After years of taking heat for their all plastic lineup, it would appear that Samsung is finally taking this whole metal phone thing seriously. In the last couple months we have seen the Galaxy Alpha and the Note 4 stake out this new territory for Samsung, and today's announcement of the Galaxy A5 and A3 expands those efforts down market.
The Galaxy A5 and A3 are blatantly being targeted at younger smartphone buyers with a focus on the 5-megapixel selfie-friendly front-facing camera, a pre-installed GIF maker and the marketing calling them out as "Optimized for Social Networking." But unlike the often clunky phones that have been foisted on this demographic in the past, the A5 and A3 are quite thin at 6.7 and 6.9mm thick, and they share the styling of higher-end Samsung phones. Both phones will be offered in Pearl White, Midnight Black, Platinum Silver, Soft Pink, Light Blue and Champagne Gold.
The specs, something presumably ignored by that younger audience, are where the budget nature of the phones show.
The Galaxy A5 features a 5-inch screen with a 720p Super AMOLED display and a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor. The 5-megapixel front-facing camera is paired with a 13-megapixel camera around back.
The A3 really takes a hit on its screen with a 4.5-inch qHD (960×540, in case it has been too long) Super AMOLED. The processor and front facing camera remain the same, while the rear camera gets stepped down to just an 8-megapixel.
No word on whether either of these devices will be making an appearance in the US, but they are launching in China next month, with additional markets to follow this year.
So accepting that for geographic and demographic reasons these phones likely aren't targeted at most of you, what do you think of Samsung filling out their lineup with metal phones? Has the traditional Samsung plastic build bothered you or did it strike you as a valid design decision?
Samsung Electronics' Ultra Slim Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 Optimized for Social Networking
October 31, 2014
Young consumers can express themselves in greater style through new Samsung Galaxy devices
Seoul, Korea – October 31, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3, offering a refined, trendy design and the most advanced functions to support social networking. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, both devices empower younger consumers to quickly and easily capture meaningful moments, connect to social media and share their daily lives.
"The Galaxy A5 and A3 offer a beautifully crafted full metal unibody, slim design, superior hardware and the best possible social media experience," said JK Shin, CEO and Head of IT & Mobile Communication at Samsung Electronics. "These devices make our advanced Galaxy experience even more accessible to young and trend conscious consumers."
The Ultra Slim, Full Metal Design
The Galaxy A5 and A3 are Samsung's slimmest smartphones to date, featuring refined full metal unibody designs that are 6.7mm and 6.9mm thin, respectively. Both devices will come in a variety of colors, including Pearl White, Midnight Black, Platinum Silver, Soft Pink, Light Blue and Champagne Gold, to accommodate the personal style and preference of diverse users.
5 MP Front Camera for Unmatched Selfies
The Galaxy A5 and A3 offer a superior mobile and social experience to young consumers who want to express their unique style while constantly staying connected. Sporting an advanced 5MP front-facing camera, taking vivid selfies is now easier than ever before. Innovative photo-taking features, such as Wide Selfie, Palm Selfie, Animated GIF, Beauty Face Features, and Rear-cam Selfie, let users capture attractive selfies in high resolution by automatically detecting and focusing on a person's face. Users are also able to quickly and easily share photos or videos on their favorite social media channels with the device's fast network speed of LTE Category 4 standard.
Vivid Display and Powerful Processor
The Galaxy A5 and A3 are ideal for young consumers seeking practicality and functionality. Both devices are equipped with an extraordinary Super AMOLED display and Adaptive Display technology to deliver clearer images with deep contrast and better viewing angles for more vivid, colorful content in virtually any environment, even under bright sunlight. The Galaxy A5 and A3 are also outfitted with a Quad Core 1.2 GHz processor for seamless multi-tasking and faster browsing experience. In addition, the Galaxy A5 and A3 include popular features exclusive to Galaxy devices, such as Ultra-Power Saving Mode, Private Mode and Multiscreen, as well as adjustable audio which intelligently adapts and enhances sound output based on the user's surrounding environment. *Varies by markets and models
The Galaxy A5 and A3 will be available in select markets including China starting in November 2014.
Full details and product images are available at http://ift.tt/GHkDdM.
Samsung Galaxy A5 Products Specifications
Galaxy A5
Network
4G: LTE Cat4 (150/50Mbps)
3G: HSPA+ 42.2/5.76Mbps
Processor
1.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Display
5.0" HD Super AMOLED
OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Camera
Rear: 13MP AF with LED Flash
Front: 5.0MP
Camera Features
Wide Selfie, Rear-cam Selfie, Beauty Face Features
Video
H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VP8, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8
Playback : FHD(1920*1080) @ 30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, FLAC, Vorbis(OGG), WAV
Additional Features
Ultra Power Saving Mode, Changeable Theme (Natural, Classic, Casual, Romantic), Private Mode, Multiscreen, Quick Connect
Google Mobile Service
Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth: 4.0(BLE, ANT+)
NFC (LTE version only)
A-GPS/ GLONASS
Sensor
Accelerometer, Proximity, Geo-magnetic, RGB ambient light, Hall Sensor
Memory
16GB Internal memory + micro SD slot (up to 64GB)
2GB RAM
Dimension
139.3 x 69.7 x 6.7mm, 123g
Battery
2,300 mAh
Samsung Galaxy A3 Products Specifications
Galaxy A3
Network
4G: LTE Cat4 (150/50Mbps)
3G: HSPA+ 42.2/5.76Mbps
Processor
1.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
Display
4.5" qHD Super AMOLED
OS
Android 4.4 (KitKat)
Camera
Rear: 8MP AF with LED Flash
Front: 5.0MP
Camera Features
Wide Selfie, Rear-cam Selfie, Beauty Face Features
Video
H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VP8, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8
Playback : FHD(1920*1080) @ 30fps
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, AMR-NB/WB, FLAC, Vorbis(OGG), WAV
Additional Features
Ultra Power Saving Mode, Changeable Theme (Natural, Classic, Casual, Romantic)
*Varies by markets
Google Mobile Service
Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth: 4.0(BLE, ANT+)
NFC (LTE version only)
A-GPS/ GLONASS
Sensor
Accelerometer, Proximity, Geo-magnetic, RGB ambient light, Hall Sensor
Memory
16GB Internal memory + micro SD slot (up to 64GB)
1GB RAM
Dimension
130.1 x 65.5 x 6.9mm, 110.3g
Battery
1,900 mAh
* Features and functions will vary by market.
* All functions, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities are subject to change without notice or obligation.
* User memory space may be less than the total memory space due to system files. User memory may differ by region, carrier, and supporting language, and may change after software upgrade.
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