Sections
- Page 1 Samsung Galaxy A5 Review
- Page 2 Software and Performance Review
- Page 3 Camera Review
- Page 4 Battery Life and Verdict Review
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) – Battery Life
The 3,000mAh cell – non-removable, as is now common with Samsung phones – is capable of making it through the day with few issues, and if you’re only using the phone infrequently throughout the day, it should have some juice left over for the following day if you forget to charge it one evening.
What the Galaxy A5 does really well is conserve battery during usage, thanks to the highly efficient CPU. An hour of Netflix streaming uses about 7-8%, while the same amount of time listening to Spotify with the screen off consumes on average 3%.
It’s the same story with everything but the most intense games. Monument Valley chews through about 11% per hour, although it drains much quicker if you’re playing long sessions of Asphalt 8.
Related: What is USB-C?
Adaptive Fast Charging is another welcome addition, taking you from 0-80% in an hour; it will get you to 100% in just under 90 minutes using the supplied USB Type-C charger and plug.
Watch: Which is the best phone you can buy right now?
Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)?
Samsung has really improved its already impressive A-series with the 2017 edition of the Galaxy A5. The addition of water resistance, USB Type-C, a classier design, impressive display and highly efficient CPU combine to make a seriously well-specced mid-range device that offers up a viable alternative to the OnePlus 3T.
At £369.99/ $399.99 (or around £28 per month) it’s probably slightly overpriced; there are certainly cheaper options out there such as the Honor 6X. However, the complete package you’re getting here just about makes it worth it.
For the vast majority of people, this could well be the perfect phone.
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Verdict
A real mid-range champ – it will tick almost all of the boxes for the majority of people.
How we test phones
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 8
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Camera 8
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Design 9
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Battery Life 8
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Value 8
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Software 8
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Calls & Sound 7
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Screen Quality 9
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.