Connectors and Controls
The front panel of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) does not have any fundamental changes.
It is entirely filled with the glass, which is cut out to make place for the speaker at the top of the device and the Home button at the bottom. At the top right there is a front camera.
The hard button is saved, although, according to preliminary information, Samsung plans to get rid of it in the Galaxy S8.
To the right and left you can see two standard sensors Android (Back and Application Manager), but it is difficult to see them without lighting. Touching them is not fixed, so they are very easy to be pushed by chance.
The fingerprint scanner is adjusted in the Settings section "Lock screen and protection." To add a fingerprint, you need to touch the sensor several times; the display will show the progress of scanning.
If the fingerprint is not recognized after a few touches, it is proposed to protect the screen with a gesture or a PIN code. After a large number of mismatches, the phone may prohibit to touch the scanner for 30 seconds.
The fingerprint is also used for confirmation of payments in Samsung Pay and as an access to "secure folder". To see the scanner’s work, you can also watch our video:
On the back side, there are no changes. The camera is located in the upper middle part of the body, the flash is to the right of it.
On the right side, we can find the power button. Here is also a stereo grille. Previously, it was at the bottom.
On the left side end there are two volume control buttons, as well as in the A5 (2016). The slot for SIM-1 is also here.
The nanoSIM is available. It is opened with a special key, which should be included.
At the top end, there is a SIM-2/microSD combo slot.
Unlike other smartphones with combined slots, this one can use microSD and nanoSIM at the same time. You can see the video of installation of SIM-cards into the Galaxy A5 (2017):
At the bottom, there is a USB Type-C connector, MIC hole and a headset jack. The USB Type-C works at full speed - it is not USB 2.0 with a new type of connector.
As you can see, the body of the Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) cannot be dismantled. We have been used to it for a long time, so the battery has to be changed in the service center.
Casing
It is difficult to buy a carrying case or a cover for the Galaxy A5 (2017) in early 2017, but the situation will change over time. Judging by the size, the version 2017 will be different from the version 2016 by just a couple of a millimeter’s tenths. So we can expect that almost any case for the Galaxy A5 (2016) will fit for the Galaxy A5 (2017), but still we recommend to try it before purchase, especially if it is a hard case. The rubber, silicone or soft plastic bumpers are likely to fit. The Galaxy A5 (2017) is thicker by 0.2 mm than its predecessor.
It was also reported that Samsung is going to release a line of translucent covers Clear Cover for the Galaxy A models, which are now available for the Galaxy S. The picture shows just such a case.
