By Edd K. Usman
Consumer electronics giant Samsung Electronics has relaunched its Galaxy A series smartphones with the unveiling of two new units under the brand ? the Galaxy A7 (2017) and Galaxy A5 (2017).
The Galaxy A series is being promoted as “the smartphones with attitude” and are aimed specifically at millennials.
Nio Judalena, head of marketing for IT and mobile at Samsung Philippines, ranked the Galaxy A line as among Samsung’s top smartphones, at least in features.
“The Galaxy A7 line is very important part of our portfolio. In fact, it’s been in the market since 2015 when we first introduced it. In 2016, we launched it again? borrowing some premium features from our flagship smartphones,” Judalena said in an interview.
The Samsung executive said the new smartphones have a 16MP camera front and back, with sleek design similar to the company’s flagship offerings.
The Galaxy A7 (2017) has a 5.7″ screen while the A5 (2017) is equipped with 5.2″ screen. Each variant is offered in three colors: Black Sky, Gold Sand, and, exclusive to A7 (2017), Blue Mist.
Some of the characteristics found in the new phones are in Samsung’s flagship smartphones such as the IP68 certification for water and dust resistance (akin to that of Galaxy S7). Samsung said A7 Series users are “to free dive into new adventures without letting rain, sweat, sand, or dust stop” them in their tracks.
The A7 Series can also be a “lifesaver” in times of unexpected moments outdoors because the “device is able to withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.”
At the launch of the phones, the company gave test units to the members of the media who then sank them in about four inches of water without obvious bad effect. The water was very shallow, however, and that the unit stayed underwater for just a few minutes.
For its camera feature, the smartphones are equipped with 16MP high-resolution shooters in front and rear. The cameras, with an impressive F1.9 aperture, are built for “all environments, even in low-light conditions.”
Its 32GB internal storage can be expanded up to 256GB with microSD card. Like every smartphone nowadays, the A Series (2017) has dual-SIM capability.
A fast charging feature and a long-lasting 3,000 mAh battery for A5 (2017) and 3,600mAh for A7 (2017) are on board. Also added to the features is the reversible USB Type-C port for easy connectivity and hassle-free charging.
The following are the prices of the smartphones: P19,999 for A5 (2017) and P23,990 for A7 (2017). The series is available online until January 30 on Lazada, Abenson, and MemoExpress.
