Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) Review

The 3-Minute Samsung Galaxy A5 Review

Not bad, but there are better

By Zach Riley | August 18, 2017

Image Credit: CC image courtesy of Aaron Yoo on Flickr.

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 3.5/5 ● Performance: 3.5/5 ● Value: 3.5/5

The Best:

The Samsung Galaxy A5 is a solid mid-range phone that’s available at a reasonable price. While it lacks the power of high-end flagships, it boasts a stylish design, nice screen, and still does a respectable job of handling most day-to-day tasks.

The Bugs:

The main drawback when going for a mid-range phone is the reduction in performance (when you compare them to more expensive flagships). With a lackluster camera and average hardware, the Galaxy A5 is still a little overpriced considering the capabilities of its mid-range competitors.

Is it for you?

The Samsung Galaxy A5 is a good option for those looking for mid-range performance at an affordable price. The phone has the hardware to support day-to-day use and basic media but it will struggle if you try to run more intensive apps.

“... you could do a lot worse than the Samsung Galaxy A5.”

Meet the Samsung Galaxy A5

Samsung is widely recognized for their luxury flagship phones, but they also offer other, less expensive models. The A5 doesn’t have the chops of the S7 or S8, but it gets the job done at a much lower price. While the A5 will never be Samsung’s most talked about device, it plays an important role as a solid mid-range phone that’s accessible to a wide audience.

Image Credit: CC image courtesy of Aaron Yoo on Flickr.

What we like

The Galaxy A5's display is surprisingly vibrant and bright. Its screen quality is comparable to that of a far more expensive phone. Although the A5 is in the middle of the pack performance-wise, it definitely has the look of a pricier phone with its beautiful design and solid construction.

The phone also features a big battery that will generally last the whole day, even with heavy use. This aspect sets it apart from even a lot of luxury phones and is one of the main draws to the Samsung Galaxy A5. Lastly, the phone’s affordable price is another nice perk. When compared to the cost of the Samsung Galaxy S8, the A5 is definitely worth a second look if you’re on a budget.

What we don’t like

The technical specs of the phone are relatively unimpressive. While the phone performs well, it isn’t even the best in its price range. The A5 features an Exynos CPU that is, well by no means weak, far from the most powerful option available. For just a few bucks more, you can get the OnePlus 3T (which blows this phone out of the water).

The camera is also unimpressive even after taking into account the mid-range status of the A5. Although we mentioned the price as a benefit in the section above, it can also be seen as a drawback as the phone’s performance is a little weak for its price.

Image Credit: CC image courtesy of Aaron Yoo on Flickr.

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a phone that will give you solid mid-range performance at an affordable price, you could do a lot worse than the Samsung Galaxy A5. With that said, there are other phones in this price range that, honestly, do a better job. Look at a phone like the OnePlus 3T for an example of a mid-range phone that really does it right.

The Samsung Galaxy A5 is a viable option, but we'd urge you to consider other mid-range phones before making the purchase.

Check out the product video:

About the Author / Zach Riley

Zach Riley is a tech author who's combined a love of gadgets with a love of writing.