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Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
...


7.6/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) currently has an Informr score of 7.6 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 6 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Vibrant, bright display
  • microSD support
  • Good battery life
  • NFC support
  • Quality design

What's bad

  • Price vs performance
  • Slow camera
  • Average performance
  • Low internal storage
  • Redundant apps pre-loaded

Blending mid-tier performance with the look of a flagship phone, Samsung’s A-series is known for its attention to details and stylish designs. This year’s releases are finally out and on paper the 2016 A3 looks nice. But do the figures translate to a good experience?

Let’s check what reviewers are saying!

One phrase repeated over and over was “it looks like a Galaxy S6 Mini.” If you were a fan of the flat glass and metal design of the S6, you’ll be thrilled with the A3. PC Advisor UK declared, “Galaxy A-series now has a premium design worthy of Samsung’s flagship family at a mid-range price.” Some reviews noted that the flat back led to slipping and some questioned the long-term durability of all that shiny glass, but overall, reviewers were fans.

Flipping around to the front, you’ll find a 4.7-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen. In typical Samsung fashion, the screen wowed reviewers. PC Advisor UK said, “Viewing angles are decent, the display is plenty bright.” Phone Arena noted, “I’ve seen much more detailed screens on phones of this tier, but even on the new Galaxy A3, I’ve almost never found image detail to be insufficient or text to be difficult to read.”

Keeping all those pixels moving smoothly, you’ll find a 1.5Ghz quad-core Exynos processor and 1.5GB of RAM. Performance reviews were mostly positive--though some noted problems with heavy multitasking or complex graphics. Android Pit summed things up well, saying, “Neither gamers nor the generally impatient are going to be thrilled with the Galaxy A3.”

You’ll find 16GB of internal storage to load up your favorite apps, games or movies. With the pre-installed apps, that dwindles down to just over 9GB. Fortunately, the phone includes support for microSD cards of up to 128GB.

Though the phone is new, its a little behind on Android releases--running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. If you’re not a fan of earlier TouchWiz versions, reviewers were quick to point out that Samsung seems to be dialing back their features and changes to provide a truer Android experience.

While the phone’s 2300mAh battery might look weak on paper, reviewers found battery life to be good. Phone Arena noted, “the new Galaxy A3 will last through a day of moderate use.” Android Pit fared even better, saying, “You can get about two days of use out of it and it seems well equipped to deal well with heavy use. Integrated energy-saving features also afford you great control over which apps are disabled in standby mode.”

If you’re hoping to snap pictures while out and about, you’ll find a 13MP rear camera with flash and a 5MP front-facing lens for selfies and video chat. Reviews on the cameras were mixed. PC Advisor UK said, “At this price the photo quality is acceptable, with realistic colours and reasonably sharp detail.” Many reviews noted a considerable delay when focusing--particularly in low light.
Overall, reviews of the phone were positive. The biggest area of contention was pricing. Many phones with similar if not better specs are available in this price tier, though maybe not with the polish of the A3.

Android Pit summed up the phone, saying, “The performance is not outstanding, but it is adequate for the price. Its shortcomings are, however, offset to a degree by its strong battery life.” Expert Reviews was more positive, declaring, “If you're not really bothered by which version of Android you have and you've been desperately waiting for Samsung's next, true 'mini' phone, then you really can't get much better than the Galaxy A3 2016.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
4.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.7"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
2300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSM Dome
GSM Dome

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) remains a standout through design, battery, audio and display, so it’s a media phone first and foremost. It’s also a good looking, compact and youthful model. Everything works fine here, maybe except for the camera, that’s just average.

- Alexandru Stănescu, GSM Dome
Alphr
Alphr

With the Galaxy A3, Samsung has given us a diminutive smartphone with flagship looks and build quality, a super screen, a capable camera and battery life that goes on and on. What it hasn't given us is the performance to match.

- Alan Martin, Alphr
PhoneArena
PhoneArena

I suppose we all have that friend who wouldn’t care what hardware or operating system goes into a phone. As long as it looks pretty, they’ll get it. That’s the kind of people who will be drawn by the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016), as its gorgeous design and eye-catching display are its...

- Nick T., PhoneArena
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

It's expensive, but the tiny Galaxy A3 2016 beats every other mid-range smartphone when it comes to looks and battery life.

- Katharine Byrne, Expert Reviews
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

Wants to stand out from its mid-range rivals with a special design and high-quality build.

- Andreas Kilian, Notebookcheck


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions



Samsung backs up the Galaxy A3 (2016) with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy A3 (2016) has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




Resources


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Quick view

Screen Size
4.7"

The Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)'s screen size is 4.7 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 Quad core 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2300 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 11.3 days standby time, 840 minutes, 900 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy A3 (2016) Specs

Overview
Release Date December 15, 2015
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 Quad core 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 1536 MB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.49 W/kg
Body: 0.62 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Headphones, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, Self-timer, White balance, Exposure value, HDR, Voice activation
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 312 pixels
Size 4.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2300 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 840 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 900 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 840 minutes
Standby Time Up to 11.3 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, Pink, White, Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.4 x 6.5 x 0.7 cm (5.3 x 2.6 x 0.3 in)
Weight 132 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
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Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
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