Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) review: Marathoner with a punch

Introduction

A Samsung for every taste - that seems to be the main mantra of the Korean giant as of late, as evident by its sprawling and ever-expanding smartphone lineup. We guess it's always good to have more options, but we just can't shake the feeling that some of Samsung's recent creations are beginning to overlap and tread in each other's territory - at least from the global perspective we have.

Here's what we mean - the Galaxy A line and the Galaxy C line are way too close specs-wise to clearly distinguish from a consumer point of view.

The Galaxy A7 (2017) packs a 5.7-inch display, an efficient 14nm Exynos 7880 Octa SoC, a body made out of a glass/metal combo, IP68 certification, 16MP f/1.9 cameras front and back.

Offerings like the Galaxy C7 and its C7 Pro sibling come pretty close to the Galaxy A7 formula and the 6-inch C9 Pro takes things even further size-wise.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) at a glance:

• Body: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 4 display protection
• Screen: 5.7" 1080p Super AMOLED screen (386ppi); Always On Display
• OS: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow; Samsung Grace UX; Nougat update in the works
• Chipset: Exynos 7880, 14nm process
• Memory: 3GB of RAM; 32GB storage, dedicated microSD slot for expansion
• Camera: Primary 16MP, f/1.9, 27mm; Secondary 16MP, f/1.9
• Video: 1080p
• Connectivity: nano SIM (dual SIM version available); LTE (Cat. 6); dual-band Wi-Fi ac; Bluetooth 4.2; FM Radio; USB Type-C; 3.5mm jack
• Battery: 3,600mAh
• Misc: Fingerprint reader, IP68 certification for dust and water resistance, Samsung Pay

Main shortcomings

• Somewhat expensive - the Galaxy S7 goes for about as much and might drop in price even more once the S8 comes.
• Not the most recent Android version though an update shouldn't be that far away.
• Lack of 4K video recording is unusual at this price point.
• No OIS, even though the previous generation had it.

If you want a well-equipped Samsung offering with current hardware features like a metal exterior, a snappy processor, and the coveted Super AMOLED panel, then you can look for it within the "A" family. The fresh Galaxy C line, however, fits that bill just as well.

Now with the waterproofing, the refreshed 2017 Galaxy A line easily stands out.

Then there is also the still current S7 flagship, which might be smaller in size, but is packed to the brim with tech and has been coming down in price rapidly.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) in official photos

Deciding between any of these appears to be a daunting task and might require some careful consideration to identify your perfect Samsung mix - if they are all even available where you live, of course. Samsung is still keeping the A7 (2017) away from European markets for some reason and until that changes, gray imports are your only bet on the Old Continent.

With that in mind, follow along on the next page as we start to pick apart the Galaxy A7 (2017) and what it has to offer.