Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) review: Flagship features in an affordable package
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Display, Audio and Software
Display & Audio
The A7 (2017) has a 5.7-inch Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution Super AMOLED display (386ppi). This is lower than the QHD resolution found on Samsung's flagship phones, but pretty standard for phones in this price range. The larger display does result in a lower pixel density, but I found the screen clarity to be sufficient, and it's only when you inspect the display really closely that you start to see any pixels. As with all of Samsung's Super AMOLED displays, colors on the A7 are vivid and life-like, and the contrast is excellent, with deep blacks. As with most phones today, there's a blue light filter option that helps with eye strain when using your device late at night.
A new addition to the A series display is always-on functionality. This feature works exactly like it does on the S7, showing the date, time, and battery percentage when the display is in standby mode. It’s also capable of displaying notifications, which you can double tap to view full screen.
As mentioned above, the speaker has been repositioned to the right corner above the power button. It's not the most powerful speaker, lacking mainly in bass, but it's good enough if you can't be bothered to plug in your headphones or you just want to show your friend a video. If you do plug in some headphones, you can head to the Sound Quality and Effects menu in the Settings app for some advanced options to fine tune your listening experience.
Software
Unfortunately, the A7 (2017) doesn't come with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, running instead on the older Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Unlike its predecessors, it doesn't run on TouchWiz. Instead, it uses Samsung's new Grace UX, which made a short-lived debut on the Galaxy Note7 last year. The new UI is simpler and cleaner, with more intuitive navigation and fewer gimmicks. Grace UX also uses softer colors and slightly smaller, rounded icons making it a bit easier on the eyes. Animations and transitions are also a lot smoother.
A useful search bar now shows up at the top of the screen when you open the app drawer.
The A7 also sees the return of one of my favorite features from the Note7: Secure Folder. This feature lets you create a protected folder on your phone for storing private files or apps that can only be accessed with your fingerprint or password. This lets you pass your phone to your friend or family member without worrying about them snooping around at your personal photos or e-mails.
Finally, Grace UX has its own theme store, with a pretty good selection of free wallpaper and themes to choose from.
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