After being available exclusively on the Chinese market, the 2016 editions of the Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 smartphones are ready for Europe, and here are the details and prices for them.
Samsung unveiled the three affordable mobile devices in December 2015, and in spite of their low prices, the phones offer an edgy metal-and-glass build with powerful specs underneath the hood.
Thanks to Mobile Fun, British fans of the South Korean OEM can get more details on the configuration of the devices and the sum necessary to get their hands on an unlocked Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5 or Galaxy A7 (2016).
When compared to the initial Galaxy A3 variant, the new Galaxy A3 (2016) sports a slightly bigger screen that features the same 720p visuals. The increase from a 4.5-inch to a 4.7-inch display is not radical, but it matters. Where the new iteration gets a significant improvement over its predecessor is the main camera, which is now a 13-megapixel shooter, instead of the former 8-megapixel snapper. The OS for Galaxy A3 (2016) is Android Lollipop.
Samsung fans in the United Kingdom can purchase the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) at a price point of £269 (€351/ $385), SIM-free.
Samsung decided to offer its Galaxy A5 (2016) clients an enlarged screen measuring 5.2 inches, only 0.2 inches wider than the one on the former A5 model. Another upgrade comes to this year's Galaxy A5 smartphone in the form of a Full HD 1080p resolution. The main camera remains at 13 megapixels, however.
For those who want to buy a SIM-free Galaxy A5 (2016), prepare to shell out £319 (€417/ $457) in the UK.
From the three new A-series, Samsung seems to have upgraded the higher-end model the least. This means that the Galaxy A7 (2016) keeps its 5.5-inch screen sporting a resolution of 1080p, alongside the camera combo containing a 5-megapixel selfie-snapper and a 13-megapixel main camera.
It should be mentioned that the Galaxy A7 already had quite a robust configuration to begin with, so even if improvements are small, they add up to an already decent device. If you want to get the latest version of the A7 in the UK, make sure you have £399 (€521/ $571) in your pocket first.
Should you preorder a handset from Mobile Fun now, the phone is expected to reach you during February 2016.
Stepping over the channel into continental Europe, you also have the opportunity to preorder the new Samsung Galaxy A series in Germany. Unfortunately, you can only sign up for the A3 and A5 at the moment, as the A7 is not yet available in the land of Oktoberfest. The price points for the improved A3 and A5 models are €306 ($334) and €396 ($432), respectively.
One notable thing about this year's edition of Galaxy A series: event though the phones are more affordable than the flagship models, the Galaxy A models emulate the premium handsets in terms of materials and design. The Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 received rear cameras with an optical image stabilizer, alongside fingerprint sensors for better security. The Galaxy A3, however, does not sport these improvements but it makes up for them by featuring other upgrades.
Samsung also unveiled a new Galaxy A9 back in December 2015, but it remains to be seen when this model will launch outside of China.
