The Gen XY Lifestyle
Samsung Introduces A New Galaxy Range
It may have been designed with the young in mind, but the new Samsung Galaxy A phones are dripping with universal appeal.
Samsung’s new Galaxy A phones are undoubtedly of the ‘mid-range’ variety, but despite its mid-price status, the new range of phones sport a fit and finish of a premium device. The Galaxy A series also represents Samsung’s first attempt at a metal unibody mobile phone, as well as its slimmest to date – the A7 measures 6.3mm at its slimmest point, while the A5 and A3 are no slouches either with girths measuring at 6.7mm and 6.9mm respectively.
There’s an inevitable trade-off in the pursuit of ‘dapperness’; it also means that these phones will lose one standout feature – user-replaceable internal batteries. That may be less relevant these days with the onset of power banks, but nonetheless a hassle when you need to get accustomed to it.
For the young, or the young at heart, the Galaxy A phones have one party trick: a five-megapixel front-facing camera that boasts smart features that make taking ‘selfies’ much easier. Seasoned selfie/wefie veterans may have a workflow going for them, but Samsung has built-in most of the key features that you need into its stock camera app. This includes an ultra-wide, 120-degree angle selfie (Wide Selfie), palm activated self-timer shutter (Palm Selfie), voice activated shutter (Voice Selfie), an animated GIF creator (Animated Selfie), and a real-time, easy-to-use retouching tool (Beauty Face).
Galaxy A7
Samsung’s slimmest phablet to date, the A7 is also the most powerful phone in the Galaxy A series. It sports a configuration of two quad-core processors (of different power) for a more power-efficient setup. How this works is that the phone will favour using the slower and more power-efficient processor whenever possible, and calls upon the more powerful processor only when needed.
The A7 also boasts a striking, 1080p, full-HD Super AMOLED 5.5-inch display which will definitely appeal to the older folks even though the positioning of the phone is clearly targeted at the younger crowd, however with its price point, it serves as an alternative to Samsung’s premium range which might be a tad costly to some. Other notable features include dual SIM support, which is unique as the SIM slot doubles up as the memory card slot.
However, the A7 will not be released in time to join the A3 and A5 on the shelves; it is only confirmed to launch by the first quarter of this year.
Galaxy A5
The Galaxy A5 is the definitive member of the A series, and sits in that sweet spot for price versus performance versus aesthetics. Yes, these days apparently, price-performance ratios alone are passé. Even mid-priced phones can (and will) look good, albeit with a slight bump to the asking price.
The A5’s 720p, HD 5.0-inch display is pretty respectable, even in a world filled with 1080p and 4K displays. Its 1.2GHz quad-core is par for the course where mid-price smartphones are concerned. And again, with a 5.0-inch screen, it does state a compelling case for those who want a substantially sized screen.
Galaxy A3
This 4.5-inch phone is a hark back to the days of old (i.e. old days of the iPhone 4), and one for those who believe that phones should fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Like the A5, the A3 also sports a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. However, instead of a 13-megapixel rear camera like its siblings, the A3 is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera.
The Galaxy A3 and A5 will be available at local telcos, major consumer electronic stores, authorised mobile retailers as well as Samsung Experience Stores starting 16 January 2015. For now they will both be available in Pearl White and Midnight Black, with Platinum Silver, Champagne Gold, and Soft Pink versions to follow by end February. The Galaxy A3 will retail for S$448 without contract, while the Galaxy A5 will retail for S$598 without contract. Price and availability for the A7 is still pending, although Samsung Singapore has confirmed that it will be available in Singapore by the end of this quarter.
