Cell phone galaxy a7. Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) - Samsung smartphone in a metal case

The new one immediately attracts attention thanks to its excellent design. The smartphone will look equally good both in the hand of a man and in the hand of a woman. Its body is made of a combination of glass and metal, and has excellent build quality. In addition, it fits perfectly in the hand, its flat side edges will relieve the fear that the phone will fall out of hands.

Despite the solid display size (5.5 inches), the device doesn't look big. This is achieved through thin bezels around the screen. The display itself is made using SuperAMOLED technology, which guarantees a rich, clear and bright image that is clearly visible even in direct sunlight. And thanks to the FullHD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) with a density of 400 ppi, everything displayed on the screen looks just fine. With such a diagonal, you can comfortably enjoy reading books, surfing the Internet, watching high-definition videos and photos. Automatic brightness control will automatically set the required backlight level, depending on external conditions. 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 with oleophobic coating, will protect the display not only from scratches, but also from dirt and fingerprints.

V Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) SM-A710F Black for the first time in the series Galaxy devices A fingerprint reader is installed. It not only further protects personal data, but also makes using your smartphone more convenient and faster. With it, you can not only unlock your phone, but also gain access to websites and accounts.

The "heart" of the device is the processor Samsung Exynos 7580 8 cores which operate at 1.6 GHz. It can handle more than just applications with ease social networks or watching videos on YouTube, but also with quite serious loads in the form of 3D games with high-quality graphics. 3 GB random access memory ensure fast and smooth operation operating system Android 5.1 Lollipop, even multitasking. The system is equipped with a shell - TouchWiz. It will give the user access to the Samsung Galaxy Apps store, where not only exclusive themes are waiting for him, but also applications, games and gifts. The built-in storage capacity is 16 GB (10.5 GB available to the user), which can be increased using microSD memory cards with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. The battery capacity is a solid 3300 mAh, which allows the smartphone to work up to 17 hours of talk time or surfing the Internet and up to 78 hours of listening to music.

Naturally, in Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) SM-A710F Black all the most modern communication modules are installed. To access Mobile Internet you can use 4G LTE, which will provide speeds up to 300 Mbps. And support for the operation of two SIM cards will open up more options for choosing a tariff for the Internet and calls. The Wi-Fi module works with the most common a / b / g / n protocols and supports Wi-Fi Direct, which will allow you to exchange data between smartphones via Wi-Fi, without an access point. Bluetooth has version 4.1 and is equipped with all kinds of profiles for connection wireless headsets, other devices and data exchange (A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HFP, HID, HOGP, HSP, etc.). With ANT +, you can connect to sports equipment such as a heart rate monitor, pedometer, bike computers, and more. There is even NFC, which is becoming more and more popular and allows you not only to exchange data on short distance but also make payments, quickly connect other devices and use a smartphone as an electronic ticket. As a navigator, the smartphone is also good, it receives a signal from both GPS satellites and GLONASS satellites.

The main camera installed in the device has a resolution of 13 megapixels. It is equipped with autofocus and optical stabilization Images. Together with HDR, this will allow you to get excellent quality images, even in low light. It is possible to record videos in FullHD format with stereo sound. Fans of selfies and video calls will love the 5MP front camera.

The design makes a very good impression. The device looks both expensive and stylish. The device received something from last year's flagships of the s6 series, namely, a metal edge and protective glass on both sides. The A7 looks different from the s6, but all the better, the smartphone has its own personality.

We did a good job on the case itself, or rather, on the dimensions. The device has become more convenient in terms of operation and fits perfectly in the hand, despite its impressive size. At the same time, it is still not very convenient to use one hand, however, it is noticeable in the company that they were very, very striving for this.

The smartphone has a fingerprint scanner that is built into center button... Next to it are touch buttons, traditional for Samsung. I was very pleased that they are backlit. The build quality is so excellent that it is impossible to disassemble the device on your own without proper experience, only contact the service center in case of problems.

And now about the negative. The sim card tray only has 2 holes, so you have to choose either you need 1 sim + 1 memory card or 2 sim cards but no extra memory. But you know, it's good that such an opportunity exists. Samsung flagships they can't.

For a list of color schemes, see the specifications page.

Width

Height

Thickness

Weight

Shell

A7 runs on Android 5.1. We are waiting for the update to the "six". I would like to note and tell the work of the fingerprint scanner. Fingerprints are entered in the settings, with their help in the future you can not only easily unlock the device, but also log in to some sites. If something happens to your finger, then you will be additionally offered alternative way authentication. The shell is easy to use, it makes it possible to use two applications at the same time. The only drawback is a bunch of services from Samsung and Microsoft that not everyone needs.

Specifications

• CPU

  Samsung Exynos 7580, 8 cores, 1.6 GHz

• Video processor

The smartphone received as many as 8 cores, which had a beneficial effect on its performance. But, as we know, happiness is not in the cores. We will not see the most beautiful graphics in games on this device, although it is normal, because it was not created for games, nevertheless it copes with the overwhelming majority of them.

Memory

Here we have as much as 3 GB of RAM, just like the flagship. Fine! But with the built-in memory, everything is not so good, its only 16 GB, so the option of abandoning one SIM card in favor of a memory card is quite viable here.

Connection

We will not devote much time to this item, since there is simply no point in listing all the existing communication standards. Let's just say that there is no Ik-Port. 4G pleased me, the data transfer speed is incredible.

In early December last year, Samsung officially presented the second generation popular smartphones Samsung series Galaxy A, the more distanced itself from the budget market mobile devices... The updated lineup received stylish cases made of glass and metal, a powerful hardware platform and improved camera modules, as well as full support for electronic payments Samsung Pay through a built-in fingerprint scanner and wireless NFC chip.

We managed to get the oldest device from the presented line for the test - a smartphone SamsungGalaxyA7 (2016) , which will allow the most complete and detailed acquaint you with all the changes and innovations of the updated series. What interesting opportunities this device possesses and what interesting things we managed to find out during testing - you can find out from a further review. But first, let's consider specifications device under test.

Specification

Appearance, arrangement of elements

Formally, the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) belongs to the middle class of mobile devices, but visually and tactilely, it can be easily mistaken for a real flagship. This is due to the stylish and very elegant design paired with premium body materials, which migrated here directly from eminent relatives ().

The frame of the smartphone is made in the form of an all-metal frame made of high-quality anodized aluminum, which is covered on both sides by two thin and very strong pieces protective glass 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 with superior oleophobic layer. The color of the monitored gadget is golden (white and black options are available), which further emphasizes its high status.

Despite the large 5.5-inch screen and not the most modest dimensions, the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) looks very neat and elegant, which is mainly due to the small frames around the display (15 mm top and bottom, 3 mm on the sides) and extremely small the thickness of the case is only 7.3 mm. Nevertheless, it is quite problematic to operate a smartphone with one hand - it is corny that the length of the fingers is not enough, which is why, in general, a rather slippery device often has to be intercepted.

Traditionally for devices from the South Korean company, Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) is distinguished by a well-thought-out arrangement of controls and their high functionality. The side buttons are well defined, and the built-in fingerprint reader quickly creates an impression (you can store up to 5 copies in the device's memory) and is almost instantly responsive to touch. In addition to unlocking your smartphone and making purchases in the store Samsung apps Apps, it supports working with electronic system payments Samsung Pay, which, unfortunately, is not yet available in Ukraine and Russia.

Above the smartphone screen are located: the earpiece, the proximity sensor and the light sensor, the front camera lens and the manufacturer's corporate logo, and below it there are three familiar control buttons: the mechanical "Home" (equipped with the aforementioned fingerprint scanner) and two touch buttons ("Back" and "Menu") with pleasant LED backlighting. On the upper edge of the device there is an additional microphone, while the lower one is occupied by a 3.5 mm audio jack for a headset, a micro-USB port, a multimedia speaker grill and another microphone. The left side of the device contains two volume keys, and the right one contains a power button and a combined slot that allows you to install either two SIM cards of the Nano-SIM format, or one SIM card and a microSD memory card.

The back of the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) is made in the form of a non-removable part, which makes it impossible to replace the battery yourself. It houses the main camera lens, a single LED flash and a large manufacturer's logo.

The build quality of the reviewed smartphone does not cause even the slightest complaints. All elements of the body are fitted very tightly, and the structure of the device itself is a real monolith. When you try to twist and press on the front or back, nothing bends, and the image on the screen remains free of visible streaks and artifacts.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) has a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a pixel density of 400 ppi, which is based on a proprietary Super AMOLED matrix. It features excellent color saturation, excellent detail and near-perfect contrast. The viewing angles are maximum, and only with critical deviations does the screen show a barely noticeable rainbow shift in the color balance.

The backlight has a very high brightness reserve, with a fairly wide range of adjustments, including automatic mode, which makes it equally convenient to work with a smartphone both on a bright sunny day and in low light conditions.

Built-in touch pad supports up to 10 simultaneous clicks. The sensitivity is excellent - everything works quickly and accurately, without false alarms and other inconveniences.

Audio subsystem

The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) has one multimedia speaker. Due to its good location on the bottom edge, it is practically not muffled and can provide high-quality and rather loud sound in the entire available range - there are pronounced high and medium frequencies, and sometimes there is a hint of bass.

The sound in the headphones is balanced and pleasant. It has a sufficient volume reserve and tangible depth. An additional positive effect is created by proprietary software add-ons and a built-in equalizer, the activation of which adds saturation and volume to the sound.

Camera

The digital arsenal of the smartphone is represented by two cameras: the main one is a 13-megapixel module with an aperture of f / 1.9, optical image stabilization and a single-section LED flash, and the front one is a 5-megapixel module with an aperture of f / 1.9 and wide-angle optics. Both of them are capable of recording video at a maximum resolution of up to 1080p at 30 fps.

The photo and video materials obtained with their help are distinguished by excellent quality, natural color reproduction and sufficiently deep image detail. Separately, it is worth mentioning the improved function "HDR" and a good shooting mode "Night", which significantly improve the quality of photos in low light conditions, as well as help get rid of the characteristic artifacts when the noise reduction system is triggered.

Branded software, which is responsible for the operation of cameras, has a simple and at the same time quite functional interface (it is launched from any state by double-clicking on the "Home" button). As in the flagship models, the software contains an extensive set of capabilities and allows you to very finely adjust the process of photo and video shooting, with the exception of the focal length, which even in manual mode remains fixed.

Examples of photography

Examples of photography in the "HDR»

Examples of photography in the "Night" mode

Examples of filming

An example of daytime shooting from a smartphoneSamsung Galaxy A7 (2016) 1080p @ 30fps

Custominterface

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) is running an operating room Android systems 5.1.1 Lollipop, which has been expanded latest version branded shell TouchWiz. You can learn more about the interface and capabilities of this software bundle from our previous review of the flagship smartphone. The only minor difference will be the lack of an IrDA in the reviewed model and, as a result, some pre-installed software that allows you to control household and multimedia equipment in the house.

As for the speed of the operating system and the proprietary shell as a whole, it is pleasantly pleasing and deserves only positive feedback... Everything functions quickly and very smoothly, without the slightest hint of jerks or hesitation.

Performance and communication capabilities

The reviewed smartphone is built on the basis of a productive hardware solution - an 8-core Samsung Exynos 7 Octa (7580) microprocessor with clock frequency 1.6 GHz, which is based on the 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 microarchitecture in accordance with the 28nm process technology. It is complemented by a built-in graphics adapter ARM Mali-T720 MP2 with an operating frequency of 600 MHz and support for OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenVG 1.1 and DirectX 11. The amount of RAM is 3 GB, and 16 GB of permanent memory, of which about 11.03 GB is available. If desired, it can be easily expanded with microSD memory cards up to 128 GB.

As can be seen from the results obtained, the performance of the hardware platform is at high level... The presence of 8 processing cores and 3 GB of RAM allow you to effortlessly cope with any tasks, including running modern games at maximum graphics settings. Unfortunately, the reverse side of the medal is a rather noticeable heating of the device, which is especially noticeable near the lens of the main camera and on the sides of the case. However, this nuance is a distinctive feature of almost all productive modern mobile devices in slim body made of metal or glass.

By default, the smartphone recognizes most of the popular video and audio formats, including MKV and MP4 containers, which is quite convenient given their wide distribution.

The dual SIM radio module in the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) with support for Nano-SIM cards allows phone calls 2G GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) in Dual mode SIM Dual Standby, as well as transfer data to mobile networks 3G UMTS (850/900/1900/2100 MHz) and 4G LTE (800/850/900/1800/2100/2300/2600 MHz) at speeds up to 300 Mbps. He does an excellent job with the task and does not cause the slightest complaints. Communication quality is good: the speaker and microphone clearly and loudly transmit the voices of the user and the interlocutor. But the built-in vibrating alert seemed weak, which is why you can easily miss an incoming call in a particularly noisy environment.

More traditional ways to transfer data to Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) are presented wireless modules Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n (2.4 and 5 GHz) with Wi-Fi function Direct. The device also has an NFC module that allows you to make electronic payments in Samsung system Pay.

Search Wi-Fi points and connecting to them is fast, and established connection has good stability.

The built-in geolocation module supports two navigation systems - GPS and GLONASS. It has good accuracy (12 m) and enough high speed search - the “cold” start time on average takes about 10-15 seconds.

Autonomous work

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) is equipped with a non-removable lithium ion battery quite impressive capacity - 3300 mAh, which in conditions of moderate use when performing everyday tasks will be quite enough to provide more than 2 days of uninterrupted operation of the device from a single charge.

So, when watching HD-video (MPEG-4 / AVC, M4V container, 4 Mbps stream) the device was able to hold out for almost 16.5 hours, and in the game simulation mode (Asphalt 8: Airborne) - 4.5 hours.

The estimated battery life according to the PCMark benchmark was 9 hours 48 minutes, and according to the Geekbench 3 battery test - 11 hours 50 minutes, while the GFXBench benchmark gave a result of 282 minutes. In all cases (except for the gaming one), the display brightness was 50%, and the Wi-Fi and GPS modules were also turned on.

From a standard charger (5 V, 1 A), the smartphone battery is fully recovered in 3.5 hours. The device also has a fast charging function (less than 2 hours), which is available only with chargers that support Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging.

Outcomes

In truth, the second generation of Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones in the person of the monitored guest exceeded all our expectations. Instead of the predicted minimal changes and another "solid middle peasant", we got a real flagship device, which only by the will of marketers took intermediate positions in lineup companies.

First of all SamsungGalaxyA7 (2016) pleased us with a truly stylish and elegant appearance. The perfect combination of glass and metal, and the almost jewelry work on fitting individual case details, definitely deserve praise and warm words addressed to the developers. The smartphone looks and feels expensive, which is important given the class of the device and the level of competition in this market segment. Secondly, it is worth mentioning a high-quality 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display (almost perfect contrast and excellent image detail) and improved camera modules, which, thanks to the support of proprietary technologies and excellent functional properties, will pleasantly surprise even the most skeptical user. As for the internal hardware platform, it is capable of solving any assigned tasks, including launching demanding game projects at maximum graphics settings. The only controversial nuance can be a noticeable heating of the case during a prolonged active load, which, however, is a distinctive feature of almost all productive modern mobile devices in a thin glass or metal case.

Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) definitely deserves attention from a huge audience of users and our “High functionality!” Award, as a high-quality and high-performance device with a sleek design and a wide range of features.

Advantages:

• stylish and elegant design;
• excellent build quality;
• convenient and fast fingerprint scanner;
• gorgeous 5.5-inch screen;
• high-quality and loud multimedia speaker;
• high-quality camera modules;
• high level of productivity;
• support for two SIM-cards in Dual SIM Dual Standby mode;
• excellent communication capabilities due to the presence of all the necessary wireless modules;
• good level of autonomy.

Peculiarities:

• one of the slots for the SIM card is aligned with the slot for the microSD memory card;
• the built-in NFC module is designed for electronic payments in the Samsung Pay system.

Flaws:

• sufficiently slippery materials of the case;
• noticeable heating during long-term active use.

We express our gratitude to the companySamsung for the smartphone provided for testing.

The second generation is a symbiosis of stylish design flagship Galaxy S6 and significantly improved technical equipment of last year's model. For example, a fingerprint scanner has appeared, the hardware has been updated and the battery capacity has grown significantly. What after all the transformations the gadget turned out to be, we will tell later in the review.

Design and functional elements

Yes, the design of the Galaxy A7 (2016) is unoriginal, but it was not "borrowed" from anyone, but from the flagship S6 itself. From a distance, confusing smartphones is as easy as shelling pears - outwardly they are almost identical. The body is based on a metal frame, and the screen and back panel are protected by slightly convex 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4.

But, despite the quality materials and perfect build, which provide the tested model with constructive reliability, I would not recommend dropping the A7 - glass is glass. It looks, of course, beautiful and expensive, but if handled carelessly, it tends to beat and scratch. Another disadvantage of such a surface is soiling. Particularly good for fingerprinting material is the back panel of the device in a black color, similar to the one I got for the test. The white and gold versions of the smartphone are, I think, less susceptible to fingerprints.

As for the location of the control buttons and other functional elements on the body of the new A7, it is also somewhat similar to that of the flagship S6: on the left, for example, are the volume control buttons, and on the right is the power key and the hybrid slot.

The upper end of the gadget is dedicated to the noise-canceling microphone, and the lower end to the 3.5 mm audio output, microUSB port, second microphone and multimedia speaker grill.

The rear panel of the model is notable for only a slightly protruding camera lens, framed by a metal ring, LED flash and the manufacturer's logo.

Conversational speaker along with front camera, light and proximity sensors are equipped above the screen.

Unlike last year's A7, the 2016 model has a fingerprint sensor, which again pushes the novelty closer to the premium segment. It is built into the mechanical Home button and stores up to 5 prints. The sensor works quickly and clearly, so you don't have to apply your finger several times. The traditional touch buttons on the sides of the control room are brightly backlit for comfortable work in the dark.

It would seem that with large diagonal screen and rather large dimensions - 151.5x74.1x7.3 mm with a weight of 172 g, it is extremely inconvenient to operate the smartphone with one hand. However, in the settings of the smartphone, the "One-handed operation" mode is provided specifically for this purpose. In addition, you can simplify navigation through its menu using the "Simple screen mode" option.

Display

Like last year's model, the Galaxy A7 (2016) is equipped with a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Pixel density per inch 401.

The screen is crisp and clear even in bright sunlight, and the viewing angles are wide both horizontally and vertically. In my subjective opinion, the display of the tested model is one of the best in its segment.

In its settings, you can choose one of four display modes, manually adjust the backlight level, or turn on automatic.

I also note a very sensitive sensor that supports up to 10 simultaneous touches, and an excellent oleophobic coating, thanks to which the finger glides over the panel easily, and fingerprints are invisible and quickly eliminated.

Hardware and performance

If in terms of design, the Galaxy A7 has everything like the flagship S6, then on hardware, for the sake of a much more affordable price tag, the company's engineers still had to save money. Under the hood of the smartphone is a branded 8-core Exynos 7580 processor with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz and Mali-T720 graphics. The amount of RAM is 3 GB.

In benchmarks, the smartphone shows average results, but with daily use, I did not notice problems or lack of performance: Full HD video plays smoothly, "heavy" games from the category of Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2 run smoothly.

Memory

Of the 16 GB of built-in smartphone memory, the user has about 10.5 GB at his disposal. At first, this should be enough, and then you can use both external USB drives and microSD memory cards up to 128 GB to expand it.

Communication capabilities

The slot for a memory card, let me remind you, in the Galaxy A7 (2016) is combined with one of the slots for a nanoSIM card, so the user will have to choose: expand the volume of the Flash drive or use two SIM cards. The latter, by the way, support networks 2, 3 and 4G.

And also new Galaxy A7 has a complete set of modules wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n 2.4 + 5.0 GHz, HT40, Bluetooth v4.1 (A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HFP, HID, HOGP, HSP, MAP, OPP, PAN, PBAP) , ANT +, GPS and GLONASS.

There is even an NFC chip, which is designed not only for exchanging information with compatible smartphones via the Android Beam standard, but also for making contactless payments. In turn, the smartphone can be connected to car infotainment systems via the MirrorLink protocol.

Autonomy

Time autonomous work the new Galaxy A7 with a 3300mAh battery is more than satisfactory. And unsurprisingly, its battery capacity is 750mAh larger than that of the S6 flagship. For example, Full HD video from 100% battery charge at maximum screen brightness and with Wi-Fi turned on on the A7 can be watched for 9 hours, and run in the Minion Rush 3D runner with the same settings for about 6.5 hours.

At medium loads, the smartphone can work without recharging for up to two days. In addition, to save energy in the settings, you can use one of the two proprietary power saving modes at any time: normal and extreme.

Cameras

To control the 13MP main Galaxy camera A7 (2016) can use voice, and 5MP frontal both voice and gestures.

Both photomodules record Full HD video and, in my opinion, fully justify their resolution with their capabilities.

- Test video

The main camera A7, for example, proved to be excellent not only during photo and video shooting in daylight, but also during night photography. Apparently, a powerful LED flash and accurate autofocus played an important role in this.

- Test photos

Also in stock HDR mode, continuous shooting and "professional" mode, which allows you to manually adjust a number of parameters.

In addition to self-portraits, the front camera also takes good group selfies. Well, at least it's not a shame to post them on social networks.

Loudspeakers

Music fans will love the new Galaxy A7. The smartphone sounds powerful and clear in all ranges of volume and frequencies.

To play audio files, a proprietary player is used, all sound effects in which are combined by SoundAlive technology. In addition, in the settings you can activate tube amplifier and optimize the sound. FM radio is also present as external antenna uses headphones.

There are also no complaints about the conversational dynamics of the smartphone - it accurately conveys the interlocutor's speech without distorting the timbre and intonation. Its volume is sufficient even for noisy places, for example, in public transport.

ON

As a software Galaxy platforms A7 (2016) uses Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Of the preinstalled programs, the most interesting are the branded applications S Planner, S Health and S voice, there is also the Kaspersky utility Internet Security, wide range Google services and office programs Microsoft.

Among other software chips, the smartphone supports the "Smart Off" function - the device screen remains on while the user is looking at it, as well as the control function using gestures.

conclusions

Well, the new Galaxy A7, in my opinion, turned out to be incredibly successful, although not cheap - 400 euros at the start of sales. However, having bought it, you are unlikely to regret it. From a technical point of view, the smartphone copes with any tasks: resource-intensive games, video playback in high definition, plus everything is perfectly prepared for working away from the outlet. Its autonomy can be envied by most flagships, including the Galaxy S6, from which it borrows a premium design and benefits from support for two SIM-cards and memory cards.

Looking at the price tag, one cannot discount the cameras that are excellent in their capabilities, as well as the fast fingerprint scanner that has appeared in the new product.

Price: 400 euros

The product is provided by the press service of Samsung in Ukraine

Alena Lazauskas

The Samsung A-series smartphones, announced in 2014, have proven to be very popular among the company's fans. Thanks to the successful combination of price and functionality, they demonstrated successful sales, and on the wave of success, the Koreans decided to update the line to keep up with the times.

In December 2015, a new generation of Samsung A-series smartphones saw the light, and in addition to the A3 and A5 models, the updated A7 went on sale in early 2016. The cost of the novelty was about $ 400-450, depending on the store and the country.

Externally, the smartphone is made in the same style as other devices of the line. It almost does not differ from the A5 - except that the display is larger. Galaxy Dimensions A7 - 151x74 mm, thickness - 7.3 mm. The weight of the smartphone is 172 grams, which is within the average for phablets (Xiaomi Redmi Note 2, for example, weighs 160 g). The slightly increased weight is caused by the materials used: the metal from which the base of the case is made, and the glass of the back and front panels are heavier than plastic.

In general, the design is pleasing: at last Samsung decided to move away from the already recognizable, but already boring round design. This is still not a "brick" like Lumia - the roundness remains, and the "Home" button has not gone anywhere. Now it has a built-in fingerprint scanner, which is becoming the de facto standard for a smartphone in 2016. But in general, the acquisition of the Galaxy A7 with a more austere outlines can be applauded.

The "filling" of the smartphone has been updated to match the design. At the moment, it corresponds to the conditional class "almost a flagship, but more affordable", but by the middle of the year it may become the de facto standard for medium-sized devices. price category... What is good about the Samsung Galaxy A7 SM-A710F - our review will help you find out.

Characteristics Samsung Galaxy A7 SM-A710F (2016)

The smartphone is equipped with modern hardware, which cannot be called top-end. But it does not pull on the contemptuous nickname of an outsider: the performance is at a decent level. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A7 is faster thanks to the new generation of the chipset.

CPU

The Samsung Exynos 7580 is an octa-core chip made up of an octet of identical Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.9 GHz. As a video accelerator, the Mali T720 MP2 chip is used, which is weaker than the T760 model installed in the S6, but is quite good. In "synthetics" the results do not look impressive (only 37 thousand AnTuTu points), but in practice there is no lack of performance. Heavy toys, like WoT Blitz or Asphalt 8, run at maximum graphics settings, FullHD video is decoded without delays, and the interface works smoothly.

Memory

The RAM in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 is 3 gigabytes, as in the still flagship Galaxy S6. It makes no sense to say that there is enough memory for everyone: even with 2 GB, all modern applications work perfectly.

Built-in memory in the smartphone 16 GB. Traditionally for the A-series, using a memory card, the disk space can be increased by sacrificing a second SIM slot.

Autonomy

Capacity Samsung battery Galaxy A7 2016 - 3300 mAh. This is a typical volume for a phablet, so you can expect an acceptable level of autonomy. 3D games will drain the battery in 4-6 hours (depending on the level of load on the hardware). With moderate use during the day, the charge will still remain for tomorrow, and if you use your smartphone only for calls, you can count on more than two days.

Camera

Cameras in Samsung know how to make, because the Galaxy A7 is no exception. The smartphone has a 13-megapixel module with autofocus and a bright diode flash. The pictures are juicy and clear, just a little short of the flagship S6. During the day they can be called excellent, in the evening the noise appears, but within the permissible range (for a smartphone camera).

The front-facing 5 MP matrix is ​​also not far behind. It is perfect for video communication, and makes good selfies. Lack of lighting can cause noise, but it does not interfere with viewing objects in the picture without zooming in in detail. Like the main one, the front module shoots video in FullHD.

Examples of pictures taken with the camera:

An example of a photo taken indoors on Samsung camera A7 2016

An example of a shot in low light

Thanks to Revolverlab.com for the pictures taken.

Screen

Super AMOLED displays are the main feature of Samsung. The company strives to make proprietary technology perfect. It is worth noting that she does it quite well. The 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels demonstrates a rich and monolithic picture. Individual pixels are invisible to the naked eye, as is the "grid", which previously suffered from PenTile technology. The brightness of the matrix is ​​370 cd / m2, which can be called a good indicator. In the sun, the picture is blind, but not critical.

The touchscreen of the screen perceives 8 simultaneous touches (I wonder why not 10? Maybe this is a feature of early firmware.). It is covered in tough and scratch-resistant 4th generation Gorilla Glass (just like the back).

Connection

Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 supports GSM, HSPA and LTE networks. This is a basic set for a modern device that has become a standard. Wireless communications are represented by Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies are supported, b, g, n standards), BT 4.1 and NFC. Navigation is carried out using GPS and GLONASS satellites.

Sound

The speaker on the bottom of the Galaxy A7 2016 sounds loud and clear. The sound is traditionally for smartphones a bit dry, but acceptable. The headphones are all better, and you don't have to worry about the lack of comfort from using the phone as a player. The built-in player is good and has a lot of sound settings. There is also an FM radio in the smartphone.

System

Functions Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 under Android 5.1. Naturally, without a branded TouchWiz interface not bypassed, but now it looks more like not a bulky add-on over the OS, consuming gigabytes of RAM, but a pretty decent launcher. The system works quickly and without brakes.

Differences between Samsung Galaxy A7 SM-A710F (2016) and SM-A700F (2014)

The new Galaxy A7 has undergone significant changes compared to its predecessor. The main innovations of the SM-A710F model are:

• The novelty is 2 mm narrower, 1 mm thicker and 31 grams heavier than its predecessor, and the rear panel has become glass;
• The Exynos 5430 processor was replaced by the Exynos 7580;
• The amount of RAM increased from 2 GB to 3;
• The battery capacity has grown from 2600 to 3300 mAh;
• A fingerprint scanner appeared in the "Home" key;
• Maximum baud rate LTE networks increased from 150 to 300 Mbps.

prosandminusesSamsung Galaxy A7 SM-A710F (2016)

• high-quality screen;
• good camera;
• good autonomy;
• good sound;
• stylish design.

• the GPU is not powerful enough for its price category;
• the slot for the second SIM card is combined with the MicroSD connector.

Our review of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2016

New Samsung Galaxy A7 SM-A710F - stylish smartphone with balanced functionality. The review did not reveal any significant shortcomings in him, nevertheless, this solution is, first of all, for connoisseurs of a combination of beautiful appearance and modern iron. Gamers may be dissatisfied with a mid-range video processor, and connoisseurs of economy will find an alternative in the face of the more affordable Meizu M1 Metal or Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. Nevertheless, I can state that the smartphone turned out to be successful and seriously lags behind the flagships only in video performance.