Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) review: Bite-sized

16 January 2017
Samsung was a prime culprit in the growth of smartphone screen sizes, but back in 2014 it tried something different with the Galaxy Alpha - a high-end phone in a small scale body. The Galaxy A3 is a spiritual successor and we’re here to look at the third iteration.

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geewaiho, 23 Apr 2017The a3 2017 is a great phone and very comparable to the alp... moreBut gpu is more powerful on alpha, is'nt it ?

    Apolodor, 03 Mar 2017I always dream that one day samsung will make the all-new g... moreThe a3 2017 is a great phone and very comparable to the alpha. The software on lollipop was awful for the alpha whereas marshmallow flies on the a3 2017 with grace ui. The processor is a tad weaker (1.6 vs 1.8, but the a3 has 64. Bit processor on 14nm) but it is allot smoother compare to the alpha which I use both still, better build, better battery, design, performance, camera. And sd card. Alpha has better memory and removable battery).

      AnonD-636056, 11 Feb 2017A317 a517 and all the a series except galaxy alpha are crap... moreI always dream that one day samsung will make the all-new galaxy alpha 2017. But no. They prefer to sell us garbage and turn something good into garbage. At least a5 2017 scores 60k in antutu compared to alpha that scores 40k (at least my alpha)

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        • Anonymous
        • HsK
        • 02 Mar 2017

        I want to purchase a3 2017 where can I get this phone recently

          • D
          • AnonD-643758
          • tDx
          • 14 Feb 2017

          Thank's confirms..GSMARENA😍..

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            • AnonD-636056
            • 8p0
            • 11 Feb 2017

            A317 a517 and all the a series except galaxy alpha are crap.. samsung would have made customers more satisfied by upgrading it's galaxy alpha and not producing these phones!!!.. a7 2017 still can't beat galaxy alpha

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              • AnonD-606990
              • fCU
              • 09 Feb 2017

              Anonymous, 17 Jan 2017of courseTouchWiz is no more. This uses the new GraxeUI.

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                • Anonymous
                • fCT
                • 09 Feb 2017

                iLoveEeEe, 18 Jan 2017Can AOD be deactivated if we see no reasons to put it on ?Yes. Even the review gives battery endurance with ON and OFF settings.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • fCT
                  • 09 Feb 2017

                  AnonD-8779, 21 Jan 2017go with samsung and do not ever come to sony. never sony m... morePoint of the compact phone is to have a smaller screen.

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                    • AnonD-640240
                    • nwv
                    • 08 Feb 2017

                    Jumbo, 04 Feb 2017Right now I would get a Z5 compact over either. Not only pr... moreZ5 Compact over both even if I don't care about the price?

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                      • Jumbo
                      • n%q
                      • 04 Feb 2017

                      AnonD-640240, 31 Jan 2017The ultimate real question: Should I buy this (Samsung A3 ... moreRight now I would get a Z5 compact over either. Not only priced similarly but GPU is orders of magnitude better; don't forget this has a proper flagship chipset and camera. The only + for A3 is the battery life (so strange to be saying that of a Samsung vs Sony compact..).

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                        • AnonD-640240
                        • nwv
                        • 31 Jan 2017

                        The ultimate real question:
                        Should I buy this (Samsung A3 2017) or the Sony Xperia X Compact?
                        Which is the best compact android in the market?

                          I can't get it- how can many people complain about Nokia 6 being overpriced when they can buy this? My roommate uses J5 (2016) and it started to lag right after first power on.

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                            • AnonD-636658
                            • Jqy
                            • 22 Jan 2017

                            Thank you for the review. It is great, but I found it lacking in one specific area. You usually go through great detail in some parts, but I feel like the internal storage was overlooked. I wish you'd provided information (with screenshots) such as these: how much internal storage is free to the user out of the box? How much storage is available after all the bundled apps that can be uninstalled and disabled are gone? Which bundled apps can you remove and which ones you can't? After this, how much is left when you update all the apps left, presumably system ones that can't be either uninstalled or disabled? Does the system software support adoptable storage for the SD Card, or if in normal removable storage, can you move apps to the SD Card? When a system update is available, do you need to make room on your internal storage for it, or is there space reserved for system updates on the system partition?

                            If anyone has information on this, thank you.

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                              • Nita
                              • IbF
                              • 22 Jan 2017

                              How do i get the same wallpaper that was on that phone

                                Ahmad najeb, 20 Jan 2017Galaxy A3 2017 is released this week in Qatar. It is for 31... moreGo for it, I have the a3 and a5 2016 and both are great phones, great designs and very well optimised. No lag or stuttering.... Yet!. It seems the 2017 models remedy my issues with the a3 with a Octo-core processor, fingerprint scanner, always in display to replace missing led, waterproofing, curved back for better handling etc. The grace ux is a welcome addition.

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                                  • AnonD-523334
                                  • 7k7
                                  • 21 Jan 2017

                                  Samsung did a stellar job with the chipsets efficiency even considering 14nm fabrication is already efficient. 93h with a 2350 mah battery is superb endurance

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                                    • AnonD-8779
                                    • 6vW
                                    • 21 Jan 2017

                                    Ahmad najeb, 20 Jan 2017Galaxy A3 2017 is released this week in Qatar. It is for 31... morego with samsung and do not ever come to sony. never
                                    sony makes great phones but their support is worse than htc.
                                    if you ask me i have the honor 6x. almost a 100$ cheaper and only lacks usb c. bigger screen and i guess camera is on par as far as i think (still no official review from gsmarena yet)

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                                      • iLoveEeEe
                                      • TRJ
                                      • 21 Jan 2017

                                      Finally the 2017 A series is on sales now but there is missing of A3, why ?

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                                        • zodiacfml
                                        • J7R
                                        • 20 Jan 2017

                                        that's expensive.