We go hands-on with the three newly released A-Series smartphones

Samsung is on the right path. A few months after the company released their first metal framed smartphones the Galaxy Alpha and the Galaxy Note 4, the company has officially released their A-series of devices, their first ever full metal bodied smartphones. The new smartphones represent a radical shift in design for the Korean company, and we approve of it – these are probably the nicest looking smartphones that the company has produced.

Samsung Galaxy A7 specs:

• Samsung octa-core Exynos 5433 processor, 1.8GHz cortex A5-cores, 1.3GHz cortex-A53 cores
• 2GB of RAM
• 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 16GB of internal storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD
• 12-megapixel rear camera with AF, LED flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• Dual-SIM
• 3G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2600mAh
• 150.9 x 75.9 x 6.3 mm

Samsung Galaxy A5 specs:

• 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor
• 2GB of RAM
• 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1280 x 720
• 16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
• 13-megapixel rear camera with AF and LED flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 3G.LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2,300mAh battery
• 139.3 x 69.7 x 6.7mm

Samsung Galaxy A3 specs

• 1.2GHz Snadpragon 410 quad-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 4.5-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, 960 x 540 resolution
• 16GB internal storage, expandable up to 64GB via microSD
• 8-megapixel rear camera with AF and LED flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 3G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 1,900mAh battery
• 130.1 x 65.5 x 6.9mm

Initial impressions: A full metal body does make a big difference

We’re doing a full hands-on of all three devices at the same time because aside from their physical size, they’re almost all identical, aesthetically speaking. All of them have the same full metal bodies and roughly the same treatment on the said metal bodies. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to tell them apart if they weren’t photographed together to give you a size reference.

Like we said earlier, the A-series of devices have full metal bodies, and you’ll notice that when you pick one up in our hands. It definitely has some weight in it (especially the A7), but it’s not too heavy. All three devices are the slimmest in Samsung’s lineup, with the A7 being the sexiest one at 6.3mm. It’s no Oppo R5, but it’s still pretty nice to hold in the hands nonetheless.

The button configuration is straightforward – the left side holds the volume keys while the right side holds the power key. Both the 3.5mm jack and USB port are located on the bottom of the device. The nano SIM slot and micoSD card slot joines the power button on the right, and in the case of the Galaxy A7, you can have another SIM in lieu of a microSD card, though you can’t have both at the same time.

The displays on all three look great, even on the lowly A3 that only has a 4.5-inch qHD display, a testament on Samsung’s Super AMOLED panel. As far as hardware goes both the A3 and the A5 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 410 processor while the A7 uses Samsung’s own Exynos 5433 processor, the same one that’s on the Galaxy Note 4.

As we mentioned in the original annoucement article the A3 retails for Php 16,990 while the A5 goess for Php 19,990 and the A7 goes for Php 24,990. Price-wise the A3 and A5 are barely in the mid-range price segment, while the A7 is already in the fringes of high-end prices, with the A3 getting the crown for the most expensive 4.5-inch smartphone in the market. While all three are probably the nicest smartphones Samsung’s ever made, people may balk at the rather high prices that their metal bodies demand.