Samsung introduces new tougher Galaxy A phones

• New A series devices will offer IP68 water and dust resistance.
• Samsung’s latest phones will be equipped with reversible USB Type-C ports.

IT IS the start of a new year and Samsung is kicking the year off with their new Galaxy A range of smartphones.

Though there are in fact three variants with the A3, A5 and A7; Samsung has confirmed that only A5 and A7 will be launched in Malaysia tomorrow (Jan 5, 2017).

The two new models take a page from the higher end S-series phones and now feature metal frames and a 3D glass back.

The new A series phones have also received an upgrade with a tougher build quality that is IP68 water and dust resistance, making it safe to use them out in the rain or other challenging situations.

The A5 and A7 also support expandable storage up to 256GB via a microSD card and one don’t need to sweat it when the battery is running low thanks to its Fast Charge technology that lets one charge the phone quickly.

Photo enthusiasts would be pleased to know that the A7 and A5 share the same 16-megapixel camera with a f/1.9 aperture. A nice touch for selfie lovers is the use of the display as a flash when taking selfies.

Also, Samsung has switched out the regular microUSB port for a USB Type-C port that so users don’t need to worry about which side they are plugging the charger in.

The phones have also picked up new tricks from their higher-end siblings like the S7 Edge’s Always on Display -- allowing users to glance at the time and appointments without unlocking the device.

The Galaxy A smartphones pack a fingerprint reader for easy unlocking and also will support Samsung Pay cashless payment which is currently being rolled out in Malaysia.

The key differentiator between the two models is that the A7 comes with a 5.7in Super AMOLED display while the A5 has a similar though smaller 5.2in display.

The phones will come in a variety of different colours such as black, gold, blue and peach.

Samsung’s Galaxy A5 and A7 are priced at RM1,699 and RM1,899 respectively.

To celebrate the launch, Samsung is giving a free pair of Samsung Level U Pro wireless headphones, worth RM399, for every unit purchased during the pre-order sale period from Jan 6 until Jan 15, 2017.

More details can be found on Samsung Malaysia’s Facebook page.

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