In the latest version of a mid-price smartphone samsung galaxy A5's impressive glass and metal design does not come at the expense of technical performance. Vesti.Hi-tech found out all the pros and cons of this 2016 model.

The experiment with the fashion line of Galaxy A smartphones turned out to be quite successful for Samsung. Users, in general, appreciated the fashionable models, especially noting their interesting appearance, but in the case of the 2015 line they were not very happy with the relatively weak filling. When releasing updated devices, the company decided to preserve all the best from its predecessors, while taking into account critical comments. Using the Galaxy A5 (2016) as an example, we decided to check whether the stylish smartphone has become more convenient and functional.

Specifications

• Model: SM-A510F
• Operating system: Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) with TouchWiz shell
• Display: 5.2 inches, capacitive (up to 5 simultaneous touches), Super AMOLED, resolution 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD), dots per inch density 424 ppi, protective glass 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4
• Processor: 8-core Samsung Exynos 7580 Octa, 64-bit ARMv8-A architecture, ARM Cortex-A53 (1.6 GHz)
• Graphics: ARM Mali-T720 (600 MHz)
• RAM: 2 GB (2-channel, 32-bit, LPDDR3, 933 MHz)
• Built-in memory: 16 GB (10.7 GB available); map microSD memory/HC/XC (up to 128 GB)
• Camera: main - 13 MP, BSI matrix, f/1.9 aperture, autofocus, optical stabilization (OIS), LED flash, video recording 1080p@30fps; front - 5 MP, f/1.9 aperture
• Communications: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz), HT40, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, USB-OTG, NFC, 3.5 mm audio
• Communications: GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE Cat.6 (up to 300/50 Mbit/s), LTE-FDD: b1 (2100 MHz), b3 (1800 MHz), b5 (850 MHz), b7 (2600) , b8 (900 MHz), b20 (800 MHz), LTE-TDD: b40 (2300 MHz)
• Navigation: GLONASS/GPS, A-GPS
• Radio: FM tuner
• Number of SIM cards: 1 (2 in DUOS version)
• SIM card type: nanoSIM (4FF)
• Sensors: accelerometer, proximity and light sensors, Hall sensor, fingerprint scanner
• Battery: non-removable, 2,900 mAh, fast charging function
• Dimensions: 144.8x71.0x7.3 mm
• Weight: 155 grams
• Colors: black, white, gold, pink

Design, ergonomics

While the first generation Galaxy A models borrowed much of their glass-metal design from, then the exterior of second-generation smartphones is perhaps closer to last year’s flagship.

Externally, they are brought together not only by the classic proportions and contours of the case, but also by the shape of the frame made of a metal alloy, as well as the tempered glass smoothly “flowing” to the edges with a pseudo-volumetric effect. Let us remember that the first Galaxy A5 had a metal back panel.

Now, like the 2015 flagship, it is made of glass.

The new generation 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen and body from minor damage and scratches.

Along with the screen diagonal of the Galaxy A5 (2016), which has grown by 0.2 inches, compared to the Galaxy A5, not only the plan dimensions have increased (144.8 x 71.0 mm versus 139.3 x 69.7 mm), but also the thickness (7 .3 mm versus 6.7 mm) and weight (155 g versus 123 g).

But next to the 5.2-inch “standard”, the “renovationist” turned out to be more compact (144.8x71.0x7.3 mm versus 147.0x72.6x7.9 mm), although a little heavier (155 g versus 136 g). Note that the Galaxy A5 (2016) is offered in four colors - black, white, gold and pink. Glamor lovers will definitely appreciate the latter option.

The smartphone in a golden case that we received for testing looks very impressive.

At the top of the front panel of the case, right above the Samsung logo, a speaker grille was placed, surrounded by light and proximity sensors (on the left), as well as a lens front camera(on right).

It is worth noting the rather narrow frames on the sides of the screen, protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4 with an oleophobic coating.

Below the display are two dedicated touch buttons, Back and Recent Apps, with the signature mechanical Home key in between. Unlike its predecessor, it now has an integrated fingerprint scanner. Icon backlighting is not adjustable in the settings.

Two separate metal volume keys were placed on the left edge,

And on the right there is a power/lock button and a closed slot, which is opened with a special key-clip included in the kit. One tray of this slot is intended for installing a subscriber identification module (nanoSIM format), and the other is for a memory card. The smartphone in the 2-SIM modification (DUOS) has a universal second tray, that is, it can accept either a second nanoSIM or a microSD card.

At the top end, as before, there is only a hole left for the second microphone.

But on the bottom there is a 3.5 mm audio headset connector, a microUSB connector for charging and synchronization, a decorative grille for the “multimedia” speaker, as well as a hole for the “talk” microphone.

At the top of the glass back panel (2.5D Gorilla Glass 4), right above another Samsung logo, there are holes for an LED flash and a lens with a metal (slightly protruding) frame for the main camera.

In general, the design of the updated model is truly premium. Externally, this device, which successfully combines glass with metal, looks quite flagship-like.

The relatively small, by today's standards, case dimensions make it easy to handle the Galaxy A5 (2016) even with one hand. The frame without sharp edges does not create any unpleasant sensations when holding this smartphone in the palm of your hand.

However, it is worth considering that glass is a rather slippery material, so the chance of the device slipping out of your hands is quite high. Although the Gorilla Glass 4 protective glass “survives” a fall twice as often as Gorilla Glass 3, you shouldn’t really rely on it.

Screen, camera, sound

As already noted, the diagonal of the Super AMOLED display of the updated model has increased from 5.0 to 5.2 inches, while the resolution has also increased - from HD (1280x720 pixels) to Full HD (1920x1080 pixels). Thus, the pixel density per inch has changed upward - from 294 ppi to 424 ppi. Let us recall that in Super AMOLED displays, which differ, in particular, in a circuit with two subpixels (PenTile RGBG), there is no air gap between the touch layer and the matrix. This allows you to increase brightness, reduce light reflection, and also reduce the already economical (due to the absence of a separate backlight) energy consumption.

Capacitive Galaxy screen The A5 (2016) supports multi-touch, and AntTuTu Tester confirmed that only up to five simultaneous presses are recognized. To correct color reproduction, which some may find too acidic, the following profiles are available in the screen settings: “Basic”, “AMOLED Photo”, “AMOLED Movie” and “Adaptive Display”. In the latter case (this mode is set by default), the color range, saturation and sharpness of a rather “cold”-looking image are automatically optimized. However, at the same time, the manufacturer honestly warns about possible incompatibility with programs third party manufacturers. A “warmer”, calmer image is obtained in the “Basic” mode. The purpose of the two remaining profiles is already clear from their names - “Photo AMOLED” and “Movie AMOLED”.

The good anti-glare properties of the screen are complemented by a decent reserve of brightness, which makes it possible to comfortably use the smartphone, including even in sunlight. It is proposed to adjust the brightness level either manually or use its automatic adjustment using the light sensor (the "Auto" option). The Smart Shutdown feature recognizes the user's face through the front camera and prevents the screen from turning off. Other advantages of the display, in addition to its protection by the new generation Gorilla Glass 4, also include a good oleophobic coating.

The main 13-megapixel sensor is located on a BSI matrix, while the lens aperture is f/1.9, so the camera feels quite confident in low light conditions. The required set also includes an optical stabilization system (OIS), autofocus and LED flash. The maximum possible image resolution is 4128x3096 pixels (13 MP) with a classic aspect ratio (4:3) and 4128x2322 pixels (9.6 MP) for a widescreen frame (16:9). Similar parameters for the front camera with a 5-megapixel sensor are 2576x1932 pixels (5 MP, 4:3) and 2560x1440 pixels (3.7 MP, 16:9). Both cameras can record video with Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels) and a frame rate of 30 fps, while the content is saved in MP4 container files (AVC - video, AAC - audio). In addition, video quality is also available - HD (1280x720 pixels) and VGA (640x480 pixels). You can see examples of photos from the main camera.

The Camera application is launched from the desktop, from the application menu and from the lock screen. But to quickly call it, you need to press the mechanical “Home” key twice. The main camera, in addition to "Auto", provides the following shooting modes - "Pro", "Panorama", "Continuous shooting", "Rich tones" (HDR) and "Night". Five more (at the time of testing) additional stories from the Galaxy Apps store were available for download via the Internet - these are Sound & shot, Sports shot, Beauty face, Animated GIF and Rear-cam selfie. In turn, the front camera is limited to “Self-portrait”, “Group selfie”, “Continuous shooting” and “Night” modes.

Beyond choice the right size image and video resolution, in the “Pro” mode you can, moreover, decide on the white balance, ISO and exposure values, as well as the metering method for the latter (center-weighted, matrix, spot). In addition, filters are available in the settings, including Posterize, Grayscale, Sepia, and Negative. To take photos and videos, it is suggested to use a voice command (for example, “I’m taking pictures” and “Recording video”). Volume buttons can easily be assigned to release the shutter, start video recording, or digital zoom.

The “multimedia” speaker on the bottom end of the Galaxy A5 (2016) sounds quite nice and clear, but its volume headroom is not that large. In the smartphone settings, it is now possible to optimize the sound for connected headphones. As a result of a not very long procedure, it is indeed possible to hear the difference in the sound “before” and “after”. In addition, when connecting headphones or a Bluetooth headset, the SoundAlive+ option becomes available, recreating the surround sound effect and/or “Tube Amplifier”, emulating the characteristic timbre coloring. The proprietary "Music" player allows you to listen to sound files without loss of quality (lossless) with the FLAC extension without installing additional codecs. It also offers an auto-off option after a fixed (15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.) or customizable time interval. In addition, it is easy to vary the playback speed (from 0.5 to 2 times). But the Smart Volume function automatically adjusts the sound level of all songs to the same level. In turn, the SoundAlive option offers a 7-band equalizer with six presets and a customizable mode. In addition to the Voice Recorder application (with the Standard and Voice Memo profiles), the smartphone also has a Radio program for the built-in FM tuner with RDS and recording capabilities. In this case, the wires of headphones or a headset should act as a short-wave antenna.

Filling, performance

The base for the Galaxy A5 (2016) is the native Samsung Exynos 7580 Octa single-chip system, created in compliance with 28 nm design standards. She was first introduced with Galaxy smartphone S5 Neo early last year. Let us recall that the predecessor of the updated model was satisfied with a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor with four ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.2 GHz)

The Exynos 7580 Octa already has eight 64-bit Cortex-A53 processor cores with ARMv8 architecture, which can operate at a maximum clock speed of 1.6 GHz. At the same time, graphics operations are taken over by the Mali-T720 accelerator (600 MHz) with support for OpenGL ES 3.1 and OpenCL 1.1. The basic platform of the updated smartphone is complemented by 2 GB of 2-channel 32-bit LPDDR3 (933 MHz) RAM, controlled by an appropriate controller. It is believed that the performance of the Exynos 7580 Octa is not inferior, in particular, to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 and Mediatek MT6752, also aimed at mid-range devices.

In synthetic tests AnTuTu Benchmark, as well as when assessing the amount of horsepower and the efficiency of using processor cores (Vellamo, Geekbench 3), the updated smartphone predictably took its place in the middle group.

On the Epic Citadel visual test with variable settings of High Performance and High Quality (performance at the expense of quality and vice versa), the average frame rate at a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels did not differ in values ​​even after the decimal point (58 fps). But changing the setting to Ultra High Quality reduced the value of this parameter quite significantly (29.3 fps).

On the universal gaming benchmark 3DMark, where the smartphone was tested on the recommended Sling Shot set (ES 3.0), a result corresponding to the platform level was recorded - 336 points.

But the total number of points earned by the Galaxy A5 (2016) on the cross-platform benchmark Base Mark OS II was 807.

The updated smartphone also comes with 16GB of internal storage, of which approximately 10.7GB is available initially. You can increase the built-in storage using microSD/HC/XC cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB (the predecessor had 64 GB). Thanks to USB-OTG technology, it is easy to connect USB storage devices to your smartphone.

The cellular modem in the Galaxy A5 (2016) is designed for fourth-generation networks LTE Cat.6 (up to 300 Mbit/s), including the “Russian” LTE-FDD frequency bands (b3, b7 and b20). Let us remember that the predecessor (Galaxy A5) could only boast LTE Cat.4 (up to 150 Mbit/s). Among other wireless communications of the tested smartphone, we note Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) and NFC.

Despite the presence of an NFC interface, unfortunately, it will not be possible to use a smartphone to read a Troika card (for example, using the My Travel Card application from the Bank of Moscow). Let us remind you that the Mifare Classic technology (NXP Semiconductors), used in transport cards, is licensed, so not all NFC controllers support it. You can check the absence of such support, for example, using NFC applications Check.

GPS and GLONASS satellite systems are used to determine location and navigation, which is confirmed by the readings of the AndroiTS GPS Test program. An A-GPS option is also available.

The Galaxy A5 (2016) smartphone, compared to its predecessor, increased the capacity of the non-removable battery from 2,300 mAh to 2,900 mAh. At the same time, the built-in battery received a fast charging function (Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging). According to the manufacturer, this mode allows you to fill the smartphone battery 100% in about 105 minutes. Since we received the device for testing without a power adapter at all, we were unable to verify this statement. From the stated technical characteristics of the device, in particular, it follows that on one charge you can talk on a 3G network for up to 16 hours, surf the Internet via 3G/LTE/Wi-Fi, respectively, 14/14/16 hours, listen to music for up to 75 hours or watch videos for up to 14 hours.

On the AnTuTu Tester battery benchmark, the device showed a very good result of 8,696 points. Every hour of playing test videos in MP4 format (hardware decoding) and Full HD quality at maximum brightness reduced the battery charge by about 9%.

IN Galaxy settings A5 (2016) “Energy Saving” and “Extreme Energy Saving” modes are available. The first of them reduces the processor speed, limits screen brightness and frame rate, turns off the key backlight, etc. You can activate "Energy Saving" immediately or when the battery charge level is 5%, 15%, 20% and 50%, respectively. The Extreme Power Saving Mode, on the other hand, conserves battery power by using a simplified grayscale Home screen theme and limiting the number of available apps.

Software Features

The Galaxy A5 (2016) smartphone runs operating system Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) with proprietary TouchWiz launcher. The update to Android 6.x (Marshmallow) has not yet reached this model.

The set of preinstalled programs, as usual for devices from this manufacturer, is quite wide. In addition to the branded “Music”, “Video”, “My Files”, S Planner, S Health, etc., on board was office suite from Microsoft with OneDrive and Skype joining it. You can add to your collection of programs from the Galaxy Apps store. In addition, you should pay attention to “Gifts from Samsung”, which contains special offers for the Galaxy A5 (2016).

Fingerprints obtained using a fingerprint scanner, the operation of which, by the way, did not cause any complaints, are proposed to be used not only to unlock the device, but also to log into websites (only through the Internet browser) and into a Samsung account.

Simple mode makes your device easier to use by using larger fonts and larger icons. You can also enable gestures for smart notifications, mute, and palm screenshot in Settings. But to change the backlight time for the icons of the “Back” and “Recent Applications” buttons in the range from 1 to 10 seconds (default 1.5 seconds), from Google Play you need to download the Galaxy Button Lights application.

Purchase, conclusions

Having received a more impressive appearance thanks to the glass back panel, the updated Galaxy A5 (2016) has surpassed its predecessor in terms of filling. In particular, the size (5.2 inches versus 5 inches) and screen resolution (Full HD versus HD), main camera parameters (optical stabilization, aperture f/1.9 versus f/2.0), processor power (Exynos 7580 Octa versus Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 ), maximum capacity of an additional memory card (128 GB versus 64 GB), battery capacity (2,900 mAh versus 2,300 mAh). It is also worth noting the presence of a fingerprint scanner and improved communication capabilities(LTE Cat.6 vs LTE Cat.4) of the new device.

Despite the increased processor power, the main limitation of the updated Galaxy A5 (2016) model is still its average performance, which, however, is quite enough for most applications. It's unfortunate that the device doesn't have an LED charging/notification indicator. Well, in the 2-SIM (DUOS) version of the smartphone, the disadvantages also include the alternative installation of a second subscriber identification module (nanoSIM card) and a memory card.

According to Yandex.Market, at the time of testing they asked for about 25 thousand rubles for the Galaxy A5 (2016). For the existing filling, this may be a bit much, but here you should take into account the stylish, and in the pink case - simply glamorous, appearance of the updated device, which is not inferior to the flagship. By the way, the 5.2-inch “standard” is estimated at approximately the same range. But while it lacks support for microSD memory cards and has a smaller battery capacity (2,900 mAh versus 2,300 mAh), it is clearly inferior to the Galaxy A5 (2016) with its modest plastic exterior.

Review results Samsung smartphone Galaxy A5 (2016)

Pros:

• Attractive case design
• Bright Super AMOLED screen, now with Full HD resolution
• Camera with optical stabilization
• Good autonomy
• Availability of LTE Cat. 6
• Fingerprint scanner
• Fast charging

Minuses:

• Average performance
• Alternative installation of a second SIM card and memory card
• No charging/notification LED

Last year's Samsung Galaxy A series of smartphones was very successful in terms of design. They looked beautiful, although they were inferior in characteristics to numerous Chinese analogues. Yes, Chinese phones are becoming more and more popular, but Samsung is no slouch either. Excellent materials, high-quality cameras, functional shell, and the brand also means a lot. I know people who believe in Samsung and they only have phones of this brand. I think you will have such acquaintances too.

Those who surf the Internet are aware of the eternal torment of choice: what to buy, the creation of a famous brand or an almost top Chinese, promising brand? Judging by the successful sales of various Galaxy A last year, fans of this series were not deterred by the price; there were many willing ones. And people still go to stores, try out devices, twirl them in their hands to get an impression of their purchases; not all “Chinese” products can be checked out in person.

Slippery but doesn't get wet

The design surprised me; Samsung abandoned the angular shapes and again returned to the soapy features. Remember the old flagship Samsung Galaxy S3? The new A5 is very similar in shape, and the back panel looks very modest, I would add a picture or pattern to it for variety, it would look better, but it looks like a budget phone.

Here is a photo of A5 and S7 edge, compare the sizes and evaluate the difference in appearance.

The case is very slippery, you can walk with the phone without a case, but you need to use it carefully, otherwise you will drop it.

Glass front and back, the shiny surface is combined with a durable aluminum side. There is no fault with the assembly, nor with the ergonomics, all the buttons are in their places.

If you can’t handle the phone with one hand, then turn on the special mode, then the menu will shrink in size. The camera can be launched by double-clicking the button under the screen, very convenient.

But IP68 water protection, like the top-end Galaxy S7, is good and practical. The phone is not afraid of swimming in fresh water, withstanding being at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

Screen with a twist

The phone, as usual for Samsung, has a bright Super AMOLED, now the Always On Display feature works, when additional data is visible on the screen in standby mode, and the backlight does not work at this time. To some extent, it compensates for the lack of a light indicator, although nothing simpler and more efficient than a flashing diode has yet been invented.

Diagonal 5.2 inches, resolution 1080x1920 - the picture is bright, everything is clearly visible on the street, no traces are left on the display, excellent oleophobic coating. It’s strange that on a phone that costs almost 30 thousand rubles, multi-touch detects only 5 simultaneous touches.

Samsung Pay is not working yet

The phone helps pay for purchases via Samsung Pay, but I was unable to link a card to it; during testing, the service did not work and advised me to wait a little longer. Well, OK. I note that the phone has an NFC chip, but it does not work with the Troika card. I tried several applications, but the smartphone does not show travel data through the applications.

The camera is very good during the day

The camera on the back of the case does not protrude at all, it is flush with the surface. Convenient: when you put the phone on the table, it lies and does not wobble.

The resolution of the main and front cameras is the same, both are 16 megapixels. The Galaxy A5 (2017) takes excellent photos in automatic mode, in the settings you can launch manual mode or additional scene profiles. Here are a few examples, and you can evaluate the rest in Google Drive. I didn’t find the specifications of the model on the Samsung website, but as I understood from the description in other sources, there is no optical camera stabilization; last year’s Galaxy A5 had it.

Take a look at how HDR works (on the left - with it, on the right - the effect is turned off).

The quality of video recording is limited to Full HD; the phone records videos well, but strobes a lot. Here's an example of shooting at a skating rink.

Not the most powerful, but works quickly

If you look at the performance, this is a typical mid-range product. 61 thousand points in AnTuTu, Exynos 7880 processor, 3/32 GB of memory and a slot for a microSD card. The new 14nm processor features lower power consumption

Samsung's operating system is still gluttonous and consumes large amounts of RAM; out of 3 gigs, 1.3 GB remains for work, and when you also use applications, there are about 500 MB free. You can live, but they don’t want to hear about process optimization at Samsung.

If you play WoT: Blitz at maximum graphics settings, the phone produces 30-35 fps, which is enough performance reserve for modern games. The phone does not overheat and does not turn into a heating pad, which is good.

The phone has 2 SIM cards, and there is a separate compartment for the memory card; you don’t have to sacrifice the second SIM if you put a microSD here, it’s very practical.

Samsung pleased us with the sound quality in the headphones; it plays clearly, although the volume reserve is not very large. The sound through the speaker is clear, but not loud. In the old-fashioned way, you can listen to FM radio if you connect headphones, although now more and more people listen to Google Music or similar services.

Works one day like everyone else

The Galaxy A5 has a 3000 mAh battery, fast charging, the phone works for a day or a day and a half under my load with the Internet and other activities. In the menu you can find functions to optimize system operation; the device itself determines which applications prevent it from sleeping peacefully and disrupt the operating mode. USB-C is used for charging, it’s good that Samsung has finally begun to transfer its equipment to a new port. True, finding a cable at the nearest stall is still a problem; USB-C is still not held in high esteem among us, but in vain.

What is the price?

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) sells for 27,990 rubles. Considering that by adding 3 thousand rubles, you can buy last year’s flagship Galaxy S6, you might wonder if you should take an older, but more sophisticated phone? Yes, there will be no water protection and a slot for a memory card, but it has better camera, more interesting appearance. Do you want to save money, but buy Samsung? Then look at the Galaxy A5 (2016), it is still relevant, the hardware is simpler, but it costs around 20 thousand.

Of the options from other brands, I can recommend Honor 8 (), it costs the same as A5, it’s more a matter of personal attitude to the brands, they are similar in characteristics, but Honor has a nicer design, for my taste. Another competitor is glass-metal ASUS Zenfone 3 () in a similar style.

Opinion

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) pleased us with a rare feature; there are few phones on sale with water protection. What else can surprise you? In my opinion, the appearance has become worse than that of the old generation; last year's Galaxy A3/A5/A7 line looked more interesting. Although in terms of materials and assembly everything is still decent, and the filling has become even more powerful. I think that when prices drop in a few months, the phone will “go to the people.”

To summarize, I will say that new Samsung I liked the Galaxy A5 (2017) for its characteristics, but not for its design. Judging by past experience, Samsung is capable of more. Otherwise, the model turned out to be good, and if you look at analogs from Huawei or ASUS, you will see comparable price tags, I can’t say that the overpayment for the brand will be too high, Samsung has an adequate pricing policy.

Did not like

• Slippery body
• Soap design
• No indicator light
• Limited NFC capabilities
• Old Android 6.0

Liked

• Good camera
• Autonomy
• Water protection
• Functional shell
• Bright screen

I would like to thank the friendliest gadget store for providing me with a smartphone for testing. Biggeek. By promotional code Wylsacom There is a special discount for buyers.

Samsung has again released new versions of the A3 and A5 models - this is already becoming an annual event.

With the help of these devices, the company indicates its true intentions - to consolidate its position in the mid-price segment by presenting users with smartphones with a good range of useful functions.

Like any other smartphone, these two have several hidden functions worthy of your attention. Here are some of the most successful ones, in our opinion:

Add/Disable Game Launcher and Game Tools

Every mobile gamer knows what Game Launcher and Game Tools are for. These apps allow you to turn off notifications while you're playing, and they can also be used to take a screenshot of the game or even make a video. You can activate or deactivate them in just a couple of clicks.

All you need to do is go to settings, find Additional Features and go to the Games menu. Here you will find the options you need.

Game Launcher is very easy to enable or disable

Take photos with ease

On most smartphones, you can take photos by pressing the volume keys. Some people prefer a button on the screen. Samsung Company I tried to take into account everyone's personal preferences.

You can add a virtual key for your camera, this key can be placed anywhere on the screen when the viewfinder is on. Press this button and the photo is ready.

To enable access to this feature, simply go to the Camera app and from there to Settings (the gear in the top right corner of the screen). Scroll down the menu and find the Floating Camera Button feature. Activate it and the button will appear in the Camera app.

We remind you: you can launch the camera by double-clicking the “Camera” button, you do not have to look for the camera icon on the desktop.

The "floating" camera button can be activated in the settings

Change the appearance of the interface

Some people (including myself) find the TouchWiz interface to be extremely ugly, which is not the case with bare Android. So now you know that appearance The interface can be changed using different themes. And while this won't solve all your problems, it will at least make your phone more enjoyable to use. You can also download wallpapers and icon packs.

The main disadvantage is the price. Are you ready to spend 120 rubles on a set of icons?

Luckily, some themes/wallpapers/icons are available for free, and some of them look really good. You will find them in the settings under Wallpapers and themes. You can also access this section by tapping on the background of your screen for a few seconds, then tap on the Wallpapers & Themes button that appears in the lower left corner of the display.

Use "protected" files

And while many people loudly claim that they have nothing to hide, what can be found on their phone or anywhere else, a feature that allows you to hide some things is useful.

When you hand your phone to your mom, you might not want her to see your party photos. Or maybe you don't want your girlfriend to see pictures of you dancing with other girls. Even if you haven't done anything wrong, making excuses is always unpleasant.

To avoid such hassles, Samsung has added a file protection option, first introduced on the Note 7. You can put anything you want to keep secret in a specific folder, and you can restrict access to that folder using a password or fingerprint.

The only condition for using this feature is that you have to use a Samsung code. Just go to the Applications menu, then to Samsung apps and open Secure File. The rest is up to you.

Place your sensitive information in a secure folder

Receive notification reminders

Has this ever happened: you receive a message on WhatsApp during an important meeting, and after it ends, half an hour later, you completely forget to read the message?

Samsung has thought through everything carefully and introduced a notification reminder feature: if you forget to read a notification, the phone will remind you about it.

Of course, you can choose the types of notifications, and you can also choose which application can send you reminders.

Go to the Access menu in Settings, and then to the Notification Reminders section. Here you will also find other interesting functions - for example, a “magnifying glass”.

This is very useful feature for the forgetful

Activate "simplified" mode

While power users will definitely appreciate the customizable welcome screen, some of us gravitate toward simpler menus and larger fonts.

You can activate this feature in settings. But be careful - the icons will grow to huge sizes, even the notification menu will be changed!

To activate this mode, go to Settings and then select the Simple Mode feature and activate it.

Simple mode lives up to its name

Some tricks that are already available on other Samsung smartphones can also be used on the 2017 A3/A5 models.

Send an SOS signal

You can send an SOS if you find yourself in trouble: head to Settings>Advanced>SOS, once the option is activated you can add a recipient. Now all you need to do to send an SOS signal is to press the power key three times.

Split screen function

The A5 has a split screen feature. To get to it, tap on the multitasking symbol, but remember that not all apps are compatible with this mode. But Google applications (Gmail, Play Store, etc.) have no problems with this mode.

Disable Upday

Samsung has decided to equip its devices with its own information system called Upday. New Galaxy The A3 and A5 are no exception to the rule, so all you have to do to access the Upday widget is swipe right.

Don't panic in advance - if you're more used to Google Now or just want to remove an unnecessary widget from your home screen, Upday can be disabled.

To do this, you need to press and hold on the screen for a couple of seconds. At the bottom you will see three keys (Wallpaper, Widgets and Arrangement). Scroll right to access the screen located to the left of the center. You can then turn it off with the click of a button.

Pinning applications

In some cases, it may be convenient to lock the screen in one specific application. Notifications from all other apps will be blocked and you won't be able to open other apps, so your private life won't be exposed to the public.

Then press the multitasking key to see the list running applications. At the top right of the most recent application you will find a “pin”. Click on it and the screen in this application will be locked.

The picture on the left shows how to deactivate Upday; on the right - how to block the application screen from receiving notifications

Have any of our tips helped you get the most (or the least) out of your Galaxy A3 or A5? Have you found any other useful tricks to use these smartphones? Share with us in the comments.

Not all Samsung phones, such as Galaxy a5, a3 2016, j5, j3, j7, a7, j2, a5 2017, j1, Ji 7 (not necessarily the a series) are equipped with a built-in indicator light function, but instead you can use a flash, which will notify you of an incoming call.

How to enable it depends more on the version of Android installed in them, for example, inclusion in 4.3, which is discussed below, differs from the new versions 5.0 or 6.0

If the indicator light is turned on, the phone will tell you about some events that happened to it.

To enable it, go to the menu and open settings. Then go to “My Device” and select the “Indicator” section.

I won’t describe how to set up the light indicator. There, just check the boxes next to the functions you need.

How to turn on the indicator light on Samsung phones with the latest versions of Android

If you are not sure whether your phone has an indicator light, here is a guide on how to find out

The light signal is a convenience for people with hearing impairments, and is also a convenient solution when using the phone in dark places.

Even if someone sends you a message, the phone will notify you with a signal.

In order to enable, for example, 6.0.1 in Android, we also go to the settings, but select “Special Features”.

Then “Hearing” and move the slider to the right opposite the “Flash notification” line.

How else can you turn on the indicator light on a Samsung phone?

There are apps that can help you customize notifications the way you want.

From audio and vibration to color notifications. To do this, you can use the NoLED widget.

• By the way, very few people know that notices can be made in different colors (different colors for different notices). How

Also quite a good application is “Light flow”. It controls the indicator light perfectly

You do not need root rights, although you can configure the display sequence yourself.

You can also customize priority and color and change settings to save battery power.

As for all the possibilities, it depends on your Samsung phone, since not all support the entire color palette (some 5 colors, and some only 3).

Also, not all Samsungs support this mode when the screen is off and do not keep the indicator constantly on. In some cases, it may simply glow rather than flicker. Good luck.

How to setup indicator light on Android devices X.

A huge number of Android devices have additional LEDs on the front side of the case that serve as additional element notices. Depending on the phone model, the indicator light can have from 2 to several different colors. By default indicator reports to the user about the following points: low battery, connected charger, missed call, SMS, event in the calendar or notification of some application, etc. With all this, it is almost always, especially if there are additional applications with notifications (social network clients, instant messengers, schedulers, etc.), it is impossible to find by the flickering and color of the indicator what event it is specifically talking about and the user will have to pick up the phone and unlock the screen, to find out what actually happened.

How configure the indicator light on Android devices.

Luckily, like most things in Android, indicator light can be flexibly configured to suit the needs of a specific user. There are special applications for this, among which the most functional is Light Manager.

Samsung Galaxy J5 2016: troubleshooting

Application Light Manager helps to configure the operation of the light indicator of any Android device that has it. With Light Manager you can teach LED indicator react with different colors of your choice to events tied to a specific application or system action.

By default, the program has a number of ready-made template settings for the most common events. The user can optionally delete any of them that is not needed and put in its place a new one that is more relevant to him. To edit elements, you need to hold down the desired element, after which a menu with notification settings will open. Next, you can set the color of the light indicator, the frequency of its blinking, and immediately test the new settings in action.

The application contains a list of other applications installed on the smartphone for which you can configure individual notifications. If the required application is not in the list, you can add it manually. To do this, you need to switch Light Manager to an alternative operating mode, in which there is a menu item to add a new application. When selecting this item, the user is given full list from all applications installed on the device. After selection necessary program You can immediately assign it your own LED notification.

How to setup indicator light on Android devices.

If you are not satisfied with standard system notifications via the light indicator, they can also be reconfigured in the Light Manager. The program can change all standard notifications: low battery, silent mode activated, no network signal or airplane mode activated and others.

Separately, it should be noted that there are advanced settings in Light Manager. In them, you can set the blinking frequency of the indicator for each notification separately, configure the sleep mode (the period of time during which light notifications will not be active, that is, while the user is sleeping, studying, etc.), change the delay of LED activity after indication notifications and much more.

A properly configured light indicator will allow you to find out about a particular event in advance and, without turning on your smartphone, determine the degree of its importance. It is very convenient when, by one glance at a smartphone lying nearby, you can determine whether a VKontakte message has arrived or a notification about an important letter and, accordingly, continue to work without distraction, or immediately respond to an important message.

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