Samsung is expected to release a new Galaxy A series in 2016 and the purported Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 just leaked online in new images.
When the original Galaxy A series made its official debut, it raised lots of interest because it finally marked Samsung's departure from plastic designs to more premium metal builds. The Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 launched first, with a higher-end Galaxy A7 following afterward.
Not too long ago, the next-generation Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 leaked online, giving us a few clues regarding the design of the new models. Another leak now brings more images, this time showing the upcoming Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 (second-generation).
The successors to the original Galaxy A series smartphones are expected to feature premium designs and mid-range specifications. Based on the newly-leaked images, some changes are in store for the 2016 Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7.
First of all, the images show a full-metal design for the purported Galaxy A5 model, but the Galaxy A7 seems to have a flat glass rear panel reminiscent of the Galaxy S6 series.
The newly-leaked images come from Chinese publication Anzhuo, which also posted some details regarding the specifications of the upcoming Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7.
According to the report, the metal-clad 2016 Galaxy A5 (SM-A510F) will feature a 5.2-inch display (likely SAMOLED) with a full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) and pack a 1.6GHz octa-core Exynos 7 processor with Mali-T720 graphics and 2 GB of RAM under the hood. Other purported specs include 16 GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for additional memory, a 13-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel selfie cam, and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on the software side. No details are available regarding the battery size.
The next-generation Samsung Galaxy A7, meanwhile, will reportedly have a bigger screen of 5.5 inches, likely SAMOLED as well, with the same full HD resolution as its smaller counterpart. Under the hood, this model should come with a 1.5GHz Snapdragon 615 processor, Adreno 405 graphics and 3 GB of RAM. Other specs include 16 GB of expandable memory, a 13-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel front shooter, and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. In other words, the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 will share nearly all specifications except for processor and screen size.
The image showing the front panel of the purported 2016 Galaxy A5 also hints at a potential fingerprint scanner, as the home button appears to be taller than the one of its predecessor. The Galaxy A8 already has a fingerprint sensor and it would make sense for Samsung to extend the courtesy to new models in the series.
When it comes to launch timeframes, the Galaxy A7 will reportedly make its debut sometime in January 2016, while the Galaxy A5 may arrive a few months later. With no official information available at this point, however, it's highly recommended to take all leaks and reports with a grain of salt.
