Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) Review

The 3-Minute Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) Review

Not a flagship but not bad

By Zach Riley | October 2, 2017

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

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 4/5 ● Performance: 4/5 ● Value: 3.5/5

The Best:

The 2017 version of the Samsung Galaxy A7 packs a vivid display and long battery life into a gorgeously designed, water and dust resistant phone.

The Bugs:

While the Galaxy A7 has one of the better displays in its price range, its performance only ranks in the middle of the pack. The operating system is bogged down by bloatware and, while beautiful, the phone’s design is a little on the bulky side.

Is it for you?

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is perfect if you want a big, vivid screen on a phone that looks like a high-end device at an affordable price.

“The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is a great pick for those looking for a nice looking Android phone with a great battery life and beautiful display.”

Meet the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)

This year’s Galaxy A7 is the 2017 version of Samsung's mid-range phone that was originally released back in 2015. Technology has come a long way in the past few years, so it’s not surprising that the A7 has made some sizeable improvements you compare it to its predecessor. The Galaxy A7 offers decent performance and a beautiful display for users who don’t want to shell out the money for one of the brand’s premier phones.

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

What we like

One of the biggest draws of the Galaxy A7 is its vibrant display. Samsung is known for their displays on their high-end flagship phones, so it’s great to see their beautiful screens make the jump down to one of their mid-range models. The phone’s body is solid and feels like something you'd find on a more premium model. It’s not only about looks though. Samsung added water and dust resistance to improve the A7's durability, making sure that it can survive an unfortunate fall into the sink.

The battery is exceptional. That means that the A7 can last for up to two days on a single charge by giving you an astounding 11 hours of screen time. If you need on your phone to survive the day, this could be a great choice.

What we don’t like

The Galaxy A7 is not without its drawbacks. The operating system, while otherwise smooth and responsive, is bogged down by unnecessary bloatware that doesn’t really provide too many extra benefits.

While the phone is beautiful, it lacks the sleek and slim profile of the company’s higher-end flagship phones. It’s relatively bulky and won’t be the best choice if you’re looking for a compact phone.

Lastly, the performance, while certainly acceptable for a mid-range phone, isn’t as good as we’ve come to expect from Samsung. It will get the job done, but it may suffer when running more intense apps or multitasking.

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

Should you buy it?

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is a great pick for those looking for a nice looking Android phone with a great battery life and beautiful display. While it lacks the power of more expensive models, the performance is more than okay for the vast majority of users. If you demand a lot out of your phone, this probably isn’t the best choice for you with the OnePlus 3T sitting in the same price range.

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.