Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5: Price, release date and details announced for upgraded smartphones

Samsung's new mid-range phones don't disappoint

The new A-Series phones boast higher-end designs and improved specs (Samsung)

After the success of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung has announced details of the latest updated phones in its Galaxy A series.

From 5 May, consumers in the UK will be able to get their hands on the 2016 versions of the Galaxy A3, the basic model, and the A5, a slightly larger phone with a bigger battery.

Like most new smartphones, there's nothing especially revolutionary in either device. They've both been fitted with some of Samsung's latest tech, however, and could provide consumers with a cheaper alternative to the S7 series flagships.

Size

Both phones are slightly bigger than their predecessors, which, confusingly, have the same names. The 2016 A3 has a 4.7-inch screen, bigger than the 2014 version's 4.5 inch screen, while the A5's is 5.2 inches.

They've both got Samsung's distinctive HD Super AMOLED screens, which have been noted for their clarity and sharpness.

At only 7.3mm thick, the phones have fairly slim profiles (Samsung)

They're also pretty thin - both phones are only 7.3mm thick, giving them a much slimmer profile than their stablemates, the S7 and S7 Edge.

Construction

The A3 and A5 are budget devices, but there's no cheap plastic here. With metal bezels and glass on the front and rear, they look like higher-end devices, and feel solid and well-built.

Camera

Both phones have a 13MP main cameras (sharper than the S7's 13MP camera) and 5MP front cameras. The main cameras also have F1.9 lenses, which promise better performance in darker conditions.

The phone has upgraded cameras on the front and rear (Samsung)

It'll be hard to get the same quality of photos as you would with an S7, but this is a mid-range device after all.

The software inside the phones adds a few handy features - double-tapping the home button launches the camera, making it easier to catch any moment, and a few built-in filters and tweaks will make your selfies look better.

Battery

The A3's battery is 2,300mAh, while the larger A5's is 2,900mAh. These phones are thinner than the S7 and S7 Edge, so the batteries aren't quite as huge, but they should still comfortably keep the phones running throughout the day.

Even if they don't, both phones are Fast Charging, and can easily be topped up in quick bursts.

Performance

Neither the A3 or A5 are going to break any processing records, but they shouldn't be sluggish either. The A3 has 1.5GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 410 processor, while the A5 has 2GB and a Snapdragon 615 chip. That should be enough to make sure the phones are usable, but they might not have the same high-end gaming capabilities that Samsung gave to the S7 and S7 Edge.

Samsung has also trimmed the fat from its operating system, so there's not too many useless stock apps to slow the phone down.

Both phones also have MicroSD slots, which are a godsend to users who like to take lots of pictures or fill their phones with music.

Features

Only the A5 comes fitted with Samsung Pay, so A3 users won't be able to pay with their phones. The A3 also doesn't have a fingerprint scanner, while the A5 does.

The phones aren't going to blow any minds, but they're solid mid-range devices (Samsung)

Both phones run Android 5.1 Lollipop, and come in either black, white or gold.

Pricing

The prices will depend on the retailer, but the A3 costs around £270, while the A5 is priced at £320 - both are around half the price of a new S7. Obviously, the usual range of contract options will lower the price from network to network.

The A3 and A5 aren't going to set the tech world ablaze with hype, but they're solid devices with some great upgrades. Those looking for better cameras or specs could check out other brands, but Samsung haven't let any budget-minded consumers down with these devices.