A good and reasonably priced Android possibility

Shopping for a good budget phone generally is a problem. Excessive-end handsets proceed to get extra options, however on the opposite finish of the spectrum, there are solely so many issues you’ll be able to skimp on earlier than a tool turns into too compromised. With the Galaxy A17, Samsung is attempting to stability each side of that equation with one thing that sports activities a stable design, a brilliant display, first rate cameras and respectable battery life for simply $200. And regardless of some flaws, the corporate has succeeded at making a succesful telephone that matches into nearly every budget.

Design and show

The Galaxy A17 does a very good job of demonstrating how all plastics aren’t the identical. Regardless of having a polycarbonate body and again, the telephone by no means feels low cost. Every little thing from its buttons to its digital camera module feels good and tight. The optical picture stabilization system used for its rear shooters rattles, although that’s one thing even $1,000 flagships undergo from, so it’s not a giant deal. Some small concessions for price financial savings embody a teardrop cutout for its entrance selfie cam and a small chin beneath its show, however contemplating its value, they’re very forgivable. There’s additionally solely a single mono speaker and as an alternative of an in-screen fingerprint sensor, Samsung constructed one into the facility button on its aspect. Although for some, the latter would possibly really be a bonus.

In the meantime, one factor the A17 has that you aren’t getting on high-end handsets anymore is a microSD card slot (that is shared with its SIM tray) for expandable storage. This offers you an affordable approach to improve the telephone’s base 128GB of area and contemplating how uncommon that is these days, it’s one other win for individuals searching for a really reasonably priced system.

The Galaxy A17’s display can be surprisingly good for its value, because it sports activities a 6.7-inch OLED show with as much as 800 nits of brightness. Granted, its refresh fee tops out at 90Hz as an alternative of the 120Hz you get on dearer fare. However as soon as once more, contemplating how a lot it prices, I am not complaining. Particularly once you do not forget that base iPhones had been nonetheless saddled with 60Hz panels as just lately as 2024.

Efficiency

One space the place funds telephones typically wrestle is efficiency as a result of skimping on RAM or the processor can save producers some huge cash. And whereas the Galaxy A17 is mostly positive contemplating its value bracket, I actually want Samsung had opted for a barely newer chip. The telephone comes with simply 4GB of RAM (although there are barely pricier variations with extra), 128GB of onboard storage and an Exynos 1330 SoC, the latter of which is almost three years outdated.

At first, I used to be actually apprehensive as a result of throughout the preliminary setup, the telephone was a laggy, stuttery mess. Fortunately, after signing in, giving the telephone a while to obtain updates within the background and ensuring all of its apps had been updated, efficiency improved considerably. To be clear, this factor nonetheless is not a pace demon and once you’re multitasking or rapidly switching between heavy apps, it’s possible you’ll discover some slowdown. I additionally want contact enter felt a bit extra responsive as a result of typically once you faucet an icon, there is a small delay earlier than something occurs. However fortunately, it is comparatively minor, and in most conditions, the telephone is snappy sufficient.

Cameras

The A17 comes with a 13-megapixel selfie digital camera and three rear shooters, although in observe it is actually extra like two as a result of a type of is a 2MP macro cam, which does not get a lot use except you’re taking numerous up-close pictures. That mentioned, the telephone takes higher photos than you would possibly count on given its value. In well-lit situations, each its 50MP most important and 5MP ultrawide cams do not offer you a lot to complain about. Photographs look sharp and sport vivid colours.

Nonetheless, in low-light conditions, there’s an apparent distinction in high quality between the A17 and dearer midrange telephones like Pixel 9a. In a shot of some fruit in my dimly lit kitchen, the A17’s pic appears smooth and options washed-out colours in comparison with what Google’s telephone produced. Then, once I went outdoors and snapped a photograph of a automobile nonetheless buried after the latest snowstorm, textures on the slush within the street, together with varied highlights and shadows appeared worse within the A17’s photos. So whereas the telephone can maintain its personal, digital camera high quality continues to be one of many largest causes you would possibly wish to contemplate upgrading to a dearer handset.

Battery life

For a telephone with a 5,000mAh battery and a low-power chip, the Galaxy A17 did not final fairly so long as I anticipated. On our native video rundown take a look at, it lasted simply over 23 hours (23:08), which is first rate, but additionally 5 hours lower than the Pixel 9a (28:04). However, its wired charging pace of 25 watts is greater than sufficient. Simply do not be stunned once you plop it on a wi-fi charging pad and nothing occurs as a result of the telephone does not help that.

Wrap-up

In case you are hard-capped at $200, the Samsung Galaxy A17 is a surprisingly spectacular system. It is obtained a stable construct, first rate cameras with a handful of various lenses, respectable battery life and even a built-in microSD card slot for further storage. You even get six years of OS and safety updates, which is considerably longer than nearly all of its similarly-priced rivals. And whereas its efficiency may very well be smoother, it is not laggy sufficient to get actually bothered about on a telephone this reasonably priced.

For these with wiggle room of their gadget allowance, I might critically contemplate a model with 8GB of RAM, which is just $30 more. Alternatively, the Pixel 9a stays my favourite Android telephone in relation to worth for cash and it’s $399 (down from its launch value of $499). But when cash is tight, the Galaxy A17 delivers every little thing you want with out blowing up your funds.