If like me you need a phone that can perform but also don’t want to break your piggy bank, then your best bet would be to look at a mid-range device. I recently spent some time with Samsung’s Galaxy A7, a device with great performance but a mid-range price. Let’s see if the Galaxy A7 gets the CTG approval!
Body:
Picking up the Galaxy A7, it is clear that Samsung has put together a well-built device. The front and back are made of glass while the frame is plastic. The back has a metallic shine to it which gives it a real premium look. In the hand, the device feels sturdy and durable with smooth seamless curves. The device is easy to grip and pretty sleek. At the side, you get a fingerprint sensor and volume rocker. While at the bottom there is a single speaker, a Micro USB port and a 3.5mm jack. The A7 is available in four stylish colours to suit your personal style – blue, black, gold and pink, with my favourite being blue as the colour changes as you tilt it!
Processor/Ram:
Gone are the days when mid-range phones were weak and underpowered. The Galaxy A7 is powered by an Octa Core 2.2GHz processor which packs some decent performance, which is paired with 4GB of RAM. I was able to do some serious multitasking with no performance issues.
Display:
All of this goodness is seen through a 6.0″ 2220 x 1080 (FHD+) Super AMOLED display. Much like what we have seen on the latest in the S range such as the Samsung Galaxy S10+, the A7 has an Infinity Display, though the bezels are still pretty existent. The display is rich, vibrant and colourful and performs well indoors and outdoors. You also get the AlwaysOn feature which displays the time and notifications while the display is off.
Camera:
Since more cameras are becoming the norm, Samsung has given the A7 4 camera. That is three on the rear and one on the front.
The triple rear camera is made up of a 24MP lens with an aperture of 1.7. The 24MP lens automatically lets more light in by combining four pixels into one pixel in low light conditions ensuring that you can take amazing photos in light or low light conditions. This lens also features autofocus.
Next up you have a 5MP lens with an aperture of F2.2. This is a telephoto lens and it allows you to get up close to your subject.
The 24MP and 5MP lens work together to allow the A7 to take live focus photos that allow you to control the depth of field and bokeh out the background.
Last but not least, you have the 8MP wide angle lens with an aperture of 2.4. This lens has a field of view of 120 so you can get loads more in the photo.
The camera also features the scene optimizer feature that we have seen on the Galaxy S range. With the intelligent scene optimizer, the A7’s cameras categorise the subject and adjust the colour, contrast and brightness to instantly optimise image quality. There are 19 modes such as food, mountain, tree or animal, so you can always take the best shot.
For the selfie lovers, you get a 24MP lens with an aperture of 2.0. You also get an LED flash to make your selfies brighter. You can use the selfie focus feature to bokeh out the background of your selfies. Last but not least, there are Samsung’s AR Emoji and filters which are fun to play with.
Storage:
With onboard storage of 64GB, you will have plenty of space for photos, videos and music. There is also support for a MicroSD card up to 512GB, so you should never run out of space, unless you love taking loads of cat photos.
Sound:
The Galaxy A7 has a bottom mounted speaker which produces some really loud audio with decent bass. Thanks to the Dolby Atmos immersive sound technology, the sound is brought to life and flows around you creating a satisfactory audio experience.
Software:
Straight out the box, the A7 comes with Android 8.0 (Oreo) and there should be an update out for Android 9 (Pie) by now. Android runs smoothly on the A7 and looks good too thanks to the Samsung One UI which ensures that the software experience is clean and easy on the eye.
Battery:
The Galaxy A7 is powered by a 3300 mAh battery which during the test period gave an amazing performance. I was able to get more than a days usage before a charge was needed. You do get the standard battery saving modes as well, in case you need it.
What’s in the box:
- Micro USB cable
- Charging adapter
- Earphones
- See-through cover
- Quick start guide
Price:
At present, you can buy the Galaxy A7 for R 4,999 on Takealot. I have seen it listed for R7999 as well. So it is best to look around. If you do manage to buy it for R4999, you are getting lots of bang for your buck!
Verdict:
It is nice to finally use a phone that has performance and features that we have seen on the flagship devices yet a price that is actually affordable for most. I really liked the build quality and premium feel of the device. The camera actually surprised me and took nice photos, even in low light conditions. Overall, the device really made an impression on me and for that I say, if you are looking for a decent phone without breaking the bank, the Galaxy A7 may be the phone for you!
So the Galaxy A7 definitely gets my approval!
Galaxy A7 Spec Sheet:
