Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A7 2018 smartphone, with triple rear cameras at the incredible Galaxy UNPACKED KL 2018, and we received one of the first units! Read our in-depth review and find out if this is the smartphone for you!
Updated @ 2018-11-02 : Upgraded to a full review, with four new pages, five videos and many new photos.
Updated @ 2018-10-16 : Upgraded to a preview of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018, with three videos.
Updated @ 2018-10-15 : Added the CPU and GPU specifications of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018!
Updated @ 2018-10-12 : Added the official Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (and Galaxy A9 2018) presentation, as well as its price and pre-order offer!
Originally posted @ 2018-09-21
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Smartphone Revealed!
Samsung revealed the Galaxy A7 2018 and Galaxy A9 2018 smartphones in a glamorous Galaxy UNPACKED event that was held for the first time in Malaysia, with Korean celebrities like Yook Sung-jae, AOA (Ace of Angels) and DJ Soda, headlining the event.
As their designer, Sang Il Park, recently revealed, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) is targeted at Millennials with a new minimalistic yet expressive design language.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Colour Options
Samsung is offering the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) in four colour options – Black, Blue, Gold and Pink. Here is a video comparing the four colour options:
In many countries, only three of those four colour options will be available for sale, at least initially. Here in Malaysia, it will only be available in Black, Blue and Gold colours.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) officially launched on 11 October 2018 at the Galaxy UNPACKED 2018 event in Kuala Lumpur, and is currently available for purchase.
[adrotate group=”2″]It has a recommended retail price of RM 1,299 / ~US$ 325 / ~£236.
Here is the cheapest price we found online (as of 1 November 2018) in Malaysia :
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 : RM 1,179
And here are the direct purchase links in the US and UK :
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (International Version) : $329.99
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (UK Version) : £309.99
Unboxing The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 is not available for sale, but we managed to get our hands on one of the first retail unit, albeit one meant for the German market. Let’s unbox it, and see what we find inside!
Once you fully unbox the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018, you will find the following items :
- One Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 smartphone
- One set of Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 documents
- One 7.75 W Samsung travel adaptor
- One micro-USB 2.0 cable
- One pair of white Samsung earphones
- One SIM tray extractor pin
Next Page > The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Up Close + Specifications
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The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Up Close!
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a large 6.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels. This is an Infinity Display, which means it has very thin bezels, delivering a more immersive viewing experience. Especially with its support for Dolby Atmos.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) runs on Samsung Exynos 7885 octa-core processor with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal flash storage. The Exynos 7885 is a mid-range SoC, which pairs two high-performance ARM Cortex-A73 cores with six low-power ARM Cortex-A53 cores.
All that is powered by a 3,300 mAh battery, ensconced in a chassis that is only 7.5 mm thick, and weighs less than 170 grams.
Surprisingly, Samsung reverted to a micro-USB 2.0 port, even though the previous-generation Galaxy A7 2017 was their first model to feature a USB-C port. They also ditched the IP68 dust- and water-resistance that was a key feature of the Galaxy A7 2017.
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Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Specifications
| Specifications | Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018) |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.0-inch Super AMOLED display - Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2220 pixels) - Corning Gorilla Glass protection |
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo |
| Platform | Samsung Exynos 7 octa (Samsung Exynos 7885) |
| Processor | 2 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.2 GHz) 6 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.6 GHz) |
| Graphics Processor | ARM Mali-G71 MP2 (1100 MHz) |
| RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Storage | 64 GB or 128 GB internal flash storage microSD slot (up to 512 GB) |
| Front Camera | 24 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens |
| Rear Camera | Triple Camera System - Main 24 MP PDAF camera with f/1.7 lens - Wide-Angle 8 MP camera with f/2.4 lens - 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens |
| Network | 4G : LTE Cat12, 3CA |
| Connectivity | WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 / 5 GHz) Bluetooth v5.0 micro-USB 2.0 |
| GPS Support | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, Side-Mounted |
| Other Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Hall sensor, Proximity, RGB light sensor |
| NFC | Yes |
| Water Resistance | No |
| Battery | 3.300 mAh lithium-ion battery |
| Dimensions | 76.8 mm wide 159.8 mm tall 7.5 mm thick |
| Weight | 168 g |
| Available Colours | Black, Blue, Gold |
For details and specifications of the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018, please click here!
Next Page > The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Key Features
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Four Cameras, 4X The Fun?
The key selling points of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) are its front and rear cameras.
It has a single front camera, built around the incredibly high-resolution 24 MP Sony IMX576 sensor and f/2.0 lens. In dark conditions, its front camera can combine four pixels into one for even better low-light performance.
Despite its high resolution though, Samsung opted to limit to recording just 1080p videos.
In the back, it features a triple camera system, which is made up of :
- a main 24 MP camera with f/1.7 lens,
- a 120° wide angle 8 MP camera with f/2.4 lens, and
- a 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens.
Even though there are three cameras, only two of them actually take pictures or videos. The depth sensor is not an imaging camera, and is only used for better depth perception, and subject separation (from the background).
The 24 MP main camera uses the same high-resolution Sony IMX576 sensor, with very bright and fast f/1.7 lens. The depth sensor is slaved to the main camera, allowing to deliver Live Focus and more accurate software bokeh capabilities.
The wide angle camera, on the other hand, boasts the same 120° viewing angle as the human eye. Here are some photos to show you just how useful the ultra-wide angle camera can be :
Both imaging cameras feature a new Scene Optimizer technology that uses AI algorithms to identify the subject and automatically adjust its colour, contrast and brightness for the best possible image quality.
However, just like with the front camera, Samsung limits both rear cameras to 1080p video recording.
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Side Fingerprint Sensor
For the first time, Samsung is deploying a side fingerprint sensor, that doubles as a power button. It allows for smaller bezels, while allowing the fingerprint sensor to be used even when the Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) is attached to a car mount.
The side fingerprint sensor takes some getting used to, because there is less tactile guidance. It is harder to determine (by feeling) where the sensor is. But the good news is muscle memory will kick in eventually.
For ease of use, we would recommend registering the third finger of your left hand, and/or the thumb of your right hand.
Next Page > More Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Features
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Triple Card Tray
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby capability, with support for LTE Cat12 connectivity. The good news is – it comes with a triple card tray. In addition to the two nano SIM cards, it has a dedicated slot for a microSD card.
Now, it comes with 64 GB of internal storage, which should be plenty for most users. The microSD card slot allows you to add more storage – up to 512 GB.
The microSD card is also useful for another reason. The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) is not water-resistant, so storing your recorded photos and videos on the microSD card protects them, in case you accidentally drop your phone into water… or let a car run over it.
A Step Backwards
Last year’s Galaxy A7 2017 was the first Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone to boast IP68 dust- and water-resistance. That means it was capable of withstanding complete immersion in water up to 1.5 m in depth, for up to 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, Samsung dropped this capability in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK). This is a real shame, because the IP68 rating is a major KSP (key selling point) for Samsung. It is one of the few ways they are able to differentiate their A series smartphones from the competition.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 was also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to use the USB Type C port, with 15 watt fast charging capability. The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK), however, reverted to the old micro-USB 2.0 port, and slower 7.75 watt charging.
Samsung also trimmed its battery capacity to 3,300 mAh, down from 3,600 mAh in the Galaxy A7 2017.
The Ergonomics
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a large 6.0-inch display, but feels more like a 5.5-inch smartphone, thanks to its Infinity Display. Basically it has thin bezels, allowing Samsung to fit the large screen into a smaller body.
While it fits comfortably in our hands, this is definitely a two-handed device. If you prefer to use only one hand, you can turn on the One-handed mode option (Settings > Advanced Features).
The Super AMOLED display is beautiful as always. However, the FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 results in a non-standard 18.5:9 display ratio. Watching movies will result in some pillarboxing – a black bar on each side of the movie.
Even though it lacks the gradated colour scheme of the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018, it has a very shiny, albeit easy-to-smudge, glass back panel with a 2.5D curved edge all around. Very classy. Just watch out for those fingerprints!
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Setting Up The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) runs on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, and is very easy to set-up… although you may get stuck a bit registering your fingerprints! If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5-7 minutes to finish the setup process.
Available Memory & Storage
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory. There is relatively little bloat, with 2 GB (50%) of memory available for use. This is plenty enough to run several apps simultaneously, even memory-guzzling games.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with 64 GB of internal flash storage, with 51 GB of free space for you to use. That is enough space to store about 10,000 photos, or 6 hours of 1080p videos.
If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 512 GB), for a total storage capacity of 1 TB!
Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Camera Performance – Photos + Video Recording
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Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Camera Performance – Photos
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) uses the superb 24 MP Sony IMX576 in its primary camera, with a really bright and fast f/1.7 aperture. It is supported by an 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 aperture.
The maximum 24 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 5664 x 4248 pixels, and a file size of between 4 MB and 6 MB.
Here are six high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The resolution and detail in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018’s photos are incredible. You can see the intricate detail of the flower petals, the individual buds of the broccoli florets, and the texture of the star anise.
[adrotate group=”2″]It also did a great job of bringing out the colour of the subject matter. Every colour is accurately rendered and automatically “amped up” by AI algorithms. If you do not like the increased vividness though, you can turn off the Scene Optimiser feature.
The f/1.7 aperture naturally creates a very narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But you have to be more careful in framing the shot, because the subject may end up out-of-focus.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a Live Focus feature, but it’s not the same as the Live Focus capability in Samsung Galaxy Note9, because it lacks the telephoto camera. Instead, it uses the depth sensor to separate the subject from the background, before applying a software bokeh effect to the background.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Camera Performance – Video Recording
Despite its highly-capable sensor and powerful SoC, Samsung limited the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) to 1080p video recording from both front and rear cameras. Fortunately, they maintained the ability to switch between the two rear cameras, while recording a video – a very useful feature!
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano Performance (1080p)
In this video, you can see the amount of detail the sensor captures, even at just 1080p. Its cameras do not support OIS (optical image stabilisation), but its electronic image stabilisation capability works great.
Its auto-focus capability was also excellent – you don’t see the camera losing focus and seeking – a very irritating problem in some cameras.
Noise cancellation was decent, but the audio was too bright and lacks bass. With Samsung excelling in image quality, we think it’s time they look into improving the audio quality instead.
Video Recording Test #2 : Street Market (1080p)
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has very good electronic image stabilisation, thanks to a combination of its high resolution sensor and the 1080p video recording limit.
Next Page > Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Performance – Work, Gaming, Battery
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
| Work 2.0 | Honor Play | Honor 10 | Samsung Galaxy S9 |
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 |
| Performance Score (Average) |
7361 | 7106 | 5618 | 5379 |
| Web Browsing | 7695 | 7295 | 5357 | 5278 |
| Video Editing | 5499 | 5159 | 5265 | 4413 |
| Writing | 6649 | 6752 | 4673 | 5056 |
| Photo Editing | 13326 | 12910 | 7560 | 7427 |
| Data Manipulation | 5764 | 5524 | 5616 | 5147 |
| Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Samsung Exynos SoCs have never been particularly strong in work applications, and the Samsung Exynos 7885 is no exception. After all, it only has two high-performance ARM Cortex-A73 cores.
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the Galaxy A7 2018’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
| Ice Storm Unlimited | Samsung Galaxy S9 |
Honor Play | Honor 10 | Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 |
| Gaming Score | 39588 | 31622 | 30560 | 15354 |
| Graphics | 45577 | 37351 | 34801 | 15788 |
| Physics | 27116 | 20576 | 21423 | 14005 |
| Graphics Test 1 | 267.9 fps | 208.9 fps | 206.2 fps | 136.5 fps |
| Graphics Test 2 | 157.2 fps | 132.8 fps | 119.5 fps | 45.8 fps |
| Physics Test | 86.1 fps | 65.3 fps | 68.0 fps | 44.5 fps |
| Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has modest gaming performance. Unlike the Honor Play and Honor 10, which boast a 12-core GPU, or the Galaxy S9 with its 18-core GPU, the Galaxy A7 2018 only has a dual-core GPU.
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the Galaxy A7 2018’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
| Work 2.0 | Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 |
Honor Play | Samsung Galaxy S9 |
Honor 10 |
| Battery Life | 11 hours 25 mins | 9 hours 56 mins | 9 hours 6 mins | 8 hours 56 mins |
| | Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Review Price Check |
Now that is really amazing battery life – just short of 11.5 hours! This is not just screen-on time. It’s running the Work 2.0 benchmark over, and over again, for over 11 hours!
It lasted 1.,5 hours longer than the Honor Play, 2 hours longer than the Samsung Galaxy S9, and an astounding 2.5 hours longer than the Honor 10!
Of course, it was still not as good as last year’s Galaxy A7 2017, which lasted 12 hours on its larger 3,600 mAh battery.
Battery Recharging Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with an adaptive fast charger with a power output of 7.75 W. Take a look at how fast it recharged the 3,300 mAh battery.
It took the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) just 115 minutes (1 hour 55 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. Pretty good performance, considering it’s just using a 7.75 watt charger.
That is a battery life : recharging ratio of 5.8 : 1 – a good ratio. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, charge it for 10.5 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 90% level. This took just 87.5 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 27.5 minutes to top up the remaining 10%.
Next Page > Our Verdict, Where To Buy The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018?
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Our Verdict
Last year, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 really impressed us with a great combination of features and performance. It was also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to feature IP68 dust- and water-resistance, as well as the USB Type C port.
This year’s Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) followed through, introducing a new 24 MP front camera, as well as a new triple rear camera system. Together with the Galaxy A9 2019, it is also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to feature the Infinity Display, with ultra-thin bezels.
If that’s not enough, it is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a side fingerprint sensor, allowing you to unlock it with your fingerprint even when it’s mounted to your car’s dashboard.
However, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) also took a step backwards in some areas, to better differentiate it from the higher-end Galaxy A9 2019.
It lost its IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating, and reverted to the old micro-USB 2.0 port. Its fast charging capability was also cut from 15 watts to just 7.75 watts. It also came with a slightly smaller battery (3,300 mAh, instead of 3,600 mAh), with a slightly shorter battery life.
That does not mean it’s a better idea to just get last year’s Galaxy A7 2017. The new Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a faster processor, more memory and double the storage. On top of that, it has a larger 6.0-inch display in a narrower, slimmer and lighter body!
More importantly, Samsung made the Galaxy A7 2018 MUCH CHEAPER. The Galaxy A7 2017 had a launch price of RM 1,899 (~US$ 475). The new Galaxy A7 2018 has a launch price of just RM 1,299 (~US$325) – a whopping 32% price reduction!
Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) offers great value for your money, if you don’t mind the lack of IP68 water-resistance, and the micro-USB 2.0 port.
Where To Buy The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018?
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) officially launched on 11 October 2018 at the Galaxy UNPACKED 2018 event in Kuala Lumpur, and is currently available for purchase in four colour options – Black, Blue, Gold and Pink. Here is a video comparing the four colour options:
In many countries, only three of those four colour options will be available for sale, at least initially. Here in Malaysia, it will only be available in Black, Blue and Gold colours.
It has a recommended retail price of RM 1,299 / ~US$ 325 / ~£236.
Here is the cheapest price we found online (as of 1 November 2018) in Malaysia :
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 : RM 1,179
And here are the direct purchase links in the US and UK :
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (International Version) : $329.99
- Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (UK Version) : £309.99
Recommended Reading
[adrotate group=”2″]- Samsung Galaxy A9 2018 Price, Specifications + Presentation!
- The Awesome Galaxy UNPACKED 2018 For Galaxy A7 + Galaxy A9 2018!
- Samsung Galaxy Note9 Review – Quietly Revolutionary!
- The 7 Secret Galaxy Note9 S Pen Features You Never Knew!
- The Samsung Galaxy Note9 Price, Offer + Promotion Guide
- Why The Galaxy Note9 Yearly Upgrade Program Is Such A Great Deal!
- Awesome Samsung Galaxy Note9 Photo Samples From Our Taipei Trip!
- The Spectacular Samsung Galaxy Note9 Launch Event!
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