A phone whose success is in doubt. Samsung Galaxy A3 – Review
A-series, positioned by the manufacturer as balanced and affordable mid-range devices.
We got to test the A3 - one of the few compact smartphones on the market with a 4.7-inch screen diagonal, which is doomed to popularity due to the lack of any decent analogues. A review of the younger model Samsung Galaxy A3 will show what new the company has offered to its users and whether it is worth buying the phone at that price.
Price and main characteristics
The cost of the A3 ranges around $320. Considering the small supply of RAM and built-in memory, the mark of 20,000 rubles can be considered slightly overpriced, however, Samsung and the adequate pricing that Chinese manufacturers have accustomed us to are incompatible concepts.
Specifications:
display: 4.7”, SuperAMOLED HD 1280*720 px, 312 ppi;
processor: Exynos 7870 (1.6 GHz) + Mali-T830 video accelerator;
RAM: 2 GB;
internal memory: 16 GB + microSD flash cards up to 256 GB;
camera: main – 13 MP, front – 8 MP;
communications: 4G FDD LTE, GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, ANT+, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5 GHz;
battery: 2350 mAh;
Dimensions of the device – 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9 mm, weight – 138 grams.
The smartphone runs Android 6.0.1 OS with the proprietary Grace UX shell. Soon the phone will be updated to the new version of the operating system 7.0, the update has already been officially announced.
Equipment and appearance
The package includes:
Smartphone;
Charging unit;
USB Type C cable, microUSB adapter;
Headphones;
Master key for SIM card tray;
Documentation.
Externally, the A3 is practically no different from the older A-series models. The smartphone's display is covered with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4, and the back panel is also made of glass. All this is complemented by a metal frame, which gives the A3 the appearance of a very stylish and expensive gadget. Four body colors are available: gold, blue, black and grey.
The smartphone screen occupies approximately 67% of the entire front side area. Below it is a hardware “Home” button (also a fingerprint scanner), as well as “Back” and “Tasks” touch pads, which are highlighted at the moment of touch.
At the top of the front panel there is a speaker, proximity and lighting sensors, as well as a 5-megapixel front camera. An innovation that not everyone will like is the absence of an LED event indicator.
The noise-canceling microphone and combo SIM slot are on top.
On the left side there are only two keys for adjusting the volume.
On the right is the screen power button and the main speaker. This location was not chosen by chance: the sound of the speaker does not overlap if you place the phone with its front or back surface on the table.
At the bottom there is a 3.5 mm headset jack, microphone and USB Type-C port.
From the back, the smartphone looks a little empty. There is only a 13-megapixel camera, a flash and the company logo just below.
The greens on the back cover of the A3 are slightly rounded towards the metal frame. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the phone is very convenient to use; you can easily hold it with one hand even on the go. The gadget is practically not felt in your trouser pocket.
The A3 housing is IP68 certified. The smartphone is almost completely protected from moisture and dust. It can stay under water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for half an hour. Of course, it’s not worth testing the defense again without the need.
Samsung positions the junior A-series model as a gadget for active people who value compactness and convenience. The typical A3 buyer isn't looking for benchmarks or screen size. There are not many worthy devices left on the smartphone market with a 4.7-inch screen (not counting the iPhone SE). And if you are tired of “shovels” - A3 is definitely your choice.
Screen
Samsung Galaxy A3 is equipped with a Super AMOLED display with a diagonal of 4.7 inches and an HD resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. Pixel density – 312 ppi. You can distinguish the graininess of the picture; to do this you have to peer at the display from a distance of 5-6 centimeters. During normal use of the smartphone, the screen quality does not disappoint; it has good contrast, almost maximum viewing angles and slightly oversaturated color rendition, traditional for all Amoleds.
There is also no air gap between the touchscreen and the sensor. The first one supports only up to 5 touches. In the smartphone settings, you can select a display mode suitable for color temperature. There is a software blue filter that reduces eye strain when reading text on a white background for a long time. The display brightness is sufficient for comfortable use both at night and in direct sunlight.
The smartphone screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It is scratch-resistant and can withstand falls onto hard surfaces from a height of 1-1.5 meters without noticeable damage. An innovation appeared in the 2017 A-line - AlwaysOn Display. Now information about new events is displayed even when the screen is turned off. Special technology minimizes power consumption in standby mode, so that using AlwaysOn has almost no impact on battery life.
Performance
Inside the smartphone is an eight-core Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7870 chipset made using 14nm technology. The maximum frequency is 1.6 GHz. This processor has already been used before in the Samsung J7 model. The Mali-T830 video accelerator is responsible for the graphics.
The volume of built-in memory is 16 GB. Out of the box, about 9.7 GB is available to the user. The storage can be expanded via microSD up to 256 GB. 2 GB of RAM is enough for most everyday tasks.
The hardware component of the A3 corresponds to the average price category of smartphones. In Antutu and other benchmarks, the phone shows satisfactory results for similar devices. The performance of the A3 is definitely enough for the average user (web surfing, video, light games). At maximum Wot Blitz graphics settings, the smartphone produces about 35-45 frames per second, but there is a lack of performance reserve, so this smartphone is definitely not for gamers.
Camera
The front 8-megapixel camera is not equipped with autofocus, so you will have to independently find the appropriate distance to the object in the frame. Using the built-in application, you can slightly adjust the selfie.
The main 13-megapixel camera has autofocus, HDR and PRO mode (manual adjustment of white balance, ISO and exposure compensation).
The quality of images in normal lighting will please even experienced users. The frames delight with good dynamic range, detail, rich colors and accurate white balance.
At dusk there is a small amount of noise, but it does not affect the picture much. The noise reduction algorithm may blur fine details.
Working with HDR in an environment with a small difference in brightness does not bring the desired effect. But in the presence of a bright light source, HDR significantly improves image quality.
The maximum resolution for video recording is FullHD at 30 frames per second.
Speaker, sound quality
If the phone is in your pocket, an incoming call can easily be missed due to the low volume of the main speaker. Otherwise, its sound is quite clear, listening to music does not cause discomfort.
Standard headphones are included in the package. You shouldn't expect anything supernatural from them; their sound quality is average. There are no complaints about the work of the conversational speaker. The noise reduction system works at a high level, cutting out unnecessary noise from the surrounding environment. Thanks to it, you can understand the words of your interlocutor even in public transport.
Battery
Battery life depends on the non-removable 2350 mAh lithium-ion battery. Despite the small battery capacity, the Samsung “lasts” on one charge for about two days in normal mode. This is due to the presence of an energy-efficient Exynos 7870 Octa processor and Super AMOLED matrix.
In video playback mode with maximum screen brightness, the Galaxy A3 lasted about 17 hours. Under heavy load, the battery will run out in about 10 hours. The smartphone does not have a fast charging mode, but, in fact, it is not needed. The phone charges up to 100% in an hour and a half. There is a power saving mode that limits the display brightness and processor frequency.
Communication and Internet
The A3's navigation capabilities are beyond praise. A cold start lasts no longer than 10 seconds, GPS/GLONASS quickly finds and binds to the required satellites. 
All necessary LTE standards are supported. Cellular communications will work perfectly in almost any region of the CIS.
The new A-series supports Samsung Pay. For its operation, an NFC chip is built into the smartphone. Data exchange occurs via Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5 GHz. In Repeater mode, the smartphone can distribute Wi-Fi to other devices, working as an access point. It is also worth using the USB Type C interface, through which you can connect a variety of external devices to the A3.
Video review of Samsung Galaxy A3
Competitors, conclusion
What can you say about the Samsung Galaxy A3 after the test? First of all, this is a compact model for everyday tasks. There are not many smartphones on the market with a 4.7-inch screen diagonal. The A3 can offer complete protection from moisture and dust, good battery life and a high-quality camera. The smartphone is suitable for people with an active lifestyle who value compactness and simplicity.
But some buyers are outraged about the price of the device. In their opinion, the Galaxy A3 is significantly inferior in technical characteristics to Chinese smartphones, the cost of which is almost three times less. But you should understand that these are players in different weight categories, aimed at completely different audiences.
The main rivals of the model are the iPhone SE and Sony Xperia X Compact. The advantage of the first is a better camera. However, the iPhone costs significantly more, has a completely different design and does not have an AlwaysOn Display. X Compact is similar in technical specifications. Again, it is more expensive and not waterproof.
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For Samsung, 2017 was a year of excellence. The Koreans not only released one of the most technologically equipped flagships at the moment, the Galaxy S8, setting the bar for the famous iPhones, but also updated many younger and simpler models. Among those that were noticeably upgraded was the mid-range Samsung Galaxy A line. And not only the older models of the series, but also its youngest representative - the Samsung Galaxy A3.
Technical characteristics of Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
The South Korean developer is quite cunning - while most manufacturers are still chasing the screen size of their smartphones, Samsung is chasing the quality of the technology. The guys from this company know their customers. And they know that a small but productive gadget is valued much more among ordinary people than a large smartphone with a weak processor.
As a result, we see annual updates to the South Korean mid-range lineup.
Technically, the Samsung Galaxy A has undergone significant changes. However, the models in the series differ not so much from each other.
Frame
Like its older colleagues, the A3 has become smoother and more rounded. The corners of the body no longer protrude so clearly, and the edges smoothly flow from one to another. Many people don’t like this decision regarding the redesign, saying that the phone has become like a point-and-shoot device. However, these are modern trends - angular buildings now seem to be a trend of the last century.
The perimeter of the phone is framed by a metal frame, the front panel is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 with a 2.5D effect. At the back, the same glass covers a slightly curved back panel. By the way, the panel is now smooth, there are no protrusions on it, the camera lens is perfectly tucked deeper into the body, which is quite convenient. The glass surface can sometimes play a cruel joke on its owner - glass and metal in the body materials make the phone uncomfortably slippery. If you are going to carry it without a case, be careful and hold the device tightly. Any fall in this case guarantees cracks and scratches on the phone body.
The front panel is not much different from the 2016 version - the screen occupies about 70% of the entire front part of the device, above it there is a speaker, the company logo, a front camera and a proximity sensor. At the bottom is the “Home” button on the mechanics with a built-in fingerprint scanner. There is also “Return” and “Application List” on the sensor. The touch buttons do not remain visible on the panel in inactive mode, although this is one of the signs of budget - more luxury models no longer have this.
Photo gallery: features of the appearance of the smartphone
Many users noted that after the redesign the phone looked like a point-and-shoot device 
The camera now practically does not protrude beyond the surface of the body 
At the bottom there is a mechanical button to return to the main screen and touch-sensitive “Context menu” and “Back” 
The speaker is placed on the side in an original way, next to it is the lock key 
There are two connectors on the bottom - for headphones and for a charger. 
Above the display you can find a speaker, front camera lens, motion sensor and the usual logo of the developer company 
On the top edge of the phone, the developers placed a SIM card slot and microphone 
Traditionally, volume up and down buttons are located on the left side.
The dimensions of the device remained virtually unchanged. The length and width of the phone were 135.4 x 66.2 mm, respectively, and its thickness was 7.9 mm. The weight of the model is 138 g. Compared to last year’s version, the length of the case, its thickness and weight have increased, but the width has decreased. Apparently, the developer tried to bring the phone as close as possible to FullHD parameters with 16:9 proportions.
There are only three color options: black (Black), blue (Blue), gold (Gold), pink (Pink). In general, we tried to please everyone.
The small dimensions of the phone make it extremely ergonomic and convenient. It’s pleasant to hold the phone in your hand, and an attempt to reach the opposite corner, if necessary, will be crowned with undoubted success, even for girls.
Tech stuff
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 runs on a fairly powerful eight-core Exynos 7 Octa 7870 processor, which is manufactured using 14 nanometer technology. Four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, whose clock speed is 1.6 GHz, and the same number of Mali-T830 GPU cores were placed here. By the way, this chipset was previously found in the oldest representative of the budget J line - Samsung Galaxy J7 last year. You shouldn't expect high results from hardware designed for medium-class phones. However, for its price and niche, the phone demonstrates good performance and stable operation. For everyday work, local equipment is quite enough. More resource-intensive tasks, although they significantly load the processor, are still up to the task. But in heavy 3D games it is useless to test the power of the hardware.
Photo gallery: Galaxy A3 2017 performance tests
Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 runs on a fairly powerful eight-core Exynos 7 Octa 7870 processor. Four ARM Cortex-A53 cores are placed here, whose clock frequency is 1.6 GHz. The smartphone also has four Mali-T830 graphics processor cores.
For its price and niche, the phone demonstrates good performance and stable operation. In single tests, the cores show low results. A joint test of cores will show a completely different picture - the result is “above average”
Despite the fact that the smartphone is significantly inferior to the company's leading flagships, its performance is absolutely sufficient to complete most everyday tasks. Difficulties in work are caused only by heavy and resource-intensive 3D games If you are buying a smartphone for work and everyday tasks, and not for games and entertainment, the device will not cause any complaints
Android version 6.0.1 Marshmallow is installed here with the Grace UX shell, which among the Samsung lineup was used only in Note7. It has a non-standard notification panel and settings menu, and also provides the phone owner with an additional screen on which current news is displayed. In addition, Grace UX allows you to change the appearance of standard icons and the theme (you will, however, have to buy them), can respond to the owner’s gaze (activating the display when you look at it), and offers to optimize the phone’s energy consumption yourself. In general, Grace UX has a wagonload of useful gadgets and a small cart. Despite their abundance, the shell works quickly, and noticeable slowdowns are observed only when loading news into the panel.
It is also worth noting that the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 can be upgraded to the latest Android 7.0 Nougat.
Photo gallery: operating system features
The phone is equipped with 2 GB of RAM
Almost half of the phone's total memory will be occupied by system files and folders, which are impossible to get rid of. Fortunately, the developers thought about their customers and placed here a slot for a flash card, the maximum capacity of which can reach 256 GB. Considering that the A3 is Samsung's junior model in the mid-price segment, the gift from the creators seems impressive. Although we should not forget that the additional memory slot will simply be inaccessible if the owner of the gadget uses two SIM cards. You will have to sacrifice either contacts or documents.
Of the available 16 GB of internal memory, about half will be available to the smartphone owner
Battery
The battery on the Galaxy A3 is lithium ion and non-removable. Its capacity is only 2350 mAh, but the screen with low resource consumption and the built-in processor, which intelligently distributes the load on the battery, more than compensate for the small capacity.
The battery in the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 is not very spacious, but the results and operating time are pleasantly surprising
The time of continuous work on the Internet reaches 12-17 hours, the phone can play video for up to 17 hours in a row, play audio for up to 41 hours when the screen is periodically turned on and up to 55 hours when it is turned off. At the same time, the talk time without interruptions is about 17 hours. In general, at an average load level, the smartphone can easily withstand almost two days of work.
There is no fast or wireless charging on the Galaxy A3 2017. However, even without them, the device is fully charged quite quickly - in 1.5 - 2 hours the battery replenishes its reserve to the maximum level.
The battery is undoubtedly the strong point of the smartphone, even with low figures for its capacity.
Other amenities
In addition to good technical characteristics, the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 also added several special functions that will pleasantly surprise the owners of the gadget.
IP68
The IP68 standard guarantees your smartphone reliable protection from dust and moisture entering the phone body. Now you don’t have to worry that your gadget will suddenly stop working after encountering water or a sandstorm. It can be safely placed at a depth of 1.5 meters for as long as 30 minutes. If during such a time even water cannot get inside, let alone dust.
Despite the fact that the smartphone occupies the youngest place in the line, since 2017 it is also equipped with dust and moisture protection properties
Samsung Pay
One of the undoubted advantages of the updated version of A3 is the ability to pay without a physical card. The 2017 version added support for NFC and MST technologies, which allows you to link a card to your phone and then calmly pay with it, even without having this card in your pocket. The data is reliably protected and there is no need to worry about its loss - every transaction of funds is confirmed by your fingerprint.
They didn’t forget to put Samsung Pay in the smartphone
Always-On-Display
This feature, previously exclusive to luxury models, appeared on Samsung Galaxy A line smartphones only this year. Moreover, as you can see, not only among its senior representatives, but also among the youngest A3. The function itself is as follows: the screen of your phone, even in inactive mode, displays all current notifications, events, calendar, clock and other important and useful information.
Like its older brothers in the line, the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 is not without an always-on screen feature
Blue filter
This mode changes the phone's current color scheme to a softer, warmer, autumnal color scheme. This change has a very beneficial effect on the eyes of the owner of the device, relieves tension from them, and allows the eye muscles to relax. As a result, the time you spend using the phone increases, and discomfort and fatigue decrease.
USB Type C (1.0)
Among other things, the phone has a new USB connector. This is now USB Type C version 1.0. How is the new connector different from the old one? Yes, because it is symmetrical, which means that it doesn’t matter which side you try to insert it into the phone. Any will do.
Fingerprint's scanner
The fingerprint scanner is built into the mechanical Home button on the front of the phone. Users have very mixed reviews about its work. Some are satisfied with the device, noting the fast response (less than 1.5 seconds to unlock) and smooth operation. Others categorically state that the scanner is mediocre and only works every time. Considering that we are talking about a junior phone in the budget line, such flaws seem forgivable.
The fingerprint scanner in the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017, although weak, is still present
Camera
The smartphone is equipped with a camera with a main camera resolution of 13 megapixels. The focal power of the lens is f/1.9. Like older models, the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 has both built-in standard modes and a Pro mode, which involves manual adjustment of most parameters. So, in this mode you can easily adjust ISO, i.e. the light sensitivity of the lens, select the white level, set exposure and much more. The camera interface is also very standard and is unlikely to cause confusion among those who have used Samsung smartphones in recent years.
In addition to the standard ones, the camera is equipped with an HDR mode. If some time ago this mode justifiably seemed useless and ineffective to many users, now HDR often “pulls out” many pictures. On the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017, this mode works very smoothly. After applying HDR, dark holes do not acquire unnatural shades, and highlights do not turn gray.
Left - picture without HDR, right - with HDR mode
Daytime shooting
During the day, the camera focuses the image very accurately and quickly. The frames are detailed, bright, rich and pleasant. The color gamut of the photographs is close to natural, the range of shades is high and varied. As for the white balance, the camera determines it quite close to the original, i.e., real, picture.
However, it is also noticeable that the smartphone is a junior version of the line. The Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 lacks optical stabilization, due to which, even during the day, pictures can sometimes come out insufficiently clear and blurry in places. In this situation, the quality of the photo directly depends on the stamina and reliability of the hand that holds it. Given the light weight of the product, as well as its size, trying to take a good, clear photo becomes a serious task. And in conditions of night shooting or indoor shooting, it becomes even more difficult.
Photo gallery: daytime shooting
The front camera of the phone has a resolution of 8 megapixels and an aperture equal to the main camera, f/1.9
The Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 carries over the same convenience in handling the front camera as its older S-series brothers. You can switch from camera to camera with a simple swipe on the display, take pictures with a quick touch of the screen, or shoot using a voice command or gesture.
With the updated front camera, you don't have to worry about the quality of the pictures - they will be beautiful
Video
The Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 shoots videos in FullHD quality, with a frame rate of 30 fps. The user has access to a panorama mode, as well as a Pro mode with the same settings as the camera.
Video: Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 camera review
Price
The price range of the Galaxy A3 2017 is very large - from 14,700 to 22,990 rubles. The cost of the model in the official Samsung store as of July 2017 is 19,990 rubles.
Video: review of the Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 smartphone
I've been using the phone for a month now, so I think I can make some reviews) I switched to this device from a Lenovo K900, so the difference for me is simply colossal! I'll start with the positives. First, it's excellent ergonomics! Not a shovel (like the K900), it fits perfectly in the hand, it’s convenient to use with one hand. They say he tries to jump out of his hands during a conversation, I don’t know. I immediately took the flip case and did not encounter such a problem. Second, stylish design. Previously, I always considered Samsung to be aimed at the fair sex and took more brutal models from competitors from the Far East. But this model was a pleasant surprise. In addition to the very good filling (which we’ll talk about later), the A3 has a very rich appearance. Although perhaps fragile, the combination of metal and glass looks very solid! I took the standard black design, but the manufacturer offers us several colors including white, gold, rose gold and black. They say that on white the prints on the back cover are less noticeable. I repeat, I took a flip case and I also don’t know about this problem. Well, now about why I took it. Appearance is nothing if “under the hood” there is absolutely nothing to brag about. Can you tell me that for that kind of money I can get a more powerful smart phone? Maybe. But in addition, with a high degree of probability, you will get squeaky plastic with a branded lid and who knows what kind of “cockroaches”. In general, during the month of merciless use, the A3 never let me down. I uploaded a couple of useful programs and I don’t know about the troubles. Never rebooted, no lags noticed. For a more objective assessment, I even downloaded several games, although I took it mainly for work, not entertainment. The colors are rich. Even very thanks to Amoled. The network catches remarkably well, no failures were noticed. I was very worried about the battery. The K900 also has a built-in battery and will be more powerful. And then there’s the super-bright display and plus touchscreen, which eats up a good 2/3 of the RAM... but the device was a pleasant surprise! It's enough for a day, with the Internet turned on all day, 40-60 minutes of talking a day and surfing. I rarely use the camera, so in my humble opinion the camera is good. In addition, the ability to shoot in FullHD format will please many, and for selfie lovers there is a 5 MP front camera. The speaker may not be the loudest, but the sound is clear, there’s practically nothing to complain about. It seems like I haven't forgotten anything. Of the minuses, I can say about the combined slot for a SIM card and a memory card. When replacing one of the two components, you will have to remove the entire slot and temporarily be without communications/applications installed on the memory card. And the price, of course. Now it costs about 21 thousand rubles, but you could save 3 rubles. Although in an unstable economy, such a price is understandable. In the end, I can say that the A3 made me very happy, and in some places even pleasantly surprised me. Smart is worth the money and I think for this price it’s almost an ideal investment. I recommend it to everyone, you will be satisfied!)
Somehow you feel uneasy when you see a mobile device from the South Korean company Samsung in a metal case in front of your eyes. Therefore, the three stylish models of the “A” series released in 2015 aroused great interest. In addition to one common feature - an aluminum body, they all differed in both display sizes and technical characteristics.
For example, it was a flagship model with a 5.5-inch screen. The Galaxy A5 had average performance and a five-inch display. This time we will talk about the youngest model. So what is the SM A300F smartphone? An overview of the main parameters and features of the device is given in the article.
Equipment
The Galaxy A3 smartphone comes in a blue cardboard box with a large letter “A” in the center. The packaging is not very informative, but the main characteristics and features of the device can be read from it.
Inside is the device itself, a data cable, a regular stereo headset, an adapter for charging the device, a warranty card and instructions.
Design
Having looked at the SM A300F device, the review should begin with its external data. We are talking about a rectangular metal body of the device. Its back wall and side edges are completely made of aluminum. True, it is painted, but this was done for the sake of variety of color options for the Samsung Galaxy A3 SM a300f smartphone (Gold, Black and White). The device is thin, hence its light weight, only 110 grams. The aluminum body is comfortable for one hand and feels sturdy and durable.
The display part of the phone is completely protected by special glass. On top there is a front module, a speaker, proximity and lighting sensors, as well as the logo of the South Korean company. Below the screen are standard controls in the form of touch keys. The volume button is located on the left side, and on the right there is the device start button and SIM card slots. Moreover, the top slot can be left for a memory card.
The bottom end is decorated with a microphone, a charging connector and a headphone input. And on the top end there is an additional microphone. On the back panel you can see an 8 MP camera, to the left of it is an LED flash, and to the right is a speaker. Below them is the same logo.
Smartphone A3 SM A300F: overview of screen capabilities
The smartphone is decorated with a 4.5-inch display, created using the unchanged Super Amoled technology. Its resolution is 960×540 pixels (245 ppi). Of course, if you use the device mainly for making calls, writing messages and surfing the Internet, then this resolution is more than enough. But for advanced users this will not seem enough.
But, despite the low pixel density, color reproduction and brightness are all right here. Moreover, the brightness parameter has as many as 4 modes: “Adaptive Display”, “Main”, “Amoled Photo” and “Amoled Movie”. The first mode is very convenient, because it analyzes the level of lighting around and automatically adjusts the brightness.
The display responds instantly to touches, but recognizes no more than five touches at a time. According to reviews, there are no complaints about the viewing angles, and information can be read without problems in the sun.
Smartphone A3 SM A300F: characteristics
The smartphone is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 401 series processor. It also uses an Andreno 306 video chip along with 1 GB of RAM. So you don't need to expect very high performance from it. Rather, it is at an average level, but this ensures a longer period of operation without recharging.
In theory, these characteristics should be enough for the smartphone to cope with almost all the applications that it will be asked to run. But since the start of sales, many users have already managed to make their own review of the Samsung Galaxy A3 SM A300F. Their reviews claim that some resource-intensive applications are still unstable. Whatever one may say, 1 GB of RAM is not enough now.
The smartphone has only 16 GB of internal memory, although only 12 GB will be available to the user. Fortunately, those who wish can use a memory card to increase it up to 64 GB. But for this you will have to sacrifice one SIM card. The developers made a rather unusual decision. It seems that it is typical only for models in this series.
Camera Features
Continuing the review of the Samsung Galaxy A3 SM A300F (Black), it is worth mentioning the 8 MP main camera, which takes fairly good pictures. This application provides a large set of settings and preset modes. For example, auto contrast allows you to achieve the best quality images in bright light. There are other modes, such as smile detection, portrait panorama, night mode, twilight, against the light, text, etc. The additional camera (5 MP) does not have autofocus, but it also takes good pictures.
The device is also capable of recording videos in mpeg4 format, and in the settings you can choose whether they will be with or without sound. As for the video quality, it is very acceptable for amateur shooting.
Menu
The Samsung Galaxy A3 SM A300F (white), which is currently being reviewed, runs Android 4.4.4, but nothing prevents it from being updated over the air. By the way, there is an interesting feature that increases the speed of loading content. So he is able to do this simultaneously over wi-fi and 4G, splitting the files into several packages.
This device has several differences in functionality and interface from the Samsung A5 model. For example, there is no mode for working in multiple windows, an application that measures the user’s physical activity - S Health, the Dropbox service, a children’s mode, and behind the curtain you don’t even have to look for quick launch icons. The device also lacks a heartbeat sensor and, in general, the software set here is significantly reduced. Although, Internet Security, AWAD and ANEWS are still there.
But there are such convenient functions as muting a call by turning the smartphone display down and notification of missed calls and messages through vibration when touching the smartphone. But this cannot be called something new; all this was implemented in the Galaxy S4.
Phone features
In this part we will talk about “Phone Book”, “Messages” and “Contacts”. For convenience, their shortcuts are located at the bottom of the main desktop. If you go to the “People” tab, you can view information about specific subscribers. Each entry can include several fields: phone number, last name, first name, email address, etc. To find the desired number, you can use the search bar or the alphabetical field on the right side of the phone book.
During a call, the screen displays the caller's photo, phone number, and name. Messages are in a shared folder, but if you select a name in the phone book, you can read the correspondence specifically with a particular subscriber.
Multimedia capabilities
What else can I say about the Samsung Galaxy A3 SM A300F smartphone? A review of multimedia capabilities will answer this question. The Music application, as usual, launches the player, which is designed to play tracks and videos. All major formats are supported: mp3, aac, aac+, amr, etc. All multimedia files are sorted by artist, genre and composer.
You can use the Gallery application to search for tracks or videos. Everything is divided into categories: music, photos and videos. Despite the fact that the package includes a standard headset, you can choose any other headphones if desired.
Communication capabilities
Using a USB cable, the Samsung Galaxy A3 SM A300F Gold smartphone (a review of the main characteristics and features is provided in our material) can be connected to a computer. After this, three modes will be available: data transfer, charging and MTP.
The smartphone has Bluetooth functionality for connecting wireless devices. There were no problems with mobile networks or Wi-Fi connections, and 4G works stably.
Duration of work
For some reason, the Samsung Galaxy A3 smartphone received a 1900 mAh battery. Knowing this, at first you expect that it will soon discharge. In fact, it proved to be no worse than devices with a more capacious battery. The fact is that due to the increased technological process (28 nm), the processor power is less. Hence the increased operating time without recharging. In general, with an average load - 4 hours of calls, 2 hours of listening to music and 3 hours of Internet - enough for about 18 hours of work.
In addition, there is an energy saving function, which, when activated, turns on gray colors, due to which the screen consumes virtually no energy. Maximum mode reduces energy consumption by 80%. Thus, the smartphone can last 2-3 days in standby mode.
Bottom line
What can you say about the Samsung Galaxy A3 SM A300F smartphone? The review showed that you should not expect miracles from this device. Its advantages include a metal body, pleasant appearance, bright display, good camera and durable battery. But there are also disadvantages that slightly overshadow the above advantages. These include low screen resolution, a simplified interface and no personal memory card slot. In addition, the device for such characteristics is quite expensive (13,000 rubles).
