mm output, microphone and a new port. There was no place for the LED event indicator. A fingerprint scanner is built into the mechanical Home button.

Screen

Super AMOLED quality is excellent, so looking at the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 is a delight. The resolution is the same - 1920х1080, ppi 386. No irregularities are displayed, viewing angles are wide, colors are saturated and bright. He "hits the godfather in the eyes", there is a change of profiles. Excellent brightness and anti-reflective coating allow you to use your smartphone in the sun.

A7 2017 now has "Always On", which displays the time on the screen in sleep mode. Many people fell in love with this chip, especially since it consumes several percent of the charge per day.

Performance and software

Works Samsung A720f Galaxy A7 2017 with "process" Exynos 7880. There are 8 cores, all work at 1.9 GHz. The device heats up less than its predecessor. For regular user it's enough. Video chip Mali-T830 MP3. It is far from productive, so demanding games will be jerky.

The same amount of RAM remains - 3 GB, the built-in memory has doubled - 32 GB.
Less significant characteristics: updated Bluetooth 4.2, LTE category 6, USB 2.0. On tests, he scored 61,500 points in AnTutu.

Out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 comes with Android 6.0.1, version 7 will have to wait. The TouchWIZ shell is unchanged here. There is a split screen mode into 2 parts, memory optimization, Knox protection mode. The backup data is backed up to Samsung Cloud. In addition to applications from Samsung, Google, the Samsung Pay service has appeared.

Camera

The image quality of the new A7 remained at last year's level, although the camera is 16 megapixels, instead of 13 megapixels. Camera algorithms and interface have changed. There is a Pro mode where everyone can feel like a photographer. Pictures and videos are good even in the evening. There is no 4K shooting mode, maximum in Full HD. The front camera works decently, but the focus is close, so far away objects are unclear.

Autonomy

Thanks to a successful optimization and a 3600 mAh battery, new smartphone began to work twice as long from the Galaxy A7 2016. There was a place for fast charging and power saving mode. It is possible to regulate the charge consumption.

Opinion

Definitely Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) has become better than its predecessor. This is a phablet with solid characteristics, excellent build quality, water resistant and a separate memory card slot. It differs from the Galaxy A5 2017 only in battery and screen. The rest is identical except for the price. With the advent of Always On, the absence of a notification indicator is not critical.

It has a quality screen and good performance. We add to the asset the still little common USB Type-C connector. Not to mention the fingerprint scanner, decent camera and 32GB onboard. It takes up space under the flagship and is pretty perfect for the average user.

In 2017, renowned South Korean tech manufacturer Samsung decided to revamp its mid-range smartphones. They turned out, I must say, quite well for themselves. Phones, which previously rather reliably occupied the middle niche in the mobile technology market, after the update began to claim the role of budget flagships of a higher level. Let's see what characteristics the so-called senior model of the A-series - Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 - offers.

Main characteristics

First of all, it should be noted that the older model assumes the greatest and best technological "packing". However, the developers did not spoil us much. The package bundle of the 2017 A7 model is very slightly superior to its younger counterpart - the updated Samsung Galaxy A5. The main differences lie in the battery capacity and, of course, the screen size. Well, what else, in fact, smartphones are compared.

Frame

Quite noticeable is the fact that the Koreans sought to bring the A-line as close as possible to their more luxurious relatives of the S-series. The design of the updated A7 is in many ways similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7 - rounded edges, glass upholstery, minimalism, identical key layout and speaker. However, such imitation does not harm at all. appearance phone, but, on the contrary, gives it a more elegant and stylish look.

• The body of the updated model is covered with glass on both sides. The front is protected by 2.5D glass, while the back is 3D coated. The edges are framed by a graceful metal rim.
• The phone measures 156.8 x 77.6 mm and is almost 7.9 mm thick. Weight is equal to 144 g.
• The phone is available in several color variations: standard black, dainty gold, pale blue and pale pink.

Technical stuffing

Of course, even the updated A7 cannot compete in performance with the luxury analogue of the Samsung Galaxy S7. However, one has only to remember for which niche the smartphone was developed in general. Galaxy A7 2017 is not a bad claim to be the flagship among mid-range phones, so its specifications are quite decent.

A more powerful eight-core Exynos 7880 processor with a clock frequency of 1.9 GHz is installed here. The graphics are on the shoulders of the Mali-T830 triple-core chip.

Initially, the phone has Android 6.0 Marshmallow installed, but the developers guarantee that the software will be updated to the next “sweet” - Android 7.0 Nougat.

The local 6th android user interface uses the Grace UI graphical shell. That, as you know, promises its users the ability to work in multi-window mode.

CPU new Galaxy A7 shows comparatively good data when working with almost all tasks However, for resource-intensive programs, for example, for demanding games, the settings will have to be run with lower graphic parameters.
Test GPU shows very good results The results of the performance test of the updated processor are at the same level
On other tests, the device gives out similar numbers.

Screen

The 2017 version of the Samsung Galaxy A7 pleases us with an extended 5.7-inch Super AMOLED screen. The display resolution is 1080 x 1920 pixels per inch. Agree, very standard feature for modern smartphones. However, the big plus is that the screen takes up about two-thirds of the entire front of the phone. The rest of the minimum is accounted for by the mechanical Home control button, the Return and Applications touchscreen invisible devices, as well as the speaker, front-facing camera, proximity sensor and the famous Samsung inscription.

It is important to note that the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 has a screen calibration menu with a specific set of modes. Each of them showcases an impressive 100% color space coverage. Temperature, gamma and backlighting also show extremely pleasing results.

The developers took care of optimizing the use of SIM cards

Now the smartphone has separate slots for both SIM cards and a memory card, which is very convenient

Memory

As for the available space on the phone, here, too, the updated version has undergone some changes. The phone's RAM remained at the same level - 3 GB, but the built-in memory has doubled and is now 32 GB versus 16 GB in last year's version. Considering the space that they occupy system files, the available space in general, of course, will be several gigabytes less. However, in this case, you can use microSD. Now the fresh Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 supports flash cards up to 256 GB instead of last year's 128 GB. So even the most kilobyte-consuming users will not be offended.

Battery

Now in a fresh brainchild South Korean developer a more powerful Li-Po battery is also installed - 3600 mAh versus last year's 3300 mAh. In addition, the phone has Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging. Due to it, the manufacturer promises to reduce the time it takes to restore the battery to one and a half hours.

In offline mode, your phone will work as much as 380 hours (which, in terms of a day, promises us an outrageous almost 16 days). In the talk mode the device will work for 18 hours, listening to music can last up to 48 hours, and watching videos - up to 9. But there is still no wireless charging in the phone. Even though this is the oldest model in the line.

Other "snacks"

The smartphone also supports the Always On Display function, which means that notifications, clock and date are displayed on its screen even in inactive mode.

You no longer need to endlessly turn on your phone and check notifications. Now all important notifications (as well as clock, calendar, etc.) are visible even in offline mode

This option consumes little energy, but looks quite stylish.

The updated line of smartphones Samsung Galaxy And this year can boast of the fact that its body is made according to the IP68 standard and is now reliably protected from moisture and dust. You can absolutely safely wet your phone in the pouring rain or even drop it into huge puddles of one and a half meters. Yes, this is not a joke. A fresh version of the Galaxy A7 can withstand up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters.

And once, after all, such photos could only be taken in Photoshop.

This year's models also feature a state-of-the-art reversible USB Type-C port. Now there is no need to waste time and nerves on endless attempts to get into the charger connector with the right side. You can successfully insert the usb cord into the socket with almost your eyes closed and in complete darkness.

A two-way USB input seems like an incredible convenience, doesn't it?

One-handed operation is one of the assistant options that make using the phone easier and more comfortable. This function allows triple pressing of the Home button to activate the one-handed operation mode, in which active windows are shifted to one side of the display.

Perfect for both right-handers and left-handers (and even more so for ambidextrous)

Smart Capture is another similar feature that makes it easier to work with screenshots.

The fingerprint scanner. However, we advise you to be careful with this option, since, despite the fact that the sensor itself is quite responsive, it requires quite careful tuning. Don't be discouraged if your device does not recognize all touches at first, and just try to calibrate the scanner again.

In general, the applications and functions installed in this version largely duplicate the sets of other Sumsung models: the standard Galaxy Apps, the S Health fitness program, the Samsung Members online support service, of course, voice assistant S Voice and more. So, if you have already had experience with other versions of South Korean phones, a lot will seem familiar to you.

The main and front cameras are another pleasant thing

The camera of the smartphone gives its users not weak 16 megapixels both for the main camera and for the front one. Yes, the front camera on the Galaxy A7 2017 is no worse than the main lens. The aperture on both sides is f / 1.9, the focal length is 27 mm. The lens is equipped with autofocus and, of course, flash. Compared to the model of that year, the current camera produces more working pixels, but the smartphone has lost a rather important option - optical image stabilization. A small problem follows from here quite noticeably: during the day, you can take quite good pictures with excellent photosensitivity and detail without any problems, but in the late afternoon, when natural light is replaced by artificial light, noise and noticeable blur appear. The deterioration of the picture is accompanied by an increase in focusing time.

A photo taken at night, even with the "Night" mode set in the phone, gives far from the best result

But indoor selfies come out pretty decent. The matrix resolution of the front camera is not inferior to the main lens - the same 16 megapixels. However, the tasks on it are much simpler: portrait photography at close range. In addition, the front camera, like the rear camera, has its own flash. As it, the creators of the updated version of the Galaxy A7 decided to use soft white lighting from the phone screen.

Soft lighting from the phone screen makes selfies appear detailed and blurry even in a dim room.

True, some users complain that front-camera strongly blurs everything that is more than one meter from it. Those. taking a selfie against the background of something far away or large will initially be difficult for you.

Among other things, the video here is recorded in Full resolution HD. And now we must remember that even last year's version of the luxury Galaxy S7 had the ability to shoot videos in 4K resolution. And optical stabilization was available for the outdated Galaxy A7 2016. This suggests that despite the improved parameters of the processor, memory, battery and other things, the camera, on the contrary, began to work worse. The number of pixels has increased, but this cannot compensate for the lack of optical stabilization. And if during the day the camera gives itself quite a decent picture quality, then in the late afternoon and even more so at night, it is better to replace the phone with its analogue of the last year.